Best Treks to Do in Nepal in 3 Weeks or More

Nepal is world-renowned for trekking. From short treks around Kathmandu and off-the-beaten-track treks to luxury tours in Nepal, this country is one of the best places for scenery, people, and mountains!

Many adventure activities are available – from mountain biking in Nepal, climbing such peaks as Mera Peak and nuptse Peak, to name just two, to bungee jumping and paragliding. Then there are the more relaxing activities such as short treks around Pokhara, Nepal yoga retreats, homestay treks in Nepal, and Everest mountain flights. In this blog, I want to concentrate on longer treks – those of 3 weeks and over. These treks are generally pretty challenging, often camping treks, and involve a lot of stamina and good fitness. Read on if you dare!

• Upper Dolpo Trek / 23 days

• Upper Dolpo to Jomsom Trek / 26 days (extendable)

• Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek / 21 days

• Karma Trek / 29 Days

• Teri La Pass Trek / 20 days extendable

• Arun Valley to Everest Base Camp Trek / 18 days

• Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek / 26 days

• Lumba Sumba Trek / 19 days

West Nepal – The Hidden Valley of Dolpo

Upper Dolpo Trek / 23 days

Dolpo lies in the northwest of Nepal near the Tibetan Plateau. Upper Dolpo is the region's upper part, a remote and restricted area. Only a few trekkers are allowed into this area every year. Since this area is in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri mountain range, you don't have to worry about the best season to visit Nepal, as you can come here even during the summer monsoon when other trekking routes are slippery and unpleasant. 

Being so close to Tibet, the culture and lifestyle are Tibetan Buddhist. There are also the last remaining practitioners of the Bon religion in this area. On this long trek with its rugged trails, high altitude, steep and sometimes unstable paths, you will be rewarded with monasteries, quaint villages, stunning views of Dhaulagiri and Crystal Mountain, and be trekking through the Shey Phoksundo National Park with the beautiful Phoksundo Lake. This is a camping trek and tough on the body. Be prepared for that. But also be prepared for the trip of your life!

Upper Dolpo to Jomsom Trek / 26 days (extendable)

If you want to push yourself, even more, you can extend your Upper Dolpo trek to include ending in Jomson, in the Mustang region. This involves extremely tough trails and camping. Like the regular Upper Dolpo Trek, this trek starts with a flight to Nepalganj from Kathmandu and then another flight from Nepalganj to Jhupal. But unlike the Upper Dolpo Trek, you end by coming out of Dolpo, over the Sangda La Pass (5,240m) into Mustang, and down to the Jomson Valley. From Jomson, you can fly out to Pokhara or continue to trek down through Mustang. If you decide on the latter, you can swap your tent for comfortable lodge accommodation. But all this will have to be arranged in advance of a course. This trek goes through Shey Phoksundo National Park, the largest national park in the country. There is plenty of bird and wildlife, and it is home to the rare Snow Leopard.

Treks Starting at Kathmandu, Ending at Pokhara

Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek / 21 days

This challenging trek starts with a day from Kathmandu to Beni and ends with a flight from Jomson to Pokhara and then a flight or drive back to Kathmandu. You can, of course, extend your trip to Pokhara to relax and unwind. It is a mix of camping and staying in teahouses (lodges) which is an ideal way to taste both experiences. You will pass two of the highest massifs in the world – Mount Dhaulagiri and Mount Annapurna. And you will experience many more mountains over 7,000m. Aside from these vast giants, you will be in the deepest gorge in the world that sits between the two before-mentioned massifs. There are a couple of passes to test your endurance. And your balance, as there most probably will be ice on the trail.

Passing through the French Col, you may be required to use ice picks and crampons. Dhaulagiri Base Camp, The French Camp, and the Hidden Valley are some of the places you will visit. With the many passes to traverse, there is a rest day to explore the Hidden Valley before ending the trek in the cobblestoned village of Marpha – famous for its apples and apple brandy, and the bustling market town of Jomson. You will have lodge accommodation and more comprehensive menu items in both these locations. And perhaps some beer or brandy?

Karma Trek / 29 Days

This trek takes you through Manang via Kathmandu, ends at Mustang, and goes to Pokhara. One of the highlights of this trek is that it takes you into the Hidden Kingdom of Lo, more commonly known as Upper Mustang. And although it is a long and, in parts, laborious trek, it does not involve camping. This unique trek combines the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Annapurna Circuit Trek and takes you to Lo Manthang, the ancient home of the King of Lo in Upper Mustang. Most of this trek takes you through Tibetan Buddhist areas in culture and traditions, and once in Upper Mustang, the land itself takes on a very Tibetan look and feel. The Karma Trek combines three of the world's most popular and famous treks. And it is not many people who have undertaken this trek (as one trip), so you will be almost a pioneer! It starts with a drive from Kathmandu and ends with a flight out of Jomson to Pokhara, after which you can drive or fly back to Kathmandu. It takes all the high mountains in the Annapurna range and takes you over the Thorong La Pass, which links Manang to Mustang. From there, you turn north towards Lo Manthang in the restricted area of Upper Mustang. This area is famous for its sky cliffs. Homes or places of worship were placed high up on cliffs, and we are not sure by whom, why, or even how they managed to climb up so high!

