Mera Peak (6,476 m) is the higher of the two, but the less technical: a long snow slope with no vertical section. Island Peak (6,189 m) is lower, but its summit means climbing an ice wall on a fixed rope, then a narrow ridge. For a first 6,000 m peak, Mera suits a strong walker; … Read more

Insurance for a trek in Nepal must cover four things: trekking up to the altitude of your route (4,000 m or 6,000 m depending on the trek), helicopter evacuation, medical costs on the spot and cancellation. An evacuation costs $3,000 to $5,000, sometimes more. It must be paid before take-off if nobody guarantees payment. It … Read more

The Everest trek goes higher (5,364 m at base camp, 5,545 m at Kala Patthar) and costs more because of the flight to Lukla. The Annapurnas can be reached by bus from Pokhara, offer more varied scenery and are better suited to a first trek. The Sanctuary tops out at 4,130 m, the Circuit crosses … Read more

A beginner’s trek in Nepal lasts 4 to 8 days, stays below 3,500 to 4,000 m, uses lodges for the nights and crosses no passes. Each stage involves 4 to 6 hours of walking. Six treks meet these criteria: the Kathmandu Valley, Poon Hill, Mohare Danda, Pikey Peak, Mardi Himal and Langtang. People often think … Read more

Nepal is home to 8 of the planet’s 14 peaks over 8,000 m, including Everest, the highest point in the world at 8,849 m. The other six are in Pakistan and China. You can see each of the eight Nepali giants on a trek, without any mountaineering gear, as long as you choose the right … Read more

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The city lies at 1,400 m, in a valley that has seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is home to about 850,000 people, and more than 3 million including the wider urban area. Every trek in Nepal starts and ends here. Plan two days before departure and one day … Read more

Pokhara is Nepal’s second city and the gateway to the Annapurnas. It lies 200 km west of Kathmandu, at 820 m, on the shore of Phewa Lake. You get there in 6 to 8 hours by bus or 25 minutes by plane. Plan two days there, before or after your trek. Pokhara in figures What … Read more

The Sherpas are a people of Nepal, not a job. They came from Tibet 500 years ago, live mainly in the Khumbu, the Everest region, and speak a language close to Tibetan. There are roughly 130,000 to 150,000 of them. Today the word “sherpa” is used for any high-altitude porter, but most Nepali porters are … Read more

You can visit Nepal all year round, but not for the same treks. Two seasons stand out: autumn and spring. Here is what awaits you in the mountains, month by month, so you can choose your dates without any nasty surprises. In short: the two main trekking seasons Month by month October and November: the … Read more

Good news: the visa for Nepal is one of the simplest formalities in Asia. Most nationalities, including citizens of the UK, the US, the EU, Canada and Australia, get it directly on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at a land border. Indian citizens do not need a visa at all. Here is what to prepare, … Read more