This Epic Hiking Trail Spans The Entire Himalayan Chain

Mountains have a funny way of amazing and humbling all kinds of travellers who come across them – from adrenaline seekers to those on a spiritual quest and from the ultra-fit or to the determined. And, there are few mountain ranges on earth that compare to the mighty Himalaya. Would you be tempted to drop all responsibilities for a few months and walk the entire length of the Nepal Himalaya if we told you it was possible? Keep reading to find out more!

Walking the Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail is a network of existing trekking trails running through the low, mid and high Himalaya of Nepal. Collectively, it is the longest and highest trekking trail in the world. The trails follow routes that have been used by locals for centuries, for their own travel and trade, as well as more newly developed ones intended for tourism. It spans from Humla and Darchula in the west and to Kanchenjunga in the east. It includes popular trekking areas as well as more remote and under-visited ones.

Travellers can partake in shorter sections of the Great Himalaya Trail – treks that last between one to four weeks – or embark on a journey across the whole country. Trekking the whole trail in one go requires a good amount of planning, as the ‘high route’ is the most challenging, following the highest paths. It spans a total of 1,700 kilometres. The ‘low route’ is, obviously, lower, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier! It’s still 1,500 kilometres long.

The village of Rumbak, in the Indian region of Ladakh

Trekking beyond Nepal

And, while the longest stretch of the Himalayan chain falls in Nepal, it also reaches into Pakistan, India, Bhutan and parts of China. For an even more serious adventure, trekkers can attempt to connect the extensive trails in Nepal up with those in neighbouring countries (while the mountains know no borders, contemporary South Asian nations do. Therefore, it’s not currently possible to trek the entire length of the Himalaya without stopping and it probably won’t be for the foreseeable future).

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.