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The Great Himalaya Trail Trekking

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 The Great Himalaya Trail Trekking

The Great Himalaya Trail Trekking

The Great Himalayan trekking facts

  • Duration of Trip: 100 Days
  • Trekking Days:  95 Days
  • Type of Trek: Teahouse / Lodge stay
  • Grade of Trek: Hard 

Nepal…Adventure Tourism within new landscapes in the Great Himalayan Trail’s networks…with EncountersNepal.com & the contributions it can make to this great effort.Trekking, History, Nature at its absolute best and a virtual paradise for adventure in Nepal; this is The Great Himalayan Trail {GHT] & EncountersNepal.com seeks to play a vital role in discovering new avenues within the ‘GHT’ trail development for Nepal’s goal in defining greater scopes for Adventure Tourism in the years ahead.

The Great Himalaya Trail is a network of existing wonder treks and tremendous trails which together form one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world.

Amaze of hiking paths beneath the world’s highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and unbelievable landscapes. Nepal’s GHT is made up of 10 sections comprising a network of upper and lower routes, each offering you something different, be it adventure and exploration, authentic cultural experiences, or simply spectacular Himalayan nature of immense beauty.
The trekking routes in Nepal…many trodden by ‘Encounters Nepal’ while escorting its guests through some of the most rugged territories on earth…

The 1,700 km Nepal section of the trail takes its roots near Kanchenjunga on the eastern border and heads west navigating the domains of eight of the world’s 8000m peaks, from the beautiful but lesser-known Makalu to the famous Everest. It is not the easiest or most direct route across Nepal, but is rather a route through the Greater Himalaya. The Nepal section concludes at Humla on the Tibetan border.

The route offers an incredible diversity in terms of landscapes, flora & fauna, people and culture: from snow leopards to red pandas; from sub-tropical jungle to fragile high-altitude eco-systems; from the famous Sherpas, to Shamanism, to the ancient Bön Buddhist culture found existing till date in Dolpa. It’s a stunning mix within an environment of Mother Nature, animals, diverse communities & the calming divine powers of God.

The National Geographic Adventure Magazine‘s Jame’s Vlahos observes, “Nepal’s mountains are developed to the minimum, but they offer a massive wealth of trade and pilgrimage routes. The GHT elegantly connects these existing paths without blazing a single new trail.”

The Nepal section is part of a longer alpine adventure traversing the spine of the Himalaya from Bhutan to Pakistan. These sections are currently being researched, trekked and documented & Encounters Nepal will play its role to the hilt in finding more routes as there is still a lot of Great Himalaya Trail exploring yet to be done!

EncountersNepal.com seeks to make a difference

Nepal is a poor country and tourism contributes an important 4% of GDP. However, this is seemingly more concentrated, as far as trekking is concerned, in the 3 most popular areas of Solo Khumbu (Everest) region, the Annapurna region and Langtang. These regions are so far deemed to be used the most.

By trekking off the beaten track, you will making a direct difference to communities in these areas by spending money on food, accommodation or services such as guides, porters and cooks. And you’ll be venturing into some of the most incredible places on earth, meeting people following ancient cultures and experiencing unique discoveries that may change your life forever.

Many people from around the world come to Nepal to get away from the crowds and to seek challenge and adventure, and equally vibrant nature or solitude from the dregs of materialism. That is more than possible in Nepal & EncountersNepal.com ensures that its guests get the most out of holidays that gratify the expenses they incur within eco-friendly environments that bring more zest & zeal to the time they spend in Nepal.

Few will have the time to attempt the whole arduous trekking routes, so it is broken up into sections and short treks along the trail. There are many more places to visit in Nepal than just Annapurna, Everest or Langtang, beautiful as they are! Take Dolpa, Rara or Jumla for instance…

Not many people have hiked the length of the Himalayas in the last few decades (and written about it). However, there have been some expeditions with the goal either of traversing Nepal or going further trying to traverse the greater Himalaya range. Adventure enthusiasts are constantly seeking new terrain with newer landscapes less used by others.

In 1982, Arlene Blum and travel and adventure writer Hugh Swift became the first westerners to complete a 4,500 km great Himalayan traverse across Bhutan, Nepal and India. Starting from the eastern border of Bhutan, Swift and Blum, climbed up and down the Himalayan range over 6,000m passes and down to river valleys at 600m, gaining and losing an average of 1,000m each day to reach Ladakh. This is documented in her book – ‘Breaking Trail’. This is evidence of how eager people can be to discover the unknown from the known; & this is where Encounters Nepal wishes to meet & enlighten the aspirations of such ardent adventure seekers by accompanying the bold & brave through some of the most remote outpost on the planet, helping them to achieve dreams hesitantly expected. There are almost countless villages that can be connected; the Himalayas are immensely vast & options are so many…there is a trail for everyone, virtually!

