Destination: Nepal

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Mountain & Valley

Get fit on this classic combination of teahouse trek and the wonders of the Kathmandu Valley. Don’t rush these treks, as you need time to acclimatise to the high altitudes. Add on a couple of days for a Chitwan adventure, or do a shorter trek, for culture and scenery, mountains and jungle.



One month is a perfect amount of time to get a good feel for Nepal. The Kathmandu Valley is really worth a week (see The Kathmandu Valley itinerary) but to truly experience Nepal and its people you have to do it on foot, along some of the world's most scenic trails.

The circular nature of the 17- to 19-day Annapurna Circuit gives you a nice sense of completion, takes you over the high Thorung La into the Trans-Himalaya around Jomsom and offers excellent quality lodges. It's not called the 'Apple Pie Trail' for nothing!

The Everest Base Camp trek costs a bit more because most people fly in and out of Lukla (US$180 return), but it offers an insight into Sherpa culture and the kind of outrageous high altitude scenery normally reserved for mountaineers, plus the strangely irresistible draw of the world's highest peak. Even better, add on a side trip to the spectacular Gokyo Valley for a total trek of around 21 days. It's a good idea to book your Lukla flights before you arrive in Nepal.

If you are flying back from Lukla or Jomsom, it's wise to leave yourself a few days buffer at the end of the trip in case flights are cancelled due to bad weather. Do your Kathmandu sightseeing after the trek, not before.

An alternative is to do a shorter trek, such as the Langtang or Jomsom trek, and then slot in a few days at Royal Chitwan National Park. Other shorter trek options include flying to Jomsom for a few days of day hikes, or flying to Lukla for seven to nine days' of walking to monasteries around Namche Bazaar.

Travelling to Nepal?
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