Trekking in Nepal and India both offer unique and diverse experiences, each with its own set of challenges, landscapes, and cultural encounters. While trekking in Nepal is busier due to the continuous outburst of trekkers from many places around the world, India provides a pristine and calmer experience to those who want quiet and peace.
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Nepal is already recognized as the trekking capital of the world, but India is not far away as it contains many amazing places for trekking activities.
So if you are having hard choosing a destination, let’s look at both places in depth and help you make your decision.
Nepal Visa vs India Visa Process
To complete your trekking activities, you have to first be able to enter the country. So let’s look at the process of getting the visa in both countries.
Nepal Visa
Getting a visa for Nepal is relatively easy as you can get an arrival visa from an airport or from via online as well. It will take only 20 minutes to one hour to get your arrival visa in Nepal. Furthermore, the price of an arrival visa is also relatively cheap as mentioned below:
- $30 for 15 days
- $50 for 30 days
- $125 for 90 days
India Visa
On the other hand, getting an Indian visa is a lot more difficult than getting a Nepalese visa. Unlike in Nepal, you won’t get an arrival visa in India in fact you have to apply for an Indian e-visa, if you want to visit India as a tourist.
To apply for an Indian visa you have to visit the Indian government e-visa website. There you have to go to the section where you see apply for visa. You have to submit an identity page from your passport and must also submit your passport-size photo.
Moreover, you have to pay the necessary fee required but keep in mind the fees are different from your location of applying. In the case of India, the cost of an arrival visa is listed below:
- Approximately $90 – For 1 year Tourist Visa either single or multiple entry
- Approximately $177 – For more than 1 year to 5 years Tourist visa either single or multiple entry.
Hence you can clearly see it is way easier getting an arrival visa for Nepal and the cost is also relatively see compared to India.
Best Time To Trek in Nepal
There is always debate among tourists or trekkers regarding the perfect time to go trek in Nepal. However, the answer to this question is not that simple. Generally, Nepal’s climate for trekking can be divided into four parts Spring, Autumn, Rainy, and Winter.
Spring
The best time for trekking in Nepal lies in the Spring season which falls in months between February to the middle of April right after the harsh winter season. Furthermore, you can also get a decent experience if you time your trekking for the Autumn season which falls between September and to end of November.
Autumn
Autumn season ends after the rainy season but there is a chance of rare rain occurrences which can disturb your trekking, It also starts becoming colder as the day progresses since the start of the winter season is right after the end of autumn.
Winter
The winter season in Nepal falls between December to January and is reasonably cold. If you like colder climates and want to enjoy snow then you can travel around snowy mountainous areas. There is also no danger of rainfall during the winter season. Finally comes the summer season or rainy season which falls between June to September. During this season you will receive continuous rainfall even for 2-3 days. Although the atmosphere is clear and pleasant, trekking roads are not as easy and there is also the chance of getting ill due to cold weather and wet clothes.
Hence from the above deduction, the best time to trek in Nepal is from February to the middle of April and from September to November. However each seasons in Nepal have its own significance and whenever you wish to travel you will find unique colors, atmosphere, and culture vibrating around the country.
Some Popular Trekking Destinations in Nepal
Now if you have decided to trek in Nepal, it is essential to know some of the best and popular trekking destinations in the country. Let’s get into it.
Everest Base Camp Trek – 15 Days
One of the most common and popular trekking destinations in Nepal is Everest Base Camp Trek which lasts for 15 days. The Everest Base Camp trek is located in the beautiful Khumbu region, where you can visit and enjoy the sheer beauty of Mt Everest and its surroundings.
The treks start with an adventurous flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. We will experience some of the most beautiful mountains view from the flight that you can capture on your camera. We will start our day after landing on the bank of the Dudh Koshi River, in the small village of Phakding. Then we will head towards the central town of Namche Bazaar also known as the gateway to Mount Everest.
Before reaching Namche Bazaar, we have to stop at the place named Monjo which is on the route of Sagarmatha National Park. It is essential to check our trekking permits before reaching Namche Bazaar. We will stay in Namche for two days. On the second day, you can continue your rest and travel to the nearest town center or marketplace or the surrounding villages to learn about their cultures and traditions. Now as we move forward we will come across one of the oldest monastery in Tengboche.
We will rest in the village of Dingboche to acclimatize to the climate. After a few hours of rest either we can trek towards the village of Chukung or trek towards Nagarjuna Hills to see the view of the tallest mountains like Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, or Makalu. Our next step will be a trek towards Kala Patthar which lies above an altitude of over 5500m via Gorakhstep.
