By: Jude Limburn
Submitted: 2008-11-02 15:01:02 | Word Count: 627
Nepal trekking holidays have long been popular with avid trekkers, who come from all over the world to explore the spectacular Nepalese mountains. The country enjoys the most dramatic part of the Himalayas, including the Annapurna mountain range and Mount Everest, and there are dozens of outstanding routes where you can go trekking in Nepal. From well known trips to off the beaten track adventures, there’s a diverse range of routes available; here are five of the very best…
Everest Base Camp
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Naturally, if you are interested in a Nepal trekking holiday, Everest is going to be near the top of your list of places to visit. Getting to the top of the world’s tallest mountain requires extensive mountaineering experience (and a lot of money!), but Everest Base Camp (the starting point for serious attempts on the summit) can be reached by any trekker in good shape.
There are numerous routes used to get to Everest Base Camp, ranging from the classic route, to off the beaten track routes, to treks that retrace the steps of the original explorers who climbed and conquered Everest. But, however you get there, the area around Everest (including the beautiful Gokyo Lakes and the summit of Kala Pattar) is truly one of the best places to go trekking in Nepal.
The Annapurna Circuit
The Annapurna Massif is well known to veteran trekkers – it is regarded as the most spectacular mountain range in the Himalayas, if not the world. The Annapurna Circuit is one of the classic Nepal trekking holidays, with the 300 kilometre route, around the giant peaks of the Annapurnas, taking in many different kinds of terrain verdant fields, pine forest, deep canyons, high mountain passes and snow capped peaks. It is one of the longer treks in Nepal, taking up to twenty days but, starting from around 800m, it offers a gradual acclimatisation in reaching the Thorong La – the highest pass – at 5,415m. Many regional experts claim that if you go on just one trek in Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit is the one to do.
Into the Annapurna Sanctuary
At the centre of the Annapurna mountains is the Annapurna Sanctuary, a stunning glacial plateau ringed by massive peaks, including Annapurna I, the tenth highest mountain on Earth (8,091m). While the classic Annapurna Circuit trek circles around the mountain range, a trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary takes you through one of the valleys and into the heart of the massif itself, giving you the opportunity to visit Annapurna base camp and enjoy some of the best views of the mountains themselves.
Mera Peak
The most famous treks in Nepal include circuits of the big mountain ranges, or a walk to Everest Base Camp. But many people who go trekking in Nepal won’t be satisfied until they’ve conquered a significant peak – for these summit hunters, Mera Peak is the highest mountain in Nepal that can be reached by trekking (rather than by climbing), standing at 6,476m. Most routes begin in a beautiful forest in the Hinku Valley before beginning the long ascent up to the peak itself, and the views of the Himalayan mountains from the top are spectacular.
Trek to Kangchenjunga
It is not as well known as the other Nepal treks on this list, but the trek to Kangchenjunga is perfect for those who want to get away from the crowds – despite being the third highest mountain in the world, it is rarely visited by outsiders. It is a long, hard walk to Kangchenjunga, over several high passes, but the intrepid trekker is rewarded with a trip to a seldom explored corner of Nepal; camping en route near remote villages and under towering peaks, before heading up to one (or both!) of the Kangchenjunga base camps.
