Trekking in Nepal

by Sanjib Adhikari Travel Advisor

If you are looking for a way to step out of your comfort zone and experience popular high altitude treks then, Nepal is the right choice. The country is synonymous with the impressive jewels of the mighty Himalayas and hills. It hosts some of the best high-altitude hiking trails in the world.

These high-altitude treks in Nepal expose you to some of the tallest mountains in the world that offer extreme adventures. Walk to get a bigger picture of the high Himalayas with these 10 popular high-altitude treks in Nepal that are above 4000 m.

Best Trekking in Nepal above 4000 M

A trekker trying to capture a photo of mountains

Everest Base Camp [5,364 m (17,598 feet)]

Everest base camp trip is probably the most popular package among other high altitude challenging treks. With EBC Trek, you will trek to the land of the highest mountains in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal.

First, your journey begins with a flight to one of the highest airports in the world, Lukla Airport, at 17,598 feet. The Lukla flight is itself thrilling and adventurous. As you get down off the plane, the Himalayan breeze welcomes you with a glimpse of true mountain life.

This high-altitude trek in Nepal serves you with a greater view of the highest mountains, glaciers, and suspension bridges. As you walk through the highest suspension bridge, you will realize how grand life can be. The sunrise view from the Kalapatthar is another major highlight of this altitude trek in Nepal. Kalapatthar at 5,643 m is the highest point you will walk up to during the Everest Base Camp hike.

This adventurous high altitude place signifies the unity of people with the Himalayas. You get to see the real-life of Sherpas, their culture, and lifestyle. Further, one of the best high-altitude hikes in Nepal, the EBC hike will take you to one of the highest monasteries, the Tengboche Monastery. Similarly, Namche Bazaar is another amazing place also known for being one of the highest altitude market towns in the world. It is a junction of a trade hub, information flow, shopping destination, and antique bazaar from all over the world.

Not only these, with this best trek above 4000 m in Nepal, but you will also visit Khumbu Glacier, the highest glacier in the world.

The trek grading is moderate and requires good physical fitness and firm determination. If you are a novice trekker or need luxury accommodation, then go for Everest Base Camp Luxury Lodge Trek. Since you walk to high elevations, it’s also one of the challenging treks in Nepal and there’s a chance of Altitude Sickness. So, before embarking on the journey, read a complete Everest base camp guide and prepare well.

Gokyo lake Trek [5,357 m]

The country of the Himalayas is also a perennial source of rivers, glaciers, and lakes. One such beautiful high-altitude freshwater lake is Gokyo lake. While you go hiking around the destination, the perfect blue skies, green surroundings, and blue-white Gokyo lake (5,000 m) give you a gratifying high-altitude trekking experience. This challenging trek in the Everest Region leads you to the peaceful, terrific snow-clad vistas and the unbeatable view of mountains from Gokyo Ri. Along the way, you also encompass an eyeful view of the longest glacier in the Himalayas, the Ngozumpa Glacier. Further, Sagarmatha National park, a UNESCO-listed heritage site in Nepal, is the other destination you visit that leads you to this exquisite valley of Gokyo.

The other exciting part of this altitude trek in Nepal is you will cross the Chola Pass (5330 meters). Likewise, the massive ice ridge between Gyachung and Cho Oyu is also the other attraction of this high-altitude hiking in Nepal. While Sherpas are inhabiting this place, they have maintained commendable insight into their lifestyle, language, and culture. So, the Everest Gokyo Lake trek also gives you insights into mountain culture and lifestyles.

Undoubtedly, Gokyo lake Trek is one of the popular high-altitude treks in Nepal. The trek difficulty is moderate and demands good physical fitness. It’s also one of the difficult treks for novice trekkers.

Everest Three Passes Trek [5,545 m (Kala Patthar)]

Three passes trek is one of the most strenuous treks in Nepal that takes you to the lollipop destination of Everest. The trek is both more challenging and more rewarding in terms of mountain views and adventures. It is also one of the hardest high-altitude treks in Nepal because of the distance it covers and the difficult high passes on the way.

