Hey everyone! 😊
I’m planning to hike Everest Base Camp from 2–18 October and I’m looking for some advice / possibly a trekking buddy.

I’ve contacted quite a few trekking companies, but unfortunately I haven’t found a group that matches my exact dates. I’m also not particularly keen on joining a group of 15 men 😂😬 mainly because I’d rather trek at my own pace without the stress of trying to keep up with a group.

I’m thinking of going to Kathmandu and arranging a private guide + porter through a local trekking company, rather than joining a large group.

The one thing I’m a little worried about is teahouse availability in October, given that it’s peak season. Has anyone done EBC around this time as a solo trekker? Did you book your teahouses in advance, or were you able to find accommodation along the way?

Also, if there are any women travelling to EBC around 2–18 October who are looking for someone to trek with, I’d love to connect! 😊

Would also really appreciate any tips from anyone who has done EBC solo — especially around finding a reliable guide/porter in Kathmandu, accommodation, and travelling as a solo female.

Thank you! 🏔️❤️

Sorry to bother you guys, I was wondering if anybody could ask my question. I wanted to do island peak at the start of September, do you know if it’s possibile to take a guide only in chhukung? If so what permits should I get and where should I get them? Can I get them for only in Kathmandu?
I know there’s agencies organizing this from Kathmandu but I guess if only hire the guide directly there is gonna be cheaper, i know i can make the permits for hiking in lukla, but can I make the summit permit in chhukung? I don’t know if this is the right subreddit either but I will appreciate any kind of advice thaaank you

Hi everyone,

I’m planning my first trekking trip to Nepal and would really appreciate advice from people who have recently done these routes.

I’ll have around 20–22 days in Nepal in total, starting around September 15. I’m trying to choose one main trek without rushing acclimatisation or leaving no margin for weather and transport delays.

I’m an experienced hiker and enjoy long mountain days, high passes, remote landscapes, and quieter routes. I don’t need luxury, but I’m happy staying in basic tea houses and hiring a guide when it is required or genuinely useful.

The routes I’m considering are:

• Everest Three Passes + EBC/Gokyo
• Manaslu Circuit + Tsum Valley
• Annapurna Circuit + Nar Phu
• Langtang Valley + Gosaikunda + Helambu, possibly Ganja La if conditions and logistics are suitable
• Kanchenjunga Circuit or Makalu Base Camp, although I understand they may be more demanding logistically within this timeframe

My priorities are:

1. Spectacular high-mountain scenery and high passes
2. A proper circuit or traverse rather than only an out-and-back route
3. Less crowded trails, where possible
4. A realistic itinerary with sufficient acclimatisation and a weather/transport buffer
5. Good value for money — I’m fine with basic accommodation and don’t need an organized luxury package

I also have a few practical questions:

• For each of these regions, what permits are currently needed and what are the approximate costs for a foreign trekker?
• Are guides mandatory on these routes now? If so, is a porter also compulsory, or optional?
• For routes with restricted-area permits, such as Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu or Kanchenjunga: can a solo traveller join a group locally, or is it better to arrange this in advance?
• For someone who is experienced and normally hikes independently, which routes would you still strongly recommend doing with a guide?
• Is it sensible to arrange permits, transport and guides after arriving in Kathmandu, or should I book in advance?
• Which route offers the best balance between cost, scenery, remoteness and logistical simplicity?
• Is mid-September a good time for these routes, or is it still too close to the monsoon? I’m especially wondering about rain, cloud cover, muddy trails, leeches at lower elevations, landslides/road conditions, and visibility.
• How cold should I realistically expect the nights to be at roughly 4,000–5,000 m in mid/late September? For example, in Kyanjin Gompa, Gokyo, Larkya Phedi/Dharmasala, or the high Annapurna sections.
• How likely is early snow on the high passes at that time of year? Would you recommend waiting until late September or October instead?
• If the main trek ends up being shorter than expected, what would you recommend doing with the remaining days? A shorter trek such as Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Tamang Heritage Trail, or perhaps cultural days in Kathmandu/Bhaktapur/Patan, rafting, wildlife in Chitwan, or something else?
• Conversely, if I only have 20–22 days door-to-door from Europe, rather than fully in Nepal, which itinerary is the least risky and most realistic?

Gear: bring, buy or rent in Kathmandu?

I have my own trekking gear, but bringing the full setup from Europe may not be practical because it is bulky. My plan is to travel with a large checked trekking bag, bringing essential personal items, and then buy or rent some bulky gear in Kathmandu.

• Which gear would you definitely bring from home, and which items are sensible to rent or buy locally for a September trek at 4,000–5,000 m?
• Are there any reliable rental or gear shops in Thamel/Kathmandu that you would recommend, especially for sleeping bags, down jackets and possibly microspikes?
• Is the quality of rental gear generally good enough, or should I avoid relying on it for critical items?

If you had 20–22 days, starting around September 15, what would you choose and why?

