Nepal is a small country in southern Asia lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Nepal contains most of the Himalayas including the world’s highest Mt. Everest at 8848.86m. 8 of the 14 highest peaks above 8000m are located in the country. Either in a whole or sharing a border with China or India. Nepal is admirably a beautiful country surrounded by hills and the Himalayas. Being the Himalayan Country there are several less crowded treks in Nepal. Because of this, Nepal has become a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers, trekkers, and people who are seeking adventure. With around 1310 peaks over 6000m in height, Nepal became a popular destination for travel and tourism around the world.

Less Crowded Treks in Nepal

Being home to the world’s highest peak, Everest, it is obvious that trekking to Everest is one of the trends in Nepal. Besides, Everest Annapurna Circuit and camp is another popular destination in Nepal. But because this trek is popular, the trekking route is very crowded and busy. Most of the less crowded treks in Nepal are either off the beaten path or they are open newly. Off-beaten trekking paths have to make full camping arrangements. Some of the off-beaten less crowded treks are Kanchenjunga, Upper Dolpo Trekking, Makalu, Rolwaling, Dhaulagiri, Panch Pokhari Trek, and Ganesh Himal Trekking.

Most of the above are restricted trekking areas in Nepal that need special permits from the Nepal government, Department of Immigration. Besides, there is no availability of tea houses on this trek so, the entire trip should be camping arrangements.

If you are someone who wants to enjoy nature peacefully and with less crowd then less crowded treks are ideal for you. This type of trek is very refreshing and adventurous. Choosing a different way than others, exploring different places than others in a noisy environment is something that gives different sorts of refreshment. In your journey, you will interact with very few trekkers. So, mostly the people you interact with will be the locals of the area. You will get to witness the extraordinary beauty of the villages, explore the best of nature. Besides, you will even get a wonderful opportunity to know about these places’ rarely seen culture and tradition.

Therefore, being in a less noisy place, getting to know nature closely, interacting with the locals gives you an amazing adventure.

List of Less Crowded Treks in Nepal

• Kanchenjunga Trekking
• Makalu Base Camp Trekking
• Rolwaling Trekking
• Upper Dolpo Trekking
• Dhaulagiri Trekking
• Manaslu Trekking
• Mardi Himal Trek

Kanchenjunga Trekking

One of the trekking trails among less crowded treks is Kanchenjunga Trekking. Mt. Kanchenjunga at 8686m, is the 3rd highest mountain in the world. It lies near the border with Sikkim (India) in eastern Nepal. The trekkers need a Special restricted permit for this trek and must hire a local guide and porter.

Kanchenjunga trekking is a remarkable journey into the Himalayas in Nepal. For adventure lovers trekking in this region is the best experience. Besides, with the magnificent and noticeable peaks, floating like ships on a distant sea, this possibly becomes a memory for a lifetime. Similarly, there are several options for the Kanchenjunga trek you can choose from the Kanchenjunga south trek, the Kanchenjunga north trek. On the other hand, the Kanchenjunga circuit trek covers both the north and south base camps or also can customize the itinerary. The hospitality of people there with the stunning fields and forests of pink barked rhododendrons makes a trek wonderful.

Trip highlights

• Enjoy breathtaking views en route to the Base Camp as well as a circuit trek.
• Get the close-up view of the world’s third-highest peak, Kanchenjunga at an altitude of 8,586 m
• Trek from subtropical valleys to rhododendron forest and high alpine meadows
• Get a glimpse of the ethnic group such as Sherpa, Rai, Limbu, and Gurung community and their daily life
• Explore several rare and endangered wildlife, for instance, the red panda, blue sheep, Himalayan black bear, snow leopard, and many more.

The trek starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar or Bhadrapur. Then from here, take a road transport to Taplejung which takes more or less 10 hours. Enjoy the natural landscapes and scenarios that come along the way. Or you can even take a direct flight to Suketar from Kathmandu. Either way, you get to enjoy the journey. Then from Suketar, pass through several villages in Chirwa, Sakathum, Gyabla, Gunsa, Khambachen, Lhonak, Pangpema and finally reach the Northern Base Camp Kanchenjunga Glacier. For Kanchenjunga, you can even do a circuit trek. However, no matter which trek you choose, you will enjoy the journey.

