3 Treks In Nepal that Can Still Be Done In Monsoon

The Upper Mustang Tea House Trek takes you through one of the most remote and restricted regions of Nepal, called Upper Mustang. It is tucked behind the Himalayas in a rain-shadow area near the Tibetan border. This area is dry, with towering cliffs, and unique Tibetan-influenced villages with whitewashed homes and firewood-stacked roofs. It stands out as one of the few treks that can be done even during the monsoon season (June to September).

At the heart of Upper Mustang lies Lo Manthang, the walled capital founded by King Ame Pal in 1380 AD. This ancient kingdom, once known as the “Upper Lo” was an independent Tibetan-influenced state until Nepal revoked its autonomy in 2008. There are many ancient monasteries, hidden sky caves, and Tibetan Buddhist heritages across the region. Hence, both international and national trekkers love to visit the Upper Mustang region to explore its rich history and natural beauty.

One great thing about this trek is that you stay in small tea houses run by local families. You walk from one tea house to the next along the trail, staying overnight at these simple lodges. These tea houses are simple but comfortable, offering food, a place to sleep, and sometimes hot showers. Staying here lets you meet local people and learn about their way of life.

The trek starts just above Kagbeni village and takes you through beautiful landscapes and traditional villages like Chele, Syangbochen, Ghami, Lo-Manthang, Ghar Gompa, etc. If you want a quiet, unique trek full of culture, the Upper Mustang Tea House Trek is a perfect choice.

The Annapurna Circuit has become one of the most popular treks in Nepal since its inception in 1977 A.D. As the name suggests, this trek is located in the Annapurna Region, inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. The trail circles the Annapurna massif, meaning you can witness the views of the Annapurna mountains from multiple angles. The trek begins in the lush valley and leads to the arid landscape of Manang, culminating in the ascent to Thorong La Pass (5,416 meters), the highest point of the trek. Along the route, you will encounter traditional villages inhabited by the Gurung, Lama, Thakali, and Magar communities.

It used to take more than 20 days to complete the entire trek. However, the development of the road in the lower section has reduced the trek to 15 days or more. Despite the changes, the core of the treks, which are Manang, Muktinath, and Throng La Pass, are not affected, and you can still get the ultimate Himalayan trekking experience from this trek. After reaching Thorong Pass, you will descend to the Muktinath Temple, a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists. Besides, there are other popular side treks like Tilicho Lake Trek, which you can combine with Annapurna Circuit Trek to make it more challenging and rewarding.

Tired of mainstream Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp treks? Go for the Nar Phu Valley Trek in the remote Manang district. This valley was off-limits until 2002 due to border security concerns, as it lies very close to the Tibetan border. It remains a restricted area in Nepal, so you need to obtain a special permit and a licensed guide to trek here. As a result, it is relatively less crowded than other treks in the Annapurna region. Surrounded by peaks like Himlung Himal, Kang Garu, and Ratna Chuli, the valley offers an underrated trek.

Its trek route branches off the main Annapurna Circuit at Koto and follows the right bank of the Marshyangdi River. Along the way, you pass medieval villages, ancient chortens, and experience authentic Tibetan-influenced culture in the Nar and Phu regions. And the main highlight is crossing Kang La Pass at 5,306 m, which affords panoramic views of the Annapurna Himalayan ranges and Himlung. You can opt to continue north to Manang for Tilicho Lake and Thorong La before descending, if you want a longer and challenging expedition.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a two-week-long adventure in Nepal’s Himalayas that goes around the eighth-highest mountain peak in the world, Mount Manaslu. Opened to trekkers in 1992, the route is less crowded than the other well-known Everest and Annapurna treks. Still, the Manaslu trek is gaining popularity yearly for its raw beauty, peaceful trails, and personal experience with the Himalayas.

The journey to the Manaslu Circuit is a moderate-to-strenuous trek that starts with a drive to Machhakhola and ends in Besisahar, taking in the exciting Larkya La Pass (5,106 m) also called Larke Bhanjyang . Although the trek doesn’t involve any technical climbing skills, it does require a good fitness level, and having previous trekking experience is helpful. This is because the trek takes you through varied terrain, long trekking days, challenging passes, and continuous elevation gain.

