Best Treks in Nepal for Beginners: Routes by Duration and Difficulty
The best treks in Nepal for beginners, grouped by how many days you have: two-day valley-rim walks, four- and five-day Annapurna classics, week-long valley treks, and a sensible first trek to 4,000 m. With a comparison table and the routes we would not start with.
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On this page
- What is the best trek in Nepal for beginners?
- Can a beginner trek in Nepal?
- What makes a trek good for beginners?
- How do the best beginner treks compare?
- What are the best short treks for beginners (2–4 days)?
- What is the best 5–7 day trek for beginners?
- What is the best 8–12 day trek for beginners?
- What is the best first high-altitude trek in Nepal?
- Is Everest Base Camp too hard for beginners?
- Which treks should beginners avoid?
- Will I get altitude sickness on a beginner trek?
- Do beginners need a guide to trek in Nepal?
- How fit do you need to be for a beginner trek?
- When is the best time for a first trek?
- How much does a beginner trek cost?
The best treks in Nepal for beginners are short, stay mostly below 3,500 m, sleep in teahouses and start by road from Pokhara or Kathmandu. For most first-timers we recommend the four-day Ghorepani Poon Hill trek from Pokhara. If you want something higher, Annapurna Base Camp is the best first trek to around 4,000 m.
Below we group the best beginner treks by how many days you have and how hard they are, compare them in one table, and answer the questions first-time trekkers ask us most.
What is the best trek in Nepal for beginners?
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is the best all-round first trek in Nepal. It takes four days from Pokhara, the highest night is at 2,874 m and the sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210 m) takes in Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre. It is short enough to be low-risk and long enough to feel like a real trek.
That said, "best" depends on your time and fitness. If you have only a weekend, a two-day walk to Australian Camp is better. If you are fit and want to stand among the big peaks, go to Annapurna Base Camp. The sections below match treks to the days you have.
Can a beginner trek in Nepal?
Yes. Most teahouse treks in Nepal need no technical skills, only the fitness to walk four to six hours a day for several days. You sleep and eat in lodges, a porter can carry your main bag, and a licensed guide handles routes, permits and rooms. Many people do their first ever multi-day walk here.
What beginners underestimate is the terrain, not the distance. Nepali trails are full of stone steps, and days often include 500 m or more of climbing and the same again in descent. Altitude is the other factor: the higher you sleep, the slower you need to go.
What makes a trek good for beginners?
A good first trek is low, short, easy to reach and well supplied with lodges. We look for a highest night below about 3,000 m, four to eight days of walking, road access from Pokhara or Kathmandu, teahouses every couple of hours and a quick way down if anyone feels unwell.
In more detail:
Altitude. Health guidance classes sleeping altitudes below about 2,750 m as low risk for altitude sickness, with risk rising above that. A first trek that sleeps below 3,000 m is very forgiving.
Length. Four to eight days lets you settle into trekking life without a bad night or sore knees ruining the trip.
Access. Road starts avoid mountain flights, which are often delayed by weather.
Lodges. Regular teahouses mean shorter days, hot food and a bed every night.
Escape routes. On the Annapurna foothill treks, a road or jeep track is rarely more than a day's walk away.
How do the best beginner treks compare?
Our beginner treks range from two easy days below 2,200 m to ten moderate days reaching 4,130 m. The table gives days, highest point, highest night, grade and start point. All figures come from our itineraries.
Trek | Days | Highest point | Highest night | Grade | Starts from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 2,060 m | 2,060 m | Easy | Pokhara | |
3 | 2,430 m (Borlang Bhanjyang) | 2,200 m | Easy | Kathmandu | |
4 | 2,080 m | 2,060 m | Easy | Pokhara | |
4 | 3,210 m (Poon Hill) | 2,874 m (Ghorepani) | Easy | Pokhara | |
5 | 3,300 m (Mohare Danda) | 3,300 m | Moderate | Pokhara | |
5 | about 4,200 m (Upper View Point) | 3,580 m (High Camp) | Moderate | Pokhara | |
6 | 3,800 m (Muktinath) | 3,700 m | Moderate | Pokhara | |
8 | about 4,660 m (Khayer Lake, optional) | 3,660 m (Khopra Danda) | Moderate | Pokhara | |
8 | 4,984 m (Tserko Ri, optional) | 3,870 m (Kyanjin Gompa) | Moderate | Kathmandu | |
8 | 3,880 m (Hotel Everest View) | 3,780 m (Khumjung) | Moderate | Kathmandu | |
10 | 4,130 m | 4,130 m | Moderate | Pokhara |
Days run from the starting city back to it. The Langtang and Everest View treks include travel days to and from Kathmandu.