Before embarking on any mountain adventure, Encounters Nepal suggests you should carefully research your trail options and check that you have all the field-craft and experience necessary to attempt the route to wish to hike through. We always encourage volunteers to research new and existing trails throughout the Himalaya, if that sounds exciting then please contact us! We’d be glad to help you.As we continue to be a part of the overall GHT concept, an ever-expanding group of organisations and individuals have come together to help support the GHT and give feedback benefits to those who rely on the Himalaya for their livelihood and home.

EncountersNepal.com has developed Codes of Conduct for trekkers and those who seek a tryst in the wild to promote sustainable and responsible activities. You can support the GHT Alliance through promoting the Codes of Conduct, by providing financial support for a GHT Alliance program and by joining treks run by GHT Alliance partners.

We have worked with & supported trekkers for years; we hope you go through our website & find it useful in serving your holidays dreams!

Enrich your Happiness by enjoying the trails with EncountersNepal.com! Serving you is a way of life for us down here…

Trip Itinerary

Day Date From To Height Time (h) Region Acco. Comment
1 Kathmandu Taplejung 1820m Bus or plane Kanchenjunga Lodge
2 Taplejung Chiruwa 1270m 10 Lodge or Tent Aeroport in Taplejung
3 Chiruwa Amjilosa 2490m 11.5 Lodge or Tent
4 Amjilosa Ghunsa 3410m 9.5 Lodge or Tent
5 Rest day 3410m 0 Lodge or Tent
6 Ghunsa Khangpachen 4150m 5.5 Lodge or Tent
7 Rest Day 4150m 0 Lodge or Tent
8 Khangpachen Lhonak 4780m 5 Lodge or Tent
9 Rest Day 4780m 0 Lodge or Tent
10 Lhonak Khanchenjunga Base Camp 5143m 8 Tent
11 Rest Day Lhonak 4780m 0 Tent
12 Lhonak Ghunsa 3410m 8.5 Lodge or Tent
13 Ghunsa Yangma Khola 3430m 10.5 Tent
via Nango La Pass (4820m)
Take sufficient food for 2
days
14 Yangma Khola Olangchu Gola 3191m 4 Tent
15 Olangchu Gola Pass Camp 4453m 6 Tent
Take sufficient food for 2
days
16 Pass Camp Thudam 3556m 7 Tent
crossing the Lumbha
Sambha Pass (5159 m)
17 Rest Day 3556m 0 Tent
18 Thudam Chyantang 2187m 11.3 Makalu Barun Section Tent Makalu Barun (jungle)
19 Chyantang Bakim kharka 3020m 8 Tent (jungle)
20 Bakim kharka cave camp 3115m 12 Tent (jungle)
21 cave camp Kharka 4097m 10 Tent
22 Kharka Yangla Kharka 3557m 4 Lodge
23 Yangla Kharka Makalu Base Camp 4870 8 Tent
24 Makalu Base Camp Swiss Base camp 5150m 4 Tent
25 Rest day Tent
26 Swiss Base camp Sherpani col base camp 5688m 5 Solu khumbu Tent
27 Sherpani col base camp Baruntse Camp 6050m 7 Tent via Sherpani Col
28 Baruntse Camp Honku Basin 5500m 4 Tent via West Col
29 Honku Basin Amphu Labtsa Base Camp 5527m 5 Tent
30 Amphu Labtsa Base Camp Chhukung 4730m 9 Tent via Amphu Laptsa
31 Chhukung Lobuche 4910m 6.3 Lodge
32 Lobuche Dzongla 4830m 5 Lodge
33 Dzongla Gokyo 4790m 6 Lodge
34 Rest day Lodge
35 Gokyo Thame 3820m 9.3 Lodge
36 Thame Namche Bazzar 3440m 4 Lodge
37 Rest day 3440m 0 Lodge
38 Namche Bazzar Pachenumche Tscho 4720m 11.3 Tent
39 Pachenumche Tscho Tashi Labtsa Camp 5665m 5.3 Tent
40 Tashi Labtsa Camp Glacier Camp 4735m 7.3 Tent via Tashi Labtsa
41 Glacier Camp Kabung 4830m 4,3 Rolwaling Tent
42 Kabung Beding 3740m 5 Lodge
43 Beding Simigaon 2036m 5 Lodge
44 Simigaon Orangdanda 2029m 7 Lodge
