• Download itinerary

The complete traverse of the  GHT Upper Trail through Nepal is the ultimate adventure.  The trail stretches over a distance of about 1,700 km and passes through spectacular, high altitude mountain landscapes, visiting some of the most remote villages on earth, where life remains as it was centuries back.

Trekking along the entire Upper Trail is for the fit and adventurous. It  requires  crossing high passes with altitudes up to above 6,100 m.  Proper trekking gear and mountaineering equipment is needed and anyone attempting this trek should be physically fit and have trekking and ideally mountaineering experience. For safety, a local mountain guide who knows the terrain is essential, especially in high altitudes.

Due to the remoteness of the trek, camping is required for most parts of the adventure and it is necessary to take a tent, food and cooking equipment. But what could be better than pitching your tent surrounded by the mighty snow-capped Himalayas and sleeping under the star lit sky?

Nepal’s Upper Trail starts east, north of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp and ends in Hilsa at Nepal’s Tibetan border in the Western district of Humla. The route described below takes 156 days from East to West.  It should be taken into account that there is not one official GHT route. At many points you can choose to take another trail than the one described below. Besides, you can choose to make a combination of the Lower and Upper trail, for example to avoid the high and challenging passes of the Everest Section.

• Days

  156

  Max Altitude

  6146 m

  Difficulty

  Strenuous

• Season

  Spring and Autumn

  Start

  Taplejung

  Finish

  Hilsa

• Type

  Camping and few tea-houses and homestays

• Permits Needed

  Trekking Permits, TIMS, etc

Itinerary

• Day 1 Kathmandu Bhadrapur/Birantnagar by flight, drive to Ilam (Kanchenjunga Section)
• Day 2 Drive Ilam to Taplejung (1820 m)
• Day 3 Taplejung (1820 m) to Mitlung (920 m) 4 hrs
• Day 4 Mitlung (920 m) to Chiruwa (1270 m) 6 hrs
• Day 5 Chiruwa (1270 m) to Sukethum (1575 m) 5 1/2 hrs
• Day 6 Sukethum (1576 m) to Amjilosa (2308 m) 6 hrs
• Day 7 Amjilosa (2308 m) to Gyabla (2730 m) 5 hrs (or to Phale 3140 m, extra 2 hrs)
• Day 8 Gyabla (2730 m) to Ghunsa (3595 m) 4 1/2 hrs
• Day 9 Ghunsa (3595 m) Restday
• Day 10 Ghunsa (3595 m) to khangpachen (4050 m) 6 hrs
• Day 11 Khangpachen (4050 m) Restday
• Day 12 Khangpachen (4050 m) to Lhonak (4780 m) 5 hrs
• Day 13 Lhonak (4780 m) Restday
• Day 14 Lhonak (4780 m) to Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143 m) 4 hrs
• Day 15 Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143 m) Restday
• Day 16 Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143 m) to Kangpachen (4050 m) 4 hrs
• Day 17 Kangpachen (4050 m) to Ghunsa (3595 m) 3 hrs
• Day 18 Ghunsa (3595 m) to Nango La Camp (4776 m) 5 1/2 hrs
• Day 19 Nango La Camp (4776 m) to Yangma Khola (3430 m) 5 hrs
