Trekking In Nepal: Top 5 Treks To Challenge Your Nerves

As they say, “Go Big Or Go Home!” You can use this statement to describe some of Nepal’s most challenging trekking trails. Indeed, we provide several trekking trails ranging from hard to easy levels.

All the difficult treks you will come across run along the Himalayas and shower you with one of the most rewarding views. Also one of the very reasons why Nepal is the perfect paradise for every trekker out there.

At times, all these best treks in Nepal come at the expense of body-wearing conditions and lack of oxygen. For any trekkers, these challenging trails require them to be at their best fitness level and have to have wide experience on hand.

But as we say and state our most challenging trekking trails, it does not specify just scaling Mount Everest. All these trails will help you experience different regions, such as Annapurna, Everest, Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and many more.

Best Five Challenging Treks To Try In Nepal

You should maintain yourself physically and mentally on track when it comes to difficult trekking routes. All these challenging trails are composed of high altitudes, rugged landscapes, remote valleys, unusual accommodations, rigid trails, and so on.

Altogether, every trek comes with unique turns and pathways, while you will be surrounded by breathtaking scenery. For all the tough trekkers, below are some of the mentioned lists of trekking trails that you should try on.

Mustang Teri La Pass And Nar Phu Valley Trek

• Location: Upper Mustang and Annapurna, North West
• Trek Duration: 26 days
• Maximum Elevation: Teri La Pass (5,577 meters / 18,297 feet)
• Trek Style: Tea House and Camping Trek
• Starting Point: Jomsom
• Required Permits: Lomanthang Rural Municipality permit, ACAP Restricted Area Permit, TIMS Card
• Best Season: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November

One of the most adventurous trails in Nepal, this trek connects the two kingdoms; Upper Mustang and Nar Phu Valley. It is one of the pristine and isolated trekking trails with the historical influence of Tibetan culture.

The short overview of this trek usually starts from Jomsom in Mustang. Slowly, you will pass the Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang before heading to Nar and Phu valley. Altogether, you will need to trek for five to six hours daily.

Well, this trail is so isolated that you are not allowed to travel independently. Hence, you will need at least a guide and a trekking partner. The maximum height you will reach during the trek is at Teri La Pass (5,577 meters / 18,297 feet).

There are also several high passes, such as Nyi La Pass, Lo La Pass, and Dhi La Pass.

Highlights Of The Trek

• Majestic views of Annapurna massif, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and Tilicho peak.
• Witness the Tibetan Buddhist and Bon culture and the traditional lifestyle.
• Explore sky caves, ancient monasteries, and Lo Manthang.

Annapurna Three High Pass Trek

• Location: Annapurna, North West
• Trek Duration: 24 days
• Maximum Elevation: Namun La (5,560 meters / 18,241 feet), Kang La (5,306 meters / 17,408 feet), and Mesokanto La (5,330 meters / 17,486 feet)
• Trek Style: Tea House and Camping Trek
• Starting Point: Sikles in Pokhara
• Required Permits: ACAP, Restricted Area Permit, and TIMS Card
• Best Season: March, April, May, September, October, and November

It is one of Nepal’s newest tracking routes, located in the foothills of the Annapurna range. Due to its hard trekking trail, this hike is also known as the Annapurna hard way trekking.

For a brief overview of this trek, it initially starts from Sikles in Pokhara and passes through the Marsyangdi river valley. You will pass the Nar Phu Valley and cross the second pass toward Manang. 

Here, your first challenge is at the Namun La high pass, the Kang La high pass, and the Mesokanto La high pass. Overall, you will spend most of the trekking days above 3500 meters. In the first week of the trek, you will already reach 4800 meters.

Highlights Of The Trek

• Witness various climatic zones from subtropical wilderness to the dry Tibetan Plateau.
• Trek alongside the crystal-clear gushing water of Marsyangdi River.
• Explore the culture and history of ethnic Gurung, Magar, Tibetan Buddhist, and Thakali communities.
• The stunning scenery of Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu.
• Explore the world’s highest-altitude lake, Tilicho Lake, at 4919 meters.
• Walk through the remote areas of Nar and Phu villages, passing by scenic gorges and canyons.
• Visit Sher Gompa, Tare Gompa, and Braga Gompa monasteries.
• Get a chance for wildlife spotting near the Annapurna region.

Everest Three Passes Trek

• Location: Everest / Khumbu region, North East
• Trek Duration: 20 days
• Maximum Elevation: Kala Patthar (5,550 meters / 18,209 feet)
• Trek Style: Tea House Trek
• Starting Point: Lukla
• Required Permits: Sagarmatha National Park permit and TIMS card
• Best Season: March, April, May, September, October, and November

While trekking in Nepal, you surely can not miss the chance to trek alongside the iconic peak of Mt. Everest. Everest Three Passes hops from one trekking destination to another in the Khumbu region.

Here, you will pass through the three of the highest passes of Everest. These classic passes are Renjo La Pass (5,360 meters), Cho La Pass (5,420 meters), and Kongma La Pass (5,535 meters). Almost every trekking day, you will spend at an elevation above 4000 meters.

As the short overview of this challenging trek, you will start from Lukla and follow the classical Everest Base Camp trail. Gradually, you will move to the Gokyo Valley and Chhukung Valley. Overall, you will need to walk about five hours every day.

