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If you have
the
time and energy to trek, don't miss the opportunity to leave Kathmandu
and see the spectacular beauty and the unique culture of Nepal.
Fortunately for the visitor, there are still only a few roads extending
deeply into the hills, so the only way to truly visit the remote
regions of the kingdom is in the slowest and most intimate manner -
walking. It requires more time and effort, but the rewards are also
greater.
Instead of
zipping down a freeway, racing to the next "point of interest," each
step provides new and intriguing viewpoints. You will perceive your day
as an entity rather than a few highlights strung together by a ribbon
of concrete. For the romanticist, each step follows the footsteps of
Hillary, Tenzing, Herzog and other Himalayan explorers. If you have
neither the patience nor the physical stamina to visit the hills of
Nepal on foot, a helicopter flight provides an expensive and
unsatisfactory substitute.
Trekking in Nepal
will take you through a country that has captured the imagination of
mountaineers and explorers for more than 100 years. You will meet
people in remote mountain villages whose lifestyle has not changed in
generations. Most people trust foreigners.
Isolation
is
traditionally a crucial element of any wilderness experience but in
Nepal it is impossible to get completely away from people, except for
short times or at extremely high elevations.
While
trekking
you will see the great diversity of Nepal. Villages embrace many ethnic
groups and cultures. The terrain changes from tropical jungle to high
glaciated peaks in only 150 km. From the start, the towering peaks of
the Himalaya provide one of the highlights of a trek. As your plane
approaches Kathmandu these peaks appear to be small clouds on the
horizon. The mountains become more definable and seem to reach
impossible heights as you get closer and finally land at Kathmandu's
Tribhuvan Airport.
Major Trek Routes of
Nepal
There are many criteria that might
influence your choice of a trek. If you have the time and are in
reasonably good condition, the Everest walk-in trek, which allows you a
glimpse of both lowland villages as well as the high Himalaya, is the
best choice. If time is a constraint, check the various that are less
than a week long, or if you don't want to trek to a high elevation,
look at the treks listed under low altitude treks. If you are an
experienced trekker, and want to go to one of the newly opened regions
of Nepal, such as Mustang, look at the list of restricted area
treks.
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