• Day 20 Yangma Khola (3430 m) to Olangchun Gola (3191 m) 4 hrs
• Day 21 Olangchun Gola (3191 m) to Pass Camp (4453 m) 7 hrs
• Day 22 Pass Camp (4453 m) to Thudam (3556 m) crossing the Lumbha Sambha Pass (5159 m) 7 hrs (Makalu Barun Section)
• Day 23 Thudam (3556 m) Restday
• Day 24 Thudam (3556 m) to Kharka (2700 m) 7 hrs
• Day 25 Kharka (2700 m) to Chyamtang (2187 m) 5 hrs
• Day 26 Chyamtang (2187 m) to Hongon (2323 m) 5 hrs
• Day 27 Hongon (2323 m) to Bakim Kharka (3020 m) 3 hrs
• Day 28 Bakim Kharka (3020 m) to Molun Pokhari (3954 m) 4 hrs
• Day 29 Molun Pokhari (3954 m) to Dhungge Kharka (3590 m) 5 hrs
• Day 30 Dhungge Kharka (3590 m) to Cave Camp (3115 m) 3 1/2 hrs
• Day 31 Cave Camp (3115 m) to Kalo Pokhari (4192 m) 5 hrs
• Day 32 Kalo Pokhari (4192 m) to Kharka (4097 m) 5 hrs
• Day 33 Kharka (4097 m) to Yangla Kharka (3557 m) 4 hrs
• Day 34 Yangla Kharka (3557 m) to Langmale Kharka (4410 m) 4 hrs
• Day 35 Langmale Kharka (4410 m) to Makalu Base Camp (4870 m) 4 hrs
• Day 36 Makalu Base Camp (4870 m) Restday
• Day 37 Makalu Base Camp (4870 m) to Swiss Base Camp (5150 m) 4 hrs
• Day 38 Swiss Base Camp (5150 m) Restday
• Day 39 Swiss Base Camp (5150 m) to Sherpani Col Base Camp (5688 m) 5 hrs (Everest & Rolwaling Section; Everest Part)
• Day 40 Sherpani Col BC (5688 m) to Baruntse Camp (6050 m) crossing the Sherpani Col (6146 m) 7 hrs
• Day 41 Baruntse Camp (6050 m) to Honku Basin (5500 m) crossing the West Col (6143 m) 4 hrs
• Day 42 Honku Basin (5500 m) to Amphu Labsta Base Camp (5527 m) 5 hrs
• Day 43 Amphu Labsta Base Camp (5527 m) Restday
• Day 44 Amphu Labsta BC (5527 m) to Chhukung (4730 m) crossing Amphu Labsta La (5848 m) 9 hrs
• Day 45 Chhukung (4730 m) to Dingboche (4410 m) 3 hrs
• Day 46 Dingboche (4410 m) Restday
• Day 47 Dingboche (4410 m) to Lobuche (4910 m) 3 1/2 hrs
• Day 48 Lobuche (4910 m) to Gorak Shep (5140 m) with side trip to Kala Pattar (Everest Viewpoint) (5550 m) 6 hrs
• Day 49 Gorak Shep (5140 m) to Everest BC (5364 m) and back to Lobuche (4910 m) 8 hrs
• Day 50 Lobuche (4910 m) to Dzongla (4830 m) 5 hrs
• Day 51 Dzongla (4830 m) to Dragnag (4700 m) crossing the Chola Pass (5420 m) 6 hrs
• Day 52 Dragnag (4700 m) to Gokyo (4790 m) 6 hrs
• Day 53 Gokyo (4790 m) Restday, climb Gokyo Ri (Everest and Cho Oyu Viewpoint) (5360 m)
• Day 54 Gokyo (4790 m) to Lumde (4368 m) 7 hrs
• Day 55 Lumde (4368 m) to Thame (3820 m) 3 hrs
• Day 56 Thame (3820 m) to Pachemuche Tsho (4780 m) 6 1/2 hrs
• Day 57 Pachemuche Tsho (4780 m) to Tashi Labsta Camp (5665 m) 6 hrs
• Day 58 Tashi Labsta Camp (5665 m) Restday
• Day 59 Tashi Labsta Camp (5665 m) to Glacier Camp (4735 m) crossing Tashi Labsta La (5755 m) 8 hrs
• Day 60 Glacier Camp (4735 m) to Kabug (4820 m) 5 hrs (Rolwaling Part)
• Day 61 Kabug (4820 m) to Beding (3740 m) 5 hrs
• Day 62 Beding (3740 m) to Dokhang (2791 m) 5 hrs
• Day 63 Dokhang (2791 m) to Simigaon (2036 m) 5 hrs
• Day 64 Simigaon (2036 m) to Orangdanda (2029 m) 7 hrs
• Day 65 Orangdanda (2029 m) to Loting (1768 m) 7 hrs
