Discussions Aventure took part in

Hi everyone!

New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028. I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄). This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!

So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?

Thanks in advance for your advice! 🙂

Hi there,

We’re planning a trip to Nepal and would love to do a helicopter tour to Everest with Namche Heli Service. Has anyone here used this agency? I can’t seem to find any reviews online. Thanks in advance!

Kloki

Hello, I’ll be in Nepal from March 6th to 29th (we’re flying into Kathmandu via Varanasi and leaving via Delhi). I’m a bit confused about the regulations requiring a guide.

My wife and I (we’re 63 and 64) aren’t experienced trekkers—we’re more used to walking on terrain with very moderate elevation changes. I’m looking for fairly easy hikes, possibly day trips. Here are my questions: - Does the Poon Hill trek from Pokhara require a guide, or is it better to go through a local agency? (I’ve seen a lot of them offering 4-day packages) - I’d like to do a few multi-day hikes around Jomsom (Kagbeni, Mukitinath, Lupra, Marpha)... Do you need a guide for those, and can you find accommodations easily without booking in advance?

Last question—I’m really hesitant to lug around a sleeping bag or down jacket during our 6 weeks in India. Can you easily find these kinds of items at reasonable prices in Pokhara?

Thanks in advance for any tips you can share! Yann

Hi everyone, I’ll be in Nepal in January and would like to go to Janakpur, either from Sauraha or Kathmandu. Are there frequent buses during the day from these two places? Is it also possible to get an estimate of how long the trips take—I know it depends heavily on road conditions. Also, I’m unsure how many days to dedicate to exploring this city, which apparently has quite a few sights to see. Thanks in advance for your tips. Christiane

Hi there! I’m heading to Nepal on November 3rd and plan to do a trek to Kala Patthar starting on the 7th (about twelve days). I’m a 68-year-old man in good physical shape and I’m looking for someone or an already-formed group up for the adventure. I’ll be accompanied by a porter and possibly a guide, but I think just the porter is necessary. Last year, I did the Mardi Himal trek in the Annapurna range. This one is 2 to 3 times longer. If you’re interested, drop me a message! Thanks

Hello, We’re a group of three people aged 63 to 65, planning to do the Kangchenjunga trek in April 2026 with a Nepali friend. We’d like to have a total of six participants to share costs. If you’re interested, drop us a message. Gilles

Hi there,

I’ll be in Nepal in October. I’m planning to do the Annapurna trek and climb Mera Peak. From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the most accessible 6,000m peaks and doesn’t require a mandatory guide? The info I’ve found is pretty scattered—mostly just travel agency blogs. :-) Has anyone here already done this climb? I’ve heard you can find guides in Khare for just the final part of the ascent (which is way cheaper).

Thanks for your feedback!

Can’t wait to be there! :-)

I’m heading to Nepal at the end of April 2026 with my brother, the two kids, and my mom. My mom is 75, in good shape, she walks but isn’t a big sports enthusiast. My daughter is 16, she’s not really into hiking but with the right vibe, she’ll step up. I’m looking for a 5-6 day trek that’s not too difficult—around 4-5 hours of walking and 500-600m of elevation gain per day. What’s our goal? Well, like everyone, we’d love something not too crowded. We want to experience Nepali village life away from the main routes—terraced fields, all that. Some encounters, authenticity, sharing... And if we can catch a glimpse of some high peaks, even better. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone. I’ve been dreaming of this trek since my first trip to Nepal: either joining an existing group (I’m 70, so the pace will be adjusted accordingly...), or organizing it myself with the same guide who accompanied me on the Annapurna Circuit and in Mustang (putting together a group of 2 or 3 people). Who’s interested??? Jules. Agnes

Namaste everyone,

We went to Nepal last October and literally fell in love with this country (like so many others, it seems). During our trek, we had the chance to meet and travel with an incredible independent local guide, Apsara Luitel. She told us about a unique project she’s organizing starting mid-May, and we wanted to share it in case it interests anyone. We mentioned it on another travel forum, but just in case, we’re posting it here too to reach as many people as possible.

