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Sunset from Club Himalaya Hotel in Nagarkot, Nepal
Sunset from Nagarkot © Pete Maloney
Namobuddha Monastery on the Balthali trek in Nepal
Namobuddha Monastery © Clare Mathiasen
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Everest Base Camp Trek

Balthali Trek

This trek starts just a short drive from Kathmandu city on the edge of the valley rim. It takes us past small farming villages where we get the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of local people, and through the beautiful scenery of lush green forests, ancient temples and rich terraced fields. Add to this the stunning snowy peaks visible in the distance and this is the perfect introduction to trekking in the Himalayas!

Note: This trek is very flexible in terms of length, what we have below is the longest version of this trek but it can be changed down to only 3 days if you are shot of time.

  • Starts In: Kathmandu
  • Duration: 7 Days
  • Difficulty Grade: Easy

Highlights

  • Just a quick drive from Kathmandu
  • Beautiful trails through agricultural land, past temples, monasteries and villages
  • Panoramic views over the Himalaya directly north of Kathmandu
  • Unique mountain accommodation, as luxe as you like

Itinerary

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Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Jarsing Pauwa, Trek to Nagarkot

After breakfast, meet your trekking guide in Kathmandu and take a Jeep out to the edge of the Kathmandu Valley. From there, head to Jarsing Pauwa where you will begin your trek of the Kathmandu Valley rim. Explore both well-known and lesser-known sites and enjoy their captivating mountain views.

At night, trek up to Nagarkot. Perched on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, this mountain getaway town offers views to the north of the Himalaya and includes a sprawling landscape of rural scenery: terraced fields and farmhouses.

Walking time: Approx. 2 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Country Villa
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

View from the hike to Nagarkot © Ed Crowley

Day 02: Trek from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel

Enjoy breakfast with a view before packing your bags and heading out along the ridgeline to the southeast of Nagarkot. Today, you’ll pass through community forests and open landscapes with small villages that rely not only on farming and livestock but also on the forest for their daily needs. This is a great chance to get close to the daily life of the people of the villages. It is vastly different from Kathmandu, which is so close in terms of distance, but a world apart in terms of lifestyle.

Walking time: Approx. 7 hours

Accommodation: Dhulikhel Lodge Resort
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Trekking down to Nala © Scott Coates

Day 03: Trek from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha

After another breakfast with stunning views you shoulder your day pack and head out of town, bound for Namobuddha, a beautiful location that is sacred to Buddhists, especially to the local Tamang population.

Your gorgeous mountain retreat here has incredible Himalayan views and a quirky architectural style making it a lovely place to relax and soak up being in the Himalayas. You should arrive by mid-afternoon and can just relax, or head up to a lookout point close by for a stunning sunset, before you have a delicious dinner made from organic produce sourced right here from the resort grounds or close by.

Note: The resort is a sustainable, eco-friendly place and while we have toilets convenient to our rooms, some rooms have a short walk to the showers, located in the shower and sauna building, beautifully decorated with terracotta and glazed tiles locally made in Bhaktapur.

Walking time: Approx. 4 hours

Accommodation: Namobuddha Resort
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Trekking to Namobuddha © Clare Mathiasen

Day 04: Trek from Namobuddha to Balthali

After a delicious breakfast in this gorgeous setting overlooking the mountains you can take the morning to explore Tamang Buddhist culture compared with Tibetan Buddhism. Taking a short stroll down the hillside you can visit the little stupa at Namo Buddha. This stupa commemorates Siddhartha Gautam’s selfless act of offering his body to a hungry tigress, which is said to have contributed to his ability to achieve enlightenment and, ultimately, Buddha-hood. Learn about the significance of the place and its place in local Tamang culture, before climbing a short distance up to the newly built Tibetan Buddhist monastery perched on the hilltop above the Stupa.

From here we continue on through fields and orchards to the quiet village of Balthali, having a picnic lunch along the way. Here we again have amazing views to the mountains and can enjoy the charm of village life – even though it’s a steep hike back down into the village after you have dropped your pack in the hotel, it’s worth the effort.

Walking time: Approx. 5 hours

Accommodation: Balthali Resort
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Boy at Namobuddha © Mads Guldager

Day 05: Trek from Balthali to Panauti

Today we have a nice walk ahead of us and the potential for some excellent mountain views. We begin walking up the ridge-line to the aptly named Tamang village, Danda Gaon (Ridge Village). From here we climb steeply, contouring the hill through the forest until the view opens up again. Next, we descend through a terraced valley full of orange groves, then hike over a ridge and eventually make our way into the valley on the other side where we come to our local lunch spot.

After lunch, we face our biggest climb of the day. It starts out steeply, but after the first half-hour, it becomes more gradual, along the ridge to a small village. Here we can sip a cup of tea near the stupa before our last short climb for a beautiful view of the mountains. Our final descent takes us through the forest and fertile rice paddies where you will almost always see some sort of activity; planting, harvesting, or ploughing. We reach our charming hotel in the center of the old town in time for afternoon tea.

