There are no tourists here. Three days, or as many as you want, in a rural area full of traditional villages where you can share tea with its shy but friendly inhabitants. Terraced fields, subtropical forests and deep valleys, with the bonus of staying in a small, but very comfortable hotel with locally produced organic food.
The Australian Camp is an idyllic place with easy access, ideal to disconnect for a couple of days and also ideal for those who travel with children. It can be reached from Pokhara by hiking up a trail for an hour and a half and the views over Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre are spectacular. Relax and chill out.
A small tour that runs through a rural environment of small villages, farms and terraced crops, where you can see the typical traditional houses so common throughout the geography of Nepal. Here you will meet no other tourists, almost no phone connection, no bars or restaurants, but you will live a genuine experience that will bring you closer to a part of the reality of the country without filters.
Two weeks touring Nepal off the beaten tourist itineraries. While we didn’t leave out anything that you must see on a trip to Nepal, this itinerary covers less usual, more enriching places that represent an additional experience to the Nepal reality. Here you have it, the highlights but visited in a different way and spaces and experiences that are a great challenge.
Un pequeño y fácil itinerario al norte de Pokhara pasando por aldeas, granjas, campos de cultivo, pequeños estanques, templos y escuelas, que nos acerca de una manera sencilla a la vida rural de Nepal y que cuenta con una buena vista sobre el Himalaya. El itinerario es apto para todo el mundo, ideal para niñas y niños y se puede hacer de diferentes maneras, ya sea ocupando todo un día, como hacer una corta salida de mediodía.
Nepal is a very interesting country, but as everywhere, there are many Nepal and many ways to approach it. On this website, you have travel itineraries through Nepal, but maybe they don’t fit exactly what you want, whether it’s a matter of days, objectives, way of travelling or whatever. You want to make a tailor-made trip, but you don’t want to travel on your own. Well, nothing could be easier!
The experience of walking through the jungle together with elephants -and not over them in their backs- allows you to feel much closer to the ground, the trees, and to have the animals at your same level. There is a lot of difference in the welfare of the elephants that do not walk tourists all day on their backs and those that have to do it day in and day out as well, that is why at Plan Himalaya we do NOT do jungle safaris on the backs of elephants.
Nepal is still a country of discovery, a country different enough to learn and experience new things, far from the increasingly uniform and standardised destinations all over the world. It is, therefore, an ideal destination for those of you who want your children to get a different and more enriching out of their travel experience.
Seeing the Himalayan mountains from the air by flying alongside them is always an interesting experience. The most affordable is a twin-engine plane flight around Everest, while a helicopter ride to Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp is spectacular, but not for everyone’s budget.
Cycling in Kathmandu is not for beginners, but it is less dangerous than it first appears. Riding allows you to see the city from a different angle, at a different pace. While the traffic on the main avenues is heavy, other streets are quieter, off the main tourist areas where you can see the real local life.
Pokhara is an ideal place to enjoy at your leisure, whether you are walking, cycling, or relaxing on a terrace, and it is an ideal place to go with children. But it also has its tourist attractions that are a little outside the town, and of course, we can take you on a route with a private vehicle and guide if you wish.
Although it is gaining popularity in recent years, this incredible trek still offers a much more authentic experience and is more challenging than the more famous routes, going through spectacular terrain with its own culture. You will find yourself on paths that are a little rough in some places, rivers and waterfalls, valleys of all kinds, the Larkya-La pass at 5106 metres and the presence of the beautiful Manaslu.
The Kanchenjunga trek is one of the most impressive in Nepal, located in a remote area in the northeast, right on the border with Sikkim, in the middle of a huge territory and where it is difficult to reach. From the first days we will see the Kanchenjunga in the distance, beyond the line of the many valleys that we will have to cross. Some incredible days await us through all kinds of landscapes and far from the comforts of other treks.
The most famous of all Nepal’s treks, but if seeing the highest peak in the world is its great attraction, it is no less so that any Khumbu tour involves walking surrounded by great mountains and an overwhelming landscape. However, we have changed the classic itinerary to make it more interesting and avoid as much as possible to go and back by the same route.
One of the classics that stands out for the great variation in human, cultural and landscape environment as you advance and gain height to the 5416m Thorung-la first, continuing as you descend through Kali Gandaki. Despite being affected by the construction of rough roads, it is still impressive while now it has more options.