We will get the best view of Mt Everest from Kala Patthar but our hike continues until we reach the Everest Base Camp. After celebrating and enjoying the moments with local Sherpas and our crew we will start returning back to Namche via Periche. We will head back to Lukla where we will board a return flight to Kathmandu ending our amazing EBC trek.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 15 Days
The next popular trekking destination in Nepal is Annapurna Base Camp Trek which also lasts for 15 days. The ABC trek starts with the beautiful drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara via Prithvi highway on the bank of Trishuli River. After reaching Pokhara we will enjoy scenes of Fewa Lake surroundings and also catch a glimpse of Mount Annapurna and Dhaulagiri but from a far distance.
The next day starts with the drive to Nayapul where the trekking begins. The first-day trek takes us to Ulleri climbing over 3000 stone steps. We will continue our trek until we reach Ghorepani typically known as a rest stop for ancient travelers or traders. After spending the night there next morning we will head up to the beautiful viewpoint location named Poonhill
You can enjoy the view of every mountain from here like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Macchapuchre, Hiuchuli, and others. We will head back to Ghorepani and start trekking towards Tadapani making our way along rhododendron and pine forests. We will move ahead of Tadapani towards Sinuwa via Chomrong village.
The destination is getting closer as we move towards Dovan followed by a hike to Deurali. After a short trek, we will reach Macchapuchre Base Camp and then finally to Annapurna Base Camp where we will cherish the moment and celebrate with our crew and stay overnight.
The next morning we will return back to the road we traveled via Macchapuchre Base Camp, Deurali all the way towards Bamboo. We will then make our way to Jhinu Dada where we can also enjoy a hot springs bath. We will trek back to Nayapul and then drive to Pokhara and the next day drive back to Kathmandu concluding our exciting ABC Trek.
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Another once-in-a-lifetime adventure awaits you at Manaslu Circuit Trek which starts with the seven-hour drive from Kathmandu to Arughat. You will start your trekking following the trials of Soti Khola, Macha Khola, and Jagat, before reaching the first stop in Deng. You will enjoy mesmerizing views of waterfalls, slippery trails, and snow-peaked mountains.
The trek heads towards Namrung and Lho villages until we reach Samagaon village which is located at a very high altitude hence it is necessary to acclimatize and take a rest. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain range and then head towards stunning Larkya La Pass which is among the highest mountainous passes in the world.
The trial starts descending after crossing the pass as we will come across small villages Bhimthang, Tilije, and Chamje. We will head towards Dharapani and then drive towards our final destination Besisahar. Stay overnight and the next day drive back to Kathmandu concluding our excellent Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Hence these are the best trekking destinations in Nepal where you will get unique experiences and also enjoy different cultures, traditions, climates, and scenic views that will live in your memory for a lifetime.
Best Time To Trek in India
The best time to trek in India is dependent on the place, unlike Nepal. If you want to visit Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh the appropriate months are May, June, September, and October. If the plan is to visit Sikkhim the appropriate months are September to November.
If you want to visit cold places like Laddak then it will be beneficial to visit from June to August and for tourist spots like Zanskar, January to February will be the best time to trek. Some Popular Trekking Destinations in India
India is very popular for providing different cultural, and traditional experiences for people around the world. There are also many amazing places that you can visit when visiting India. Some of the popular trekking destinations are:
- Goecha La Trek
- Stok Kangri Trek
- Marcha Valley Trek
- Nanda Devi Trek
- Kuari Tapovan Trek
Why visit Nepal for Trekking?
Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with different cultures and traditions. Furthermore, Nepal is the home of mountains and what better way to trek than to enjoy mesmerizing mountain views across your trekking route. Nepal is the home of the tallest mountain in the world and other tall mountains as well.
However, Nepal is not only limited to mountains as you can also enjoy different types of natural environments, habitats, and rare flora and fauna in Nepal. You will experience breathtaking natural beauty with different kinds of friendly and helpful people who are protecting their own special and unique cultures and traditions.
Why visit India for Trekking?
India is one of the biggest countries in the world with several beautiful places to visit. You can enjoy different cultures, traditions, and climates and can also meet different types of people. Generally trekking in India is more challenging than in Nepal because of uncertain climates and diversity as it always keeps you guessing. If you like a thrill, adventurous trek with peace and quieter routes then you must visit India for trekking.
Conclusion
Hence, Nepal and India are one of the best trekking destinations for tourists around the world. You can enjoy breathtaking views of nature and also meet different types of people with different cultures, traditions, and religions. Both Nepal and India have iconic places for trekking but if you have to choose it is essential to consider climate, temperature, and some of the iconic places in the world.
Nepal has a moderate climate and won’t hamper your trek with continuous or sudden rainfall, unlike India. Furthermore, Nepal is a very cool place compared to India where it reaches up to 40 degrees during summer. Finally, Nepal is the home of Mount Everest and there is no better trekking spot than the mesmerizing Everest Base Camp among other beautiful mountainous regions like Annapurna and Manaslu in Nepal.
