Nepal Trekking Guide Beyond Everest Base Camp

Updated for 2026 — Accurate as of February 2026.

Nepal is the trekking capital of the world, and for most people, that means one thing: Everest Base Camp. The EBC trek is iconic and deservedly popular, but it represents a single route in a country that has dozens of world-class treks spanning the highest mountain range on Earth. If you have done EBC, or if you want to experience the Himalayas without the crowds and the “Everest brand” markup, Nepal’s other treks are where the magic truly lives.

The Annapurna Circuit, the Manaslu Circuit, Upper Mustang, the Langtang Valley, the Kanchenjunga region, and numerous smaller routes offer trekking experiences that are equal to or better than Everest Base Camp, often at lower cost, with fewer trekkers, and with cultural encounters that the busy Khumbu Valley can no longer provide.

I have trekked in Nepal three times over four years, completing the Annapurna Circuit in 2022, the Manaslu Circuit in 2024, and the Langtang Valley in 2025. Each trek delivered something different and extraordinary. This guide covers Nepal’s best treks beyond Everest, with practical, up-to-date information for 2026.

Annapurna Circuit: The Classic

The Annapurna Circuit is one of the most famous treks in the world and, despite road construction that has shortened the traditional route, remains one of the most diverse and spectacular multi-day hikes anywhere. The Nepal Tourism Board provides updated trekking permit information. The circuit loops around the Annapurna massif, crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,416 meters and passing through climate zones that range from subtropical forest to high-altitude desert.

The trek takes you through Gurung, Manangi, and Thakali villages, each with distinct architecture, culture, and cuisine. You walk through rice paddies, rhododendron forests, pine forests, and finally above the treeline into a stark, beautiful landscape of rock and ice. The crossing of Thorong La is the physical and emotional highpoint: a 1,000-meter climb from Thorong Phedi (4,450m) to the pass in a single morning, followed by a long descent into the Kali Gandaki Valley on the other side.

Distance: 160-230 km (depending on starting point and route variation) Duration: 12-18 days Highest point: Thorong La, 5,416m Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (altitude is the main challenge, not terrain) Permits: TIMS card (2,000 NPR / 15 USD) and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, 3,000 NPR / 22 USD). Both obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Accommodation: Teahouses (basic lodges) along the entire route. From 300-800 NPR per night (2-6 USD). Meals from 400-800 NPR (3-6 USD). No camping or cooking gear required. Guide/porter: Optional. Guides from 25-35 USD per day. Porters from 20-25 USD per day. Best season: October-November (post-monsoon, clearest skies, most popular) and March-April (pre-monsoon, rhododendrons in bloom, warmer). Getting there: Bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Besisahar (start point, 6-8 hours from Pokhara).

Pro Tip: Start from Dharapani or Chame rather than Besisahar if you want to avoid the road sections at the beginning of the circuit. You miss some lower-altitude scenery but gain days for the high-altitude sections, which are the most spectacular.

Photo credit on Pexels

Manaslu Circuit: The Uncrowded Alternative

The Manaslu Circuit has become the trekking community’s favorite “next best thing” to the Annapurna Circuit, offering similar diversity of scenery and culture with a fraction of the crowds. The circuit loops around Manaslu (8,163m, the eighth-highest mountain in the world) through deep gorges, Tibetan Buddhist villages, and over the Larkya La pass at 5,160 meters.

What makes Manaslu special is the combination of dramatic mountain scenery and genuine cultural immersion. The Nubri and Tsum valleys on the route are culturally Tibetan, with ancient monasteries, prayer wheels, mani walls, and a pace of life that feels centuries removed from modernity. The trekking permit system limits the number of trekkers, preserving the route’s sense of remoteness and authenticity.

Distance: 177 km Duration: 14-18 days Highest point: Larkya La, 5,160m Difficulty: Challenging (remote, altitude, one significant pass crossing) Permits: Restricted area permit (100 USD per person for first 7 days, 15 USD for each additional day), MCAP (3,000 NPR / 22 USD), TIMS card (2,000 NPR / 15 USD). A licensed guide is mandatory. Accommodation: Teahouses (more basic than Annapurna, but available throughout the route). From 200-500 NPR per night. Guide requirement: Mandatory. A licensed trekking guide is required for the Manaslu restricted area. Groups of minimum 2 trekkers (solo trekkers can join a group or hire a guide who counts as the second person). Best season: October-November, March-April Getting there: Bus from Kathmandu to Soti Khola or Arughat (start point, 8-10 hours).

