Punam Phuyal
Winter in Nepal goes normally in the middle hills. Except for cloudy weather, we can have warm, sunny days in cities and the Himalayas. You can plan winter treks in Nepal and make your holidays fruitful. This article includes all the possible winter trekking in the Himalayan region of Nepal. Winter days remain dry with clear visibility in good weather. Annapurna and the Everest region are the beautiful places you can explore in winter. If you want to do an off-the-beaten trek, then the lower Dolpo region is the best for trekking.
Winter trek in Nepal goes amazing in particular destinations only. You can spend winter vacation in the Everest region, Annapurna region, Kathmandu, and Rasuwa districts. The most popular trek possible in winter is shown in the table below.
| Winter treks in Nepal | places |
| Everest panorama trek | Everest region |
| Pikey Peak trek | Everest region |
| Ghorepani Poonhill trekking | Annapurna region |
| Mardi Himal trek | Annapurna region |
| Kori trek | Annapurna region |
| Jomsom Muktinath trek | Annapurna region |
| Dhampus Village trek | Annapurna region |
| Khumai Danda Trek | Annapurna region |
| Mohare Danda Trek | Annapurna region |
| Kathmandu Rim trek | Kathmandu |
| Tamang Heritage trek | Rasuwa |
| Langtang valley trek | Rasuwa |
| Helambu valley trek | Rasuwa |
Beyond the treks listed in Table 1, you can also do the Everest base camp trek, Gokyo Lake trek, Khopra Danda trek, and Gosaikunda trek in winter, but you will face maximum difficulties in completing the trek. The severe cold atmospheric conditions may create health issues.
The Everest panorama trek is also known as Everest view trek. You will trek up to Namche and then to the Everest View Hotel to get a panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Thamserku, Kusumkhangaru, Kunde, and Khumvila. Beginning the trekking after the Lukla flight, you will stay in Phakding for the first night. Next day you will trek to Namche Bazar and spend the night in Namche. The mesmerizing view of Namche bazzar, Syangboche and scene from Everest view hotel is the best part of the panorama trek.
The Everest panorama trek can be done throughout the year, but you may get flight problems or delays in flights during summer. The cloudy weather and rain cover may ruin the trek. Therefore, I suggest to do Everest panorama trek in spring, autumn, and winter only.
Pikey Peak is a short trek in the Everest region for a mesmerizing view of Everest. It can be done in a minimum 3 or 4 days and a maximum 10 days if you take more leisure time. The Pikey Peak trekking itinerary begins after the drive from Kathmandu to Dhap. Around 4 hours of walk from Dhap to Japre will be the first day trek. The next day you will trek to Pikey Base Camp and continue to Pikey Peak, Loding, Junebesi, Taksindu, and Phalpu and fly back to Kathmandu on the 8th day.
If you want to complete trek in short days, you can return back from the same path used to go Pikey Peak Base Camp.
Ghorepani poonhill trek route is the best route for beginners in Annapurna region. You can do Ghorepani poonhill trek in spring, autumn and winter. During summer the rain cover and leeches on the forest path makes difficulties in trekking. Starting the trek after drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, you will pass Hille, Ghorepani, Poonhill, Tadapani, Ghanduruk and return to Nayapul. The highest destination of this trek is Poonhill which is also known as photographer’s paradise. The amazing view of Annapurna range with sunrise from Poonhill would be the best part of the Gnorepani poonhill trek.
Mardi himal trek is a newly opened trek in the Annapurna region. There are multiple Mardi himal trek route as listed below.
Even the routes are different, but all the route adjoins in Forest camp. After reaching forest camp follow the same path until reaching Mardi Himal base camp. Most of time you will be walking through forest until reaching Badal danda. The reduced vegetation with increasing elevation you will see pasture, grass land, rocky surface and amazing landscape of Annapurna region. The panaromic view or Himlung, Annapurna south, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna range from view point is best part of Mardi Himal trek.
Kori trek is short trek in Annapurna region. You can complete Kori trek in 9 days. Sikles, Kapuche Lake and Kori danda as major attraction of this trek. Drive from Pokhara to Sikles takes you to wonderful Gurung village. The forest walk, small villages, hardworking villagers, suspension bridges, rivers, spring and majestic view of Annapurna range make this trek more popular.
The Jomsom Muktinath trek is the best exploration of the Mustang district of Nepal. Beyond greenery of Nepal you will experience the desertified non green hills and Kaligandaki carrying black stones and saligram with her. The mesmerizing beauty of Dhaulagiri from Muktinath is awesome. The trek is unique adventure in Nepal where you can view apple orchard, buckwheat farming on the bank of Kaligandaki. Muktinath temple almost remains crowded with hindu and Buddhist Pilgrims to worship Lord Bishnu. You will be walking on the bank of Kaligandaki throughout the trek. Walking starts from Jomsom or Birethanti.
Jomsom Muktinath trek route can also be started from Nayapul which continue to Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Ghasa, Tukche, Kagbeni, Muktinath and back to Jomsom. After then you will fly back to Pokhara and Kathmandu.
Dhampus Sarangkot trek is a short trek from Pokhara in the Annapurna region. The trekking starts from Hemja and continues to Dhampus. You will take rest in Dhampus, and the next day you will trek to Sarangkot. The mesmerizing view of Annapurna I, Machhapuchre, Annapurna II, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, and Annapurna south from Sarangkot is best part of Dhampus Sarangkot trek. You will enjoy the Gurung culture, forest walk, agricultural lands on Annapurna landscape in this trek.
Kathmandu valley rim trek offers solo, group and family trekking in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kavre district. There are three beautiful places included in Kathmandu rim trek. The places are listed below:-
Kathmandu valley rim trek itinerary begins from Shaku-Kathmandu and continues to Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel. You will drive back to Kathmandu after Dhulikhel night stay.
Tamang heritage trek is a cultural trek in Rasuwa district Nepal. The trekking starts after drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. You will pass Gatlang, tatoplani, Thuman, Briddim and back to Syabrubesi as Tamang heritage trekking route. You will explore agricultural land, forest, Tamang villages, mountains and valleys of Rasuwa.
Langtang valley trek is nearest trek from Kathmandu. Trek to explore Langtang national park, ethnic culture, diverse rhododendron forest, Gurung and tamang community and amazing Langtang valley on the lap of Langtang Himal. The Langtang valley trek itinerary includes Kathmandu day tour on the first day. Walking begins after drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. Langtang trekking route continues from Syabrubesi to Lama hotel, Langtang valley, Kyanjin Gompa, Ghoda tabala, Bamboo and return back to Syabru besi.
The Helambu valley trek is a short trek from Kathmandu valley and extends to Melamchi. Helambu trek itinerary begins after drive to Sundarijal. You will walk through Chisapani, Khutumsang, Tharepati, Tarke Ghyang, Sermanthang and back to Kathmandu. You will explore Shivapuri national park, Buddhist culture, Tamang and Sharpa community, monasteries and chorten throughout the Helambu valley trekking route.
Trekking in Nepal during winter will be as beautiful as in the best season trekking. You should face the cold nights but enough quilt and sleeping bag will make warm nights as well. Except high pass trekking such as Tilicho lake trek, Everest three passes trek, Gokyo lake trek, Manaslu circuit trek, Upper Mustang Trek, Upper Dolpo trek, and Kanchenjunga circuit trek we can do all the trekking in Nepal during winter. There will be less crowd on the trekking route. You can easily visit Nepal during winter and do winter trekking in the month of December, January, and February.
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