What are the best short treks for beginners (2–4 days)?
For two or three days, walk to Australian Camp and Dhampus from Pokhara or from Chisapani to Nagarkot near Kathmandu. With three or four days, add Ghandruk or the Ghorepani Poon Hill loop. All four stay low, have short or moderate days and suit families, older walkers and anyone testing whether they enjoy trekking.
Is the Australian Camp and Dhampus trek good for beginners?
It is the gentlest trek we run: two or three days, no real altitude and short walking days. A short drive from Pokhara takes you to Kande, and an hour or two of climbing puts you on the grassy ridge at Australian Camp, about 2,060 m, looking straight at Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Lamjung Himal. The trail then drops through forest to the Gurung village of Dhampus. Stay a night for the sunrise. See the Australian Camp and Dhampus trek.
What is the easiest trek from Kathmandu?
Chisapani to Nagarkot, a two- to three-day walk along the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. You leave the valley at Sundarijal, climb through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to the ridge village of Chisapani, then follow the rim through farming villages to Nagarkot, roughly 2,175 m. On clear mornings the view runs from the Annapurnas and Manaslu to Langtang and, on the best days, Everest. The mountains are distant, but it is a fine warm-up and a good winter option. See the Chisapani to Nagarkot trek.
Is Ghandruk worth it for a short trek?
Yes, especially for families and anyone more interested in village life than altitude. Ghandruk is one of the largest Gurung villages in the Annapurna region, at about 2,000 m, with stone houses, slate roofs and terraced fields under Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. The three- to four-day trek from Pokhara gives you time in the village and its Gurung museum rather than rushing through. See the Ghandruk village trek.
Is Ghorepani Poon Hill good for a first trek?
It is the classic first trek in Nepal: four days, a highest night of 2,874 m and one of the best sunrise viewpoints in the Himalaya. You climb from Nayapul to Ulleri (2,070 m), continue through forest to Ghorepani (2,874 m), walk up Poon Hill (3,210 m) before dawn, then follow the ridge to Tadapani (2,630 m) and finish through Ghandruk.
It is not effortless. The first day climbs thousands of stone steps from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri, and the first three days have five to six hours of walking. Spring brings rhododendrons; autumn the clearest views. See the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.
What is the best 5–7 day trek for beginners?
Mardi Himal is the best five-day trek if you are fit and want height; Mohare Danda is best if you want quiet trails and village lodges. In six days, Jomsom and Muktinath takes you into the dry country north of the Himalaya. All three are a step up from Poon Hill in some way.
Is Mardi Himal too hard for a beginner?
Not for a fit beginner, but it is clearly harder than Poon Hill. Our five-day trek stays at Forest Camp (2,550 m), Low Camp (2,970 m) and High Camp (3,580 m), then climbs about 600 m before dawn to the Upper View Point at about 4,200 m and descends to Siding. The summit morning is steep and the last day is a long, knee-jarring descent. You only spend a few hours above 4,000 m, which helps. Our Mardi Himal vs Poon Hill comparison goes through the choice in detail. See the Mardi Himal trek.
What is the Mohare Danda trek like?
A quiet five-day alternative to the main Poon Hill trail, staying in community-run lodges. You drive to Galeshwor and walk up through the Magar villages of Banskharka (1,525 m) and Nangi (2,300 m) to a lodge on the ridge at 3,300 m, with views from Dhaulagiri to Machhapuchhre. Then you follow the forest ridge to Ghorepani for sunrise on Poon Hill. Lodges are simple and climbs steady, and you meet more villagers than trekkers. See the Mohare Danda trek.
Is the Jomsom and Muktinath trek good for beginners?
Yes, if you are comfortable starting high. Jomsom sits at about 2,720 m in the dry, windy Kali Gandaki valley behind Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, and gets under 300 mm of rain a year. The trek takes in the old village of Kagbeni and climbs to Muktinath, a temple sacred to Hindus and Buddhists at about 3,800 m. The walking is not hard, the afternoon wind is strong, and it is one of the few easy treks that works in the monsoon. See the Jomsom and Muktinath trek.
What is the best 8–12 day trek for beginners?
Langtang Valley, Everest View and Khopra Danda are the best eight-day treks for beginners, and none crosses a high pass. Langtang is reached by road from Kathmandu, Everest View shows you Everest without going above 4,000 m, and Khopra Danda is a quiet, high ridge facing Dhaulagiri.
Is Langtang Valley good for a first trek?