Upper Mustang: The Last Forbidden Kingdom

Upper Mustang is a rain-shadow desert north of the Annapurna massif, culturally and geographically part of the Tibetan Plateau. Until 1992, it was a restricted kingdom closed to all foreigners. Today, it is open to trekkers with a special permit, and the experience of walking through this arid, eroded landscape of sandstone cliffs, ancient cave dwellings, and whitewashed Tibetan villages is unlike anything else in Nepal.

The trek follows the Kali Gandaki River north from Jomsom to Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the former kingdom. Lo Manthang is a medieval town of narrow alleys, Buddhist monasteries, and a palace where the former king still lives. The landscape is Mars-like: red, orange, and yellow rock formations eroded into dramatic shapes, with the snow-capped Himalayas visible to the south.

Distance: 160 km (round trip from Jomsom) Duration: 10-14 days Highest point: Approximately 4,200m Difficulty: Moderate (altitude is moderate, terrain is not technically difficult, but remoteness and wind add challenge) Permits: Restricted area permit (500 USD for 10 days, 50 USD for each additional day). A licensed guide is mandatory. TIMS and ACAP also required. Accommodation: Basic teahouses and guesthouses. From 300-500 NPR per night. Best season: May through October (the monsoon does not reach Upper Mustang, making it one of the few trekking areas in Nepal that is good during summer) Getting there: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (25 minutes, from 100 USD one way) or trek via the Annapurna Circuit to Jomsom.

Langtang Valley: The Closest Trek to Kathmandu

The Langtang Valley is the most accessible major trekking region from Kathmandu and offers a compact, rewarding trek through forests, pastoral valleys, and high-altitude landscapes below the Langtang Lirung massif (7,227m). The valley was devastated by an earthquake-triggered landslide in 2015 that destroyed the village of Langtang and killed over 300 people. The communities have rebuilt, and the trek has reopened with improved trails and new teahouses.

Distance: 60-80 km (depending on route variation) Duration: 7-10 days Highest point: Kyanjin Ri, 4,773m (day hike from Kyanjin Gompa) Difficulty: Moderate Permits: Langtang National Park permit (3,000 NPR / 22 USD), TIMS card (2,000 NPR / 15 USD) Accommodation: Teahouses throughout. From 200-500 NPR per night. Guide/porter: Optional but recommended Best season: October-November, March-May Getting there: Bus from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (start point, 8-10 hours).

Comparison: Nepal’s Major Treks

Trek	Duration	Max Altitude	Crowds	Cost (total)	Best For
Everest Base Camp	12-14 days	5,364m	High	800-1500 USD	The “Everest” name and prestige
Annapurna Circuit	12-18 days	5,416m	Moderate	500-1000 USD	Diversity of scenery and culture
Manaslu Circuit	14-18 days	5,160m	Low	800-1200 USD	Remote, authentic, uncrowded
Upper Mustang	10-14 days	4,200m	Low	1000-1500 USD	Unique desert/Tibetan culture
Langtang Valley	7-10 days	4,773m	Low-Moderate	300-600 USD	Accessibility, value, compact

Altitude Sickness: What You Need to Know

Altitude sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness, AMS) is the primary health risk on Himalayan treks. Any trek that goes above 3,000 meters carries risk. Symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and dizziness. If untreated, AMS can progress to life-threatening conditions (HACE and HAPE).

Prevention:

1. Acclimatize properly. Above 3,000m, do not ascend more than 300-500 meters per sleeping altitude per day. Take a rest day (no altitude gain) every 3-4 days.
2. Climb high, sleep low. Day hikes to higher altitude with return to a lower camp for sleeping aid acclimatization.
3. Stay hydrated. Drink 3-4 liters of water per day at altitude.
4. Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills. Both suppress breathing and worsen altitude symptoms.
5. Consider Diamox. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is a prescription medication that aids acclimatization. The CDC recommends discussing altitude medication with your doctor before the trek.

