The Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail is one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. Winding beneath the world’s highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes.

The trail covers the full distance of the Himalayan Range in Nepal from the district of Taplejung in the East to Humla and Darchula in the West and ultimately continues through Tibet, India and Myanmar in East of Nepal and Tibet, India and Pakistan in the West.
Nepal’s GHT is divided into ten connecting treks with a duration of 2-3 weeks each on average. The treks can be done subsequently or completely separate from each other. Besides, each GHT section features a number of side-treks of varying duration and difficulty, some of which require camping equipment and others that can be done teahouse style. With numerous trekking options and new tourism attractions, each GHT section forms a distinct trekking and adventure destination within itself.

Trekkers can choose between two routes. Nepal’s Upper GHT is winding through high mountain ranges on an average altitude of 3000 to 5000 metres, providing for breath-taking views on the country’s towering peaks. Along the Lower, Cultural route, tourists will get the chance to visit small communities and villages and learn about the culture and traditions of Nepal’s various ethnic groups.
Upper Trail
Trekking along the Upper GHT Trail makes for an unforgettable adventure and for some it will be the trip of a lifetime.
The trail stretches over a distance of about 1,700 km and passes through spectacular, high altitude mountain landscapes, visiting some of the most remote villages on earth, where life remains as it was centuries back.
Trekking along the Upper Trail requires to cross high passes with altitudes up to 6,200 m and the whole trek takes about 150 days on average. Proper trekking gear and mountaineering equipment is needed and anyone attempting this trek should be physically fit and ideally have some trekking and mountaineering experience. For safety, a local mountain guide who knows the terrain is definitely recommended especially in high altitudes.
Due to the remoteness of the trek, camping is required for most parts of the adventure and it is necessary that you (or your porter) carry a tent, food and cooking equipment. But what could be better than pitching your tent surrounded by the mighty snow-capped Himalayas and sleeping under the star lit sky?
Nepal’s Upper Trail starts north of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp and ends in Hilsa at Nepal’s Tibetan border in the Western district of Humla.
Lower Trail
Nepal’s Lower GHT – also called the cultural route – goes mostly through the country’s mid hills with an average altitude of 2000m. However, there are still a couple of passes to cross with the highest being the Jang La at 4519 m between Dhorpatan and Dolpa in West-Nepal.
Trekking along the Lower GHT means walking through beautiful lush forests, pastures, green rice terraces and fertile agricultural land, providing the basis for Nepal’s rich culture and civilization. You will come across local settlements of many different cultural groups, giving you the chance to see what authentic Nepali village life is all about.
For most parts of the trek, you’ll be able to stay in small guesthouses or homestays, but make sure to still take your tent for some of the more remote sections of the route. With lots of local restaurants around, you’ll find a place to eat almost everywhere and so you don’t necessarily need to carry large amounts of food. Shorter then the Upper Trail, the Lower GHT stretches over a distance of 1,500 km and the whole trek will roughly take around 95 days.

(Texte by www.thegreathimalayatrail.org)