Teri La Pass Trek / 20 days extendable

This relatively new and exciting trek takes you off the beaten track and into the Hidden Kingdom of Lo. Otherwise known as Upper Mustang. From the lowland forests to dry, Tibetan-like landscapes, this trek is something different. You will also be camping which adds to the excitement and expedition feel. Upper Mustang borders Tibet, so you can expect to see gompas, stupas, monasteries, and thousands of prayer flags sending up prayers on the wind. You will visit the old palace at Lo Manthang and cross some passes, including Makar Pass (4,259m), Day-La Pass (3,950m), Chogo La Pass (4,280m), Nyila Pass (4,010m), and Ghemi La Pass (3,765m). So be fit and prepared before you arrive.

The mountains, including Teri La, are stunning – white against the blue skies. In Upper Mustang, there is a day to explore the Chooser Cave. This is part of a unique and puzzling cave complex known as the Sky Caves. There are around 10,000 artificial caves carved into the side of cliffs. Mummified bodies and skeletons over 2,000 years old have been found along with Buddhist paintings, manuscripts, and artifacts from the 12th to 14th centuries. But actually, no one knows why the caves are there. Interesting indeed! The trek ends at Jomson, where you can fly down to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu. Or extend your stay in Pokhara.

East Nepal – Everest Region

Arun Valley to Everest Base Camp Trek / 18 days

This trek is less than three weeks, but it is such an exciting twist on the usual Everest Base Camp Trek it is worth putting it here. The trek begins with a flight to Tumlingtar, where the start trek takes you through terraced fields and green pastures. The Arun Valley is the deepest in the world. It falls between Mt Everest and the Makalu-Barun National Park. Less crowded than the Khumbu Valley, it's a great trek for those who like something a bit different but don't want to miss out on the main features of the Everest Base Camp Trek. The mountains are a prominent feature of this trek - Everest, Makalu, Mera Peak, Baruntse, Mt. Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Thamserku are just some you will see. Flora and fauna around the National Park are also stunning. There are 47 different types of orchids and 800 types of butterflies! And, if you are lucky, the shy red panda. On day 8, this trek joins the EBC trek at Pakhding and on to Namche Bazaar for an acclimatization day before hiking higher. Then it follows the classic route of Tengboche Monastery, Kala Patthar (or Everest viewpoint as it is sometimes called), Gorakshep, and Everest Base Camp itself. The trek ends with a magnificent and breathtaking flight out of Lukla.

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek / 26 days

Kanchenjunga is the world world world's peak at 8,400m! Interestingly, it was thought to be the world's highest mountain for a long time. Since this is considered a sacred mountain, mountaineers cannot stand on the actual summit; but mountaineers can climb it. This trek will get you close to the mountain and the base camp. Again diversity of fauna and flora is a highlight of this trek. Majestic pine and Rhododendron forests fill the first few days of the trek, along with rugged trails, raging rivers, and suspension bridges to cross. This trek has lots to offer, from cardamom farms to mountain panoramas and the Yalung Glacier. This is an excellent trek for those who want to get away from it over a more extended period.

However, this is a high-altitude trek with some long trekking days and, therefore, not to be taken lightly. A significant level of fitness is required to complete the trek. The trek starts and ends at a lowlands airport east of the country, which connects with Kathmandu. This unusual trek will undoubtedly be a great talking point among other trekkers who did not even know it existed!

Lumba Sumba Trek / 19 days

Again this trek falls a little short of the three weeks mark, but the mountains, culture of the local peoples, and the trail make up for this 'shortfall'! Onlyhaving opened up in 2012, and this trek lies between Mt Kanchenjunga and Mt Makalu. It is part of the Great Himalayan Trail – a trek that goes across the country from east to west and takes around 150 days to complete. Now that is some trek! The Lumba Sumba Trek takes you through two conservation areas, Kanchenjunga and Makalu, and Limbu, Sherpa, Rai, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, and Newar villages. This trek follows the trails that connect these two conservation areas. Red pandas and Snow Leopards are just two rare species living there. The mountains you will witness – and photograph – include those in the Makalu Himals and the Kanchenjunga Himal.

 To reach this area, we fly to Bhadrapur in the country's southeast, then drive to the starting point of the trek. On the way, we drive through Ilam, the tea plantation center of Nepal. This unusual trek will undoubtedly be a great talking point among other trekkers you meet back in Kathmandu and your hometown.

Feeling Daunted?

I know the experienced trekkers and adventurers among you will not be daunted but excited by the thought of weeks in the mountains! The rest of us… well, don't, you don't have to head out into the wilderness with a tent for days to enjoy Nepal! We are often asked if Nepal is a safe travel destination in Asia. And at this time (2022/23), we are additionally asked about safe countries to travel to in Asia in 2023. While no one can predict what will happen in 2024, we can say that Nepal is a safe day-to-day destination.

But trekking and traveling in the mountains always has some risk – mainly of missing the trail (if traveling solo) or the high altitude that your body needs time to adapt to. But there are a few mishaps with the best Nepal tour agencies – those who can give Nepal travel advice and safety regulations. Every visitor who comes trekking should be covered for trekking, and please ensure high altitude trekking is mentioned in your policy;

If, after reading this blog, you think that trekking in Nepal is perhaps not for you – rest assured there are easy hikes from one day to several that anyone can do. Otherwise, there are many other activities, such as wildlife spotting in Chitwan National Park, bird watching in Bardia National Park, rafting, and even luxury tours in Nepal. And with the beautiful culture, heritage and architecture you will find in Kathmandu and beyond, Nepal has something for everyone!