Nepal trekking tips

There are all kinds of possibilities for trekking in Nepal for young and old, fitness fanatical and novice hiker. You can trek towards Everest from Kathmandu or explore the famous Annapurna range. You can do camping treks, tea house treks or homestay treks. The list goes on and on.

Here are a few handy Nepal trekking tips to help you get off on the right foot. We offer all kinds of Nepal treks as well as other bite-sized cultural, wildlife and adventurous Nepal tours, so our friendly Nepal specialists really can help you build your perfect Nepal trekking holiday.

Trekking from Kathmandu

One important factor to consider when booking your Nepal trekking holiday is where you would like to trek. The Kathmandu Valley is close to the capital and rich in culture, making it perfect for a short visit to Nepal. When trekking in Nepal in the area around the royal cities Bhaktapur and Nagarkot you'll see beautiful temples and pine forests against a dramatic backdrop of white Himalayan peaks. The valley lies at approximately 1000-1500m altitude.

Like the sound of this? Try our trek to the edge of the Kathmandu Valley.

If you're up for a bigger challenge, try our eye-opening Helambu homestay trek. This also starts in Kathmandu and will give you a real glimpse of Himalayan hospitality.

Nepal trekking tips - Kathmandu Valley prayer flags

Trekking from Pokhara

Pokhara is the traditional starting and finishing point for treks into the Annapurna Mountain range. It's a friendly lakeside town with lively restaurants, plenty of massage shops for a post-trekking treat and a whole host of adventure activities. If you choose this region for your Nepal trekking holiday, you'll pass through small villages with spectacular overviews of the high snow-capped mountains. Annapurna treks are generally at higher altitudes than Kahtmandu Valley treks, perhaps between 1500m - 3000m with a steep climb here and there get the best views.

We offer all kinds of Nepal treks from Pokhara ranging from easy to difficult and from a few days to almost three weeks. You'll stay in basic teahouses, usually with hot water. Take a look at our list of Nepal treks to see all of our trekking options.

Best time for trekking in Nepal

The best time of year to go trekking in Nepal is spring (March - May) or autumn (October-November). Summer (June - September) is monsoon season and the rain can make travel difficult with landslides blocking the road. Taking Nepal trekking holidays in the rainy season isn't much fun, especially above 1000m. Paths are muddy and slippery and treks are often cancelled due to poor weather conditions and there might be leeches along the way! The winter months (December - February) can be pretty cold and many of the higher mountain passes are blocked because of the snow.

Nepal trekking tips - dust off your walking boots

Trekking accommodation

During most of our Nepal treks you'll stay in trekking lodges or teahouses. During our Helambu homestay trek, you'll stay with local families, and if you're intrepid enough to try an Everest Base Camp trek, you'll camp along your route. These are (very) basic Nepali lodges with just a couple of rooms with two separate beds. The lodges have running water but don't expect a hot shower. Blankets are available but we recommend bringing your own sheet bag. You can rent sleeping bags before you begin you rNepal trekking holiday in Pokhara or Kathmandu or if you'd prefer bring your own from home.

Food and drink

The trekking lodges that we use for our Nepal trekking holidays offer good value meals, and you can grab a very satisfying bite for less than £4. Typical dishes on the menu include Dahl Bhaat (rice with lentils), steamed momo's (a type of filled roll) and bread. Often you'll find western dishes like tomato soup, pizza or pancakes. During the day, the many tea houses or 'bhatti's' are a great place to stop off during your trek for a hot cup of tea or an ice-cold coke.

When you're trekking in Nepal, tipping your porters and guides is customary, though not at all compulsory, although it is always greatly appreciated. A rough guideline is around £2 per day for the porter and guide.

Porters and tipping

Besides your guide, you will be accompanied by one porter for every two people on your Nepal trekking holidays. The porter can carry a maximum of 30kg so it's wise to take only the essentials and perhaps carry some things yourself in a daypack. You can leave the rest of your luggage at the hotel where you were staying before the start of the trek, or at our local agent's office.

On your Nepal trekking holiday, tipping your porters and guides is customary, though not at all compulsory, although it is always greatly appreciated. A rough guideline is around £2 per day for the porter and guide.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS) is one of the major concerns on your Nepal trekking holidays, particularly at high altitudes. This condition occurs when you ascend quickly to altitudes above 2000-2500m. Whether you are likely to get altitude sickness varies from person to person, some suffer from symptoms whilst others have no problems at all, and you could be feeling fine on one day but suffer from headaches and nausea the next.

Mild altitude sickness (benign AMS)
Symptoms usually occur within the first 24 hours at altitude and can include shortness of breath, headache, nausea, lethargy and loss of appetite. Treatment for benign AMS is to stay at the same altitude or descend from your Nepal trek if the symptoms don't improve within a couple of days. Paracetamol can help for headaches and if necessary additional medication or oxygen can be given.

Severe altitude sickness (malignant AMS)
In cases of malignant AMS the headache worsens and shortness of breath increases even when you're resting, particularly at night. Other symptoms include severe lethargy, lack of co-ordination and irrational behaviour. This is a very serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to pulmonary or cerebral oedema and even death. The best treatment is immediate descent. Additional medication and oxygen can also be given.

Nepal trekking tips - trek like the locals

Nepal trekking tips - stay fit and healthy

Preventing altitude sickness when trekking in Nepal:

•Ascend slowly to altitudes above 2500m.
•Take 48 hours to acclimatise when ascending above 2500m.
•Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills
•Drink plenty of water or herbal tea (no alcohol or coffee)
•The altitude at which you sleep should be no higher than 300m than your sleeping altitude of the previous night
•In cases of severe altitude sickness a helicopter can be chartered but this is very expensive (approx 1200 euros an hour) and can only be arranged through a trekking agency or your embassy. It will only fly out if a deposit of 400 euros is paid in advance.
You can find more information on health issues on our travel health page

Maoists

In a number of regions of Nepal, particularly the West, there has been reports of social unrest as a result of the Maoist fight for independence. Incidents have occurred in regions frequented by few tourists and have not been aimed at foreign tourists. When planning our Nepal trekking holidays we try to avoid these areas and of course monitor the situation very closely.

Nepal trekking tips - protest crowds in Kathmandu

Ready to choose your trek? See our full list of Nepal treks

Take a look at our Nepal itineraries