There are no crowds in this region. Because most people choose to go for either Annapurna or Everest, Kanchenjunga is an off-beat trail. Very few choose this destination. Therefore, if you are someone who likes peaceful places you can opt for Kanchenjunga.

Makalu Base Camp Trekking

The base camp trek to Makalu is a remote route that enforces some of the best scenarios in Nepal. The trek to the base camp of Makalu encircles some quiet trails, quivering terraced farmland, rural cultures, rhododendron forests, rare wildlife, along with several mountain peaks. Likewise, for the trekkers who adore simplicity and challenges in their trek, then this is a great trek with ample rewards. Makalu, standing at 8,481m, is the fifth highest mountain in the world. However, the base camp of Makalu is just at an altitude of 5250m, which is not too hard to reach. On the other hand, the daily flights to Tumlingtar and basic lodges along the way make this trek easily approachable.
Makalu base camp is an ideal trek for those who want to experience a variety of landscapes and cultures, as well as majestic views of the snow-capped peaks. The trek to the base camp is challenging but exceedingly rewarding. Moreover, it is one of the less crowded treks in Nepal.

Trip Highlights

• Stunning view of rhododendron forests, granite cliffs, hanging glaciers, and waterfalls, along with the Himalayan peaks.
• Witness the natural landscapes through several river gorges, sheer cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and high-altitude lakes.
• Explore the lifestyle of the Sherpas as well as the Rai community residing in that area.
• Visit Makalu Barun National Park.
• Explore natural ecosystems and wildlife, such as red pandas, snow leopards, and black bears, etc.
• A full day of exploration at Makalu Base Camp
• Experience remote village life and the culture and tradition of people living in a remote area.

Makalu Base Camp offers an exceptional opportunity to explore high-altitude terrains, natural landscapes, along with an ethnic Himalayan lifestyle. Besides, one can witness spectacular views of Everest, as well as Lhotse, Chamlang, and Kanchenjunga in the far east. The trekkers pass through the Makalu Barun National Park where they will explore several natural vegetation. This national park ranks eighth among the largest national parks in Nepal. It covers 2,330 sq. km and is home to some of the rarest flora and fauna, including the Red Panda. There are several other things one can explore on their way to the Makalu Base camp. Despite being an easy trek, Makalu comes under the trek with a fewer number of visitors. Thus, if you like fewer crowds and few interactions with them, you can opt for this trek.

Manaslu Base Camp Trek

Nepal is home to 8 out of 14 highest peaks in the world where trekking to such a high mountain is a dream for many trekkers. Manaslu is the 8th highest mountain peak and has the most off-beat trail for trek and adventure. Despite being one of the highest peaks in the world, the trail falls under less crowded treks than that of Everest and Annapurna. The base camp trek to Manaslu is a fascinating trek that lets you explore the best of the Himalayas. Manaslu means the “mountain of the soul”.

With the conical-shaped at an altitude of 8,163m above sea level, this trek exhibits the super Mountain View. However, the trekking is not only about the view but also showcases the charming preferred society and natural diversity of Nepal’s very own ordinary nature jewels. Being one of the most challenging yet exciting journeys, Manaslu is also popular for hiking, difficulty walking, and expedition. It is a well-known mountain in Nepal. However, it is rarely visited. Half of them are unaware of this trek and some choose their destination at Everest and Annapurna. So, Manaslu is visited by a few trekkers only. Despite being a rarely visited trekking trail, the Base Camp trek to Manaslu offers rich culture, adventure, scenic beauty as well as rural civilization representing the ancient Tibetan lifestyle.

Trip Highlights

• Observe the lifestyle of the two main ethnic groups residing in the region, Nubri, and Tsum.
• Explore mani walls, prayer wheels, and several monasteries.
• Witness the sunrise and sunset view along with the scenario of high glacier lakes, fascinating flora, and fauna and majestic Himalayan ranges
• Trek to Manaslu Conservation Area.
• Explore Tibetan-influenced Buddhist culture and tradition
• Hike to the base camp of the eight tallest mountains on the earth, Manaslu.
• Trek in a peaceful environment where there is less crowd
• Spectacular scene of Himlung Himal (7,216m/23,345ft) and Mt. Manaslu (8153m/26,748ft)
• Learn Nepali lifestyle, culture, People, festival and system
• Challenging hike at Birendra Glacier Lake and Manaslu Base Camp

This trek goes well with those who are searching for the challenge then again also a more peaceful destination. The base camp route to Manaslu was officially opened for tourists in 1992. The number of visitors to this base camp is comparatively low as it is one of the restricted trekking routes in the Manaslu Region requiring special trekking permits.

