Nepal's Great Himalayan Trail
A well-known network of trekking paths, the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), traverses the low, mid, and high Himalayan ranges. The routes primarily run through Nepal, although they also go via India and Bhutan. The GHT is the longest and highest trekking trail in the world, spanning a total distance of at least 1,000 miles. One of the very few organizations hosting this excursion is Himalayan Ecological Treks.
It's not necessary to hike the entire GHT in a single session. Due to the seasonal weather, altitude, and the fact that trekking is only permitted in most regions of Nepal for very few periods in the spring and fall, it is actually preferable not to attempt to complete the Great Himalayan Trail Route in one go. However, we recommend performing chunks that add up to the whole duration, just like with many other long-distance treks around the world.
The GHT in Nepal has been broken into 10 more doable sections, with a focus on distinct Himalayan locales. These comprise both heavily frequented places, such as the Everest and Annapurna regions, and less trafficked regions. The sections that follow run from east to west.
- Kanchenjunga
- Makalu Barun
- Everest and Rolwaling
- Langtang and Helambu
- Manaslu and Ganesh Himal
- Annapurna and Mustang
- Dolpo
- Rara and Jumla
- Humla
- Far West Nepal
The two primary methods for completing the GHT are the "low route" and the "high route." They are also sometimes referred to as the mountain route and the culture route because the lower areas tend to have more settlements. If you're completing the GHT in stages, you could even mix and match to avoid the summer heat on the low route and the winter snow on the high route.
The High Route
Despite the fact that the high route is higher and necessitates more preparation for the conditions, many trekkers may not find hiking as challenging as on the low path once they have acclimated to the elevations. At the very least, it presents a different kind of obstacle.
The high route requires additional permits because it passes through more national parks and protected areas than the low route. Furthermore, it is essential to trek with a guide through the Kanchenjuna, Upper Mustang, and Upper Dolpo sections of the high route. In the Everest and Annapurna zones, where guides are less necessary but permits are necessary, the cost of hotels and food tends to be higher.
Upper Dolpo can be accessed in two different ways. For the most northern route, you need a $500 weekly permit and a guide. The southernmost path, though, avoids this.
The Low Route
As its name suggests, the GHT low route is a lower-altitude option. The pahar, or Nepal's Himalayan foothills, which can still be rather high, is where these pathways primarily pass. Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, is 1355 meters above sea level, while the "hills" that encircle the valley reach a maximum height of 2790 meters.
The low path is less expensive than the other two possibilities. This is partly because there are no pricey permits or guides required for hikers to use the low path. However, it is partially due to the fact that the trails are more accessible to roads and pass through more towns, making it easier to get affordable food and housing. It is common knowledge that the cost of food and lodging increases with increasing altitude.
Don't, however, think that the low way is the easier one. Even though the heights are frequently lower than on the high trail, there is a lot of up and down. Spending hours ascending a mountain just to reach your destination village at the same elevation you started at can be mentally and physically draining. There are also some high passes to cross. The lower parts of Nepal may also get very hot and muggy at certain times of the year, which makes for incredibly strenuous walking conditions.