• Day 66 Loting (1768 m) to Bigu Gompa (2516 m) 4 hrs
• Day 67 Bigu Gompa (2516 m) to Sano Jyandan (3127 m) crossing the Tinsang La (3778 m) 6 hrs
• Day 68 Sano Jyandan (3127 m) to The Last Resort (1170 m) 5 hrs (Langtang & Helambu Section)
• Day 69 The Last Resort (1170 m) Restday
• Day 70 The Last Resort (1170 m) to Listi (2260 m) 5 hrs
• Day 71 Listi (2260 m) to Shotang Kharka (3379 m) 7 hrs
• Day 72 Shotang Kharka (3379 m) to Chogomogor Kharka (3925 m) 5 hrs
• Day 73 Chogomogor Kharka (3925 m) to Kyansin (2520 m) 5 hrs
• Day 74 Kyansin (2520 m) to Tembathang (2160 m) 5 hrs
• Day 75 Tembathang (2160 m) to Chedupa Kharka (2513 m) 7 hrs
• Day 76 Chedupa Kharka (2513 m) Restday
• Day 77 Chedupa Kharka (2513 m) to Nemagchukpa kharka (3578 m) 4 hrs
• Day 78 Nemagchukpa kharka (3578 m) to Panch Pokhari (4074 m) 5 hrs
• Day 79 Panch Pokhari (4074 m) to Intermediary Camp (4273 m) 4 hrs
• Day 80 Intermediary Camp (4273 m) to Tin Pokhari (4255 m) 4 hrs
• Day 81 Tin Pokhari (4255 m) to High South Camp (4867 m) 4 1/2 hrs
• Day 82 High South Camp (4867 m) Restday
• Day 83 High South C (4867 m) to High North Camp (4720 m) crossing Tilman's Pass (5308 m)7 hrs
• Day 84 High North Camp (4720 m) to Kyangjin Gompa (3830 m) 7 hrs
• Day 85 Kyangjin Gompa (3830 m) Restday
• Day 86 Kyangjin Gompa (3830 m) to Ghoratabela (3030 m) 6 hrs
• Day 87 Ghoratabela (3030 m) to Syabru Besi (1503 m) 5 hrs
• Day 88 Syabru Besi (1503 m) to Gatlang (2230 m) 5 hrs
• Day 89 Gatlang (2230 m) to Somdang (3258 m) crossing the Khurpudada Pass (3710 m) 6 hrs
• Day 90 Somdang (3258 m) to Tipling (1890 m) crossing the Pansan Pass (3830 m) 7 hrs
• Day 91 Tipling (1890 m) to Lapa Khola (1285 m) 6 hrs (Manaslu and Ganesh Himal Section)
• Day 92 Lapa Khola (1285 m) to Nauban Kharka (2750 m) crossing the Mangro Bhanjyang (2936 m) 7 hrs
• Day 93 Nauban Kharka (2750 m) to Kerauja (2074 m) 7 1/2 hrs
• Day 94 Kerauja (2074 m) to Jagat (1340 m) 7 hrs
• Day 95 Jagat (1340 m) to Deng (1860 m) 6 hrs
• Day 96 Deng (1860 m) to Namrung (2630 m) 6 hrs
• Day 97 Namrung (2630 m) to Sama (3520 m) 6 hrs
• Day 98 Sama (3520 m) Restday
• Day 99 Sama (3520 m) to Samdo (3875 m) 2 1/2 hrs
• Day 100 Samdo (3875 m) Restday
• Day 101 Samdo (3875 m) to Dharmasala (4460 m) 3 hrs
• Day 102 Dharmasala (4460 m) to Bimtang (3590 m) crossing the Larkya La (5160 m) 7 hrs
• Day 103 Bimtang (3590 m) to Dharapani (1860 m) 7 hrs
• Day 104 Dharapani (1860 m) to Chame (2670 m) 6 hrs (Annapurna & Mustang Section)
• Day 105 Chame (2670 m) to Pisang (2675 m) 5 hrs
• Day 106 Pisang (2675 m) to Manang (3540 m) 5 hrs
• Day 107 Manang (3540 m) to Yak Kharka (4050 m) 5 hrs
• Day 108 Yak Kharka (4050 m) to Thorong Phedi (4450 m) 4 hrs
• Day 109 Thorong Phedi (4450 m) to Muktinath (3760 m) crossing the Thorung La (5415 m) 9 hrs
• Day 110 Muktinath (3760 m) Restday
• Day 111 Muktinath (3760 m) to Kagbeni (2810 m) 5 hrs
• Day 112 Kagbeni (2810 m) to Yak Karkha (3478 m) 5 hrs
• Day 113 Yak Karkha (3478 m) to Santa (3777 m) crossing the Bhima Lojun La (4460 m) 8 hrs
