Nepal is home to some of the most spectacular treks in the world. Ranging from classics like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and Langtang to up and coming treks such as the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Nar Phu Valley Trek, Nepal's best treks are listed below. If you plan on going trekking in Nepal, read on to decide which trek is best for you.

Overview

This list has been updated in May 2018 to reflect the most recent conditions, most notably by the return of the Langtang Trek, which has re-opened. Most treks listed here take 2-3 weeks to complete. All these treks offer spectacular scenery and a close-up view of local cultures of the Himalaya. The overview, below, will help you decide which trek is best for you.

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#1 Everest Three Passes Trek

View of Mt. Everest from Renjo La pass
View of Mt. Everest from Renjo La Pass (17,585 ft. / 5360 m)

The Three Passes Trek takes you over three 5,000m+ passes and is the best way to truly experience the Everest Region for those who have the time to spend 3 weeks on the trail. The trek includes sections of the Everest Base Camp Trek, but offers even more spectacular views of the giants in the heart of the Himalaya as you cross the Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La passes. The Three Passes trek can be combined with other variations of the Everest Base Camp Trek

Getting to the trailhead: a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.

Fast facts
Min. duration 18 days
Max. elevation 5,535 m / 18,159 ft
(Kongma La pass)
Start/finish Lukla/Lukla
Difficulty Challenging
Trek style Teahouse

#2 Manaslu Circuit Trek

prayer flags, Manaslu, Nepal
Prayer flags blowing above the Manaslu Circuit

The Manaslu Circuit Trek has become more accessible since new lodges were built in 2010. The trek has all the great features you’d expect from a classic Himalayan trek—deep lush valleys at lower elevations, amazing views of 8,000m peaks, and a 5,000m+ pass crossing—all the while remaining largely unspoiled by visitors.

Despite its rising popularity and recent road construction, the Manaslu Circuit still feels very remote, and has fewer trekkers than the more established classic treks of Nepal.

Getting to the trailhead: an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu.

Fast facts
Min. duration 13 days
Max. elevation 5,106 m / 16,752 ft
(Larkya La pass)
Start/finish Soti Khola/Besisahar
Difficulty Challenging
Trek style Teahouse

#3 Langtang Trek

Langtang Trek View
View of Langtang Valley

The Langtang trek is a trek with real heart. After having been devoid of travelers for a couple of years after the 2015 earthquake, the trails and guesthouses have been rebuilt, and trekkers are back.

The trek takes you through magnificent forests to the high alpine meadows and yak pastures around Kyangjin Gompa (a Buddhist monastery), with an optional day hike up to the top of Kyangjin Ri (peak).

Getting to the trailhead: a 7-hour drive from Kathmandu

Fast facts
Min. duration 7 days
Max. elevation 3800m (Kyanjin Gompa) / 4773m (Kyanjin Ri)
Start/finish Syabru Besi
Difficulty Easy to moderate
Trek style Teahouse

#4 Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Himalayan peaks, Annapurna Base Camp
Dramatic mountains views en route to the amphitheatre of the Annapurnas

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you deep into the Annapurna Massif to the foot of Annapurna South. The scenery is quite different from most other classic treks because the views are less expansive and more vertical: you find yourself looking almost straight up to see the mountains towering above you.

Getting to the trailhead: a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, followed by a 2-hour drive; or an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu.

Fast facts
Min. duration 12 days
Max. elevation 4130 m / 13,550 ft
Start/finish Nayapul/Nayapul
Difficulty Moderate
Trek style Teahouse

#5 Upper Mustang Trek

Desert hills, Upper Mustang
The arid desert landscape of the Upper Mustang Valley

The arid valley of the Upper Mustang Trek features a distinct landscape compared to almost all other treks in Nepal. With its many shades of brown and crumbling sandstone cliffs, this region lies in the desert rain shadow of the Himalaya. Mustang used to be its own kingdom, and its strong Tibetan-influenced traditions make this a culturally very interesting trek.

Getting to the trailhead: you'll need to take two connecting flights: Kathmandu to Pokhara (25 minutes), and Pokhara to Jomsom (20 minutes).

