trip

Set off for an unforgettable experience and witness a close-up, spectacular view of Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Mt. Annapurna I-IV (8091 m) and many others high mountains above the sea level. 

Embark on a helicopter tour to Annapurna-Mardi Base Camp from Pokhara. Annapurna basecamp Helicopter tour package is available on a daily basis from the beautiful city of Pokhara with both private and shared groups. The tour allows you to experience an aerial and panoramic view of mountain ranges including Annapurna I-IV (8081 m), Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Machhapuchhre (6993 m), Gangapurna, Singu Chuli, Himchuli, Khangsar Kang and Tare Kang Glacier Dome among others.

The helicopter ride also offers you an up close view of the Himalayas and its natural beauty in a very short period of time while you skip the multi-day trekking route. The flight takes off from Pokhara Airport to Annapurna Base Camp. During the flight, you will have most enjoyable scenic view of mountains villages and Annapurna Conservation Area. The helicopter will be landing at some of the breathtaking view points for few minutes to observe the beautiful mountain sceneries and capture photos of your memorable trip. You will then fly back to Pokhara Airport.

Three days Chitwan Jungle Safari tour begins with a 5-6 hours bus ride from Kathmandu to Chitwan. After your arrival in Chitwan you will be provided with some time to rest and freshen up before your lunch. Later in the afternoon you will be taken to a tour around the ethnic Tharu village and explore their cultures. You will then be enjoying the evening with a beautiful sunset and Tharu cultural program.

The next day begins with a dugout canoe for traversing the northern Rapti River, a home to crocodiles. Jungle walk hereafter will take you to the Elephant Breeding Center, a government funded center established to protect the endangered elephants in the region.

The deep jungle safari then begins later in the afternoon with either an elephant ride or a jeep ride inside the Chitwan National Park. The safari allows you to a possible sighting of Royal Bengal Tiger, wild bear and one horned rhino. On your way you will also be passing through Gharial Breeding Center, another government funded center established in 1978 to protect the natural egg laying sites of gharials to hatch eggs in artificial conditions. The young ones are then reared until they are released into the rivers in order to reestablish a viable population in the wild.

Similar to the Everest Base Camp tour, our Annapurna Base Camp helicopter tour is perfect for those who have limited time to travel and would like to enjoy the beauty of the Annapurna range in a short time. Within 1 day, you will be able to witness the magnificent mountains and the breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges from a bird’s eye point of view. Annapurna is a well-known peak that falls under the 10th highest mountain in the world. Once you reach the Annapurna Base Camp, you will have time to take photographs and videos of the 360-degree view of the Annapurna range with Machhapuchhare and Himchuli, relish the view of Annapurna South, play with the snow, and also explore the astonishing camp that lies 4,130 m above sea level.

Annapurna region is famous for its beautiful landscapes, nature, culture, and amazing endless views of the snowcapped mountains. With us, you can enjoy the scenic panoramic view of the townlets of the Gurung, Tamang, and Rai tribes overlooking the famous villages like Chhomrong, Ghandruk, and Poon Hill, which are spread all across the region. Join us on this thrilling mountain flight that compresses your typical 8-days trek within a 2 hours flight. With no age restriction, this tour is available for people of all ages, with health complications, and physical conditions. 

We offer two option fly-out locations for this helicopter tour. The first starting point is Pokhara city, from where you can see the mesmerizing aerial views of the lakes, green hills, the snowcapped tall mountains– all while witnessing the gradual transition from the sea level to the high-altitude Himalayas. 

The second city is Kathmandu, from where the tour will require an additional hour of travel time, solely for flying in and out of Kathmandu to Pokhara. However, while taking this route, you will witness the mind-blowing and up-close mountain views of Manaslu (8,156 m), Ganesh Himal (7,422 m), and the enchanting Langtang (7,234 m) Himalayan ranges. All these diverse landscapes make this helicopter ride fun and once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Heli tour Schedule from Pokhara: 

* 6:00 AM: Departure from Pokhara Hotel

* 6:30 AM: Fly from Pokhara Airport to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)

* 7:00 AM: Breakfast at Annapurna after the exploration of ABC

* 7:30 AM: Fly from ABC to Pokhara Airport

* 8:00 AM: Landing in Pokhara Airport

* 8:30 AM: Drive back to Pokhara Hotel 

Heli tour Schedule from Kathmandu:

* 5:30 AM: Departure from Hotel to Kathmandu Domestic Airport

* 6:00 AM: Fly from Kathmandu Airport to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)

* 7:00 AM: Breakfast at Annapurna after the exploration of ABC

* 7:40 AM: Fly from ABC to Kathmandu

* 8:30 AM: Landing at Kathmandu Airport

* 9:00 AM: Drive back to Kathmandu Hotel

Heli tour Cost depends on private charter or sharing base, fly out location from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Therefore we will provide all the details on request. 

