The Great Himalaya Trail Trek:

During the Great Himalayan Trail trek in Nepal, the various mountainous sections within Nepal are combined into one hiking trip. The trail passes through eight mountains with a height of more than eight thousand meters. You will begin your journey in the Far Eastern Region of Nepal and end it in the Far Western Region of Nepal. GHT Trek is also known as the Great Himalayan Trail and takes you through the Kanchenjunga circuit, Makalu route, Everest route, Rollwaling, Tilman pass, Langtang valley route, Ruby valley route, Manaslu circuit route, Dolpo route, Rara route, Annapurna area, Mustang area, Simikot Humla route. In the Himalayas of Nepal, this is almost half a year of hiking. It is also possible to take the low-route GHT Trek. 

From the perspective of effectiveness and risk minimization, the various sections of the GHT Trek in Nepal may be completed in phases. It is possible to extend the Great Himalayan Trail within Nepal up to the Himalayas of Pakistan. You can reach the Karakoram Range of Pakistan after passing through the Ladakh region of India. This makes GHT one of the most significant hiking journeys in the entire Himalayan range. It is possible to begin the journey of the Great Himalayan Trail either from Hilsa in the western region of Nepal or from Kanchenjunga in the western region of Nepal. 

Routes along the Great Himalaya Trail:

There are two routes of the GHT: the low route and the upper route. However, the upper route is considered to be the actual Great Himalayan Trail. Based on our more than 25 years of experience in Nepal Trekking, we strongly recommend that trekkers begin their journey of the GHT from the eastern side. Nepal Wilderness trek has designed the itinerary so that you can either complete the GHT route continuously or select sections to complete. It is always possible for you to plan according to your availability.  

The history of the Great Himalaya Trail:

Bill Tilman became the first chain traveler when he visited the Helambu, Langtang, Kali Gandaki natural depression, and Mount Everest regions in 1949. The advent of unionized trekking holidays in 1965 marked the beginning of a revolution in travel holidays that made mountain range regions accessible to everyone. It should be noted that Nepal, possibly the most accessible of the countries, had strict ‘no-go’ areas on its border with the Asian nation. A change occurred in 2002, and the Asian nation has since opened all of its mountains to permit-based trekking. The Great Himalayan Trail has been conquered by a few crazy and enthusiastic travelers since those days. 

Nepal Wilderness Trekking is one of the very few trekking agencies that have pioneered the promotion of this significant hiking route. Our trekking guides and travel planners are highly experienced. In Nepal, our crew members are well-versed in such high-caliber trekking. Following the guidelines of our travel expert is highly recommended, as we have trekked the entire course within Nepal.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. If you would like us to arrange this trek for you, we will be more than happy to assist you.  

A brief description of the Great Himalayan Trail:

Approximately 150 days are required to complete the Great Himalayan Trail, which follows the Nepal Himalayas and many of the world’s highest mountains. Trekking begins in the Kanchenjunga region, in the foothills of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world. Particularly in the spring season, this area is famous for its Rhododendrons, which drape the hills in a variety of colors. In order to reach the Kanchenjunga base camp, we will trek west, crossing the Lumba Sumba pass (5178m) and entering the Makalu region. A basic tea house is available in the Kanchenjunga region. Here, most of the ethnic Limbu and Rai communities reside. There will be camping along the way from Ghunsa west to Lumba Sumba pass.  

It is recommended that you return via Tumlingtar if you are breaking up your tour of the Great Himalayan Trail into sections. Otherwise, you will continue your trek northward in the Nepal-Tibet border area, admiring the beautiful Makalu region (a part of the Makalu Barun National Park area) and the stunning views of Mt. Makalu and Makalu Base Camp. As we continue along the high route towards Amphu Lapha, we cross Sherpani Col, one of the highest passes along the trail, with beautiful views of the snowy peaks and high mountains surrounding us. We have now reached the Everest region and are exploring the Khumbu valley. Several tea houses are available for accommodation in the Khumbu valley. Following a trek past the Gokyo lakes, including a visit up Gokyo Ri, and crossing Renjo-la pass, we leave the Everest region and enter Rolwaling valley via Tashi Lapcha pass. Most of these regions are inhabited by Gurungs and Sherpas. 

After leaving the Rolwaling valley via Tilman pass, we descend into Langtang valley, where we encounter members of the Tamang and Sherpa ethnic groups. You have already seen a variety of customs and lifestyles, and traditional clothing, and heard different languages that are unique to these ethnicities.  

The trek continues into the Ganesh Himal region and the Ruby Valley with its stunning meadows and rich pasturelands, with the massive Annapurna range in the west as a backdrop. We now find primarily Gurung and Magar communities in the Ruby valley area. 

In the Manaslu region, we follow a large part of the route of the Manaslu circuit. The Larke-la pass (5106m) is located north of Mt. Manaslu (8163m) and provides stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range, Mt. Manaslu, and the high mountains in the east. 

After crossing the Thorong-la pass at 5416 meters, the Manaslu circuit trail joins the Annapurna circuit trail, which we will follow to Manang and then across the Thorong-la pass. Upon descent, we are rewarded with beautiful views of Upper Mustang, which appear in a variety of shades of a relatively barren, yet remarkably colorful landscape. 

On the way, we stop at Muktinath, a well-known pilgrimage destination, and proceed further west towards the Upper Dolpo trekking area. There is no doubt that the Upper Dolpo area is one of Nepal’s most remote regions, offering unspoiled natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage. We sometimes walk for days without passing any settlements, but we are likely to encounter caravans of yaks or goats on the way, which move across the pastures to graze or transport goods.

Continuing our journey off the beaten track, we reach the serene beauty of Rara Lake, which lies at close to 3000 meters and is surrounded by dense forests and white peaked mountains in the distance. In order to reach Simikot, we travel through remote areas that have not seen a large number of tourists. Passing through the local villages, you will have the opportunity to see the lifestyle and traditions of the people in one of the most remote and poorest regions of Nepal. A route through the remote Limi valley trek, with its rich flora and fauna, ancient Buddhist monasteries, and religious traditions, is taken from Simikot, where also the Mt. Kailash trek usually begins. The Great Himalayan Trail ends at the Hilsa border crossing (Nepal-Tibet border). By way of Simikot, we return to Kathmandu. 

A summary article about the Great Himalayan Trail high route does not do justice to all the amazing landscapes, the rich natural beauty, and the different lifestyles, cultures, and traditions of the various ethnic groups. You can explore the different areas in greater detail in the various sections of the Great Himalaya Trail, however, it may give you an idea. Our team at Nepal Wilderness Trekking can walk you through the route options in detail and explain everything you need to know about this challenging trail.