Want to know about the 15 most beautiful treks in the Himalayas? Home to the highest mountain in the world, most trekkers head straight for Everest Base Camp. This is a great option, but there are plenty of opportunities to venture among the 100+ Himalayan peaks over 7,000 metres or 24,000 feet. . Here’s a quick overview of 15 great treks from Nepal to Bhutan to India.
Everest Base Camp –
This has to be our favourite trek in the Himalayas. Great views of Everest, good trails, nice tea houses to stay in, and almost continuous views of the world’s highest peak will command your attention on a typical 11-day trip. The trail ends at Everest Base Camp Trek. Here you can directly see the impressive icefall from 3,500 metres from the Khumbu Glacier to the summit of Everest. Along the way, in addition to Everest, you’ll see three of the world’s top 10 peaks: Cho Oyu (8,201 m/26,906 ft) and Lhotse (8,516 m/27,940 ft). The glacier walls of Pumori (7,161 m/23,494 ft) and Ama Dablam (6,812 m/22,349 ft) are equally impressive, if not taller. Trekking is possible from September to June, and December and January are cold but sought after solitude seasons.
Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp –
These are actually two hikes that can be done individually or together. Like Everest Base Camp, it offers great trails and great teahouses for those looking for a bit of comfort. If you have 4-5 days, the Poon Hill trek is one of the best short treks in the Himalayas and offers great views of Annapurna. If you have time, visit the Annapurna Base Camp located at the famous Annapurna Temple. Here you can admire the 10th highest mountain (8,091 m/26,538 ft) south of Annapurna I. World. Approaching the base camp, this route offers great views of the Machhapuchhare ice suspension (6,993 m/22,943 ft), known locally as the “Fishtail of Asia or the Matterhorn”. Fishtail is sacred to locals and off limits to climbers.
Manaslu Chain –
The Manaslu Trek is a 14-16 day tour around the 8th highest mountain in the world. Teahouses and roads have improved in recent years and trekking has quickly become a popular alternative to the Annapurna Circuit. In recent years, the total number of visitors has been around 2,000, mostly in October. This is one of the great treks in Nepal and at the same time away from the crowd.
Makalu Base Camp Tour –
It is a 16-day trek to Makalu Base Camp (8463m), which is the fifth highest in the world. Unlike the tours mentioned so far, this is not a teahouse tour and must be booked for camping. The trek starts at 435m above sea level and traverses various environments through the Varun Valley to Makalu Base Camp. A true wilderness experience with the last remnants of pristine forests and beautiful alpine meadows.
Upper Mustang Ride –
Upper Mustang Trek showcases the beauty of Nepalese desert and ancient Tibetan culture. The 18-day trek heads north from Jomsom on the other side of the Annapurna range. A special permit is required to enter the area, and the tour must be organised as a combination tea house and camping tour. Very few tourists (perhaps 1000 per year) visit this remote part of Nepal. Some of the highlights of the tour are the ancient “Forbidden City” and ancient monasteries and caves. The dry mountainous terrain may be more like Ladakh in India than other treks in Nepal. Gangotri Glacier Tour –
This 6+ day trek (pilgrimage) takes you to the upper reaches of India’s holiest river, the Ganges. The trek starts at the end of the road near the Gangotri Temple and runs 18 km to Gomukh, which is believed to be the source of the Ganges at the foot of the glacier. The scenery here is spectacular with views of Mount Shivling and the Bhagirathi mountains. This is a great trek to see the beautiful peaks, one of the largest glaciers in the Central Himalayas.
Frozen River Cruises –
An ancient road that runs along the frozen Zanskar River, this 6-day trek connects the villages of the Zanskar Valley with the Chiling villages on the way to Leh (Ladakh, India). This tour is best done in late January and early February when the coldest and most frozen rivers are available for trail use. If you can average -10 degrees during the day and -20 to -25 degrees at night, it will be a wonderful and beautiful trip. A new road must be built in the snow. This can be a rare experience.
Brahmatal Trek –
Brahmatal offers panoramic views of the Himalayas with Trishul and Nanda Gunti, a bird’s eye view of the majestic Ropkund trek and ample opportunity to capture the majestic snow-capped peaks with your camera.
The Brahmatal trek takes you through beautiful valleys, quiet villages, streams and conifer and oak forests. In winter, the region is covered in a sheath of snow and offered an unparalleled Himalayan view.
