Top 10 Treks in Nepal: the best routes in the Himalayas

Sophie Nicholson    trekkingholidays     Hiking, Himalayas, Nepal, Trek, Treking in Nepal, trekking, trekking holidays

For any true mountain lover, trekking in the Himalayas in nothing less than a rite of passage: the ultimate trekking destination. Each year, thousands of trekkers and mountaineers make their way to Nepal to see its awe-inspiring mountains first-hand and to immerse themselves in this sacred and culturally diverse land.

Trekking in Nepal. Image: Flickr/mckaysavage

Nepal is blessed with a rich and demanding landscape of lush green forests, high shining mountains, hilly foot trails, and beautiful lakes and springs. With such an abundance of trekking holidays on offer, it can be difficult to know where to start when planning a trip to Nepal.

This guide hopes to help point you in the direction so that you can find the trek best suited to you. Trekking in Nepal may be a once in a lifetime holiday, so we want to make sure you get it right, right  from the beginning….

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Walking gear : how getting your kit off keeps you warm

Mark Pawlak    ash     clothing, Nepal, trekking, trekking gear, Trekking in Nepal, Walking clothing, walking gear, Walking kit

Sounds crazy? But that’s right, the best way to keep warm is to get your walking gear off  – well, as much of it as possible…

We all keep on far too many clothes when it warms up, leaving us with little else to put on when the temperature drops again – no wonder we still feel cold when mummified in winter jackets and fleeces.

Layer up when you need to, kit off when you don't. Image: Flickr/thedanphotos

The same applies when we come in from the cold or shelter for a while when out walking. Basically , we play the layer game when the temperature drops but don’t like to reduce layers when it rises again.

The key to getting your layers right is to not judge temperature by what’s outside, but on how warm you feel inside.

Some of these skills come with experience, but arguably you can learn them walking to the shops: you don’t need to be trekking in Nepal to apply the onion-skin approach to layers.

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The Top 10 Tips for Trekking in the Himalayas

Mark Pawlak    ash     Himalayas, mountain walking, Nepal, Tibet, training for trekking, trekking, Trekking in the Himalyas, Walking

The good news is that no matter your age or abilities, most everyone can go trekking in the Himalayas – you certainly don’t need to be Sir Edmund Hilary or the like! Read on to find out about the top ten tips for trekking in the Himalayas!

Get ready for trekking in the Himalayas

Before you go:

Head for the hills

Fitness goes hand in hand with enhancing your overall trekking experience. The fitter you are the more pleasurable your experience will be. Trekking in the Himalayas involves many days walking at a time, up to 8 hours, with distances upwards of 10km/day. The key is to build your endurance levels over time.

3-6 months before you set off on your Himalayan adventure head to the hills in your own backyard! Practise walking with a daypack, starting with half-day outings. As you build your fitness increase the amount of time and distance covered in your walks.

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What’s left to climb?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     china, climb, climbing, everest, Nepal, pakistan

We are forever hearing about Everest expeditions, and K2 and the other usual suspects, but which mountains still unconquered are on mountaineers’ to-do lists?

We all to easily forget that the vast majority of the Earth’s peaks have yet to be climbed. A quick glance at the geo maps from China reveal the true scale of the challenges ahead.

According to the country’s national data, Karakorum mountain peaks at 8611m, that’s only 237m short of Everest, and there are five more mountain ranges that top out at over 7,000m. Now, who is looking to take climbing to new heights and get onto these new on challenges? read more

Everest teen gets explorer’s support

Mark Pawlak    ash, Our Experts     Adventure, Asia, everest, Jordan Romero, Nepal, Travel, trekking

When I first read that a 13-year-old  boy wanted to climb Everest, I reacted negatively. I thought this has got to be a joke, he is way too young!

But reading more about Jordan Romero it becomes clear that this boy knows his way around a mountain. He’s been to high altitude before and has some top peaks on his CV.

Mikael Strandberg says: "Jordan, go for it!"

So why the worry? His detractors, and there are many, are clearly forgetting what exploring is all about.

Human life is about pushing the limits of what others think is impossible. Or stupid. Or irresponsible. Or dangerous. This underpins all exploring.

Put yourself in the boy’s position; what an opportunity!

So I say to Jordan Romero, aged 13: Go for it!

Game Over: Rugby star set to tackle Everest

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     everest, Nepal, rugby

When sports stars are put out to pasture, there are only so many routes they can take. One is to swap the team jersey for a coach’s blazer – not always a success – while another, is to pass on their experience, as a media pundit. Only a select few move into adventure sports. But those that do bring stamina, knowledge, and physical application: attributes that serve them well.

Take the case of Josh Lewsey: Formidable England rugby international famous for his truck-stopping tackle on Jonah Lomu, now preparing to ascend Everest; taking the most difficult route. Why, after years of physical stress and strain, continue to push your body to the limits? Because, it is what these people do. read more

Extreme Sports: How high can we go?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     everest, Nepal, skydiving, space

Mr Felix Baumgartner is off parachuting again. Although, for Felix at least, skydiving is not enough: he’s jumping from space.

Yes, from space. The 40-year-old former Austrian special forces soldier is readying to leap from 120,000ft (23 miles). His attempt, if successful, will usurp the current record, set back in 1969 when US Air Force jumper Joseph Kittinger Jnr dropped in from 102,800ft.

Just what is it with us humans? Higher, faster, longer, further, deeper, fatter – skip the last one – we just have to keep pushing it. read more