What makes a trek good for beginners
A first trek in Nepal should teach you how trekking works without asking too much of your body. We look for four things: walking days of 3–6 hours, sleeping heights that stay below about 3,500 m or climb slowly, lodges close enough that you are never more than an hour from tea and a bed, and a road head within a few hours of Pokhara or Kathmandu in case you need to leave early.
The four routes below meet those tests, in rising order of difficulty. None needs ropes, crampons or previous experience. What they do need is a pair of broken-in boots, a few weeks of walking practice and the patience to go slowly uphill. Your guide sets the pace; the most common beginner mistake is to walk too fast on the first morning.
Four treks side by side
Figures come from our own packages. Prices are per person on twin sharing and include the licensed guide, teahouse rooms, permits and the jeep or car transfers shown.
| Ghandruk | Poon Hill | Mardi Himal | Langtang Valley | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 3 from Pokhara | 4 from Pokhara | 7 from Pokhara | 8 from Kathmandu |
| Highest point | 2,100 m | 3,210 m | ≈ 4,500 m | 4,773 m (Kyanjin Ri) |
| Highest sleep | 1,940 m | 2,874 m | 3,580 m | 3,870 m |
| Walking per day | 4–5 h | 3–6 h | 3–9 h | 4–7 h |
| Grade | Easy | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Price from | ₹19,000 / US$220 | ₹29,000 / US$340 | ₹45,000 / US$530 | ₹58,000 / US$690 |
Ghandruk: three days, no altitude worries
This is the trek we suggest for families with children aged 7 and over, grandparents who walk regularly and anyone unsure whether trekking is for them. A jeep takes you from Pokhara to Ghandruk at 1,940 m, a Gurung village of slate roofs facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. The second day crosses the Modi Khola gorge to Landruk in about 4 hours, and the third walks out over the Australian Camp ridge to Kande, about 5 hours, before a 45-minute drive back to Pokhara.
You never go above 2,100 m, so altitude sickness is not a concern, and the lodges in Ghandruk are among the most comfortable in the hills. The hardest part is the stone steps down to the river and up the other side.
Evenings are part of the experience: dal bhat in a warm dining room, a walk through the village lanes and the Gurung museum, and Annapurna South turning pink at sunset. If the children enjoy it, you will know you are ready for something higher next time.
Poon Hill: the classic first trek
Our 4-day loop drives from Pokhara to Hile, climbs the long stone staircase to Ulleri at 2,020 m, then walks through oak and rhododendron forest to Ghorepani at 2,874 m. Before dawn on day 3 you climb about 45 minutes to Poon Hill at 3,210 m for sunrise over Dhaulagiri at 8,167 m, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. The route returns through Tadapani to Ghandruk.
Expect sore calves from about 480 m of continuous steps below Ulleri; if knees are a worry, we can reverse the loop to climb gently via Ghandruk. Altitude is rarely an issue at these heights. In October and April a few hundred people may share the sunrise, and in late March the forest turns red with rhododendron. Travellers flying in can take our 7-day version from Kathmandu.
Mardi Himal and Langtang: a step higher
Once you have a short trek behind you, or if you are fit and have a week, these two take you higher. Mardi Himal starts 45 minutes from Pokhara at Kande and climbs through forest to Forest Camp at 2,550 m, then above the tree line to High Camp at 3,580 m. The base camp day is the hard one: about 900 m of climbing on a narrow ridge to around 4,500 m and a long descent, 8–9 hours in all. Many beginners stop at the upper viewpoint near 4,250 m and still see most of the view.
Langtang Valley is the shortest true Himalayan teahouse trek from Kathmandu, with no flights. A 7–8 hour jeep ride reaches Syabrubesi at 1,460 m, and three days of walking up the Langtang Khola bring you to Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870 m, with a rest day to climb Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m. Altitude sickness is possible on both treks, so tell your guide about headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest.
Permits, guides and altitude basics
Since April 2023, Nepal's rules have required foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to walk with a licensed guide hired through a registered agency; all our packages include one. The Annapurna treks need an ACAP permit, NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals including Indians. Langtang needs a national park permit, NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals, plus a TIMS card. Children under 10 are generally exempt. Fees and rules change, so check current status before you travel.
Altitude sickness can start above about 2,500 m. The rules are simple: climb slowly, drink 3–4 litres of water a day, avoid alcohol, and never go higher with symptoms that do not ease. October–November and March–April are the best months for all four treks; December to February is clear and cold, with snow possible above High Camp on Mardi.
Six weeks of preparation
You do not need to carry much. A porter carries the main bag, usually shared between two trekkers with a limit of about 10 kg each, and you carry a daypack. Lodges provide blankets, but a sleeping bag rated to about −5 °C makes nights at Ghorepani, High Camp and Kyanjin much more comfortable, and we can lend one. Bring a headtorch, a refillable bottle with purification tablets, and some cash in Nepali rupees for hot showers, charging and snacks, which cost more the higher you go.
- Walk 45–60 minutes four or five days a week, building to one 3–4 hour walk at the weekend
- Use stairs: 15–20 minutes of steady climbing twice a week prepares your legs for stone staircases
- Break in your boots on those walks; new boots cause most trail blisters
- Practise with the daypack you will carry, about 5 kg with water, jacket and snacks
- Pack layers rather than one heavy coat: a fleece, a down jacket and a rain shell
- Leave a spare day at the end of the trip in case a jeep or flight is delayed
Regions and places in this post
- Annapurna
- Langtang & Gosaikunda
- Pokhara & the Middle Hills
- Ghandruk
- Ghorepani
- Poon Hill
- Mardi Himal Base Camp
- Kyanjin Gompa
Questions travellers ask
Which is the easiest trek in Nepal for beginners?
The 3-day Ghandruk trek from Pokhara is one of the easiest. It stays below 2,100 m, walking days are 4–5 hours, and a jeep covers the first stretch. It suits children aged 7 and over and grandparents who walk regularly. If you want a mountain sunrise from higher up, Ghorepani Poon Hill at 3,210 m is the next step.
Can a beginner do Poon Hill trek?
Yes. Poon Hill is the most popular first trek in Nepal. Our 4-day loop from Pokhara has 3–6 hours of walking a day and a high point of 3,210 m, where altitude is rarely a problem. The hardest part is about 480 m of stone steps below Ulleri. A few weeks of walking and stair practice is enough preparation.
Do I need a guide for trekking in Nepal?
Since April 2023, Nepal's rules have required foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas, including Annapurna and Langtang, to walk with a licensed guide hired through a registered agency. The rule is aimed at foreign nationals, so ask us how it applies to your passport. A guide is included in all our trek packages. Rules change, so check current status before you travel.
Is Mardi Himal trek difficult for beginners?
Mardi Himal is moderate. Most days are 3–6 hours, but the base camp day climbs about 900 m to around 4,500 m and takes 8–9 hours with the descent. Lodges above Low Camp are basic. Fit beginners manage it well, and many stop at the upper viewpoint near 4,250 m. If you are unsure, do Poon Hill first.
What is the best month for a beginner trek in Nepal?
October and November are best, with dry trails, clear views and comfortable temperatures. March and April come next, warmer and hazier, with rhododendrons in flower on the Poon Hill route. December to February is clear but cold, around −5 °C at night in Ghorepani. Avoid June to September, when monsoon rain brings leeches and cloud.
