Nepal Is Open For Autumn 2021

By Author: i Tour Nepal
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Even though tourism has been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic, the Himalayas of Nepal have been a refuge for nature and adventure lovers. The mountains of Nepal were the safest place to visit during the pandemic. However the health and safety protocols imposed by countries and airlines around the world limited travel in general.

While the mountaineers coming for expeditions of 8,000 m peaks were not discouraged by the pandemic, trekkers were significantly reduced. But the tourists visiting Nepal during the pandemic had the privilege of enjoying the trails with very few other foreigners. The availability of services and logistics also reduced the price during the pandemic.

Nepal is open for trekking

With the reduced Covid cases and the increased vaccination rate, life in Nepal is coming back to normalcy. Schools and public places are fully open. Government is working to revoke travel regulations from October 2021 to encourage tourists to visit.

People have been trekking in Nepal throughout the pandemic period. Nepal was open for trekkers with health and safety regulations. Mountaineers and adventurers ...
... found Nepal a safest place to travel during the pandemic. 408 foreign members got Everest expedition permits in the Spring climbing season of 2021 compared to 382 in the year 2019. Among the 180 summiteers, was also the Bahraini prince who took the advantage of the less crowd travelling during the pandemic. The climbing season of 2020 remained closed because of the first outbreak of the Covid 19. Trekkers on the Everest base camp trek in the spring 2021 had brilliant weather with only few other trekkers along the trail. Travelling to Nepal at the mean time is subjected to health and safety protocols imposed to prevent the delta variant from spreading out of the region. Travelers need to get a visa from the Nepalese mission abroad or with the visa recommendation letter from the Nepal tourism board, applied by the trekking company. Visa was given only to the trekkers with proper trekking itinerary and hotel booking for quarantine.

What documents do you need to travel now ?

The Government of Nepal is working to ease the travel regulations from October 2021. For now travelers still need to follow the health and safety protocols imposed by the government during the second wave of Covid 19. Trekkers need following documents for Nepal visa :

Trekkers need to have a confirmed flight ticket.

Trekkers need to have travel / trekking insurance covering the rescue and evacuation if needed.

Travelers also present the confirmation slip of 7 days’ hotel booking as quarantine before heading out of Kathmandu.

Nepal visa for now must be acquired from Nepalese mission abroad before coming. A trekking agency can also issue a visa recommendation letter for on-arrival visa.

Planning a trek for autumn 2021

Trekking in Nepal in autumn 2021 has a triple benefit of reduced cost, brilliant weather and fewer trekkers along the trail unlike before the covid pandemic. However trekkers are planning longer treks because of travel regulations worldwide. Trekkers need to be tested negative in PCR test done 72 hrs before the flight. Even though the Nepal government is working to revoke or reduce the quarantine after arriving, travelers at the mean time must have a flexible plan.

Since there will be fewer trekkers for the autumn 2021, it is better to plan the most popular treks with well established teahouses.

Here are some of the treks recommended for autumn 2021

Manaslu trek

Manaslu trek goes around Mt Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world. The trekking has been popular as the youngest teahouse trek in the last decade. Until the last decade, it was only possible to do the trek with an organized catering team. The trek is still pristine with spectacular snow peaks and the charming Tibetan Buddhist villages culturally and geographically closer to Tibet. Crossing the 5,106 m Larke pass, the trail joins the classic Round Annapurna trek.

Manaslu trek could be planned from two weeks to longer combined with Annapurna trek.

Everest Trek
Everest trek could be planned from two to three weeks. The most popular trail follows Dudh Koshi valley from Lukla airport to the Everest base camp next to Khumbu glacier. More adventurous trail traverses the three high passes of Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La with trips of Thame, Gokyo Lake and the Everest base camp. The longer version of the Everest trek starts from the foothills below Lukla with charming Sherpa villages. Trek to Pikey Peak 4,060 m, famous for the Everest view from lower Everest region and then join the old trail to Lukla for a longer version of the trek. Autumn 2021 is the best time to visit Everest region as one can enjoy the best weather with only a few other trekkers.

Annapurna Trek

Annapurna is the most popular trekking region in whole of the Himalayas. 60% of the trekkers coming to Nepal visits

Annapurna region has been the most popular trekking region in the Himalayas. About 60% of the total trekkers coming to Nepal visit Annapurna. 7629 sq km area dominated by Annapurna massif provides several trekking routes with diverse culture and landscape. The most popular treks in Annapurna are Annapurna base camp trek, Round Annapurna trek and Mustang trek. Trekking in Annapurna could be planned from a few days to a month.

Longer trek combining Annapurna circuit with Upper Mustang or Annapurna base camp could be planned for three weeks for the Autumn 2021. Trek in Annapurna could also be combined with a round Manaslu trek. The trekking route is a newly established teahouse trek that goes around the 8th highest mountain in the world, Mt Manaslu.

Langtang Trek

If you do not want to fly or drive any more after landing in Kathmandu, this is the trek to go on. A trek to Langtang and Gosaikunda starts right from the outskirts of Kathmandu. Walking through the youngest and the smallest Shivapuri national park, the trail heads north of Kathmandu to the alpine Lake of Gosaikunda at 4,400 m within a week. Then the trail descends down to the Langtang valley at the base of Langtang Himal. The valley provides moderate to adventurous climbing opportunities with 360 degree view of snow peaks. Yala peak (5520 m) climb could also be combined with the Langtang trek.

Langtang Gosaikunda trek is another teahouse trek to do in the autumn 2021.

With travel regulations and possible quarantine, trekkers are planning longer treks in the meantime. Well established teahouses, means of transportations and options of trekking routes make the above treks best for the Autumn 2021.

I am an adventurer from the Himalayas of Nepal. I like trekking and discovering new places. I have a degree in culture and love to read non fiction books. I also write travel journals and blogs.