Trekking does not mean mountain climbing. While the ascent of a Himalayan peak may be an attraction for some, you need not have such a goal to enjoy a trek. As far as most people are concerned, trekking always refers to walking on trails.
A trek is physically demanding because of its length and the changes in elevation. On most treks, the daily gain is less than 800 meters in about 15 km, though ascents of as much as 1,200 meters are possible on some days. You can always take plenty of time during the day to cover this distance, so the physical exertion, though quite strenuous at times, is not sustained. You also can stop frequently and take plenty of time for rest.
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.
While trekking you will see the great diversity of Nepal. Villages embrace many ethnic groups and cultures. From the start, the towering peaks of the Himalaya provide one of the highlights of a trek.
During a trek, the Himalaya disappear behind Nepal's continual hills, but dominates the northern skyline at each pass. Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, Gauri Shankar and Everest will become familiar names. Finally, after weeks of walking, you will arrive at the foot of the mountains themselves, astonishing heights dwarfed by their surroundings.
The Himalaya, the "abode of snows", extends from Assam in eastern India west to Afghanistan. It is a chain of the highest and youngest mountains on earth and it encompasses a region of deep religious and cultural traditions and an amazing diversity of people. A trek in Nepal is a special and rewarding mountain holiday.
Together, the Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest and home to the world's highest peaks: the Eight-thousanders, including Mount Everest (Nepal/Tibet) and K2 (Kashmir).
To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 m, is the highest peak outside Asia, while the Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 meters.
The Himalayan system, which includes outlying subranges, stretches across six countries: Bhutan, Tibet, India,Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are the source of three of the world's major river systems, the Indus, the Ganga-Brahmaputra, and the Yangtze
Approximately 1.3 million people live in the drainage basin of the Himalayan rivers.
Nepal having 1,310 Himalayan peaks over 6,000 meters offers joys of mountaineering in Nepal which can be combined with the pleasure of trekking. The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has classified 33 peaks in Nepal as 'trekking peaks', a misleading name because all involve climbing. Ranging from 5,650-6,500m (18,537-21,325ft) some are, however, appropriate heights to combine within a trekking program.In September of 2002 the NMA trekking peaks list was revised with 15 peaks added and all the new peaks classified as group "A" peaks while the previous 18 are now considered group "B" peaks. Even now, more than five years later, relatively little is known about a few of the "new" peaks.
Also a new "garbage deposit" scheme is being set up for all 33 peaks. Currently $250 per team must be deposited and will be refunded if the climbers, sirdar and leader sign that they have left the base camp clean, however this method of checking will be revised sometime.We organize trekking peak climbing on the major trekking peaks in Nepal opened by Nepal mountaineering Association. Mountaineering beginners can enjoy trekking with a combination of peak climbing mainly in Everest, Annapurna and Langtang regions.The most popular trekking peaks are Island Peak, Mera Peak, Lobuche East Peak and Pokalde Peak in the Everest region, Nayakanga Peak in the Langtang region and Pisang Peak, Singuchuli Peak and Tharpu Chuli Peak in the Annapurna region.
Sagarmatha National Park covers an area of 1,148 square kilometers in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The Park includes the highest peak in the world, Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest 8,850 m.) and several other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamerku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang.
Name
Sagarmatha National Park
Location
East Nepal
Max Altitude
8,850 m
Min Altitude
2,845 m
Area
1,148 sq km
Coordinates
27° 45′ 00″ N 28° 06′ 36″ N86° 30′ 36″ E 85° 58′ 48″ E
The area has been a smash hit in the world of conservation. Perhaps this is the area that pioneered a successful conservation without armed personnel. With the help of the local people, this highland could be well protected. With a trekking circuit from mid hills to the foothills of the Himalayas - Annapurna region covers an area of 7,629 sq. km.
Situated in the Central Himalayas, Langtang is the nearest park to Kathmandu. The area extends from 32 km. north of Kathmandu to the Nepal-China (Tibet) border.
Langtang National Park encloses the catchments of two major river systems: one draining west into the Trisuli River and the other east to the Sun Koshi River.
High in the heart of the eastern Himalayan, seven valleys radiate from Mt. Makalu, the world's fifth highest peak. These valleys, particularly the Barun valley, treasure some of the last remaining pristine forest and alpine meadows of Nepal. From the bottom of the Arun valley, at just 435 m above sea level, the Himalayas rise to the snow-capped tip of Makalu 8,463 m within a 40 km distance.
This is yet another conservation area in the mountain region. Bordering the Annapurna Conservation Area to the west and Tibetan Plateau on the north and the east, the Manasalu region lies in Gorkha District to the west of Kathmandu. Basically a trekking area, the regions altitude rises from a mere 600 m to 8,163 m, the summit of Mt. Manasalu, the eighth highest peak in the world.
Rara National Park is located in northwest Nepal about 371 km air distance from Kathmandu. The park headquarters is about 32 km north to Jumla. Most of the park including Lake Rara lies in Mugu District, with a small area in Jumla District of Karnali Zone. This is the smallest park in Nepal (106 sq. km) with the country's biggest lake (10.8 sq. km) at an elevation of 2,990 m.
Just below the looming Mountain Kanchanjunga (8,586m), lies the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area. Spread in an area of 2,035 sq. km, the area is made up of alpine grass lands, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and sub-tropical forests, and low river valleys with the Kanchanjunga as its crown.
Shey Phoksundo National Park is situated in the mountain region of Western Nepal, covering parts of Dolpo and Mugu Districts. Gazetted in 1984, it is the largest national park in the country with an area of 3,555 sq. km. The main objectives of the park are to preserve the unique trans-Himalayan ecosystem with its typical Tibetan type of flora and fauna and to protect endangered species such as the snow leopard and musk deer.
In March 1992, the 'forbidden' kingdom of Mustang was opened to the outside world. Now, for the first time in recent history, foreign travelers are able to visit La Manthang, the seat of an ancient kingdom dating back to the 15th century. The Kingdom of La is situated along the north central border of Nepal north of the main range of the Himalaya's in the upper reaches of Mustang District.