Fast facts
Min. duration 12 days
Max. elevation 3810 m / 12,500 ft
Start/finish Jomsom/Jomsom
Difficulty Moderate
Trek style Teahouse

#6 Gokyo Lakes Trek

Gokyo village
Looking down on the lake and village of Gokyo from Renjo La

Like the Three Passes Trek, the Gokyo Lakes Trek shares significant sections with the classic Everest Base Camp Trek but takes you into a valley west of Everest. Its main attraction are the beautiful lakes at Gokyo, at around 5,000 meters. From there, trekkers can climb Gokyo Ri (5,357m /17,575 ft), a rocky peak with one of the best expansive views on Mt Everest.

Getting to the trailhead: a 30-minute flight Kathmandu to Lukla.

Fast facts
Min. duration 12 days
Max. elevation 5357 m / 17,575 ft
(Gokyo Ri)
Start/finish Lukla/Lukla
Difficulty Challenging
Trek style Teahouse

#7 Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

Dhaulagiri trek
View from the Dhaulagiri trek

The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal because of its sustained elevation, spending 3 days in a row trekking over snow above 5,000m without an easy way down. That said, if you have experience and are up for the challenge, this trek is an unforgettable adventure that takes you into the heart of some the highest mountains in the world.

Getting to the trailhead: a 25-minute flight Kathmandu to Pokhara followed by a 2 hour drive; or an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu.

Fast facts
Min. duration 14 days
Max. elevation 5360 m / 17,585 ft
(French Col)
Start/finish Darbang/Marpha
Difficulty Very challenging
Trek style Remote (camping)

#8 Nar Phu Valley Trek

Nar Ghedi Monastery | Photo by agata osinska
Nar Ghedi Monastery | Photo by agata osinska

The Nar Phu Valley Trek is a real Himalayan wilderness experience that is as unforgettable as it is spectacular. The area  opened to visitors relatively recently, in 2002. Tucked between the more visited Annapurna and Manaslu regions, Nar Phu is a true hidden gem that offers trekkers a rare opportunity to explore unspoiled valleys that feature a mix of raw Himalayan nature and ancient Buddhist culture.

Getting to the trailhead: a day-long drive from Kathmandu via Besisahar to Koto.

Fast facts
Min. duration 9 days
Max. elevation 5240 m / 17,200 ft
Start/finish Koto/Pisang
Difficulty Challenging
Trek style Remote (rustic lodges)

#9 Everest Base Camp Trek

View from Kala Patthar, Everest region
The classic view from Mt. Everest and Nuptse from Kala Patthar

The Everest Base Camp Trek is among the most famous treks in the world. It certainly deserves its reputation thanks to its history, its great views and the Sherpa culture you experience during the trek. However, since the trek is so popular, its main trails tend to be quite crowded. This is why we list other treks in the Everest region (Three Passes Trek and Gokyo Lakes) higher on our list. Yet despite the crowds, Everest Base Camp continues to be a great trek that deserves to be listed among Nepal’s best treks.

Getting to the trailhead: a 30-minute flight Kathmandu to Lukla.

Fast facts
Min. duration 14 days
Max. elevation 5,364 m / 17,598 ft
(Everest Base Camp)
Start/finish Lukla/Lukla
Difficulty Challenging
Trek style Teahouse

#10 Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna Circuit
Beautiful villages and mountains along the Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit trek is another quintessential Himalayan trek that has lost a bit of its character due to the crowds, and, in this particular case, recently constructed roads. The roads that have reduced the “unspoiled” part of this trek to about 12 days of hiking. Despite all that, the trek remains a great adventure with the crossing of the 5,416m Thorong La pass. Consider a side trip to Tilicho Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world at over 16,000 ft. 

Getting to the trailhead: a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, followed by a 2-hour drive; or an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu.

Fast facts
Min. duration 12 days
Max. elevation 5,416 m / 17,769 ft
(Thorong La Pass)
Start/finish Bhulbule/Jomsom
Difficulty Challenging
Accommodation Teahouse

If you are looking for shorter treks, check out our list of the Best Short Treks in Nepal.

Map

Map of The 10 Best Treks in Nepal - The Ultimate Guide to help you decide which trek is best for you
Map of The 10 Best Treks in Nepal - The Ultimate Guide to help you decide which trek is best for you