In the late afternoon there’s time to explore Panauti. In the 13th century this was the capital of the autonomous kingdom of Banepa. It’s still the most important historic village in the area and has retained its authenticity, built in the signature Newar style of pink brick and carved wood. Panauti’s old town is wedged between two small rivers with a cluster of important temples at the confluence. This is regarded as an ancient power place, with an invisible third stream also connecting here. Cremations are held at this confluence and a festival is held here once a year in January. Every 12 years holds major significance, as the third stream is said to be seen at this time.

Walking time: Approx. 6 hours

Accommodation: Matan Chhen
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Orchards near Panauti © Mads Mathiasen

Day 06: Trek from Panauti to Herb Nepal Farm

After a final morning walk around lovely Panauti we head out towards Asapuri it will take around 4 hours to reach our lovely farm stay there. We first walk for a little while on a paved road to Kharibot. From Kharibot we continue for a couple of hours on a dirt jeep track before walking through forests on a walking track for the last 1.5 hrs to the little village and temple at Asapuri. From here is another 10 min up to our amazing accommodation for the night at Herb Nepal farm stay.

Note: The state-of-the-art-rammed earth lodges have been built by a local team using traditional and indigenous skills and masonry techniques combined with modern methods. They have been sustainably built are earthquake resilient. There are two lodges available, which we have lovingly called Titapate (Artemesia) and Babhaari (mint). Both have a large bedroom (double bed) on the first floor, with a viewing platform and a sitting area on the ground floor that can be transformed into a single bed. A bathroom on the ground floor (toilet/shower room) and a private seating area outside each lodge that provides space to relax in the evening while the children sleep indoors.

Walking time: Approx. 5 hours

Accommodation: Herb Nepal Farm Stay
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tea stops are important! © Mads Guldager

Day 07: Drive back to Kathmandu

After breakfast, we will drive back to Kathmandu.

Accommodation: None
Meals included: Breakfast

The Azon Bazaar © Dan Barham
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Gallery

View of Dorje Lakpa from Namobuddha on the Balthali trek in Nepal Stupa at Namobuddha on the Balthali trek in Nepal Guide with guests at Namobuddha monastery on the Balthali trek in Nepal Trekkers on bridge below Balthali on the Balthali trek in Nepal Guests at the Matan Chhen Guest house in Panauti, Nepel Guide trying to keep up with young trekkers between Panauti and Assapuri in Nepal

Included In Price

  • Transfers as per the itinerary
  • Meals as per the itinerary (all meals while on the trek with filtered drinking water)
  • Hotels and Resorts as per itinerary based on twin/double share on a BB basis
  • Trekking permits and registration fees
  • Your guide and porter/s with all their transport, equipment, insurance and including their meals and accommodation and a first aid kit appropriate for the group size and trek route.

The meal inclusions on the trek are breakfast (one set breakfast and tea or coffee), lunch (one main meal and tea or coffee) and dinner (soup, main and dessert with tea or coffee)

Not Included In Price

  • Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary
  • Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy – please ask us if you would like any advice about gear to bring/buy/rent
  • International Flights to and from Kathmandu
  • Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes
  • Any excess baggage charges
  • Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover) Rescue/evacuation costs (to be covered by your insurance)
  • Additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours outside the detailed itineraries above
  • Personal expenses (eg. mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks, etc)
  • Any extra charge that tea house owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) and charging of batteries
  • Tips for your trekking crew, city guide, hotels, restaurants, etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
  • Costs incurred due to unforeseen events (eg caused by natural disasters, adverse road conditions/flight delays, labor strikes, fuel shortages, extreme exchange rate changes, etc)
Adventure travel: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in the mountains, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of fellow travelers can all contribute to changes. We will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy- going nature will be an asset!

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Google reviews

Himaĺayan Trails was fantastic!! Seven of us went on a two week trek in the Manaslu Circuit and had a fantastic time. Erin coordinated the trip and was always quick to answer any of our questions stateside, as well as available to solve problems once we got into Nepal. She was very enthusiastic, upbeat, and understanding.

Our guide for the trek was Sonam who we all highly reccommend. Our safety was forefront to her and we always felt like she was looking out for us. We were a mostly all female group and it was super cool to have a female guide. Her group of four porters and the assistant guide far exceeded our expectations. Everyone had a great attitude and was always there to make our experience special. They did a few things that really stood out as beyond the call of duty. A few times the assistant guide or porter would run ahaead to our lunch spot, make tea, and run back to meet us on the trail with a thermos of tea. It was such a morale booster when we were tired to get some tea on the trail. One day one of the group wasnt feeling weel and the assistant guide carried her daypack the whole day. So kind!

The crew was also super fun! We sung, danced and laughed together and by the end we felt we had made new friends.

It is without reservation that i recommend Himalayan Trails, and if you want a fantastic guide, ask for Sonam!!