Fly above the roof of the world on a 3.5-hour helicopter flight across Mount Everest and admire the majestic peaks of Mt. Everest, Amadablam, Pumori, Cho Oyu, and more.

Experience the bewildering beauty of the Everest region from the air on an unforgettable helicopter tour. Take in unrivaled views of the Mt. Everest (8848m) the highest mountain of the world many other beautiful mountains above 8000m with 30 minutes stop at Kala Patthar, a peak that is the highest point many trekkers will reach for the breathtaking views. 

Tour Schedule: 

* Kathmandu to Lukla: 45 mins flight

* Land in Lukla and refill fuel: 15-20 mins

* Lukla to Kalapatthar viewpoint: 30 mins flights (flying over Namche Bazaar, Tengboche Monastery, Pheriche, and Khumbu Glacier

* Landing at Kalapatthar viewpoint: 10 mins

* Fly from Kalapatthar to Everest View Hotel in Syangboche: 15 mins flight

* Everest View Hotel for breakfast/lunch: 50 mins-1 hour

* Fly from Syangboche to Lukla: 15 mins

* Fueling time in Lukla: 10-15 mins

* Lukla to Kathmandu: 45 mins flight 

Heli tour Cost depends on private charter or sharing base. Therefore we will provide all the details on request. 

Discover the different UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites of Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu Valley including the Pashupathinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Swyambhunath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Learn the wonderful history from our English-speaking guide (different languages guide  may be provided on request) and embark on a 6-hour sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley. 

Kathmandu Valley contains 3 fabulous cities of great historic, religious, and cultural interest: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Patan (Lalitpur), and Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur). The Kathmandu Valley has often been described as an open-air art gallery with thousands of sacred shrines in brick, stone, metal, and wood scattered throughout it.

On your tour, you will not be able to see the entire valley, but you will be taken to some of the most important and monumental sites. Many of these are squares or temples that are also designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Seven days Buddhist Pilgrimage tours to Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Pokhara, Dhulikhel and the monasteries around Namo Buddha, Pharping and Kathmandu valley. 

Join this Buddhist pilgrimage tour in Nepal that will allow you to explore and learn about the Buddhism by visiting Lumbini the birth place of Buddha, Pokhara, Dhulikhel, Namo Buddha, pharping and Kathmandu valley. You can relax and enjoy the historical monasteries and religious significance sites of all of the places you’ll be taken to. Explore the Peace Park in Lumbini, the nature of Dhulikhel, and the monasteries and temples in Namo Buddha, Pharping and around Kathmandu.

The GHT Central Nepal Trek combines classic trails with some off-the-beaten-tracks for a challenging wander through the heart of Nepal.  Head either east to west or west to east through Langtang, the Ganesh and Manaslu Himals and around the mighty Annapurna.

Tilman’s Pass requires some technical alpine and navigation skills, but the majority of the trek is on well-formed and easy-going trails. There are also plenty of trail options if you want to make the trek easier of harder, or explore some amazing side trips.

Spanning 36 days and about 500km of trails, with 3 passes over 5000m, this is a fantastic trek to develop your Himalayan field-craft.

-Total Trek 36 days over about 500km

-3 passes over 5000m.

-3 days of rest and/or acclimatisation included.

5 Best Things about the GHT Central Nepal Trek

-An amazing Himalayan ‘fix’ and learn about Nepal.

-Some wild stuff combined with some classic trails.

-Cross the rarely visited Tilman’s Pass.

-The perfect combination of camping and comfort.

-Beautiful villages and some very fun locals along the way.

