The Himalaya is the world’s highest mountain range, spanning an impressive 2,400km and encompassing five countries including Nepal, Bhutan, China, India and Pakistan. Many come to conquer majestic peaks and trekking circuits like the Everest Base Camp and the Nubra Valley, while others are drawn to the region because of its fascinating culture mix of Hinduism and Buddhism, where ancient monasteries, remote shrines and fluttering prayer flags, pepper each route. Whatever your reason may be to visit, a trek in the Himalaya is undoubtedly a once-in-lifetime experience.
Nepal
Home of Mount Everest, the Annapurna range, Langtang and Manaslu, Nepal is a must-do for avid trekkers looking for a challenge. With over four decades of experience in Nepal, we’ve got a wide range of Himalaya hiking tours to suit all abilities. When it comes to landscapes and terrain, you can expect to see dramatic glacier-carved valleys and snow-covered summits, but also terraced fields, deep river gorges, rhododendron forests and subtropical forests like Chitwan National Park, which hosts a variety of interesting wildlife. Find out more about our Nepal walking holidays.
India
The Himalayan Mountain range spans northern India and is renowned for the breathtaking peaks of Kanchenjunga and Nanda Devi. On our Himalya hiking tours, you can take on the Nubra Valley trek in Ladakh, traverse past ancient monasteries, remote villages and picturesque tea plantations on our Darjeeling, Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge route, or challenge yourself to summit Vatseri Peak (5,640m) and Mount Dzo Jongo East (6,218m). With fewer tourists on the trail and beautiful summers, the Indian Himalayas are an excellent choice. Find out more about our India walking holidays.
Bhutan
Bhutan is a beautifully remote kingdom that’s often overlooked when travellers wish to trek the Himalayas. Known for its deeply rooted Buddhist culture, colourful monasteries and striking mountainside dzongs, trekking in this region is also fantastically varied, with its alpine meadows, rhododendron groves and high mountain passes. The highlight for many is reaching the breathtaking Tiger’s Nest Monastery while walking the Druk Path Trek. Taking its Gross National Happiness (GNH) and environmental conservation efforts seriously, there’s nowhere in the world quite like Bhutan. Find out more about our Bhutan walking holidays.
Himalaya Treks
The Himalaya form the largest and, arguably, most beautiful mountain range in the world. Every single moment here is breathtaking. For many, the mountains are synonymous with Nepal, but vast tracts of this magnificent range form the northern borders of India. In fact, the Himalaya stretch across six nations: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
They are the source of three of the world’s major river systems, the Indus basin, the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin and the Yangtze basin. And from Ladakh in the northwest through to Darjeeling and Sikkim in the east, these beautiful mountains offer a diversity of scenery and culture unmatched anywhere. Everywhere you turn, colourful prayer flags flutter, and all along the chain untouched villages, remote shrines and monasteries abound.
The range is home to nine out of 10 of the highest mountains on Earth, including the legendary Mount Everest, and Himalaya holidays are the adventure of a lifetime. Challenge yourself on the trails to Everest Base Camp, head out in search of one of the most endangered cats in the world – the majestic snow leopard – in Ladakh, or simply immerse yourself in the spirituality of this mountain kingdom on a cultural adventure.
September to November and March to May: These months are ideal for a trekking trip in Nepal or Bhutan. During this time, you can expect mild temperatures and clears skies, which gives you better visibility for taking in those spectacular mountain views these countries are most famous for. However, it’s important to remember that this is also high season, so popular trails and teahouses will be busier, which also means that prices will be higher throughout the region. October to November is considered one of the best times to go trekking as the weather is dry and skies are generally clearer after the monsoon season. April to May is pre-monsoon, so you may see the occasional rain shower, more wind and dust on the trails – but the air is very crisp, and spring flowers start to bloom in these months.
June – August: We’d recommend avoiding trekking during monsoon season in Nepal. Instead, why not head to Ladakh? June marks the beginning of trekking season in Ladakh, because the weather conditions are the most favourable. You can expect longer sunny days with cooler evenings and minimal rainfall. Ladakh is an ideal destination if you have to take your holidays in the summer months. Most trekkers will be there in July and August.
Low season:
December to February/early March: Although this is the low season, where there are fewer travellers trekking on the trails, humidity is also lower, and the skies are generally at their clearest in the mountains and cities – so it could be a great time to book your trip. If you don’t mind the colder weather up in the mountains, booking during the low season can be incredible, as the trails and lodges are much quieter, which makes for a more authentic experience. Our unique In Search of the Snow Leopard trip, takes place in February and March, wintertime in Ladakh, and although you need to be prepared for colder temperatures, there’s nothing quite like tracking one of the world’s most elusive creatures with our experts. When you catch glimpses of these beautiful cats in the wild, it’s a once in a lifetime experience. The beauty of this trip is that it’s scheduled during the low season for the region, when there are very few visitors to Ladakh, which makes it extra special.
A great trip. I had been most looking forward to achieving my first 6000m summit ( which I did 😊), but the trek itself was absolutely stunning. Fantastic coloured landscapes, very exciting river crossings, great array of alpine flowers (never seen so many eidelweiss in one place!), amazing food and crew. Would highly recommend this trip.
This trip exceeded all my expectations. The stillness and solitude of the terrain. The beauty. The glacial ascent. My first time at altitude-and I loved it. Valerie, is a very wise, steady and trusted lead-a humble holder of stories and knowledge. And great food and guides too. And a wonderful group spirit. I could not have asked for more.
My first high-altitude hike – the Nubra Valley trek – and all I can say is WOW! With Valerie Parkinson as our tour leader, we were set up for an unforgettable adventure from day one. The incredible cook, knowledgeable guides, and fantastic camp crew made every moment a joy. If you’re thinking of exploring the Nubra Valley, you simply can’t go wrong with this trip. The only challenge now? Deciding on my next adventure!