If symptoms appear: Stop ascending. If symptoms worsen after 24 hours at the same altitude, descend immediately. Descent is the only reliable cure.

Budget Planning for Nepal Trekking

Nepal trekking is remarkably affordable. A realistic budget:

Expense	Budget	Mid-Range
Permits	30-130 USD	130-600 USD (restricted areas)
Accommodation (per night)	2-6 USD (teahouse)	5-15 USD (better teahouse/lodge)
Food (per day)	10-15 USD	15-25 USD
Guide (per day)	0 (independent)	25-35 USD
Porter (per day)	0 (carry own)	20-25 USD
Transport to/from	10-30 USD	50-200 USD (flights)
14-day trek total	200-400 USD	700-1500 USD

These costs are for the trek itself. Add flights to Kathmandu, travel insurance (mandatory for responsible trekking), and gear (buy or rent in Kathmandu’s Thamel district at very low prices).

Practical Tips

Gear: You can buy or rent almost all trekking gear in Kathmandu’s Thamel district at a fraction of Western prices. Down jackets from 20-40 USD, sleeping bags from 5-10 USD rental, trekking poles from 10-15 USD. Quality varies, but for a single trek, budget gear from Thamel is adequate.

Food on the trail: Teahouse menus are surprisingly diverse: dal bhat (rice, lentils, and vegetables, the national dish), noodle soups, fried rice, pancakes, and pasta. Dal bhat is the best value and the most nutritious option, always served with unlimited refills.

Tipping: Guides and porters expect tips at the end of the trek. Standard is 10-15 percent of their fee for a guide, and a similar amount for porters. Tip in person, not through the agency.

Insurance: Get travel insurance that specifically covers trekking to the altitude you plan to reach and includes helicopter evacuation. Standard travel insurance does not cover high-altitude trekking. World Nomads and Global Rescue are popular options.

Kanchenjunga Base Camp: The Ultimate Remote Trek

For experienced trekkers seeking genuine remoteness, the Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek in far eastern Nepal is the antidote to the increasingly busy main trekking routes. Kanchenjunga (8,586m) is the world’s third-highest mountain, and the trek to its base camp (both north and south) passes through some of the most remote and biodiverse terrain in Nepal.

The route traverses subtropical forest, bamboo jungle, rhododendron forests, and high-altitude terrain, with the possibility of seeing red pandas, snow leopards, and Himalayan black bears. You will encounter very few other trekkers (perhaps 2-3 parties per week during peak season) and stay in basic teahouses and homestays in villages that see limited tourist traffic.

Distance: 150-180 km (depending on route) Duration: 20-25 days (north and south base camps combined) Highest point: Pangpema Base Camp, 5,143m (north side) Permits: Restricted area permit (10 USD per week), Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (2,000 NPR). Licensed guide mandatory. Best season: October-November, March-May

Choosing Between a Guide and Going Independent

Nepal’s trekking culture supports both guided and independent trekking (except on restricted routes where guides are mandatory). Here is the honest comparison:

Independent trekking advantages: Complete flexibility on pace and schedule, lower cost (saving 25-35 USD per day on guide fees), the satisfaction of navigating independently, and the freedom to change plans spontaneously.

Guided trekking advantages: Local knowledge of trail conditions, weather patterns, and cultural context. Language assistance (many teahouse owners speak limited English). Safety backup in case of injury or altitude sickness. Employment support for the local economy.

My recommendation: If it is your first trek in Nepal, hire a guide. The cultural dimension they add to the experience, pointing out medicinal plants, explaining Buddhist and Hindu traditions, introducing you to local families, is worth far more than the daily fee. For subsequent treks, go independent if you are comfortable with navigation and self-reliance.

A porter is more valuable than a guide if you have to choose one. A porter carries your pack (12-15 kg), freeing you to enjoy the scenery and reducing your physical strain dramatically. Many porters also serve as informal guides and can handle basic translation. Porter fees (20-25 USD per day) represent one of the best values in adventure travel.

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