As its name suggests, the Three Passes Trek in Nepal lets trekkers pass across three high passes, Renjo La (17,560 ft / 5,360 m), Cho La (17,782 ft / 5,420 m). Crossing Cho La Pass through a glacier is exciting. Here, microspikes can aid you. But crossing Kongma La Pass is difficult, and it also takes more time as it’s the longest.

First. you pass through an impressive sight by a flight to Lukla. Then, you pass four to six villages in a day to explore one of the hardest trekking destinations in the world. Along the way, the prayer wheels and the flapping of prayer flags will add music to your journey.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek [4,130 m]

Annapurna Base Camp is one of the famous places in Nepal for trekking and adventure. The pine and oak tree bunch, lust rhododendron (national flower of Nepal) forests, waterfalls look amazing and beyond our imagination. Incorporating wildlife, diverse terrain, and culture, ABC is a relatively quick, popular, and easy trekking route among the 10 best high-altitude treks in Nepal.

During your tour to Annapurna Base Camp, you see the panoramic views of gigantic Himalayan mountains like Annapurna massif and Mt. Machhapuchhre (fishtail mountain). Besides, this world-class experience giving trekking trails serves you with many perennial rivers and suspension bridges along the way. Also, the special mention of the trail is the tradition of the exotic Gurung villages of Ghandruk. Ghandruk is the dwelling origin of Gurkha soldiers settled by people of Gurung and Magar ethnicity. Thatched houses exhibit their authentic richness in heritage and great hospitality in their attractiveness.

This easy altitude trek in Nepal begins and ends in Pokhara.

Annapurna Circuit Trek [10,107 m]

Get lost in the comb of nature, picturesque farming villages, and Buddhist temples in the mountain range of central Nepal with the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Apart from the natural wonders, Muktinath is a sacred cultural highlight of this high-altitude trek for both the Hindus and the Buddhists. Besides, the taste of rural lifestyle in between alpine meadows to subtropical forests makes you fall in love with this challenging trek in Nepal.

Further, Thorang La pass is one such thrilling experience for adventure admirers. Annapurna Round Trek is a favorite of many, as they have high mountain passes and dramatic deep gorges. Two major river valleys (Kali Gandaki and Marshyangdi River Valley) intersect the majestic Annapurna (8091m) massif. Marpha, a pretty stone-lined village, is the leading destination as “The apple capital of Nepal ” lying here. The starting route, Pokhara city, is full of cultural and Himalayan virtues. This high-altitude trekking in Nepal gives a full-on world-class trek vibe.

Routes to Annapurna Circuit trek
Bhulbhule to Nayapul (complete route)
Manang to Muktinath (shortest route)
Jomsom/Tatopani to Nayapul (combined route)
Jagat-Jomsom (standard route)

Manaslu Circuit Trek [5,106 m / 16,752 ft (Larkya La pass)]

Outstanding photographic Manaslu Circuit Trek is a popular entire mountain adventure walk up to the eighth highest mountain in the world. This altitude trekking in Nepal brings top features of north-central Nepal, typical in off-beaten trek paths; remote and wild. Though the trek may be difficult, a presentation of natural Himalayan foothills and lower elevated subtropical jungle adds enthusiasm.

An archetypal Manaslu trek of Nepal takes you to the less crowded trail with abundant teahouses. Rivers like Budhi Gandaki, suspension bridges, and deep gorges add essence to this hard trek. Thus, the Manaslu Circuit trek is one of the underrated high-altitude trekking trails in Nepal.

The starting point is Soti Khola and the finishing point in Besisahar.

Hard Challenging High altitude treks in Nepal

Trekkers during Manaslu Circuit Trek

Kanchenjunga Trek [4,660m (15,88 feet)]

Kanchenjunga trek extends to base camps on the southern and northern sides of the mountain crossing Arun valley. Travelers consider this high-altitude hiking trail, the most beautiful trekking region lying on the border between Tibet and Sikkim.

