The short version
The 12 best treks in Nepal for 2026 — from Poon Hill and ABC to Everest, Manaslu and Upper Mustang. Days, difficulty, best-for and 2026 permit costs.
After 28 years guiding in these mountains, the question we hear most is simple: which trek should I actually do? Nepal has hundreds of routes, but the truth is that a handful do almost everything well. Below are the twelve best treks in Nepal for 2026 — ranked not by hype but by what they reward: scenery, culture, access, and how forgiving they are on first-timers. Each one links straight to a guided departure so you can compare days, difficulty, and who it suits.
- Best first trek: Ghorepani Poon Hill (4 days) or Annapurna Base Camp (6 days) — short, scenic, well-supported.
- Best classic: Everest Base Camp (14 days) and the Annapurna Circuit (10 days).
- Best off-the-beaten-path: Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley and Upper Mustang — restricted areas, fewer crowds.
- A licensed guide is mandatory on all major routes since 2023, and most restricted areas require two trekkers minimum.
How we ranked the best treks in Nepal for 2026
We weighted four things our guests consistently care about: the quality of the mountain scenery, cultural depth, ease of access from Kathmandu or Pokhara, and how achievable the trek is for a reasonably fit walker with no prior altitude experience. If you only read one section, read the table — it is the fastest way to find your match. For the full planning picture, see our best time to trek Nepal in 2026 guide and our advice on preventing altitude sickness.
The 12 best treks in Nepal at a glance
| Trek | Days | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | 4 | Easy | First-timers, families, sunrise views |
| Mardi Himal | 4 | Easy–Moderate | Short, quiet ridge walking |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 6 | Moderate | Amphitheatre of peaks, best all-rounder |
| Langtang Valley | 7 | Moderate | Close to Kathmandu, fewer crowds |
| Annapurna Circuit | 10 | Moderate–Hard | Variety, the Thorong La pass |
| Everest Base Camp | 14 | Hard | The bucket-list classic |
| Gokyo Lakes | 12–14 | Hard | Turquoise lakes, quieter Everest |
| Manaslu Circuit | 14 | Hard | Raw, remote, less crowded |
| Upper Mustang | 12 | Moderate | Tibetan culture, rain-shadow desert |
| Circuit + Tilicho Lake | 17 | Hard | One of the world's highest lakes |
| Manaslu + Tsum Valley | 19 | Hard | Sacred hidden valley, deep immersion |
| Island Peak (climb) | 14 | Strenuous | First 6,000m summit |
Easy and short treks — perfect first steps
The most popular short trek in Nepal for good reason: warm lowland villages, rhododendron forest, and a sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210m) with Annapurna and Dhaulagiri lined up across the valley. Starts a couple of hours from Pokhara, low altitude, very forgiving. More short treks from Pokhara.
A newer, quieter ridge trek climbing to a high camp at around 3,550m beneath the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre. Short, scenic, and not yet crowded — a brilliant alternative to Poon Hill if you want solitude.
The closest serious mountain valley to Kathmandu, rebuilt with great heart since 2015. Yak pastures, Kyanjin Gompa, a cheese factory, and big views of Langtang Lirung — all in a week. See our Langtang region guide.
The classics — Annapurna and Everest
If you have a week to ten days and want the definitive Nepal experience, two routes stand above the rest. Annapurna Base Camp walks you straight into a glacial amphitheatre ringed by 7,000m and 8,000m peaks — it is the best scenery-per-day trek in the country, and our most-booked. Read the full ultimate ABC trek guide before you go.
The Annapurna Circuit is the grand tour: subtropical valleys to high desert, crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,416m. In 2026 you should follow the marked NATT side-trails to stay off the jeep road. For the bigger version, the 17-day Circuit with Tilicho Lake adds one of the highest lakes on earth (4,919m). Our Annapurna region guide covers logistics in depth.
Then there is Everest Base Camp — 14 days through Khumbu Sherpa country to the foot of the world's highest mountain. Spend two nights in Namche to acclimatise; it is the single biggest factor in finishing strong. Short on time or worried about the altitude? The EBC with helicopter return trims the trek to 10 days. The neighbouring Gokyo Lakes route swaps crowds for a chain of turquoise glacial lakes and the panorama from Gokyo Ri — see the Everest region guide.
Above 3,000m, ascend no more than 300–500m of sleeping altitude per day and build in rest days. The WHO and every reputable guide agree: slow is fast. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and know the evacuation protocol on every route.
Off the beaten path — restricted areas
Circling the world's 8th-highest mountain (8,163m) over the Larkya La pass (5,106m). Wilder and far less crowded than Annapurna or Everest, with strong Tibetan-influenced culture. A restricted area — you need a guide and a minimum of two trekkers. See the Manaslu region guide.
