Great Himalaya Trail Tours and Trips 2024/2025

The Great Himalayan Trail is a 150-days-plus rough network of paths covering the entirety of Nepal from east to west. The 1,700-kilometer trail includes subtropical jungles, alpine ecosystems and open grasslands, winding through diverse Nepali communities like the Tamang, Limbu, Rai, Bhutia and Lhomi. The Great Himalayan Trekking Trail consists of two routes: the High Route (with most snow peaks) and the Low Route (with a bigger cultural component). The full trek is divided into 10 distinct sections, each offering unique trekking experiences in the Nepal Himalayas. Most trekkers do one section of the trail at a time, such as the Annapurna and Mustang trek, Langtang and Helambu trek, Rolwaling and Everest trek, or Kanchenjunga trek.

Check out the Great Himalayan trekking tours in Nepal below.

Great Himalaya Trail - 1 Trip with 7 Reviews

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Rara Lake Trek

  • Free cancellation
  • Trip customizable
12 day trekking and hiking trip through Nepalgunj, Uthugaun, Danphe Langa and 8 other destinations in Nepal. Read More
  • Tour Type Private Tour
  • Activities Trekking and Hiking
  • Accommodation Hotel & Guest House
  • Transport Flight & Private Vehicle
  • Age Range 5-79 yrs
  • Operated in English
days12 From US$ 1,380 View Tour
Next Departures
  • Feb 01
  • Feb 02
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Great Himalaya Trail Reviews

5 - Excellent
Based on 7 customer reviews
Excellent
5 - Excellent
  • Anonymous
“The Great Himalaya Trail is a trek like no other - diverse and breathtaking - with its changing seasons, majestic mountains, challenging altitudes, snow, heat and monsoonal rains it instantly captures your heart and soul. I have so many favourite places from out along the trail In the east, where the jagged, snow capped peaks of the Kanchenjunga region jut skyward between rocky passes and boulder strewn glaciers. In the west, where the thick, green juniper forests grow bravely in steep ravines that gradually give way to high, shaley windswept plateaus. In the Everest region, where the magnificent mountain itself stands shoulder to shoulder with its fellow 8,000 metre peaks, and in the Makalu region, where the stars are so bright, the Milky Way paints a vibrant white stripe across the inky sky. Our tour company's team was absolutely amazing - Skilled, caring and wise beyond words. We very quickly became part of their Nepalese family and settled into a wonderful daily routine immersed in their culture, and in the elements, with our backpacks, trekking poles and our little yellow tents. If you are thinking of trekking the Great Himalaya Trail, Id say do it, you will have an incredible life changing experience.”
Excellent
5 - Excellent
  • Anonymous
“The trail was incredible passing through steamy jungles as well as silent, imposing glacial terrain and remote. But the trail and its conditions were the only challenges we faced with the excellent leader and support team we had. Delicious meals with plenty of variety, comfy tents and high quality gear - everything, other than putting one foot in front of the other, is beautifully looked after for you.”
Excellent
5 - Excellent
  • Anonymous
“This has been the most amazing experience anyone could ever think of doing. I have come so far, over 1700kms across this beautiful country, and over 29 high passes and been above 6000m. And not to mention the kind hearted people of Nepal, always full of joy and rich in culture, that we have met along this journey.For me this has been a very personal adventure and the sense of achievement I cant tell you how proud I am of myself. Ill take from this experience to propel me forward in life.The staff have done a phenomenal job on this journey, so tirelessly hard working. Its not quite over yet, still 2 days to go before we get back to Simikot, it makes me happy that its not over! Were now retracing steps back to Simikot and our flight out, its a strange feeling after traversing the country completely in the opposite direction, however this short return section offers a different perspective of the stunning views and I feel its fitting to be facing the mountains we have travelled over.I have been extremely happy with my gear that has served me well along this 152 day journey, its kept me comfortable and given me confidence in all the extreme conditions we have encountered. Although this journey is about to end I cant help thinking of the next thing, future goals, perhaps a trip to New Zealand and a mountaineering course to learn the skills to climb the mountains we have passed beneath over the last 5 months! When I return home I hope to inspire others to get out there, especially the youth, to get out there and get amongst it, there is so much out there.Personally, I would like to thank the tour company for making it possible, its a huge undertaking to organize and execute such a logistically complicated journey. Its really opened my eyes a lot, and its changed my life, when I return home the plan is to live more simply, at home we take so much for granted, here, there is so little, people have so little, and they are happy, and they have touched my heart.”

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 old traditional houses in Lo Manthang on the Great Himalayan Trail.
Discover unique homes and local communities during your trek.
Experience this view of Kongma La Pass while trekking Everest Base Camp.
Head to the Kongma La Pass when trekking the three passes route in Everest Base Camp.
  • 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.  

Great Himalayan Trail safety considerations

View Buddhist structures in the mountain on the Great Himalayan Trail.
View culturally significant landmarks while following the Great Himalayan Trail.
  • While tea houses are available on many trekking routes, it’s good to be aware of nearby villages on remote routes.
  • Since this trek is very long, you will inevitably encounter harsh or unpredictable weather at some point. Minimize risk by checking the day’s forecast before starting out, leaving early in the morning when the weather is often clear, and finding shelter immediately when you sense the weather is deteriorating.
  • Carry plenty of cash if you know you won’t touch a big town or city for several weeks.
  • You can do some of the more accessible sections of the trek like parts of Kathmandu Valley on your own and tie up with a guide for the more strenuous and far-off routes like the Humla and Limi Valley Trek.

Tours in Great Himalaya Trail - Questions and Answers

  • What is the cost to trek the Great Himalayan Trail?

    The costs of the Great Himalayan Trail vary greatly depending on what is included in your itinerary. A fully guided trek on a twin-sharing basis may cost upwards of USD 22,000 per person. If you’re doing a single section like most trekkers, the cost may vary from USD 1600 to USD 3000.

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