Apsara, who knows the Api mountain valley (a name as joyful as it is intriguing!) in Nepal’s Far West (on the border between India and Tibet, at the edge of the world) perfectly, is offering an off-the-beaten-path trek for a group of 3 to 8 people max. The program? An authentic and preserved itinerary combining homestays and small mountain lodges, all the way to the Api base camp. Once at base camp, locals will guide us to secret spots only they know, where we’ll harvest yarsagumba (those famous caterpillar-fungi, rare and prized for their medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine—they were going for $20,000 per kilo last year!).

Mid-May is the ideal time to discover this almost unexplored region and take part in harvesting these natural treasures. This kind of adventure, led by an inspiring young woman like Apsara, is rare, and we think it could appeal to Nepal lovers and those who enjoy authentic treks far from the usual tourist routes.

No matter how many participants there are (between 3 and 8), there will always be two guides: Apsara, who speaks English (and is learning French!), and a French-speaking guide. The dates are flexible around May 15th, depending on the availability of those who’d like to take on the adventure.

Hello, We’re looking for participants to join us on the Annapurna Circuit trek from March 7 to 26, 2025. If you’d like to team up and hike this loop together, get in touch! Have a great day and see you on the adventure trail!!! Aventure

Hi everyone,

I'm heading to Nepal solo for over 3 weeks at the beginning of March and wanted to get your thoughts on this itinerary:

Mon 03/03: Visit Kathmandu in the afternoon (night in Kathmandu) Tue 04/03: Kathmandu (night in Kathmandu) Wed 05/03: Swayambunath – Pashupatinath (night in Kathmandu) Thu 06/03: Kathmandu in the morning then go to Boudhanath (night in Boudhanath) Fri 07/03: Shechen - Patan (night in Boudhanath) Sat 08/03: Bhaktapur (night in Bhaktapur) Sun 09/03: Changu Narayan (night in Bhaktapur) Mon 10/03: Bhaktapur (night in Bhaktapur) Tue 11/03: Panauti – Namo Buddha (night in Dhulikhel – drop off my bag at the hotel in the morning) Wed 12/03: Dhulikhel (night in Dhulikhel) Thu 13/03: Nagarkot (night in Nagarkot) Fri 14/03: Kathmandu Airport – Flight to Chitwan Park (night in Chitwan) Sat 15/03: Chitwan Park (night in Chitwan) Sun 16/03: Chitwan Park (night in Chitwan) Mon 17/03: Departure to Pokhara (6-hour bus ride) (night in Pokhara) Tue 18/03: Pokhara (Poon Hill trek) Wed 19/03: Pokhara (Poon Hill trek) Thu 20/03: Pokhara (Poon Hill trek) Fri 21/03: Pokhara (Poon Hill trek) Sat 22/03: Pokhara (Paragliding or Sarangkot? Is it possible to do both in one day?)

Sun 23/03: Bandipur (night in Bandipur) Mon 24/03: Kathmandu (night in Kathmandu)

I plan to travel mostly by bus and taxi (for destinations where I can’t take the bus), except for the trip from Kathmandu to Chitwan Park, where I’ll take a flight. Should I book the flight now, or can I do it once I arrive in Nepal? Is a trekking permit required for the hike from Panauti to Namo Buddha Monastery? And is it required for the trek from Dhulikhel to Nagarkot?