• Day 114 Santa (3777 m) to Ghalden Ghuldun Khola Camp (4247 m) 6 hrs (Dolpa Section)
• Day 115 Ghalden Ghuldun Khola Camp (4247 m) Restday
• Day 116 Ghalden Ghuldun Khola Camp (4247 m) to Nulungsumda Kharka (4987 m) crossing the Jungben La (5550m) & Niwas La (5120m) 8 hrs
• Day 117 Nulungsumda Kharka (4987 m) Restday
• Day 118 Nulungsumda Kharka (4987 m) to Chharka Bhot (4302 m) 8 hrs
• Day 119 Chharka Bhot (4302 m) Restday
• Day 120 Chharka Bhot (4302 m) to Chap Chu (4320 m) 4 hrs
• Day 121 Chap Chu (4320 m) to Dho Tarap (3944 m) crossing the Chan La (5378 m) 8 hrs
• Day 122 Dho Tarap (3944 m) to Numa La Base Camp (4440 m) 2 1/2 hrs
• Day 123 Numa La Base Camp (4440 m) to Danigar (4512 m) crossing the Numa La (5309 m) 7 hrs
• Day 124 Danigar (4512 m) to Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3641 m) crossing the Baga La (5169 m) 9 hrs
• Day 125 Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3641 m) Restday
• Day 126 Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3641 m) to Phoksundo Khola Camp (3630 m) 5 hrs
• Day 127 Phoksundo Khola Camp (3630 m) to campsite (3750 m) 3 hrs
• Day 128 Campsite (3750 m) to Pass Camp (4717 m) 5 hrs
• Day 129 Pass Camp (4717 m) to Shey Gompa (4343 m) crossing the Nagdala La (5350 m) 6 hrs
• Day 130 Shey Gompa (4343 m) Restday
• Day 131 Shey Gompa (4343 m) to Bhijer (3850 m) 7 hrs
• Day 132 Bhijer (3850 m) to Pho (4087 m) crossing the Yambur La (4813 m) 8 1/2 hrs
• Day 133 Pho (4087 m) to Pung Kharka (4650 m) crossing Nyingma Gyanzen La (5563 m) 9 hrs
• Day 134 Pung Kharka (4650 m) to Chyandi Khola (4830 m) crossing the Yala La (5414 m) 6 hrs
• Day 135 Chyandi Khola (4830 m) to Takla Khola (3785 m) 7 hrs
• Day 136 Takla Khola (3785 m) to Thajuchaur (4050 m) 7 hrs
• Day 137 Thajuchaur (4050 m) to Shilenchaura Kharka (2945 m) 6 hrs
• Day 138 Shilenchaura Kharka (2945 m) to Tiyar (2418 m) 3 hrs
• Day 139 Tiyar (2418 m) to Mangri (1950 m) 4 hrs
• Day 140 Mangri (1950 m) to Gamgadhi (2095 m) 4 hrs
• Day 141 Gamgadhi (2095 m) to Rara Lake (2980 m) 4 hrs (Rara & Jumla Section)
• Day 142 Rara Lake (2980 m) Restday
• Day 143 Rara Lake (2980 m) to Gamgadhi (2095 m) 4 hrs
• Day 144 Gamgadhi (2095 m) to Bam (2700 m) 5 hrs
• Day 145 Bam (2700 m) to Jogimara (3005 m) 7 hrs
• Day 146 Jogimara (3005 m) to Piplan (1700 m) 5 hrs
• Day 147 Piplan (1700 m) to Apsia Lek (3195 m) 6 hrs
• Day 148 Apsia Lek (3195 m) to Punkha Khola (3010 m) 4 hrs
• Day 149 Punkha Khola (3010 m) to River Camp (2100 m) 6 hrs
• Day 150 River Camp (2100 m) to Simikot (2985 m) 7 hrs (Humla Section)
• Day 151 Simikot (2985 m) to Dharapuri (2300 m) 4 hrs
• Day 152 Dharapuri (2300 m) to Kermi (2670 m) 3 hrs
• Day 153 Kermi (2670 m) to Yalbang (3020 m) 5 hrs
• Day 154 Yalbang (3020 m) to Thumkot (3380 m) 5 hrs
• Day 155 Thumkot (3380 m) to Yari (3700 m) 5 hrs
• Day 156 Yari (3700 m) to Hilsa (3720 m) crossing the Nara La (4620 m) 6 hrs
• From Hilsa back to Simikot or continue to Mount Kailash in Tibet (China)