Perhaps the most classic and accessible of all the treks in the southern part of the Annapurna Valley. It is notable for the pretty village of Ghandruk, overlooked by Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, and for the splendid views of several peaks over 8000m from Poon Hill.
A medium-length trek that will take you very close to the huge massif of the Kanchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world with its 8586 meters of altitude. You will walk among quite unaltered nature, among thick forests, pastures, alpine meadows, transparent rivers and lakes and glacier moraines, guarded by the white peaks of the Himalayas.
The beginning of this trek is quite close to Kathmandu and progresses towards the north, starting from the area of Helambu between fields, forests, low mountains and Sherpas and Tamang populations, to cross the Laurebina-la pass and enter Gosainkund, with its set of small sacred lakes, and the Langtang valleys, very close to Tibet.
A small but very nice trek, which passes through areas not too crowded and where we can enjoy much more tranquillity than in other itineraries. The itinerary ends with a well-deserved hot spring bath next to the river that flows powerfully down next to us.
The most common itinerary today when talking about the Annapurna Circuit, starting in Besi Sahar surrounded by terraced rice fields and small farms, to change the landscape, entering pine forests and alpine areas to reach the white peaks of the Himalayas while also changing the human and cultural environment to enter fully Tibetan lands until Jomsom where we finish.
If the Kanchendzonga Trek on its normal route seems little to you, here you have a much more important route that takes you through more isolated and wild terrain, following the edge between Nepal and Sikkim, around 4000 meters high, with impressive views of the Kanchendzonga, as of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
If we can make a 4-day trip to New York or Paris, why not Kathmandu? Both the city and its surroundings offer a very different experience. We will find a society of great vitality and at the same time very different from our own, with many spectacular places, a place to travel with our eyes and spirit wide open. Do you dare to think differently?
Right next to Tibet, north of Kathmandu, the Langtang Valley is a good option for those who want to avoid the much-crowded areas of Everest and Annapurna. It is rich in landscape, with rushing rivers, forests and pastures and high mountains around 7000 meters of altitude. There are a good number of different itinerary options, including or not the Gosainkund lakes or linking with Helambu.
The Sagarmatha 3 Passes Trek is one of the most impressive treks that can be done in Nepal, in a circular route through the Solu-Khumbu, literally at the foot of the highest mountains in the world, surrounded by very high peaks covered with perpetual snow and crossing three passes over 5000 meters high. A trek that every mountaineer should do once in life.
A trek to enjoy quietly, first going through the interesting Gurung areas of Ghandruk to enter later into the deep valley that marks our main route, surrounded by thick forest and high walls where long waterfalls fall, to reach the beautiful circus that forms the south face of Annapurna, where we can enjoy its colour change as the sun tint it with the first lights of dawn.
Walking through the deep valley of the Modi Khola, surrounded by thick jungle and high walls where long waterfalls are dropped, to finally reach the impressive circus that forms the south face of Annapurna, with the first light of the sun dyeing it with color. This is the direct route of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which ends with a well-deserved bath in hot springs in Jhinu.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is a solitary and spectacular trek. It is one of the least frequented routes in Nepal, passing through subtropical forests to the foot of the Makalu pyramid, which appears over us more impressive than other 8000m peaks on other treks. A trek that will demand but also reward you.
This is perhaps the best option to do the Kanchendzonga Trek in Sikkim, since it avoids walking down the same uphill path, as is the case with the “normal” route (In the case you cannot do the Uttarey circuit). This route that goes up through the Dzongri valley, an interesting village with yak pastures, and ends at the important monastery of Tashiding, reaching, naturally, the Goecha-La pass, the balcony in front of the Kanchendzonga.
This tour takes us culturally to Tibet, amid a first-class landscape and cultural environment, where Tibetan Buddhism keeps still influence from the ancient animist religion Bön. Impressive, hard and arid landscapes with green oases, severe buildings stained with ochre, blood and black colours, and the group of Buddhist and Hindu temples of Muktinath.
A short but different trip proposal through the Kathmandu valley. Short, but with a lot to offer such as the historical buildings and temples of Bhaktapur and Kirtipur, the Buddhist monastery of Namo Buddha, the hidden temples of Chobhar and Teku, the grandeur of the Buddha and Swayambhu stupas, the peaceful city of Patan and the busier Kathmandu. City, nature and culture, spiced up with two bike routes and one hiking route (which can be done by vehicle).
