Great Himalaya Trail

A true expedition-length walk across Nepal’s highest and most remote mountain country.

Time to Hike: Most walkers allow 120-150 days, with rest and contingency days for weather, altitude and transport delays.

Best Time to Go: Apr-Oct is the broad window, but most teams time the highest-pass sections for the most stable pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods.

Getting there: Most start by flying into Kathmandu and then using a mix of domestic flights and long jeep rides to reach the eastern trailhead near Kanchenjunga. Finishes commonly involve flights out from Simikot after reaching Hilsa.

Costs: This is one of Nepal’s most expensive trekking concepts once you factor in multiple permit zones, guides, porters, camping logistics and domestic flights. Costs vary hugely depending on how much you camp versus use lodges, and how much support you hire.

Difficulty: Expert. Expect sustained high altitude, remote sections with limited services, major river valleys and long, steep passes, plus complex logistics.

The high route version of the Great Himalaya Trail is a westward chain of big mountain systems: from the forests and deep valleys below Kanchenjunga Base Camp, to the wild basin of Makalu Base Camp, into the busy but spectacular pathways around Everest Base Camp, then across lesser-trekked ranges such as Rolwaling and Langtang. From central Nepal it trends into trans-Himalayan landscapes around Muktinath before committing to the remoteness of Dolpo and the far west.

What makes the route notable is the contrast in both terrain and infrastructure. Some sections have established tea house networks and well-trodden paths, while others are essentially expedition trekking where you may camp for days at a time, manage food carries, and rely on local knowledge for routefinding over passes.

Highlights often include iconic base camp approaches, culturally distinct regions across multiple Himalayan ethnic groups, and the sense of crossing Nepal end-to-end under your own power. Many walkers treat it as a framework rather than a single fixed line, adapting for conditions, permit constraints and local advice.

• Kanchenjunga section (km 0-200) - Remote eastern trails to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, with big elevation changes, limited services and frequent camping depending on the variant.
• Makalu section (km 200-380) - Long, quieter approaches towards Makalu Base Camp through steep valleys and high pastures; logistics are more demanding than the main Everest corridors.
• Everest section (km 380-600) - More developed trekking infrastructure on the way to Everest Base Camp; high altitude acclimatisation becomes central, with side valleys offering alternative crossings.
• Rolwaling crossing (km 600-760) - The route through Rolwaling towards Tsho Rolpa is a classic “in-between” Himalaya section with fewer lodges and a more expedition feel.
• Langtang and Helambu link (km 760-930) - Trails in Langtang can be comparatively accessible from Kathmandu, but crossings still demand careful timing for weather and trail conditions.
• Annapurna and Mustang link (km 930-1150) - A higher, drier Himalayan rain shadow feel builds as you near Muktinath; tea houses are more common on popular parts of this region.
• Dolpo traverse (km 1150-1380) - The walk through Dolpo via settlements such as Dho Tarap is one of the most remote, often requiring camping support and extra permit planning.
• Rara and Humla approach (km 1380-1550) - The landscape opens towards Rara Lake and the far-west hills, with fewer foreigners and longer distances between reliable supplies.
• Humla to the Tibetan border (km 1550-1700) - From Simikot towards Hilsa the trail is rugged and culturally distinct, with travel often shaped by flight schedules and river conditions.

Apr-Oct is the broad season, but the best timing depends on which high crossings you plan. Many teams aim for the clearest weather windows either before the main monsoon build-up or after it, while using mid-season time for lower, greener sections.

Key hazards are altitude illness, snow and wind on high passes, landslides and swollen rivers in the monsoon months, and flight disruption in remote airstrips. Build in flexibility: rest days, weather days and reroutes are normal on a GHT-length walk.

Most international travellers fly into Kathmandu. Reaching the eastern start near Kanchenjunga Base Camp typically combines a domestic flight (often via Bhadrapur) with long road transfers to the Taplejung area, followed by several days of walking before you are truly “on route”.

At the western end, many itineraries exit via Simikot, usually connecting by flight to Nepalgunj and back to Kathmandu. The hike is commonly walked east to west to finish in the far west with a clear transport plan, but both directions are possible depending on permits, monsoon timing and which high passes you prioritise.

You should expect multiple permit regimes across the walk. Different sections pass through areas such as Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Langtang National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area and Shey Phoksundo National Park, each with its own entry requirements and checkpoints.

Several GHT sections also run through Nepal’s restricted areas where special permits are required and where regulations commonly require a registered guide and an agency-arranged permit. Because rules change and depend on your exact line, confirm current requirements for every section before committing to a full itinerary.

Accommodation varies dramatically by region. In established trekking corridors, especially around Everest Base Camp, parts of Langtang and the Annapurna region, you can often use tea houses and small lodges and travel relatively light.

In more remote east and far-west sections, and in parts of Dolpo, many itineraries rely on camping with a support team (guide, porters and often a cook) because villages are sparse and lodge capacity can be limited or seasonal. If you plan to use lodges where available, booking ahead can help in busy areas, while a tent-based plan offers the most flexibility for the full traverse.