Nepal

Two Trekkers Traverse Nepal’s Entire Great Himalaya Trail

Complete 152-day trek across world’s highest and longest alpine walking track

Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions announces the end of its exclusive trek along the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) in Nepal this July. Encountering some of the wildest and most remote mountain environments imaginable, two trekkers completed the 152-day journey along the world’s tallest mountain range where they have been walking since February 26.

“I only found out about the Great Himalaya Trail as a feasible, supported trek when the World Expeditions brochure dropped on my doorstep. I was instantly drawn to it,” said Ian Whittaker, one of the trekkers. “Initially I committed only to the first three sections but in the end I signed up for the whole distance!”

Spanning 1700km in total, the Nepal traverse is nearly equal to walking from Banff, Alberta to Boulder, Colorado. Beginning in the east, it crosses the country to the high plateaus on the Tibetan borderlands in the far west, encountering rich cultures and isolated communities along the way. From the trail, trekkers can see all eight of Nepal’s 8000-metre peaks as they journey through rarely visited valleys and ascend high passes between snow-capped mountain faces.

“The scale of the Himalaya is something to behold, and if you love the mountains you can’t help but fall in love with the place,” said Matthew Gibson, the other full traverse trekker. “The Nepalese people, like those on most of the subcontinent, are incredibly hospitable, welcoming, and generous.”

Exclusive to World Expeditions since 2011, the Nepal GHT can be undertaken in one continuous trek or in seven stand-alone stages that can be completed individually or trekked together. At each stage, travellers can count on superb Himalayan vistas, sustainable practices that support local communities, and the transformative personal achievement that comes from completing an adventure of this kind.

The seven stages include:

Everest & Rolwaling Traverse via Tashi Labsta Pass (28 days) – See stunning views of Mount Everest from the picturesque Gokyo Lakes and crossings of the Renjo La and challenging Tashi Labsta pass.

Kanchenjunga Exploratory (25 days) – Pass through jaw-dropping mountain scenery under the immense north face of Kanchenjunga before turning towards the west and crossing the Nango La.

Langtang via Tilman Pass
(18 days) – Trace the popular pilgrimage trail to Panch Pokhari Lakes, this section crosses the remote and heavily glaciated Tilman Pass before witnessing the breathtaking Langtang Valley.

Makalu & Everest Traverse via Sherpani Col
(34 days) – The most challenging stage, this section crosses the highest passes in the Himalaya including the Sherpani Col, West Col and Amphu Labsta to emerge into the Everest region before crossing the Cho La to Gokyo Lakes.

Manaslu & Annapurna
(26 days) – The combination of the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuits make this section a great option for first-time trekkers to Nepal and Himalayan enthusiasts alike.

Upper Dolpo Traverse
(25 days) – Experience the medieval fortified village of Chharka Bhot, the nomad camps in the heart of Dolpo, Dho Tarap and a finale at Phoksumdo Lake.

Rara Lake & Yari Valley
(28 days) – The final stage begins by exploring Rara National Park before crossing the Great Himalaya Range via wildflower-covered passes and through the Karnali corridor to the Yari Valley and the Tibetan border.

On the cutting edge of adventure travel, World Expeditions crafts creative itineraries for its travellers’ unique needs and styles. For detailed information, bookings, or tailored private departures, visit:

worldexpeditions.com