Dhauligiri Trekking

Extending 120 from Kali Gandaki river West to the Bheri, Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world. At an altitude of 8,167 meters, Dhaulagiri lies within Nepal. Dhaulagiri is the Nepali name for the mountain which comes from the Sanskrit word. The word Dhaula means dazzling, white, beautiful and Giri means mountain. So, together it becomes a beautiful mountain. Several activities can be undertaken in this mountain such as climbing and expeditions, trekking to its base camp, or circuit trekking to Dhaulagiri. If you are not into climbing then you can choose a circuit trek to Dhauligiri. The trek to the 7th highest peaks above 8000 m brings out an amazing experience for all the trekkers. Taking a circle trek to the Himalayas of Nepal, experiencing the culture and tradition of people living there is a wonderful experience.

Trip highlights

• Explore the wonderful Pokhara city with Fewa Lake, David falls, Mahendra cave, Seti George, and many more.
• Explore one of the world’s deepest George, Kali Gandaki Gorge flowing between Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I.
• A close glimpse of Dhaulagiri with other well-known peaks above 8,000m including Mt. Machhapuchhare, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Manaslu, and many more.
• Experience of cracking glacial walk and route via high passes including French pass (5,365 m), Thapa pass (5,244 m)
• Opportunity to explore unique culture and traditions with the complex lifestyle of individuals and communities
• Dip in natural hot spring water.
• Experience the Home-stay or completely camping trek

This challenging trek lies in the Annapurna Region which takes the trekkers to the base of the world’s seventh-highest peak, Mount Dhaulagiri (8167m). Also, it is one of the less crowded treks in Nepal. The trail passes through several snow-covered slopes, icy glaciers, and lateral moraine. Besides, the journey gets much more interesting with the splendid view of the Dhaulagiri massif along with other 7000m peaks around. For the people looking for an expedition-like experience, the Circuit trek is challenging and a real adventure. Also, one can enjoy the farming villages in the Himalayan foothills to high alpine pastures. Likewise, uninhabited valleys, and close-up views of several peaks over 8,000 m, are the superiority of the trek.

Mardi Himal Trekking

The Annapurna region holds some world-class treks and the trek to Mardi Himal is one of those. This is a wonderful tea house trek for those looking forward to the off-beaten trek. It is a short oblique trek in a quieter area of the Annapurna region. Far from the city and untouched by modernization, there are no crowds and noises here. It is a peaceful place and you will have a peaceful interaction with nature on this trek. The trek to Mardi Himal is shorter than any other trekking route in Nepal. Few trekkers are aware of this trek as most of them join Everest or Annapurna trek.

Mardi Himal trek was opened just in the year 2012 to the trekkers. Because of the newly open route, this trek has not been able to reach the number of trekkers. Therefore, it is also among the less crowded treks in Nepal. It is located just east of the Annapurna Base Camp trek. With an astonishing view of the snow-capped peaks, this trek is the hidden gem of Nepal. Mardi Himal more or less sits under the Machhapuchhre mountain. You can even trek here from the east of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The trek to Mardi Himal starts and ends from Pokhara. The trek to Mardi Himal passes through beautiful villages in the Annapurna region. With the beautiful rhododendron forest welcoming the visitors with its immortal wilderness, this forest follows you till 3300m.

Trip Highlights

• Magnificent sunrise and sunset views from various viewpoints
• Experience amazing landscapes, local villages, farmlands, rice terraces, stunning hills and mountains
• The aromatic and colorful Rhododendron forests during spring till 3300m
• Splendid views of Machhapuchhre Himal, Mt. Hiunchuli, and the Annapurna South.
• Beautiful homestays and warm hospitality of the locals
• Mardi Himal Base Camp as well as the Mardi Himal High Camp trek
• Diverse flora and fauna in the region
• The socio-culture and lifestyle of the Gurung and Magar ethnic groups.

One can enjoy the splendid views of mountains like Mardi, Machhapuchhre, and Annapurna. From the low camp, you will see the best views of Machhapuchhre. At an altitude of 3580m lies a high camp of Marsi Himal. From here, you will see the whole Annapurna range wearing a snow gown from high camp onward. It is an awesome place to take a breathtaking view of the Annapurna Base Camp. Tagging along the route, you will reach the Mardi Himal Base camp itself where there are the perfect displays of the alluring Annapurna range. The spectacular sunrise and sunset views during the trek are remarkable.