Even considering that Manaslu trek it’s already impressive in itself and offers an authentic experience, can be further enriched with small side trips that will broaden our horizon, such as that of Kalchhuman Lake, or the Rui-la pass on the border with Tibet, in a trek where you will find paths a little bit challenging in some places, rivers and waterfalls, valleys of all kinds, the Larkya-la pass at 5106 meters and the presence of the beautiful Manaslu.
The Green Lake Trek is a wild and lonely trek through a majestic and unaltered environment that takes us, through the Zemu Valley first and through its glacier in the last journeys, close to the north-eastern face of Kanchendzonga, as it is known here, the third highest mountain in the world with 8586 meters. A camping trek for all those who want to recover the spirit of adventure.
A trek with an undeniable interest, in a very peculiar and special human, cultural and scenic environment, which still enjoys that spirit of discovery, of seeing new things, of participating in the life of its inhabitants and, perhaps, of having to adapt to the conditions of the route. A trek that we especially like because it is clearly much more than just walking.
This is an ideal small itinerary to do from Kathmandu. It runs through the typical low mountain landscape between forest, crops and farms, where people are busy with agricultural work rather than paying attention to the few hikers who walk these paths. A beautiful and interesting experience with the advantage of easy access.
The route that joins the beautiful Gokyo Valley and its lakes with the Everest Base Camp cross through the Cho-la pass, at 5420 meters of altitude. The Cho-la is a demanding but affordable pass, which joins the valleys surrounded by peaks from which impressive glaciers hang. It is a spectacular itinerary and much more interesting than that of the Everest Base Camp.
If any trek runs away from the crowded routes, this is it. Quiet paths, rhododendron forests, terraced fields, small villages and farms here and there, and vast views of the Himalayas, including the Annapurnas and Manaslu. This trek is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Nepalese culture, sleeping in homestay, where the people will welcome you with a shy and friendly smile.
A very special trip through Bhutan, created especially for those of you who enjoy hiking through nature and mountains, but who also want to take a journey through the culture and life of its inhabitants. A very broad vision of the richness of Bhutan in all its dimensions.
This small itinerary is perhaps one of the most interesting to try the experience of a camping trek through the Sikkim mountains. The views are, as usual in the country, amazing, and we travel both through rhododendron, fir, magnolia and bamboo forests as well as through alpine terrain, with the bonus of starting and ending with a good bath in hot springs.
Pikey Peak trek is really different. Here you don’t pass near spectacular mountains, we don’t have glaciers that hang down next to us, here the important thing is the human and cultural environment. The Pikey Peak area represents in a way the paradigm of Nepal, medium mountains, forest, crops, farms and small villages, in the middle of an area with big influence of Tibetan Buddhism.
Of an average duration, the Khopra Ridge trek is one of the most interesting routes in the southern part of the Annapurna, crossing areas of great cultural richness and with unrivalled views of the Himalayan peaks and over the Kali Gandaki valley. It is a relatively new route, so it is still little exploited and much more authentic.
The Kongma-La of 5535 meters of altitude is one of the 3 passes of the Sagarmatha, which links the Chukhung valley with the Everest Base Camp itinerary. It is, therefore, a spectacular route designed by us that also includes three Base Camps, Ama Dablam, Island Peak and finally Everest, in a trek that we could have also called “The Base Camps Trek”.
A small camping trek in the southwestern part of Sikkim, on the border between West Bengal and Nepal, traveling through an area full of nature, with an abundance of flora and fauna. The itinerary mainly passes through the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, walking through forests and climbing the Singalila mountain range. A great itinerary to include in a trip to Sikkim
A short but intense trek. An interesting option that, in just two days of climbing, places you in the middle of the Himalayan high peaks. You can enjoy the picturesque high-altitude lakes of Ponkar and Nayamlo, very close to the Larkya-La pass, at the foot of the eighth highest mountain in the world, Manaslu.
With the wide panorama of Poon Hill in the heart of the Himalayas, its short but interesting trek through Tolka and Ghandruk, and a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara, this program offers a good immersion for those who are not lucky enough to have many days, but want the most complete experience possible of Nepal and its treks.
A short itinerary to experience the camping trek in Bhutan that takes you to the small village of Laya, the highest inhabited village in Bhutan. Virtually isolated for many years, Laya has its own culture, closely related to Tibet. This is an ideal small trek to include in a trip through Bhutan for all those who love nature, trekking and culture.
