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Nepal Travel Guides
163+ in-depth articles written by our Kathmandu trek leaders — weather, permits, costs, packing and everything between.
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Each guide hub covers one region in full — month-by-month weather, permits, costs and more.
How to plan a trek in Nepal
Nepal packs eight of the world’s fourteen 8,000-metre peaks into a country you can cross by bus in two days — and every valley trek feels different. The Everest region is teahouse trekking at its most developed; Manaslu and Kanchenjunga are restricted areas where permits, guides and group rules apply; Langtang is the closest big-mountain valley to Kathmandu; and Upper Mustang and Dolpo sit in the Himalayan rain shadow, walkable even in monsoon.
Planning comes down to four decisions: when to go (October–November and March–May are the classic windows — every destination hub above has a month-by-month breakdown), which permits you need (TIMS and conservation-area permits everywhere; restricted-area permits for Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo and Kanchenjunga), how to budget (each hub has a current cost guide covering permits, teahouses, food and transport), and how to prepare (training plans, packing lists and altitude-sickness guides are in every hub’s Preparation section).
Everything here is written and updated by our own trek leaders in Kathmandu — the same people who run our group departures — not compiled from other websites.
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Nepal trekking FAQs
Do I need a guide to trek in Nepal?
In restricted areas — Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo and Kanchenjunga — yes, a licensed guide and a minimum group size are required by law. On open routes like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna and Langtang a guide is strongly recommended for safety and logistics, and since 2023 national-park rules require one on most major trails.
When is the best time to trek in Nepal?
Autumn (late September to November) has the most stable weather and clearest views, with spring (March to May) a close second. Winter treks work at lower altitude, and rain-shadow regions like Upper Mustang and Dolpo are at their best during the June–August monsoon. Every destination guide above has a month-by-month breakdown.
What permits do I need for trekking in Nepal?
Most treks need a conservation-area or national-park permit (ACAP, MCAP, Sagarmatha, Langtang). Restricted areas add a Restricted Area Permit issued only through registered agencies. We arrange every permit for trekkers on our trips — you just send a passport copy and photos.
How much does trekking in Nepal cost?
Budget roughly USD 30–60 per day for teahouse trekking (lodging, food, hot drinks) plus permits, transport and guide costs. Fully organised group treks with us start around USD 986 for the Manaslu Circuit — each destination hub has a detailed, regularly updated cost guide.
How fit do I need to be for a Himalayan trek?
If you can comfortably hike 5–6 hours a day on hills, you can trek in Nepal. Altitude matters more than raw fitness: choose an itinerary with proper acclimatisation days and read our altitude-sickness guides before you go. Shorter treks like Poon Hill or Langtang suit first-timers.
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