Great Himalayan Trail
Trek facts
Trek difficulty: | Challenging |
Trek duration: | 18 to 150 days |
Popularity: | Trekkers are still discovering it, and the trail includes both popular and remote sections. |
Max. altitude: | 6200 m |
Accommodation: | Camping and teahouse |
Best season: | September to November and March to May |
Transport to/from trek: | Fly to Bhadrapur and drive by car via Taplejung to Lelep, where the trek starts. The trek ends in Simikot, from where you can fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj. |
Required permits: | Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card. Specific areas require their own permits. |
Great Himalayan Trail itinerary
This is the itinerary for the Manaslu and Annapurna section of the Great Himalayan Trail:
Day 1 | Arrive in Kathmandu |
Day 2 | Explore Kathmandu (free day) |
Day 3 | Drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola (730m) |
Day 4 | Soti Khola to Machha Khola (930m) |
Day 5 | Machha Khola to Khorla Besi (970m) |
Day 6 | Khorla Besi to Yaru (1100m) |
Day 7 | Yaru to Lama Chautara (1570m) |
Day 8 | Lama Chautara to Deng (1860m) |
Day 9 | Deng to Namrung (2630m) |
Day 10-11 | Namrung to Sama (3520m) and rest day |
Day 12 | Sama to Larkye Bazaar (4000m) |
Day 13 | Larkye Bazaar to Larkye Base Camp (4460m) |
Day 14 | Larkye Base Camp to Bimtang (3590m) |
Day 15 | Bimtang to Dharapani (1865m) |
Day 16 | Dharapani to Koto (2620m) |
Day 17-18 | Koto to Pisang (2675m) and Bhraka (3475m) |
Day 19 | Bhraka to Yak Kharka (4050m) |
Day 20 | Yak Kharka to Thorong Pedi (4450m) |
Day 21 | Thorong Pedi to Muktinath (3800m) |
Day 22-23 | Muktinath to Kagbeni (2810m) & rest day |
Day 24 | Kagbeni to Jomsom (2760m) |
Day 25 | Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara & Kathmandu |
Day 26 | Trip ends at Kathmandu |
Best time to trek the Great Himalayan Trail
The best months for hiking in Nepal on this trail are September to November (autumn) and March to May (spring). Winter should be avoided as the weather is cold and many high-elevation routes will be covered in snow. Likewise, the terrain gets challenging and unpleasant in the rainy summer season. The dry and relatively warm weather in autumn and spring is ideal for the Great Himalayan trail, and the mountain views are also superb during these months. Check out our guide on trekking seasons in Nepal for more information.
Great Himalayan Trail highlights
- See Nepal’s 8000-meter-plus peaks, including Everest, Makalu and Annapurna on this remarkable Himalayan trekking route.
- Meet diverse traditions and peoples, such as the Sherpas of the eastern Himalayas, the ancient Bon people of the Dolpo region, and the Tamangs of Langtang Valley.
- See the 800-year-old Rinchenling Gompa and learn about the Kagyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism practiced in Limi, a valley hidden in the mountains of Humla.
- Walk past pine, cedar and spruce trees and look out for birds like ducks and cormorants at Rara National Park.
- See some of the world’s highest permanently inhabited villages in Inner Dolpa that remain cut off for many months in a year.
- Enjoy the majestic views of the Ganesh Himal range from Kholabensi and the hot springs of Tatopani on the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu trekking route.
- Find inner peace in the quiet monasteries and glacial lakes of Sagarmatha National Park.