Is it better to book the Poon Hill trek in advance through an agency, or is it best to do it independently (without an agency) without a guide or porter? Is it easy to do this trek without getting lost? What’s the typical price for the Poon Hill trek when going through an agency? Is it better to book accommodations for the Poon Hill trek before leaving for Nepal, or can I easily find places to stay on the same day without prior booking? Is it possible to do both the sunrise excursion to Sarangkot and paragliding over the lake in one day (on my fifth and final day there)? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, A few years ago, I visited Nepal. I have wonderful memories of it. My friend (77) and I (73) would like to go back. We’re still in good shape! But let’s not exaggerate either. So, we’re looking for a relaxed trek in the mid-mountains, in touch with the local people, passing near monasteries, and with beautiful views of the peaks. And no agencies! Can you give us some tips? Thanks a million

Hello,

It’s so great to be able to write on this site again—it was such a valuable resource during my travels in the past! We’re planning a 6-week trip (as a couple) to Nepal in July and August. It’s not the ideal time, I know, but you’ve probably guessed we don’t really have a choice. I’ve read briefly that it’s doable, that it limits some options (but hey, we always have to make choices anyway), but at least there’s the advantage of not being there during peak season. Do any of you have experience or advice to share about this? Any tips or opinions?

Thanks, and welcome back to everyone on Voyage Forum! Thérèse

bonjour

Je suis à la recherche d'un idée de trek facile au Nepal pour le mois d'octobre. nous avons 15 jours au Nepal et ne disposons pas de beaucoup de temps pour trekker même si j'ai l'impression que cela permet d'avoir une belle vue d'ensemble de la vie au Nepal ? Les itinéraires que je trouve ont l'air soit trop difficiles (1000m de dénivelé par jour pendant 4 ou 5 jours d'affilés me semble trop compliqués pour moi) ou alors très très touristiques nous aimerions voir les montagnes et leurs sommets et avoir un aperçu de la vie des Nepalais. Quelqu'un aurait il une idée ?

merci beaucoup de votre aide

Elodie

Bonjour à tous, Je pense repartir au Népal pour la troisième fois. J’ai déjà fait le tour des Annapurna et la haute route dans le Khumbu. Cette fois ci je pense faire le Tour du Manaslu. Je dispose de 3 semaines (avril 2019) avez vous d’autres idées à me proposer. Sachant que je recherche un peu « d’altitude »!!! Merci pour vos réponses.

Je souhaite visiter Chitwan en Novembre en partant de Katmandou. Quel est le meilleur moyen pour s'y rendre ? Et avez-vous des adresses de logements sympas pour 2 ou 3 nuits.

Hello les voyageurs ! Sachant que je marche assez « sportivement », plutôt 6 à 8h par jour, et que je viens de passer 18 jours dans les annapurnas (cumul du circuit depuis Jagat et du sanctuaire jusqu’à l’ABC avec final à Phedi) donc mon accumulation est ok, combien de temps diriez-vous que je doive prévoir pour aller au lac Gokyo depuis Lukla, passer le Chola pour rejoindre l’EBC et redescendre à Lukla ? Je me laisserais volontiers surprendre mais je dois réserver des billets d’avion ;-( Sinon, est-ce possible de réserver son retour 2/3 jours avant depuis le trek ou bien est-ce trop risqué (pas de wifi et risque de vols blindés j’imagine...). Merci d’avis pour vos responses éclairées 😉. Namaste !

Bonjour à tous ! Après avoir réservé mon vol et payé je me suis rendue compte que mon passeport se perime 4 mois après mon retour.. Je rentre en France le 24 novembre et mon passeport se périme le 23 mars.. Dois je le renouveler avant mon départ ? Mais du coup sur ma réservation de vol ce n'est plus le bon numéro; modifier ma réservation ? Ou bien cela passe comme cela? Merci beaucoup pour votre attention et votre aide!

Bonjour, J’aimerais avoir une liste de hostels sympas le long du tour des Annapurnas. Je compte faire le tour très doucement . Je me demandais si il est possible de demander les services de porteurs en cours de route. Pour la passe la plus haute, peut on louer les services d’une mule si ça ne va pas assez vite pour monter . C’est la partie qui m’inquiète car j’aurai 65 ans lors du trek. Merci de votre aide