Yes. It is the closest high Himalayan valley to Kathmandu, with good trails, regular lodges and no flights. You drive to Syabrubesi (1,460 m) and walk through Lama Hotel (2,470 m) and the rebuilt Tamang village of Langtang (3,430 m) to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m). A free day there gives the option of Tserko Ri (4,984 m) or the lower Kyanjin Ri. The gain from Lama Hotel to Langtang village is large, so go steadily. A flood on the Bhote Koshi in August 2026 damaged Syabrubesi and its road, so for now we start from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru, which usually adds a day. See the Langtang Valley trek and our Langtang Valley trek guide.
What is the easiest way to see Everest?
The eight-day Everest View trek shows you Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam without going above 3,880 m. You fly to Lukla, walk to Phakding (2,610 m) and Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), take an acclimatisation day to Hotel Everest View (3,880 m), spend a night in the Sherpa village of Khumjung (3,780 m) and walk back to Lukla. Lukla flights are often delayed by cloud, so we build a spare day into the trip. See the Everest View trek.
Is Khopra Danda suitable for beginners?
Yes for fit beginners, apart from the optional Khayer Lake day. The trek leaves the main trail at Tadapani and climbs through forest to a ridge at 3,660 m facing Dhaulagiri, staying in village-run lodges. Day five is an optional eight- to ten-hour hike to Khayer Lake at about 4,660 m, which you can swap for a rest day. It finishes with sunrise on Poon Hill. See the Khopra Danda trek.
What is the best first high-altitude trek in Nepal?
Annapurna Base Camp is the best first trek to around 4,000 m. Our ten-day route reaches 4,130 m on a gradual ascent, spends only one night above 4,000 m, has lodges every hour or two and descends quickly if anyone feels unwell. It suits fit beginners who walk regularly.
Our Annapurna Base Camp trek starts with the Poon Hill loop through Ulleri (2,070 m), Ghorepani (2,874 m) and Tadapani (2,630 m), crosses to Chhomrong (2,170 m), then follows the Modi Khola gorge through Bamboo (2,310 m) and Deurali (3,200 m) to base camp at 4,130 m, passing Machhapuchhre Base Camp on the way. You come down through Bamboo and Jhinu Danda, with hot springs by the river.
The first three days are below 3,000 m, giving your body time to adjust.
You sleep one night above 4,000 m, not several.
Below Deurali, lodges come every hour or two.
A few hours' walk takes you down more than 1,000 m.
For gentler days, our 12-day Annapurna Base Camp trek goes straight up the Modi Khola and returns through Landruk and Australian Camp. Our Annapurna Base Camp trek guide covers the route day by day.
Is Everest Base Camp too hard for beginners?
It is possible but not ideal for a first trek. Everest Base Camp reaches 5,545 m at Kala Patthar and you sleep above 5,000 m at Gorak Shep, where altitude sickness is common even on a careful itinerary. Fit first-timers do it every season, but most people enjoy it more after a lower trek.
If Everest is the dream, consider the Everest View trek first, or do Annapurna Base Camp and come back for the Everest Base Camp trek on a later trip. Our Everest Base Camp vs Annapurna Base Camp comparison and Everest Base Camp trek guide explain the differences.
Which treks should beginners avoid?
Avoid treks with passes above 5,000 m and remote restricted-area treks for your first time in Nepal. These include the Everest Three Passes, the Annapurna Circuit's Thorong La, Manaslu's Larkya La, Nar Phu, and Dolpo, Kanchenjunga and Makalu. They are excellent second or third treks.
Everest Three Passes. Twenty days over Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, with glacier crossings and several eight-hour days.
Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake. Both cross the 5,416 m Thorong La, which needs careful acclimatisation and can close after snow.
Manaslu Circuit and Nar Phu. Restricted areas with passes above 5,100 m and fewer lodges.
Upper Dolpo, Lower Dolpo, Kanchenjunga and Makalu. Long, remote and partly camping-based, days from the nearest road.
Restricted areas also need a special permit arranged through a registered agency. Our Nepal trekking permits guide explains which treks need what.
Will I get altitude sickness on a beginner trek?
On treks that sleep below 3,000 m, such as Poon Hill, Ghandruk or Australian Camp, serious altitude sickness is unlikely. Above about 3,000 m the risk rises for everyone, however fit. What protects you is a slow ascent: no more than about 500 m of extra sleeping height a night once above 3,000 m, and an extra night for every 1,000 m.
Our itineraries are built that way, and your guide checks how everyone is doing every day. Mild headache and breathlessness are normal; a worsening headache, vomiting or confusion mean going down.
