Will recommend upper mustang to my trekker friend back home
Upper mustang was wilder than i expected in every sense. drakmar’s red cliffs looked almost fake they were so vivid. lo manthang rest day gave us time to actually wander without a schedule which i needed by that point. guide had good stories about the old kingdom too, made the history stick way more than just reading about it beforehand. cold at night everywhere on this route, layer up more than you think you need to.
Noah Andersen
Aarhus, Denmark
Years of upper mustang dream turned into reality
I’d wanted to do Upper Mustang for years before finally booking it and it did not disappoint. The landscape shift once you’re past Kagbeni is dramatic, red and ochre cliffs, cave dwellings carved into rock faces, almost nothing green anywhere. Ghami and Tsarang both had these incredible old monasteries tucked into the hillsides that most people back home have never even heard of. Lo Manthang itself took a day or two to sink in, walking through that walled city knowing how restricted access used to be here, it felt like a genuine privilege rather than just another stop. The wind picks up brutally in the afternoons on this route, worth knowing so you plan your walking hours around it. A special trip overall, quieter and stranger in the best way compared to the more standard routes.
Charlotte Evans
Bath, United Kingdom
lo manthang is another world
walled city of lo manthang genuinely looks like nowhere else i’ve been in nepal. kagbeni to chele section is so barren and windy though, proper moonscape. rest day exploring lo manthang was the highlight, old palace, monasteries, king’s former residence too. 16 days sounds long on paper but it moves fast once you’re out there
Felix Hartmann
Cologne, Germany
Poon hill lived up to the hype
 short trek but it packs a lot in. sunrise from poon hill genuinely one of the best views i’ve had anywhere, not even exaggerating. tikhedhunga to ghorepani climb is no joke though, so many steps, lost count after a while. ghandruk was a good wind down after, friendly locals, nice food. would easily recommend this to anyone tight on time who still wants a proper himalayan moment
Ben Carter
Wellington, New Zealand
Good expereince on ghandruk trek
I went into this expecting a fairly easy introduction to trekking and it was, but it still managed to feel like a real adventure. The stone staircase up to Ghorepani on day four is relentless, I won’t pretend otherwise, my thighs were not prepared. Poon Hill the next morning made it all click though, standing there with a crowd of strangers all silent and watching the same sunrise hit Dhaulagiri and Machapuchare at once. Ghandruk was probably my favourite stop overall, quieter than Ghorepani, proper Gurung village feel, and the guide took time to explain some of the culture there rather than just walking through it. Rhododendron forests on the way down were apparently stunning in spring, we went in autumn so missed the blooms, something to keep in mind for anyone planning the timing. A great option if you want the Himalayas without committing two weeks to it.
Rebecca Hall
Leeds, United Kingdom
3210 steps at 4am, no regrets from Ghorepani trek
Poon hill sunrise is everything people say it is. woke up stupidly early, freezing, worth it instantly the second the light hit annapurna. ghandruk village after was such a nice slow day, stone houses everywhere, good coffee too surprisingly. 8 days felt like the perfect length honestly, not too short not dragging
Marco Bianchi
Turin, Italy
My mistake was underestimating mardi
Went in with low expectations since it’s a shorter trek and came out properly impressed. high camp to base camp on day 6 was tough going, thin air hit me harder than i thought it would at only 4500m. views back down the valley from up there though, ridiculous. siding village after felt like stepping into a totally different Nepal, lower, greener, warmer. Guide knew every shortcut and viewpoint along the way.
Connor Walsh
Cork, Ireland
Mardi gave beuatiful memories in such short time, totally worth it
Picked mardi himal because i only had limited days in nepal and wow, glad i did. deurali forest walk on day 3 was so pretty, moss everywhere, felt like a fairytale kind of path. high camp morning was freezing but worth it just for that first light hitting the peaks. base camp itself, small and simple but the setting makes up for it completely. legs were done by low camp again on the way back down, going down is somehow worse than up for me every time. would recommend this one to anyone short on time
Hannah Kruger
Durban, South Africa
Mardi Himal is underrated really
Did this as a shorter alternative to abc and honestly zero regrets. base camp day was the best part, 4500m and barely anyone else up there compared to other treks i’ve read about. low camp to high camp was steeper than i expected ngl, wait no scratch that, it was steep. views of machapuchare from high camp though, insane, felt like it was right on top of us. siding village on the way down was such a random peaceful contrast, kids waving at us the whole way through. 10 days flew by way faster than i thought
Jack Sullivan
Brisbane, Australia
Dharamsala in manaslu surprised me
Wanted something quiet and manaslu delivered. namrung village stone houses were so pretty, kept stopping for photos. dharmashala night before the pass was freezing, barely slept lol not sorry for using that here. larke pass itself scary for a sec, hands went numb near top but guide stayed close whole time. tilje village at the end was such a nice calm way to finish. Already looking at flights for my next nepal trip.
Freya Lindqvist
Gothenburg, Sweden