Nepal trekking tips & advice
Packing Tips
Emma Garrick from our supplier Exodus shares her packing tips for trekking in Nepal:
“Layers are the way to go as opposed to big jackets, certainly for lower altitude treks; I would bring a couple of lighter fleeces and long sleeved tops and layer up that way. Some people like to use walking poles and I think they’re especially useful on long days of descent as it takes the weight off you knees, though it’s generally adults and people in their 40s and upwards who use them. There are outdoor shops in Thamel where you can pick up additional trekking kit and clothing for a fraction of the price – I wouldn’t want to guarantee the quality, but there is opportunity to grab something if you forget it. It’s always the case that you don’t need everything you think you will; as a rule of thumb you’ll probably need half of what you originally pack.”
“Layers are the way to go as opposed to big jackets, certainly for lower altitude treks; I would bring a couple of lighter fleeces and long sleeved tops and layer up that way. Some people like to use walking poles and I think they’re especially useful on long days of descent as it takes the weight off you knees, though it’s generally adults and people in their 40s and upwards who use them. There are outdoor shops in Thamel where you can pick up additional trekking kit and clothing for a fraction of the price – I wouldn’t want to guarantee the quality, but there is opportunity to grab something if you forget it. It’s always the case that you don’t need everything you think you will; as a rule of thumb you’ll probably need half of what you originally pack.”
Advice on coping with Altitude
Emma Garrick from our supplier Exodus shares her advice on coping with altitude:
“Altitude affects people very differently, so you need to walk at a slower pace than the pace you’d trek at somewhere in the UK, and when trekking in a group the Nepali leaders will always be sure to hold you back anyway. There are acclimatization days and walks that are built into trekking itineraries especially to get trekker’s bodies used to the environment, which are very helpful for the next day’s higher altitude trekking. There will always be some people that are affected by altitude sickness, but the staff that are leading the trip are so attune to the very first signs that they can identify those that are not coping so well early on. Always let your leader know if you are experiencing headaches or a significant shortening of breath as they are able to take you down very quickly if they see fit.”
“Altitude affects people very differently, so you need to walk at a slower pace than the pace you’d trek at somewhere in the UK, and when trekking in a group the Nepali leaders will always be sure to hold you back anyway. There are acclimatization days and walks that are built into trekking itineraries especially to get trekker’s bodies used to the environment, which are very helpful for the next day’s higher altitude trekking. There will always be some people that are affected by altitude sickness, but the staff that are leading the trip are so attune to the very first signs that they can identify those that are not coping so well early on. Always let your leader know if you are experiencing headaches or a significant shortening of breath as they are able to take you down very quickly if they see fit.”
Health & safety on a Nepal trek
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our Nepal trekking Holidays
Annapurna trekking holidays
From the Annapurna Range vistas to jungles of Chitwan NP
From
£1450 to £1490
11 days
ex flights
Everest Base Camp and Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal
This high altitude trek explores the heart of Sherpa homeland
From
£3699 to £4099
20 days
inc UK flights
Nepal family holiday, walking in the Annapurnas
Low altitude trek in the Annapurna foothills
From
£1490 to £1550
12 days
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Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari
Spectacular trekking and jungle safari at Chitwan
From
US $1095 to US $1195
17 days
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Gokyo Ri Valley trek in Nepal
Trek to world's highest freshwater lakes in Everest Region
From
US $1799
15 days
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Trek to Everest base camp and Gokyo Lakes
Trek to Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lakes
From
£1449 to £1549
18 days
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Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Nepal trekking or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Nepal trekking tips from
our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Nepal trekking travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Nepal trekking travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Trekking means different things to different people. When someone thinks they can do a trek, they should understand what they are getting themselves into in Nepal - these are big mountains were talking about!![]()
- David Whetham