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thumb Susan Lamping
01.06.2020

From the outset Himalayan Trails were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style rather than anonymous chain hotels, every pick up or meeting happened on time, Amanda even managed to find us last minute accommodation when one of our guest houses had overbooked. Our trekking guide, Mindu, kept us safe, fed and watered and motivated when we needed it - his cheerful singing and whistling along with his infectious laugh kept us entertained for 4 days on the Muldai Trek. Our city guide, Subash, was always on hand to answer our endless questions and was great company painting pictures of the sights we visited with lots of stories. He soon joined in our teasing and banter (and gave as good as he got!). We had a fabulous trip but it was the people we met who made it so special.I struggled to say goodbye to both our guides but know we have made some new friends for life. We have fallen in love with Nepal and will definitely be back and will not hesitate to use Himalayan Trails again. Thank you everyone - you did an amazing job!

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thumb Cheryl Robins
01.06.2020

We travelled on an itinerary organised by Mads, Raj and Co in Nov/Dec 19. Our brief was a short trek and lots of culture. And culture we got! Our pickup was from Chitwan , and stayed a night in Bandipur. This was our introduction to the wonderful "hobbit houses" of Nepal, with its amazing woodwork. Then to a trek spread over 4 days , walking village to village, enjoying the terrace of a thousand of agriculture and the hospitality of locals. Then Lumbini, visiting Buddha's birthplace, Bandia to see hippos and tiger, and then to the personalised tour of the world heritage sites of the Kathmandu valley.
Every facet of the trip worked seamlessly, with drivers always ready, the guides expert, and the sites amazing. The standard of accommodation was always comfortable. In Kathmandu, the fabulous Hotel Manuslu, and a jazz club located around the corner. The hot shower at Sikles village, and the bottle of Gurka, after a 1600m ascent, was so welcome.
I recommend these guys to all.
And we are going back, ready for a trek through the flowering rhododendron forests and into the alpine areas

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thumb Peter Brookhouse
01.06.2020

Tailor Made

Looking for something you don’t see yet? Get a trip that‘s customized just for you! (And actually, this is where our best work happens.)
Ask us about:

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We couldn’t possibly fit all our trips, options and ideas on the website, so for a personalized deep-dive into our archives, get in touch here!

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We escaped the madness and got into the mountains! We escaped the madness and got into the mountains! Sad that people are missing out this season because of the coronavirus and travel restrictions. It was glorious up there! The autumn months are gonna be magic too... just sayin 😊 ⛰ 🥾 💖 #nepaltrekking
Illuminated snaps from our guest/ friend Corinna a Illuminated snaps from our guest/ friend Corinna and guide Pasang on the Manaslu Circuit trek. They’re having a Great time! Thanks for sharing!! #nepaltrekking #manaslu #manaslucircuit @himalayantrails
Hello from our intrepid trekkers’ early morning Hello from our intrepid trekkers’ early morning jaunt to Thronga La. As you do at the end of an almost outer-worldly trek through Upper Mustang, if you’re as ambitious as Georgina and Claire! 🏔 🇳🇵 #uppermustang #nepaltrekking
They got big air in very thin air! Spectacular sho They got big air in very thin air! Spectacular shots from @bjpartyof3 ! Thanks for posting such gorgeous, and athletic, shots from your trek with Chiring! 😊💥 -check out their feed, it’s inspirational and beautiful! #treknepal #gokyolakestrek #ebc
Happy Birthday Raj! Raj is the powerhouse behind t Happy Birthday Raj! Raj is the powerhouse behind the scenes, making HT Treks and Awesome Expeditions run smoothly. He got about 10 mins to celebrate today, with the rest of the operations staff, because we have a ton of adventurers arriving and on trail. He’s thinking of moving his birthday until July 🤣 Cheers Raj!! #lovethefireworkcandles! #treknepal
These guests weren’t up for trekking but wanted These guests weren’t up for trekking but wanted to see the tallest mountains in the world. The peaks were  so close you could almost touch them. This was our heli ride to Lukla, then a jaw dropping photo stop at Kala Patar, followed by a bit of brekkie with views of the tallest mountain in the world, and then back to the Kathmandu valley. Not bad for a Monday morning. #nepal #everestandfriends #areyoukiddingme! #windyheli 🤣
Awe man, this adventure is happening Now! Our gues Awe man, this adventure is happening Now! Our guests, guide, and porter trekking to Everest Base camp and and Gokyo Ri. Absolutely gorgeous! #nepal #trekking #gokyovalleytrek #ebc
Exploring Phaplu and Junbesi in the summertime wit Exploring Phaplu and Junbesi in the summertime with @delecca and the Puppies!
Well he’s a tad older than the 2 ‘candles’/ Well he’s a tad older than the 2 ‘candles’/ cake-fireworks suggest; he’s 100! Happy Birthday Mads! @himalayantrails #happynepalinewyear #2076!
Out for a little ride.... Out for a little ride....
Who’s the mystery man contemplating the view in Who’s the mystery man contemplating the view in Panchase? Loving the uncrowded short treks in Nepal- let’s keep this amongst ourselves ... 🤫. #nepaltrekking #trekkinginnepal #stopandsmellthemountains ...but if u want to make this happen we will.. discreetly.
Not many other souls in sight while revisiting the Not many other souls in sight while revisiting these trails that haven’t seen much traffic for years. #whereisthis?#nepaltrekking #trekking #camping #sunrise #himalayas #thatsenoughclues.
Lazimpath, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977 1 4410661
Email: info@himalayan-trails.com
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