45 Orangdanda Bigu Gompa 2516m 10.3 Lodge
46 Bigu Gompa Last Resort 1170m 10.6 Resort
47 Last Resort Listi 2260m 9.3 Tent
48 Rest day
49 Listi Chogomogar Kharka 3924m 10 Langtang Helambu Tent
50 Chogomogar Kharka Tembathang 2160m 10.3 Tent
51 Tembathang Chechupa Kharka 2513m 6.3 Tent
52 Chechupa Kharka Intermediary Camp 4100m 11.6 Tent
53 Intermediary Camp High Camp South 4867m 8.15 Tent
54 High Camp South High Camp North 4720m 6.3 Tent Via Tilman pass
55 High Camp North Kyanjin Gompa 3830m 6.3 Lodge
56 Rest day
57 Kyanjin Gompa Syabru Besi 1503m 9 Lodge
58 Syabru Besi Somdang 3258m 10.3 Lodge
crossing the Khurpudada
Pass (3710 m)
59 Somdang Tipling 1890m 7 Tent
60 Tipling Lopa Khola 1385m 5.3 Manaslu & Ganesh Tent
61 Lopa Khola Nauban Kharka 2750m 7 Tent
62 Nauban Kharka Keranja 2074m 7.3 Tent
63 Keranja Jagat 1340m 6.3 Lodge
64 Jagat Namrung 2630m 11 Lodge
65 Namrung Samdo 3875m 8.5 Lodge
66 Rest day 10 Lodge
67 Samdo Bhimthang 3590m 7 Lodge via Larke-La pass (5160m)
68 Bhimthang Dharapani 1965m 6.45 Annapurna & Mustang Lodge
69 Dharapani Chame 2760m 6 Lodge
70 Chame Manang 3540m 10 Lodge
71 Manang Thorong Phedi 4450m 9 Lodge72 01/06/2014 Thorong Phedi Muktinath 3760m 9 Lodge
crossing the Thorung La
(5415 m)
73 Rest day Lodge
74 Muktinath Yak Karkha 3478 m 10 Tent
near Jomsom Aeroport
(10km from Kagbeni)
75 Yak Karkha Santa 3777m 8 Tent crossing the Bhima Lojun La
76 Santa Ghalden Ghuldum 4343m 4.5 Tent
77 Ghalden Ghuldum Nalungbunda 4810m 7.5 Tent
78 Nalungbunda Chharka Bhot 3750m 7 Tent
79 Chharka Bhot Dho Tarap 4512m 6,5 Tent
80 Dho Tarap Danigar 4512m 8.5 Tent via Numa-La Pass
81 Danigar Ringmo 3641m 6.45 Lodge
82 Rest day Lodge
83 Ringmo Pass Camp 4717m 10.6 Tent
84 Pass Camp Shey Gompa 4247m 5 Tent
85 Shey Gompa Bhijer 3850m 7.25 Tent
86 Bhijer Pho 4087m 8.5 Tent
87 Pho Pung Kharka 4650m 8.5 Tent Need Local Guide
88 Pung Kharka Takla Khola 3750m 7 Tent
89 Takla Khola Thajurchaur 4050m 7 Tent
90 Thajurchaur Tigar 2418m 8 Tent
91 Tigar Gamgadhi 2095m 8 Lodge Rara lake
92 Gamgadhi Bam 2700m 9 Tent
93 Bam Pipilan 2562m 11 Tent
94 Pipilan Apsi Lekh 3195m 6 Far West Tent
95 Apsi Lekh River Camp 2100m 5.3 Tent
96 River Camp Simikot 2985m 6.3 Lodge
97 Simikot Kermi 2860m 8 Tent
98 Kermi Tumkot 3073m 8.6 Tent
99 Tumkot Hilsa 3647m 6 Tent
100 Hilsa

Price Includes:

  • Permit 
  • Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS)
  • Domestic flight ticket  (USD +NRS)
  • Three Meals a Day: breakfast, lunch, dinner including tea/coffee with meals time (one per meal)
  • One Guide: English speaking, insured, registered, well-equipped, his salary, food and accommodation
  • One porter Between two person  insured registered, well-equipped, salary, food and accommodation
  • Accommodation (shared) in a tea house lodge
  • Safe drinking water
  • Emergency care service

Price Excludes:

  • Bar & beverage bills,
  • Personal expenses. bottled water, desserts, shower, insurance, rescue,  personal clothing,
  • Any additional services requested and tips to the staff.

Useful Information

GHT is divided into 10 sections with a network of upper and lower routes- each presenting a unique experience to the visitors. It encourages avid trekkers to make repeated visits to Nepal to complete the entire trail. GHT is a potential game changer for Nepal’s tourism.