Nepal is blessed with incomparable natural beauty and varied ancient cultural heritage which makes it one of the best places for tourism in the world. Trekking is truly one of the ideal ways to savor the myriad flavors of Nepal.
Nepal is home to the world’s eight highest peaks in the world, including Everest, the highest peak in the world. Snow fed Himalayan rivers, valleys teeming with vegetation, mid hills, plains, pristine glaciers, alpine and rhododendrons forests and high mountain passes are only some of the attractions for trekking in Nepal.
The presence of nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, one hunting reserve and one conservation area makes trekking in Nepal all the more interesting. As the striking contrasts in altitude and climate support an equally contrasting wildlife, landscapes and communities you will have ample choices with regards to the kind of trek that holds your interest and physical fitness, such as cultural treks, agro treks, wilderness treks, strenuous treks, heritage treks, short and easy and eco treks.
What is Trekking?
Trekking means to journey on foot, especially to hike through mountain areas or walk in the countryside for pleasure or sport. Perhaps this is one of the greatest activities that you can enjoy during your visit to a country like Nepal which is blessed with varied bio geographic regions.
Trekking is not only physical experience, but a mental and spiritual journey as well. Along your travel, you have the opportunity to get “up close and personal” with nature, local people, rich cultural traditions and powerful religious practices allowing you to actually experience the adventure rather than just observing.
Trekking involves walking on an average of 5 to 7 hours per day covering about 9 to 14 kilometers. The trekking route passes through forests, high passes, valleys, meadows, rice fields, idyllic hamlets with the backdrop of the magnificent Himalayan range, local villages, glaciers and snow fed rivers and lakes depending on the region you trek.
During a trek you can either stay in simple lodges or homes of local people or camp for the night. Trekkers can either choose virgin tracks or beaten trails to reach their desired trekking destination.
Some people confuse trekking with climbing, but trekking does not involve mountain climbing, it only involves walking on trails. Trekking is a healthy activity though it does have a certain amount of caution required to avoid accidents. If you are physically fit, trekking will not be difficult for you. No prior climbing training is required for trekking but you need to have a love of walking to enjoy trekking. Children are also welcome and encouraged as trekking can be an ideal family adventure.
