Great Himalayan Trail

Great Himalayan Trail

The Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) is a long-distance trekking route that spans the entire length of the Himalayan range, covering about 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) across five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China (Tibet), and Pakistan. It offers trekkers a chance to experience the incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and ecosystems found in the Himalayas.

The trail is not a single continuous path but rather a network of existing trails and routes that connect remote villages, high mountain passes, and valleys. It passes through a wide range of ecosystems, from lush subtropical jungles to alpine meadows and barren high-altitude deserts.

Great Himalayan Trail with Great Panorama Treks

Great Himalaya Trail is considered as one of the highest and longest footpaths on earth, and likely the most dramatic, traversing the entirety of Nepal from east to west in the shadows of the world’s highest peaks. It is a network of various famous trekking trails in Nepal which covers the whole countries famous trekking routes like Everest Base Camp to Annapurna Circuit and many more from the regions like Humla, Jumla and Rara, Dolpa, Mustang and Annapurna, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu, Langtang & Helambu, Makalu Barun, Everest & Rolwaling, Kanchenjunga. Nepal covers the 1,700 km of Great Himalayan Trail it begins from Kanchenjunga passing Makalu Everest and ends in Humla Tibetan border district of Nepal.

Highlights of Great Himalayan Trail

• Trek the entire length of Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail.
• See all of Nepal’s 7,000 m and 8,000 m peaks including Everest,  Annapurna, Makalu and many other.
• Experience the diversity of landscapes and cultures of the Himalaya.
• Enjoy a fully supported camping based trek.
• Total more than 4,500KM.

Winding beneath the world’s highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, the trail passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes in the Himalayas. Whatever takes your fancy, here are the incredible facts about the Great Himalaya Trail:

INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT GREAT HIMALAYAN TRAIL

1. Longest and Highest Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail is longest, highest and the most challenging alpine path in the world. It is roughly 4,500 km in length and passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus; and incredible landscapes, running through Bhutan, Tibet, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Nepal.

2. Time to trek Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalayan treks can be done solo or in the group. Divided into ten connecting treks, the Nepal section of takes 60 to 160 days of walking. It features other numerous treks of long duration and difficulty. Furthermore, some of the treks can be done in tea house style whereas some trail may require camping equipment. With countless trekking options and new tourism attractions, each Great Himalayan trail section forms an adventure destination and distinct trekking.

3. High Routes of Great Himalaya Trail

The travelers can choose between two routes: GHT’s High route and GHT’s low route. The high route winding through high mountain ranges stretches over a distance of about 1,700 meters km. It passes through some of the most remote villages on earth, where life remains as it was centuries back. Untouched by the modernity people still follow their traditional life. The route is on an average altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 meters, thus, offers breath-taking views, adventure trekking, trans-Himalayan scenery, and alpine valleys. It may take up to 150 days.

Note: Many areas of GHT especially high route cross through the restricted areas where you need to have permits.

4. Low Routes of Great Himalayan Trail

The low route considered easy and is mainly popular as cultural trek, thus it is shorter than the high route. Stretches the distance of about 1,500 km; low route winds through Nepal’s mid-hills with an average altitude of 2,000 m. Walking through the beautiful lush forests, green rice terraces, and local settlements of different cultures; low route treks take about 100 days to complete. Furthermore, it is often considered as the cultural route, hence tourists get the chance to visit small villages and communities. Similarly can learn about the culture and traditions of Nepal’s various ethnic groups.

5. Length of Great Himalayan Trail

Divided into ten connecting treks. Great Himalaya Trail is 1,700 kilometers long trekking trail from the east end to the west end of Nepal. The treks can be done subsequently or completely separate from each other. Roughly, the trail stretches more than 4,500 kilometers length of Great Himalaya Trail running through 6 countries. Nepal section of the route begins near Kanchenjunga on the eastern border and heads west navigating the domains of eight of the world’s 8,000 m peaks, from the alluring Makalu to the graceful Everest. And, ends either in Humla on the Tibetan border or in Darchula.

GHT’s westernmost point is the world’s ninth highest peak, Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan. Winding past the sacred headwaters of the River Ganga in India, it traverses Nepal beneath the Annapurna, Everest, and Kanchenjunga mountain ranges, through Darjeeling and Sikkim in India, then Bhutan, and eventually to India’s Arunachal Pradesh, and then Myanmar, and finally ending at Namche Barwa in Tibet. Spectacular views include all of the world’s fourteen 8,000m peaks.

6. First Trip of GHT

After a lot of research, documentation, and mapping Great Himalaya Trail was first walked in 2008 and 2009 by a team of Robin Boustead in Nepal. The first trip started from February to August 2011 and completed successfully in 157 days.

7. Easy but not so Easy

Though technical climbing is not required trekking for more than 150 days is quite difficult. There are numerous high passes above 5,000 meters hence, said to be far more difficult than climbing up any single mountain. GHT is not the easiest or most direct route across Nepal, rather a route through the Greater Himalaya range.