The Renjo-La pass is the least visited of the three classic passes that link the Khumbu valleys. Therefore, this route is one of the least crowded and most peaceful in the whole Khumbu area. Climbing up through the beautiful Gokyo Valley and descending through the Thame Valley, we are in the heart of Sherpa land, surrounded by high mountains and overwhelming scenery.
An affordable trek for everyone, with spectacular nature and no less spectacular views of the highest peaks of the Himalayas such as Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga. With the addition of Darjeeling, surrounded by its famous tea plantations and with a British colonial past still present in its atmosphere.
This short two-day hike allows you to reach the Tonglu, one of the peaks in the Singalila range within the National Park of the same name, from where you can enjoy impressive views of the Himalayan peaks such as the Kanchendzonga. A simple and affordable itinerary for those who cannot dedicate the full journeys of the Sandakphu trek.
While the entire Khumbu area is spectacular, the Gokyo Valley has always been considered as one of the most beautiful valleys. An itinerary to enjoy quietly and with no hurry, starting among forests in the early stages to move to alpine landscapes and ending among beautiful mountains and lakes beside the moraine of the glacier and climbing to Gokyo-Ri from where we can see the pyramid of Everest.
A shorter version of the Sandakphu Trek that will allow you, on the one hand, to enjoy the experience of walking through the Singalila mountain range hiking by the border with Nepal and enjoying spectacular views of Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga. Alternatively, this itinerary is ideal to include in a trip, either longer or shorter, through Darjeeling, Sikkim … or the whole of India, Why not?
One of the most isolated regions of Nepal in an overwhelming environment. A land and culture fully Tibetan in one of the most impressive routes of all Nepal, where not only its landscape is spectacular, but the human environment, anchored in livelihoods and traditions of the past, make this trek a unique experience.
A slightly shortened version of the famous Snowman’s Trek, the trek of treks, one of the most demanding treks in the world, not suitable for all budgets and not for everyone. Despite having fewer stages, this very little frequented itinerary is still a tough and demanding trek, but it will more than reward you for the effort.
The Snowman is said to be the trek of treks. It really is an impressive trek, covering almost the entire northern border of Bhutan with Tibet from west to east, between white peaks, glaciers, crossing a lot of mountain passes and passing through a series of isolated villages that maintain age-old traditions. But it is also a demanding trek, with 25 days of camping and the risk of unexpected snowfall blocking the way.
An amazing journey that takes us deep into the Himalayan peaks, crossing rivers, valleys and mountain passes one after the other. This itinerary is with no doubt the best option for a great trek in Bhutan. Spectacular scenery, grazing yaks, small isolated villages with deep-rooted ancient traditions are the hallmark of this great trek.
Named after this distinctive Bhutanese mountain, the Jomolhari Trek is the most popular in the country and attracts a large proportion of the trekkers who come to Bhutan. High mountain scenery, Himalayan peaks, small villages of yak herders that you will see grazing everywhere, and a couple of mountain-passes at almost 5000 metres. If this is the most frequented trek, there must be a reason.
This is perhaps the most classic of Bhutan’s small treks. Following an ancient route between Paro and Thimphu, it has spectacular views, nature, Buddhist monasteries, Himalayan peaks, all in a very affordable and interesting route from Paro itself to the gates of Thimphu. A good and affordable experience for anyone who likes to enjoy the mountains and culture.
The Dagala Trek is a route that stands out for a few reasons. It is an off-the-beaten-track, so you will enjoy the solitude of the surroundings. It is close to Thimphu, so it’s easy to get there. It passes through small villages, so it’s an interesting cultural experience. It has stunning views of the Himalayan peaks and, although not a thousand, it has some beautiful glacial lakes.
Surrounding what would be the boundaries of the Kathmandu Valley on its eastern side, from north to south, by paths and tracks through forests, crops, farms and small villages. The landscape and the human environment are very interesting, besides being able to enjoy good views over the Himalayas. A route with many possible options as all the end stages are accessible by car.
Both Sikkim and Darjeeling have spectacular, yet undisturbed nature, straddling dense rhododendron and pine forests with subtropical flora and the high peaks of the Himalayas that dominate the horizon. This itinerary, which we encourage you to make longer, brings you to enjoy closer to nature with some peaceful hikes.
A short trip from Darjeeling that is quite an adventure. The Singalila National Park is dominated by the mountain range of the same name that marks the border with Nepal. Its highest peak is the Sandakphu and we reach it by Jeep on a quite complicated track that will take us on a round trip through an area with spectacular scenery and nature.