In particular, would you take Manaslu + Tsum Valley over the Everest Three Passes, or does the Three Passes route justify the added crowds, cost and Lukla-flight uncertainty?

Thanks a lot — any recent first-hand experience, realistic itineraries, permit information, guide recommendations, or mistakes to avoid would be very welcome.

Hi everyone,

I am a 23 year old male from New Zealand. I am looking to do the Everest Three Passes trek. My flight arrives into Nepal on 5th October and Departs 1st November (Giving me ~27 days to complete it from Kathmandu → Kathmandu).

Is it feasible to just land it Kathmandu and sort out everything over the next 1-2 days? Is this sufficient time to complete the trek?

I'm unsure whether I should do it guided versus solo. The main thing I want to know is how far in advance do you have to book the Lukla flights? I am about 1.5 months out from arriving now.

Would appreciate any recommendations and advice!

I’m planning to do the ABC trek in the second week of September, starting from Ghandruk.

And how are the routes from Pokhara to Kathmandu, or the Pokhara–Sunauli border route, on the return? (duration, ease of travel)

Hi, We are a group of 3. Want to hire a local guide (maybe from Lukla), so they can help us in pacing, maybe help with teahouses, tell us stories etc.

Don't want to go with a touring agency because we want to be independent and flexible in our itinerary.

Can we get it easily in Lukla? how much will it cost? (maybe in NPR)

Okay I need someone who’s experienced in hiking and backpacking to help me out I’m 19, from the UK, and currently planning a 4-week solo trip around Mongolia, followed by Seoul and Taipei. I’d arrive in Kathmandu in late October and potentially start the Annapurna Circuit in early November.

My dilemma is whether to do Annapurna at the end of this trip (ideal peak season, plenty of of time and logistically affordable) or save it for a future dedicated trip (no idea when this could be) I’ll have a lot of freedom until March, but may have much less flexibility afterwards, so this could be my best opportunity.

I’ve done a few 2–3 day treks in the Alps and completed Mount Toubkal. I generally keep fit, but I’ve never done a long multi-day trek carrying a backpack and haven’t specifically trained for one.

Ultimately it’s F-it your young and free, go for it.
Or play it right and take the hit.

Would you consider Annapurna realistic after ~6 weeks of travelling, or would the accumulated fatigue make it a bad idea? Does the circuit require you to be well-trained and mentally fresh, or is my previous trekking experience enough to give it a go?

Hey gang
i am planning to go for EBC trek this Nov and trying to find agencies which has this trekking experience. Now i see a lot of nepal agency having price structure based on indian nationality and there are indian agencies as well. Would like to have views on recommended agencies, it would be even better if you had a past experience with them.
Thanks!

I am a 46 year old female and in relatively decent shape. I don’t have any major health issues, but I do have hypothyroidism, low blood pressure and plantar fasciitis that flares up from time to time.

Now I know I will need to train and whip my butt into better shape, but is hiking EBC doable?? I am thinking Spring 2028. I have no desire to summit Everest but I think base camp would be an amazing accomplishment!!

Hello! Me and my friend are coming back to Nepal after last year's ACT and are very excited to explore Three passes trek and Everest region this time. I have a question about getting to/from Lukla - we will arrive around November 15th to Kathmandu, are there any flights from Kathmandu to Lukla in November or do we need to go to Ramechhap first and flight from there? How can we book flying tickets for the flight to Lukla? Can we book it on our own? Is it needed to book it in advance and if so, how can we do it?

Thanks!

Dear all,

I’m based in Nepal and work on the operations side of adventure tourism and mountain trekking. Basically, my day-to-day involves organizing expeditions, sorting out trail logistics, and making sure people actually make it up and down the mountains safely.

I’ve spent a ton of time working across various regions from the popular spots like Annapurna and Langtang to quieter routes like the Tamang Heritage Trail. On any given week, I'm dealing with everything from high-altitude evacuation logistics and weather shifts to figuring out how we can keep local trekking sustainable for the villages along the trails.

Since it’s peak season planning time for a lot of people, I figured I’d drop in and answer questions.
Happy to talk about:

Planning a trip to Nepal (best times, actual costs, gear you actually need vs. stuff you can leave at home).

Quiet/underrated routes if you want to avoid the crowds.

The reality of high-altitude safety, altitude sickness, and mountain rescues.

What running a local adventure/trekking company actually looks like behind the scenes.

Ask me whatever you like!

Just going through my clothing and equipment ready for my EBC trek in November. What are people's thoughts on drinking bottles. I have a couple of 1lt Nalgene bottles and an Osprey 2.5lt bladder. Do I take everything with me or just my Nalgene bottles? I like j6st my bottles as i can monitor my fluid intake better than the bladder.

Im looking at giving $110 tip to my porter and $160 to my guide. Is it better to give them it in Dollars or Nepalese Rupees. I alsk as it is going to be 41000NPR and I think that is a lot of paper cash to take with me on the trek.