   GHT Nepal Route Map

Pristine, adventurous and absolutely stunning, the GHT West Nepal Trek is through a trekking paradise. Most areas very rarely see trekkers and some sections are through genuine wilderness that will test your navigation skills, involve crossing some tough passes and a river crossing or two along the way.

Beginning in Kagbeni, you head across Upper Dolpo via the stunningly beautiful Phoksumdo Lake and then through some really wild valleys to Upper Mugu and Rara Lake. The final trans-Himalayan landscape section through Humla brings you to the Tibet border at Hilsa. And you can also do the trek in reverse as well.

-Total Trek 40 days over about 650km

-8 passes over 5000m.

-3 days of rest and/or acclimatisation included

5 Best Things about the GHT West Nepal Trek

-Some stunningly beautiful trails and locations.

-Trekking like it used to be 50 years ago.

-Unique Tibetan-based cultures.

-Good chance to spot wildlife, including snow leopard.

-Feel like you are standing on the spine of the planet on the Upper Dolpo – Upper Mugu traverse.

GHT Nepal Trek Summary Details

When to do the GHT West Nepal Trek?

West Nepal has a slightly different weather pattern compared to the central and eastern regions. Located at a higher latitude means that winters are longer and the monsoon is shorter, so April is the earliest start pre-monsoon but you can start in September. This also means that the trek can be done east to west and west to east.

A second issue is the rapid increase in altitude from Kagbeni, which makes the west to east option appealing to those who have not had time to pre-acclimatise. If you need to pre-acclimatise, then you should think about adding 3-4 days before the start for a visit to Muktinath.

For more information about choosing the right time to trek, see When to Trek?

GHT Nepal Route Map

The GHT West Nepal Trek combines Dolpo, Mugu and all of the Far West regions.

 

 

Customisation Is Normal

Want to do things a little differently? Maybe take some extra time, or go a bit faster? Or avoid technical sections or combine with other trails? Every GHT trek is different and that changes the price, but please feel free to Get in Touch to ask questions and how to customise your own trek.

Bookings

Please note that www.greathimalayatrail.com does not handle bookings for treks. We are here to inform you about the trails and logistics, but you will need to book through a registered trekking operator in Nepal. If you would like an operator recommendation or feedback on a company you are already talking to, then please Get in Touch.

Social And Environmental Impacts

The GHT has been designed around the principles of Responsible Sustainable Tourism and we do our very best to make sure that the GHT is good news for the locals and the environment along the trails. To walk the talk, we have pioneered the development of social impact assessment (see the MyGHTi project) and calculate Green House Gas and Waste created for each trek.

There is more information about how we calculate impacts at The Impact of Your Trek

For Solo and Twin-share GHT West Nepal Trek with minimum guide service (independent as much as possible

                                                                                                                     

The Trade-Off

You need both a guide and camping gear throughout the trek, although there are some teahouses enroute and places to resupply locally.This trek also has the biggest footprint due to lengthy transportation of you and supplies

For Fully Supported Twin-share GHT West Nepal Trek

                                           

Immerse yourself in mountains, explore remote communities and cultures, and cross the highest passes in the Himalaya. Linking Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest and the Rolwaling, the GHT East Nepal Trek is through an alpine wonderland. Combining regular trekking routes with some truly wild stuff, you need to be familiar with basic alpine climbing techniques, some strenuous hiking days and be sure to bring along a good sense of humour because the locals are a lot of fun.

Spanning 50 days and about 650km of trails, you can be sure of a once in a lifetime experience and some photos that will make your friends green with envy.

-Total Trek 50 days over about 650km

-6 passes over 5000m, 2 over 6000m.

-6 days of rest and/or acclimatisation included.                                 

5 Best Things about the GHT East Nepal Trek

1. A true mountain wonderland trek.
2. Super-friendly villages that are fun and outgoing.
3. Cross the highest passes on earth.
4. Good chance to spot wildlife, including red panda and snow leopard.
5. An experience that others can only dream of doing.

GHT East Nepal Trek Summary Details

When to do the GHT East Nepal Trek?

The big question when thinking about timing for the GHT East Nepal Trek is when will you cross the high passes between Makalu and Everest? There are two popular weather windows; in April-May and in October-November, the latter being the more popular.

Seasonality is an important consideration as snow fall could pose major problems. The October-November period has the most stable weather pattern throughout the year, but storms can come through, so flexibility in your schedule is important.