This 9-day itinerary in Bhutan offers a broad approach to a remote and quite unknown country that knew how to enter the 20th century while preserving its traditions and way of life, a country with a spectacular nature at the foot of the Himalayas. Although it is a somewhat exclusive destination, Bhutan leaves no one indifferent in the so-called last Shangri-la.
The Panchase trek is a popular short trek through rural areas near Pokhara. It’s a good option for two or three days to enjoy some gentle exercise in nature, amidst forests, terraced fields, grazing buffalo, and the friendly smiles of locals going to their daily work.
Travelling by motorbike is always a different experience. Following the gentle rhythm of your bike, being your own driver, observing the country without windows, enjoying the freedom that the motorbike offers and, in short, feeling. Because feel and experience are what we want you to find and enjoy on our trips.
This trip takes you through breathtaking landscapes in the middle of an arid and frozen environment, with the highest mountains in the world as a backdrop. A route that combines a part of the journey by vehicle from Lhasa following the Friendship Route to Nepal with a short four-day trek to the foot of Everest.
A demonstration programme of what could be an adrenaline-filled trip, practising different adventure and nature sports in the Himalayan country. From rafting to paragliding, from mountain biking to canyoning and, of course, a bit of trekking above 5000 metres altitude. Do you dare?
A trip through Nepal with two different mountain bike routes. From the forests, crops and farms of the mountainous area surrounding the Kathmandu Valley, to the semi-desert area surrounded by the high white mountains of the Lower Mustang, and then a fun descent of the mythical Kali Gandaki, following the course of the river through a deep valley of thick forests.
Cycling through the natural area surrounding the Kathmandu Valley is a good and affordable experience, starting and returning back Kathmandu itself. We cycle through rural areas, forests, crops, villages, farms and monumental world heritage villages with views of the Himalayan peaks from time to time. A very adaptable itinerary that can be either a trip in itself or part of a longer tour to Nepal.
Himalayan peaks, deep valleys, lush green forests, rushing rivers, tea fields and Buddhist monasteries. This is an itinerary that will give you a complete picture of what Sikkim is, the world’s first organic production state and one of the most peculiar states in India which, together with Darjeeling, make up a very interesting itinerary, far from the classic tourist routes.
To stand at the foot of Everest is naturally an attraction itself. Watching its mass rise into the sky from the valley floor at the mythical Rongbuk Monastery amidst awe-inspiring surroundings. But of course, there is much more on this trip. Travelling along part of the route that has linked Lhasa and Kathmandu for centuries of trade and cultural and economic exchange.
From Bandipur this hiking proposal is a good circular route that will take you through a beautiful rural environment towards the Magar village of Ramkot. You will pass by farms and fields, with traditional houses, some schools and the life of the rural areas of Nepal.
A quiet hike through the northern hills that enclose Kathmandu, with views of the city on one side and the Himalayas on the other. Without hard uphills and descents, it is suitable for anyone who wants to disconnect and walk in a rural and wooded environment far away from the crowds of the city.
The experience of spending an afternoon with the group of children, girls and boys who live at the Kailash Home is priceless. These children come from families without economic resources from remote mountain areas. In Kailash Home, they have an option to continue studying beyond basic education. Once the first barrier is overcome, the experience is all yours.
Although Kathmandu is easy to visit by taxi, we can also take you on a tour with a private vehicle and a guide. We try to steer clear of the long boring speech, and we like you to ask about what interests you most about each place or what you are most curious about.
This is a slightly different option, aimed at those who want to know and are curious about the world of the Gurkhas, a really important world in Nepal. Basically, you will be able to meet a former Gurkha, a person who has fought in the regiments of a foreign army, defending and fighting for a country that is not his own.
While it can also be a one-day option, ideal for a break on the way from Kathmandu to Pokhara, you can sleep in a comfortable camp beside the river, making it a very interesting and fun two-day rafting activity. It remains an ideal extension to do on the way from Kathmandu to Pokhara, to Bandipur, or even to Chitwan.
Sunkoshi and Bhotekoshi rivers are more demanding than Trishuli, so if you really focus in rafting and you need more adrenaline, those are your white-water rivers. With long and powerful water rapids of level 3+/4-, big rocks and among amazing landscape, it can be one or more days activity from Kathmandu.
This is one of the highlights of Pokhara. Strolling around Lakeside you will see the different coloured paragliders descending from Sarangkot, perched on the hill that rises north of Lakeside, to land on the edge of the lake.