Do beginners need a guide to trek in Nepal?
Yes. Since 1 April 2023, Nepal Tourism Board rules require foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency. Enforcement varies by region, but for a first trek a guide is worth having anyway: they handle permits and lodges, set a safe pace and know the signs of altitude sickness.
Every trek we run is fully guided by a licensed guide, as a private trip or a small group of up to 12. Read more in Do you need a guide to trek in Nepal?.
How fit do you need to be for a beginner trek?
For the easy treks, being able to walk four to five hours on hilly ground is enough. For Mardi Himal, Langtang or Annapurna Base Camp, you should be able to walk six hours with a daypack on consecutive days. Knees, not lungs, are what most beginners notice first, so train for descents as well as climbs.
Start six to ten weeks before you travel.
Take long hill walks of four to six hours, ideally two days in a row, carrying a daypack.
Add stair sessions for the steps and descents.
Keep up regular running, cycling or swimming for general fitness.
Break in your boots on those walks.
When is the best time for a first trek?
October, November, March and April are the best months for almost every beginner trek. Autumn has the clearest views; spring is warmer, with rhododendrons on the Poon Hill and Mohare Danda trails. Poon Hill, Mohare Danda and the low treks near Pokhara and Kathmandu also work well in December.
Our month-by-month guide to the best time to trek in Nepal goes through each month, including monsoon and winter options.
How much does a beginner trek cost?
The cost depends on the trek, group size, season and level of service, so we quote each trip individually. Shorter, lower treks from Pokhara cost less than treks that start with a mountain flight, such as Everest View. Ask for a quote through Plan your trip.
For a breakdown of permits, lodges, food, guides and transport, read our Nepal trekking cost guide and What's included in a Nepal trekking package.
Beginner treks in this guide
Australian Camp and Dhampus Trek
Chisapani Nagarkot Trek
Ghandruk Village Trek
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
Mohare Danda Trek
Mardi Himal Trek
Jomsom Muktinath Trek
Langtang Valley Trek
Everest View Trek
Khopra Danda Trek
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
More questions from first-time trekkers
What is the best short trek from Pokhara?
For two or three days, Australian Camp and Dhampus. For four days, Ghorepani Poon Hill. For five days, Mardi Himal if you want more height and challenge, or Mohare Danda if you want quieter trails and community lodges.
Can children do a trek in Nepal?
Yes. Active children who are used to walking several hours a day manage the low treks well, especially Australian Camp, Ghandruk and Ghorepani Poon Hill, where the highest night is below 3,000 m. Tell us their ages and experience and we will adjust the pace or add a day.
Can you trek in Nepal over 60?
Many people in their sixties and seventies trek in Nepal. Choose a low route such as Poon Hill or Ghandruk, add a day to shorten the stages, and check with your doctor about altitude if you have heart or lung conditions. A porter carrying your bag makes a big difference.
What is a teahouse?
A teahouse is a family-run trekking lodge with simple twin rooms, shared or private toilets and a dining room with a stove. Menus run from dal bhat to pasta and pancakes. Higher lodges are more basic and bedrooms are unheated, so you need a warm sleeping bag; we lend one on our treks.
How many hours a day will I walk?
Usually four to six hours, including breaks. Some days are shorter, and a few are longer, such as the first day of Mardi Himal (six to seven hours) or the Khayer Lake hike on Khopra Danda (eight to ten hours). Your guide sets the pace to the slowest walker.
Do I need trekking poles?
They are not essential, but most beginners find them very helpful on the long stone staircases, especially going down. They take strain off the knees on descents such as Ulleri to Tikhedhunga or High Camp to Siding.
Can I trek alone as a beginner?
Not without a guide under the current rules for foreign trekkers. You can, however, book a private trek just for yourself with a licensed guide, which suits solo travellers who want their own pace.
Is there Wi-Fi and phone signal on beginner treks?
On the Annapurna foothill treks most lodges have Wi-Fi, often for a small charge, and mobile signal is common. Higher up, on Mardi Himal or in Langtang, signal is patchier and charging may cost extra. Bring a power bank.
Can I combine two short treks?
Yes. Many people walk Australian Camp or Poon Hill early in their trip, rest a day in Pokhara, then go on to Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp. We can plan both as one trip.
What should I pack for a first trek?
Broken-in boots, layers including a warm fleece and waterproof jacket, a sun hat and warm hat, gloves, sunscreen, a water bottle with purification tablets, a headtorch and a small personal first aid kit. On our treks a porter carries your main bag and we lend a down jacket and sleeping bag.