Navigation can also be a major challenge while crossing the Lumbha Sambha and along the wilderness route between Chyamtang/Hongon and Yangla Kharka, and is a little easier in the October-November period.

For more information about choosing the right time to trek, see When to Trek?

GHT Nepal Route Map

The GHT East Nepal Trek links Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest and the Rolwaling regions.

Bookings

Please note that www.greathimalayatrail.com does not handle bookings for treks. We are here to inform you about the trails and logistics, but you will need to book through a registered trekking operator in Nepal. If you would like an operator recommendation or feedback on a company you are already talking to, then please Get in Touch.

Social and Environmental Impacts of the GHT East Nepal Trek

The GHT has been designed around the principles of Responsible Sustainable Tourism and we do our very best to make sure that the GHT is good news for the locals and the environment along the trails. To walk the talk, we have pioneered the development of social impact assessment (see the MyGHTi project) and calculate Green House Gas and Waste created for each trek.

There is more information about how we calculate impacts at The Impact of Your Trek

 

For Solo and Twin-share GHT East Nepal Trek with minimum guide service (independent as much as possible):

                                                         

The Trade-Off

You do require a guide and you’ll probably also need some support for the high passes. There is a mix of camping and teahouses to choose from.However, your trek carbon and waste footprint is quiet low as you can use public transport to return to Kathmandu.

For Fully Supported Twin-share GHT East Nepal Trek:

                                                             

The Trade-Off

Fully supported treks have the maximum positive social impacts as wages and local purchases of food and fuel are high in the overall budget.However, your trek footprint is high and we’d suggest brainstorming ideas to reduce it.

Support staff

As explained above, most GHTers only want to have a guide when it’s obligatory, however, some folks want to have a support team with them for the whole trail, which we call a Fully Supported Trek. There is a big cost difference between having a guide with you sometimes and a crew of 5 or 6 with you all the time. However, a Fully Supported Trek has a few major benefits: (1) you don’t have to carry much weight, (2) you don’t have to worry about navigation, campsites, cooking, etc, and (3) the extra money you spend is in remote villages and local wages, which has very positive social impacts.

-The GHT East Nepal Trek ‘Guide only when necessary’ cost for a solo GHTer US$2,310, which is the same for 2 trekkers going together and is therefore half per person.

-The GHT East Nepal Trek ‘Fully Supported’ cost for two GHTers US$5,150 per person.

Meals and Fuel

You and any crew that are with you have to eat and sometimes buy fuel when in remote areas. Food and Fuel costs vary enormously along the GHT, where a cup of tea can cost 50cents to US$4! So, we calculate an average daily amount based on previous season costs, which we is currently US$35 per day per trekker – but this is if you only eat the local food (dhal bhat) and do not eat western dishes. Eating local meals is a really good idea as you will be served much more food (dhal bhat is refillable at no extra cost), and it’s super fresh and healthy. And let’s face it, why would you come trekking in Nepal to eat bad pasta anyway?

-A solo trekker on the GHT East Nepal Trek for 50-days should budget about US$1,750 to buy food and fuel for themselves and the guide.

-A Fully Supported GHT East Nepal Trek for 50-days should budget about US$2,725 per person to keep everyone well fed and fueled.

Administration & Contingencies

Be prepared for the unexpected and plan for resupply points. Most GHT treks include resupply points as you need to receive permits while in the field as they are date specified, so why not also send some other stuff along with the paperwork? Leave small packages of snacks, clean clothes, spare money, etc in Kathmandu and you can always add or remove items before the resupply point. These costs also include an administration payment to the trekking company, which includes their profit and staff insurance.

-Average administration and resupply costs are US$1,442 to US$1,570 per person.

Flexibility, Changes and Surprises

BUT no GHT is the same! So, these prices will no doubt vary depending on your itinerary, time of year and what happens while in the field. However, they are a good starting point to begin planning. Just remember to be flexible, accept changes as the happen and always be wary of surprises!

 

 

Get ready to be amazed, awed and challenged! The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) Nepal Trek crosses the highest possible route across the Nepal Himalaya – that’s over 1750km of remote mountain trails. Linking small, mountain villages by crossing wild passes this is the ultimate adventure challenge – there is simply nothing harder, higher or tougher in the world. River crossings, high altitude passes and thick jungle-filled valleys are just a few of the tests you will face.