Upper Dolpo Trekking

The trek to Upper Dolpo carries you into an otherworldly arrival where hundreds of years old Buddhist and Bonpo customs are still an essential part of day-by-day life. The villages, Gompas, and the individuals you meet throughout this trek will leave a remarkable impact on you. This is another less crowded trek in Nepal. Despite being a place with an unforgettable and extraordinary scenario, most of the trekkers are still unknown about this trek. At an altitude above 4000m on frosty nights stands the upper Dolpo trek. The landscapes here are even more isolated and so are the villages and the people.

Trip Highlights

• Superb view of Kanjirowa Himal, Crystal mountain, and other major Himalayas.
• Visit ancient monasteries of the Dolpo region.
• Explore remote areas of the western region and get to know the typical people of Dolpa.
• Observe Unique Tibetan Buddhist culture
• Discover the wild west of Nepal Himalaya.
• Explore mesmerizing Phoksundo Lake.

Although Dolpo is naturally rich in diversities, this place is rarely visited because of the high passes trails as well as being costly due to its permit and flight. The trail passes through beautiful valleys, enormous mountains, and greenery, the forest of pines, Rhododendrons, Oaks, etc. However, the major attractions of the Upper Dolpo trek are spectacular landscapes, hypnotic Shey Phoksundo lake, remote villages of Ringmo, and the centuries-old monasteries. Likewise, upper Dolpo is a region of mystic beauty and its remoteness. Being one of the restricted trekking regions, it required a special trekking permit and needed to be a two-person minimum in group size. However, camping is required for this trek as there are no services of guest houses and lodges in the upper altitude.

Rolwaling Trek

Rolwaling trek is one of the exacting treks that take you to the wilderness of Nepal. It is among the less crowded treks in Nepal. Offering the splendid view of the Mt. Everest, Langtang, Jugal Himal, and Mt. Gauri Shanker, this trek is sheltered between the Langtang range and the Everest range. This trek takes you through the interesting passage where you will come across pristine glaciers, high passes, and snow-fed lakes. Besides, trekkers can get a close encounter with Tamang and Sherpa communities lining this region. Similarly, the trek takes you to the oldest monastery in Nagaon. It is believed that Buddhist Guru Padmasambhava has meditated for a long time in this monastery. Crossing the monastery the trail goes on to the famous lake known as Tsho Rolpa whose tranquility cannot be described in words.

Trip Highlights

• Breathtaking views of Everest (8848 m), Cho Oyu (8201m), Gauri Shankar (7145m), Melungtse (7181m), and other snow-capped mountains
• Exploring the beautiful turquoise Tsho Rolpa Lake (4580m)
• Incredible view of the sunrise from various points during the trek
• An opportunity to explore the unique Tibetan culture, tradition, and way of life in Upper Dolpo
• Exploration of rare and endangered wildlife of the region
• Tasting the local cuisine
• Cultural exploration of the various monasteries, Gompas, and other ancient monasteries
• Observing the pristine glaciers, high mountain pass, and waterfalls
• Incredible hospitality with the warm welcome of the local people

After crossing Rolwaling valley, the trek moves on to a frozen high pass connecting the Rolwaling region with the Khumbu region. Then, climb across Tashi Laptsa La and witness the panorama of Everest (8848 m) and other mountains of the Khumbu region. Then, again traversing through the Sagarmatha National Park, the trek reaches many Sherpa villages in Khumbu, including Namche Bazaar, before coming to an end at Lukla. This trek allows you to experience the quiet as well as the busy trails of the Himalayas giving you the ultimate Himalayan experience. The trek begins from Dolakha, a small township near Charikot, an eight hours drive from Kathmandu. The trail follows the course of the River Tamakoshi. Likewise, the way to Simigaon adds more thrills to the trek. In this trek, the Glacial Lake Tsho Rolpa offers an unforgettable experience.

Therefore, the Nepali Himalayas offer several spectacular trekking routes. These trekking trails are quiet and peaceful and are less crowded treks in Nepal. If you want to explore nature peacefully then consider trekking in this region. Offering you a stunning view of the Himalayas and natural landscapes, the trek to this region can be much more fascinating.