Backpacking in Nepal is simple and stress-free, as not only do you carry very little on a trek yourself, you are provided a porter that carries the bags as well as arranges all meals and lodging along the way. If a suitable guesthouse is not to be found, then the porter will pitch a tent, start a fire, and cook all your meals.

Find Budget Accommodation in Nepal

But for the most part, lodging and meals are found in abundance along the way, and family-run guesthouses offer traditional Nepali cuisine and lodging (bunk beds, cotton mattress, and a candle in a cosy room). Meals along the way consist of locally grown produce with little meat content but high in carbs; Dal Bhat is the local favourite served at every stop. Lentils, rice, spinach, and lots of spicy sauces will keep your energy level high and your tongues stimulated.

The actual walking part of any trek is strenuous, and starts early in the morning and goes on till dusk. However, a trekking trail can be found for every level of backpacker, from easy walking to hard hiking and rock climbing. The most popular treks are found in the Annapurna region and the Mt. Everest regions of northern Nepal, and the best time of year to go for a trek is September or October, when the weather is dry and the air is still warm at the higher elevations.

Easy-to-moderate trekking is best done in the Annapurnas (8,000+ metre peaks), where the typical trek starts by relaxing lakeside in the tourist town of Pokhara, about 200 km from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the international entry point by flight. This is where you can book your tour guide and porters, and stock up on hiking equipment (rain gear, water bottles, walking sticks and the like) before you head on out into the Himals. Pokhara is easily accessible by car, tourist bus, or plane.

Once out of Pokhara, it is just about an hour or so until you reach the trailheads. You can trek for just a few short days say to Phoon Hill, or do the whole circuit up and back to Jomsom / Muktinath in about 20 days. Or you can ask your tour guide to do anything in-between. Trekking in Nepal is very laid back, and you can go as fast or slow as you want, or as short or far as you wish. Along the way you will see amazing waterfalls, cross rope bridges, take dips in steamy hot springs, and view snow-capped mountains as varied as the local villagers that you will meet, all of whom make up dozens of distinct and colourful cultures that flourish all along the terraced hills of Nepal.