To date, about 100 people (see GHT Community) have successfully trekked across the GHT Nepal high route, normally taking about 120-140 days (shown as the multi-coloured thick line on the map below).

-Total Trek 120 days, walking for 105 days with 11 rest days and 4 fly or drive days.

-18 passes over 5000m, 2 are over 6000m.

-150,000m+ of ascent and descent

5 Best Things about the GHT Nepal High Route

-Pristine trails that you don’t have to share with crowds.

-Super-friendly villages that are genuinely delighted to meet you.

-Some of the very best mountain scenery in the world.

-Good chance to spot wildlife, including red panda and snow leopard.

-An experience that others can only dream of doing.

GHT Nepal Trek Summary Details

-Duration & distance: 120 days total, 1750km depending on route

-Grade 5: some technical sections requiring ropes and difficult navigation

-Experience required: Prior alpine trekking experience required

-Walking times: From 3 to 9 hours per day

-Highest point: West Col, 6190m

-est season: March to June, or October to January

-Accommodation: Camping necessary for about half the time

-Guide Book: Nepal Trekking & the GHT, Trailblazer Publications, 2020.

-Digital Ro

-Topographic Maps: NP101-110 GHT Map Set, Himalayan Map House, 2017

     GHT Nepal Route Map

The Gokyo Lake Trek is an alternative to the traditional Everest base camp trek, while still providing the trekker with plenty of stunning views of Everest and overnight stays in the iconic town of Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the Khumbu Region.

The route to the Gokyo Lakes is less busy but still affords the trekker an insight into local village life, impressive views of icy rivers and stony, glacier debris, snow-capped mountains, and of course, the dazzling turquoise waters of Gokyo Lakes themselves.

The Gokyo Lakes are actually made up of six bodies of water, or lakes, located at an altitude of 4700 to 5000m in the Gokyo Valley. Gokyo Valley falls within the Sagarmatha National Park area.

The lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lake system and have been designated as a Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance) and sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. And if you need any more testaments to the beauty and importance of this area, Lonely Planet states, “for our money, the Gokyo Valley is the most spectacular in the Khumbu.”

By spending an extra day in the Gokyo Valley, you can visit the 5th and 6th lakes in a high alpine bowl at the foot of Cho Oyu, the world’s 6th highest mountain.

You should expect to walk around 5 hours a day, with one of the highlights being a steep climb up to Gokyo RI (5,357m) for the best view of Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. Also on display is the largest glacier in Nepal, Ngozumpa, and ice ridges. If walking 5 hours a day is not an option for you and you still want to see the pristine beauty of Gokyo lake.

To acclimatize before setting off for the Gokyo Ri and Gokyo Valley, time spent in Namche Bazaar offers you the opportunity to trek nearby Khumjung Village to visit the school set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, was the first person to successfully summit Mount Everest.

Since that time, dozens of climbing expeditions and thousands of trekkers have made Namche Bazaar a vibrant, bustling market town where it is possible to swap trekking stories with members of other groups.

Everest Three Passes Trekking is one of the adventurous trekking destinations in the Everest region that is perfect for challenger lovers like you. It will take you to the popular three passes, Renjo-La (5417m), Cho-La (5535m), and Kongma-La (5420m) of Everest. Picturesque view of the biggest mountains of the world, Khumbu Glacier – World’s highest glacier and the unique settlements in the high altitude, this trekking includes all.

Everest Trekking three passes in The pinnacle area of the world, Mount Everest is called Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chhomolongba in Tibetan. Kalapatthar is a well-known close-up viewpoint of Everest; The Everest Base Camp is a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and explorers. Gokyo lake and Surrounding lakes Khumbu Glaciers and more. It is well known for its Sherpa villages, Lukla, Namche, Khumjung, Thame, Pangboche. Monasteries and cultural museums are popular tourist attractions and spiritual centers for the indigenous Sherpa people.

Everest three passes treks popular for its stunning scenery and social life of Sherpa villages are the attraction of this region. Another attraction is the National park for those who are interesting in fauna and flora.

Everest three passes trekking is one of the most featured trek of Himalayan Windhorse Adventure.