The old forbidden kingdom of Lo — ochre cliffs, cave dwellings, and the walled capital of Lo Manthang. It sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, so it stays dry and trekkable even through the monsoon. Moderate underfoot but deeply remote. More in the Mustang region guide.
Add the sacred, side-tucked Tsum Valley to the Manaslu Circuit for the most immersive cultural trek we offer — ancient gompas, mani walls and a slower rhythm of life. The longest route on this list, and one of the most rewarding.
For the ambitious — your first summit
Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6,189m) is Nepal's most popular trekking peak and the logical next step after Everest Base Camp. It involves fixed ropes, crampons and an ice axe on summit day, but no prior mountaineering experience — we run full glacier training before you climb. It is graded strenuous, not technical, which is exactly why so many first-time climbers choose it.
What every 2026 trek costs in permits
Permit fees changed again for 2026, so budget for these on top of your trek price. A licensed guide is now mandatory on all major routes, and restricted areas require a minimum of two trekkers. Ranges below are per person; always confirm current rates with your operator.
| Region | Permits needed | Approx. cost (foreigner) |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna (ABC, Poon Hill, Circuit) | ACAP | ~USD 22–25 |
| Everest (EBC, Gokyo) | Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu local | ~USD 30 + NPR 2,000–3,000 |
| Langtang | Langtang NP + TIMS | ~USD 25 + USD 17–20 |
| Manaslu | RAP + MCAP + ACAP + local | from ~USD 100/week (Sep–Nov) |
| Upper Mustang | RAP + ACAP | ~USD 50/day RAP + ~USD 25 |
For the full breakdown see our permits hub, the detailed ACAP & TIMS guide, and the Everest 3-permit guide. Most foreign nationals also need a tourist visa — see our Nepal visa guide and the official Department of Immigration.
Manaslu, Tsum Valley and Upper Mustang are restricted: you cannot trek them independently. You must go with a registered agency, a licensed guide, and at least two trekkers in the group. Solo permits are not issued.
Which trek is right for you?
Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, ABC or Langtang. All are scenic, moderate at most, and reachable from Pokhara or Kathmandu with minimal travel days.
Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit. Both deliver the iconic Nepal experience; pick EBC for the mountain, the Circuit for the variety.
Manaslu, Tsum Valley or Upper Mustang. Restricted, remote, and culturally rich — the Nepal serious trekkers come back for.
Still unsure? Read whether you actually need a guide to trek Nepal in 2026 (you do, on the big routes), and compare costs in our ABC cost and EBC cost breakdowns.
What is the best trek in Nepal for beginners?
Ghorepani Poon Hill (4 days) is the classic beginner trek — low altitude, short days, and an unforgettable mountain sunrise. Mardi Himal and the 6-day Annapurna Base Camp trek are excellent next steps as your fitness and confidence grow.
When is the best time to trek in Nepal in 2026?
The two prime seasons are spring (March–May) for rhododendron blooms and stable weather, and autumn (September–November) for the clearest mountain views. Upper Mustang is the exception — its rain-shadow location makes it trekkable even during the summer monsoon.
Do I need a guide for these treks?
Yes. Since 2023 a licensed guide has been mandatory on all major trekking routes, enforced at permit checkpoints. Restricted areas like Manaslu and Upper Mustang additionally require a registered agency and a minimum of two trekkers.
What is the hardest trek on this list?
Island Peak climbing is the most physically demanding — it ends with a glacier ascent to 6,189m using ropes and crampons. Among the pure treks, the 17-day Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake and the high passes of Manaslu and Everest are the toughest.
How much do trekking permits cost in 2026?
It varies by region: ACAP for Annapurna is about USD 22–25, Sagarmatha National Park for Everest about USD 30, and restricted areas are far more — Upper Mustang is roughly USD 50 per day and Manaslu starts around USD 100 per week in peak season. See our permits hub for the full breakdown.
Which trek has the best views for the fewest days?
Annapurna Base Camp (6 days) offers the best scenery-per-day of any short trek in Nepal, walking you into a glacial amphitheatre ringed by 7,000m and 8,000m peaks. Poon Hill is the runner-up for sheer sunrise drama in just four days.
Planning to add a summit to your Nepal trip? Browse all Nepal peak climbing packages — Island Peak, Mera Peak, Lobuche East, and more.
Browse every guided departure — days, difficulty, dates and pricing — and find the route that fits your time, fitness and budget. NMA-certified guides, 5,000+ treks led, zero fatalities since 1998.
Explore all treks →Featured image: Dmitry A. Mottl via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
New to Nepal trekking? Our Nepal Trekking for Beginners hub highlights the easiest routes, fitness requirements, and everything a first-timer needs to know before choosing a trek.
Written by
Travel Himalaya Nepal
Pokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. Meet the team →
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