Highlights Of The Trek

• Explore the Everest Base Camp (5,360 meters), Gokyo Peak (5,360 meters), Kalapatthar (5,550 meters), and Nangkartshang Peak (6,616 meters).
• The stunning views of Gokyo Lakes.
• Visit the longest glacier in Nepal; Ngozumpa Glacier.
• Explore Namche Bazaar.
• Walk through the three high passes; Renjo La Pass (5,360 meters), Cho La Pass (5,420 meters), and Kongma La Pass (5,535 meters). 
• Trek through Sagarmatha National Park.
• Get the scenic beauty of some of the highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest (8,848.86 meters), Makalu (8,463 meters), Cho Oyu (8,153 meters), and Lhotse (8,516 meters).

Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek 

• Location: Dhaulagiri region, North West
• Trek Duration: 20 days
• Maximum Elevation: French Pass (5,360 meters / 17,590 feet)
• Trek Style: Tea House and Camping Trek
• Starting Point: Beni in Pokhara
• Required Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card
• Best Season: March, April, May, September, October, and November

One of the extreme treks, the Dhaulagiri Circuit trek, is long in the Myagdi District, west of the Annapurna range. Often it is challenging trails as you will need to walk over 5,000 meters (16,405 feet) for three days. 

Additionally, you will not find any comfort in basic lodges on this rugged and off-the-beaten route. During the trek, you will pass through two high passes; French Pass (5,360 meters) and Dhampus Pass (5,244 meters). All the routes are covered with rocky pathways, steep ascends, and long descends.

In this trek, you will spend most of the days above 3,500 meters and need to walk six to seven hours regularly.

Highlights Of This Trek

• Enjoy the trails of hilly terrain, rough boulders, snow-clad glaciers, ice-frozen trekking paths, dense forests, and so on.
• Pass attractive settlements such as Takam, Sibang, Phaliyagaon, Mudi, Naura, Bagar, Lipse, and many more.
• Magnificent view of Dhaulagiri I, II, III, and V from Italian Base Camp and Glacier Camp.
• Get panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri range, Annapurna range, Nilgiri range, and Tukuche Peak.
• Soak into the rich and cultural lifestyle of the ethnic groups of the Magar, Gurung, and Thakali communities.
• Explore Marpha Village, famous for apple orchards.

Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

• Location: Kanchenjunga, North East
• Trek Duration: 18 to 26 days
• Maximum Elevation: Pang Pema (Kanchenjunga North Base Camp) (5,143 meters / 16,880 feet)
• Trek Style: Tea House and Camping Trek
• Starting Point: Lukla
• Required Permits: Kanchenjunga Conservation Area permit (KCA), Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit, and TIMS Card
• Best Season: March, April, May, September, October, and November

An all-time favorite trail for extreme trekkers, Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, is an isolated journey and is restricted for solo travel. You will need a minimum group of two trekkers and a government-licensed guide to accomplish this trek.

This trek is among the most challenging, with the off-beaten tracks, unique landscapes, and unprecedented rainfalls. This trek passes through 400 km of a breathtaking journey which starts at a height above 5000 meters by the second week.

A brief overview of this trek passes through Taplejung to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp / Oktang viewpoint. Then, you will move past the third Kanchenjunga North to Makalu Trek, following the great Himalayan trail.

Altogether, you will pass through the three high passes, Slele La (4,480 meters), Mirgin La (4,663 meters), and Sinon La (4,646 meters). Also, you will walk for about seven to eight hours on this trail daily.

Highlights Of The Trek

• Stunning views of Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters), Everest (8,848.86 meters), Makalu (8,481 meters), Kambachen (7,903 meters), Janu (7,710 meters), Jongsong (7,483 meters), Kabru (7,353 meters), Tent Peak (7,365 meters), and Chang Himal (6,802 meters).
• Walk through the cardamom farm.
• Explore the isolated and untouched Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.
• Glorious sights of the frozen lake, crystal clear stream, Okthan glacier, and so on.
• Explore the cultural lifestyle of Limbu and Sherpa.
• Encounter with wildlife and domestic animals.
• Bird watching with Pheasant, Red-Billed Blue Magpie, Shy Dragon, Amphibian, and many more.

Other Challenging Treks To Explore In Nepal

Nepal has countless trekking trails that you can accomplish. All the other treks are equally challenging to achieve. Below are some such tours for you to explore.

• Ganja La Pass Trek (maximum elevation at 5,033 meters / 16,512 feet)
• Rolwaling Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek (maximum elevation at 5,755 meters / 18,882 feet)
• Upper Dolpo Trek (maximum elevation at 5,350 meters / 17,552 feet)
• Makalu Base Camp Trek (maximum elevation at 4,900 meters / 16,076 feet)
• Dolpo to Mustang with five high pass treks (maximum elevation at 5,700 meters / 18,701 feet)
• Limi Valley Trek (maximum elevation at 4,620 meters / 15,157 feet)

In A Nutshell

All these earlier-mentioned trekking trails are quite challenging due to their nature. It all depends on their trekking distance, altitude, and uneven geography. Nepal is heaven for a nature lover and the perfect destination for an adventure enthusiast.

It offers a wide range of trekking trails as per your desired difficulty level. Hence, with a thorough understanding of your trek, it is crucial to pack accordingly and travel with the right team.

In addition, if you are searching for the right trekking packages with professional support, feel free to contact us. We will make sure to provide you with jaw-breaking experiences here in Nepal.