"Don’t expect everything on your itinerary to stay as planned and don’t expect there to necessarily be a big group of people on your trip." - Mandy Bryan
"It made me feel very uncomfortable watching a very small man in a pair of cheap trainers struggle up the hill carrying all our gear and it will make you feel worse if you have brought huge amounts of gear, so leave what you don’t need at home." - Tessa Lash
"We went to Nepal in the off-peak winter season. Although mountain views are not always clear this time of year, it was compensated by the lack of other tourists - for 3 days on our trek we were the only white people and the places we stayed were never full or crowded." - Lotte Risbridger
"It made me feel very uncomfortable watching a very small man in a pair of cheap trainers struggle up the hill carrying all our gear and it will make you feel worse if you have brought huge amounts of gear, so leave what you don’t need at home." - Tessa Lash
"We went to Nepal in the off-peak winter season. Although mountain views are not always clear this time of year, it was compensated by the lack of other tourists - for 3 days on our trek we were the only white people and the places we stayed were never full or crowded." - Lotte Risbridger
Be relaxed and open minded to new people and the different culture in Nepal and you will have the experience of a lifetime.![]()
- Murray Hendriksen
"Diamox can be useful in treating altitude sickness, but it can also have really unpleasant side effects (not unlike altitude sickness), so don't rely on it being the solution." - Jo Homewood
"The degree of difficulty of your trekking holiday is directly related to your level of fitness. While I think most people can do the Annapurna Circuit, your ability to enjoy the experience increases significantly if you put in the work prior to doing the trek." - Edgar Ampil
"Take a VERY warm sleeping bag, shoes to wear in the evenings, and wetwipes to wash as the showers are very variable and cost extra. Also take water-sterilizing tabs, you can buy boiled water or bottled, but both have more environmental impact." - Nicola Waldman
"Travel early in Sept to miss the crowds, we love it at this time as not many others are around and it feels more special." - Joanna Gosse
"The degree of difficulty of your trekking holiday is directly related to your level of fitness. While I think most people can do the Annapurna Circuit, your ability to enjoy the experience increases significantly if you put in the work prior to doing the trek." - Edgar Ampil
"Take a VERY warm sleeping bag, shoes to wear in the evenings, and wetwipes to wash as the showers are very variable and cost extra. Also take water-sterilizing tabs, you can buy boiled water or bottled, but both have more environmental impact." - Nicola Waldman
"Travel early in Sept to miss the crowds, we love it at this time as not many others are around and it feels more special." - Joanna Gosse
More about Nepal trekking
The best time to trek in Nepal depends on which elevation you’re intending to head for with Annapurna, Langtang and Everest regions all displayed on our easy to use temperature and rainfall chart.
Our Nepal trekking travel guide gives you Nepal in a nutshell as well as stripping away the husk and inviting you to discover if a Nepal trekking holiday is for you and what does trekking in Nepal entail.
Our straightforward interactive map allows you to discover some of the best treks in Nepal as well as sample Nepal trekking itineraries, where to trek and what our expert suppliers recommend.
The trek to Everest Base Camp, at a dizzying 5,364m, is varied, exciting and rich in history, and it demands stamina but also patience.
The longest of Nepal’s popular trekking routes, and its most varied, the Annapurna Circuit takes almost three weeks to complete in its entirety, through paddy fields and Hindu farming communities to the Tibetan, prayer-flag strewn villages of the high Himalayas.
A perfect introduction to Himalayan trekking, Nepal’s mini Annapurna circuit trek uses an internal flight to shave some distance off the full circuit route, condensing this awesome hike into a two week trip.
If the only peaks you’ve seen are in Derbyshire, Nepal’s Annapurna region will blow your mind, as this is a mountain range so vast, high and majestic that even seasoned travellers are left speechless.
Gaining in popularity but still somewhat off the beaten track, the Manaslu Circuit trek takes you in a loop around mighty Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world.
There are some no-brainers when it comes to our top 10 walks in Nepal, but Nepal also offers some surprises, including lower-elevation routes that make treks possible for less experienced hikers.
Fancy trekking in Nepal with kids? This page is all about activities for families on a Nepal trek, including the Poon Hill Trek, the Royal Trek and time spent at Kathmandu’s bazaar.
Porters’ rights, wood for fuel and orphanage problems all need to be addressed if you want to travel right in Nepal, and our responsible trekking in Nepal page lightens your load as you find to do to help.