The trek to the Manaslu Circuit is stunning because it takes place within Manaslu Conservation Area, a protected mountain region with 11 distinct forest types ranging from lowland sal and pine forests to high alpine meadows and glaciers. Likewise, the protected area is home to 33 species of mammals and shelters over 110 bird species and 2000 species of flowering plants. Besides, it’s home to about 9,000 residents, primarily of Gurung, Tamang, Tsumba, and Nubri-Tibetan ethnic groups. Thus, the trek lets you experience Buddhist culture and its traditions throughout the adventure.

One unique aspect of the Manaslu treks is that it borders Tibet. Therefore, trekking in this region requires a restricted area permit, along with the MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit), ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit), and Chumnubri Rural Municipality Entry Permit. Also, trekking in the region requires you to be accompanied by a licensed guide through a registered trekking agency.

The best trekking time for the Manaslu Circuit is March-May (spring) and September-November (autumn), when skies are clear, and Larkya La is most reliably open and safe to cross. The major highlights of the trek involve walking along the Budhi Gandaki River gorge while enjoying views of Mount Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Himlung Himal, and Annapurna II. Manaslu Circuit trek is a 14-day moderate trek starting with a drive to Machha Khola, highlighting Larkya La Pass (5,106 m) at just $746.

The Everest Base Camp trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal. The trek is more frequently visited than other popular treks, such as the Annapurna Base Camp Trek or the Langtang Valley Trek, which are also well-known among trekkers worldwide. The trek is on the bucket list for many trekkers to reach the base of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. Everest Base Camp trek begins with a Kathmandu to Lukla flight & provides a challenging Himalayan & Sherpa village experience costing you $955. The paths twist and turn through beautiful Sherpa villages, high rhododendron forests, and alongside the Dudh Koshi River, offering glimpses of the local culture and the strong presence of the local people.

As the altitude gradually increases from Lukla, you will pass through Namche, Tengboche, and Dingboche. During this trek, trekkers need to acclimatize to the conditions of the Khumbu region. During these treks, trekkers will enjoy stunning views of mountains such as Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu. The final section of your walk takes you to Gorak Shep, the last place before you reach Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 5,364 meters. From Gorak Shep, you will walk to the highest point of the trek, at 5,644 metres, Kala Patthar. This is a rewarding trek, one that provides an immense sense of accomplishment and offers wonderful views of Mount Everest and the Khumbu Icefall up close, which will stay with you forever.

The Everest Base Camp Trek costs $1,1275 per two person for a standard group booking. This per-person rate decreases as group size increases, dropping to around $955 per person for groups of 10 or more, since fixed costs like guide and porter wages get shared across more trekkers.

Tsum Valley Trek provides incredibly distant and traditional trekking. There is no authority to kill animals since the region has been designated a non-violent conservation area. Tsum Valley in Nepal is a must-see, with strong, amiable, and welcoming people who practice Buddhism.

Also, according to Buddhism’s ban on hunting. It is forbidden to interact with wildlife. Tsum is a translation of the Tibetan word “Tsombo.”

We can also agree that this amazing location has preserved its own culture. The Tsum Valley is a valley located between 2,000 and 3,500 meters above sea level. It is in the Gorkha region of western Nepal (6,600 to 11,500 ft).

The Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, founded in 1998, has control over the valley. There are 33 communities in the valley, and there are 529 homes and 1,810 people overall.

The Tsum Valley Trek passes through the vast and uncharted area of the “Tsumbas.” It is mostly inhabited by the Gurung ethnic group.

It ascends to the Budi Gandaki River and Manaslu route. The Tsum Valley Trek region has a lengthy Buddhist heritage. Because is popular that, Milarepa, a Buddhist sage. He meditated in a cave amid the Tsum mountains.

Therefore, among the various festivals celebrated in the area are Lhosar, Dhacyhang, Saka Dawa, and Fanning. Also, it has a lot of monasteries, stupas, chortens, and Mani (Prayer) walls. The longest is nearly 250 meters long. From the Philim, do the 1905-meter hike to Lhokpa on the right. The Tsum Valley Trek difficulty guide will help you prepare well for the journey.