Diversified cultural and landscapes make distinct experiences through pretty temperate birch trees, forests of chestnut and maple. The beauty of Kanchenjunga (the world’s third-highest mountain) which your eyes witness, cannot be sketched in words. Nepalese Natives’ typical settlements and terrace farming give a glance at living in the hilly and Himalayan region. The outline of this high elevation trek approaches Tibetan Refugee Camp.

Plus, while hiking to the area, you get to see diverse species of flora and fauna. Here, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) is a striking example of the preservation of Diverse flora and fauna in the Kanchenjunga Region. Also, people and trekkers claim to have seen Yeti (Abominable Snowman). So, who knows, you might also see a Yeti while you are on this high altitude hiking in Nepal.

Kanchenjunga Trek starts as you land in Taplejung(via flight from Bhadrapur).

Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek [4,748 m]

One of the most expedition-like experiences giving popular high altitude treks in the Himalayas would be the Dhaulagiri Circuit trek. As it is one demanding and adventurous Himalaya Treks, it takes you to the high-altitude, rugged, snowy glaciers area surrounded by uninhabited valleys and varied landscapes (barren to tender farmland).

The exciting walk from the alpine pastures and the Himalayan foothills to up-close views of peaks (over 8,000 m) begins from Beni (a 2-3 hour drive from Pokhara). Although this high elevation circuit trekking destination is the lesser-visited area in Annapurna, it is exciting, electrifying at every stage.

Dhaulagiri trek offers climbing Dhampus Peak (6,060 m) to daring experienced mountaineers as an additional option. There are no permanent settlements because of the topography and weather, but magars predominately live around there.

One of the hardest high-altitude Dhaulagiri Circuit trekking starts from Pokhara/Kathmandu and ends at a point in Jomsom.

Upper Dolpo Trek [4,530 m. to 5,115 m]

Upper Dolpo trek satisfies your appetite for a trekking adventure of high altitude treks in Nepal over 4000 M. You are lucky enough to have found this mesmerizing trekking destination, as it was a restricted area until 1989. Tibetan culture influenced the upper Dolpo trek lies in Shey Phoksundo National Park. Diverse flora and fauna form a chain of amusement to the trekkers in this isolated region.

Upper Dolpa experiences distinctive Bon Buddhist culture, monasteries, holy places, and Shey Gompa. Not to forget, Saldang (medieval village), high passes (5000 meters and above), and nomad camps at Dho Tarap (world’s highest human settlement) make your high-altitude Nepal walk more intriguing. Further, the crystal clear pristine water source added by various landscapes of the area makes it one of the newly popular high altitude treks in Nepal.

Trek to this highlander camping trail begins with a flight to Jhupal and ends in Jomsom.

Nar Phu Valley Trek [4,250 m]

For those who want to get lost in the Himalayan wilderness off the beaten track, the Nar Phu Valley trek is something you are probably looking for. The reason it is a less-traveled trekking destination above 4000 m in Nepal is that permits in the Nar Phu Valley were only issued from 2003 AD. This hard trek displays lifestyles influenced by Tibetan culture and natives of the Nar Phu Valley.

Incredible land formations, rock structures, and bracelets of mountains (Annapurna I, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri) make your walk incomparable. Trekking to the valley allows you to explore tough passes of the region, i.e. Thorong La Pass (5416 meters). A spirituality collection in this hidden valley ranges from different chortens, Buddhist Gompa, prayer flags route, Muktinath, and rural villages themselves. The journey to Nar Phu Valley begins either with Jagat or KOTO to the town of Jomsom.

At The End

Finally, these were some of the best high-altitude treks in Nepal. Some are strenuous hikes and require prior trekking experience, while some are moderate treks. These hard treks in Nepal are all above 4000 m and involve altitude sickness and other risks. So, we recommend travelers to trek with an experienced trekking guide. Besides, there are many other Nepal hikes above 4000 m, which are extremely beautiful. However, the above high-altitude treks are one of the popular and best high-altitude trekking destinations in Nepal.