A trek of nine days or fewer can take you to a 4,130 m base camp, a sunrise over the Annapurna range or the shore of Nepal's largest lake. It cannot take you everywhere, and the shorter the schedule, the more the route matters. A 5 day trek that reaches 4,130 m asks your body to adjust faster than a 10 day trek to the same place. A 7 day trek that begins with a mountain flight can lose a day to weather before you take your first step.
This guide covers six short treks that Nepal Vision Treks operates, with the actual day-by-day plan for each, the sleeping altitude you reach, what each costs and includes, who each suits and who should pick something else. We have organised private trips in Nepal for 34 years for guests from more than 80 countries, and the numbers below come from the itineraries we run.
How To Count Trip Length
Nepal trekking companies count days differently, and the difference decides whether a trek fits your holiday. For this guide, "under 10 days" means nine days or fewer from the first day to the last day of the package.
Two of our treks start and end in Pokhara: the Mardi Trek (4 days) and the Rapid Annapurna Base Camp Trek (5 days). Getting from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes a 25 minute flight or a drive of six to seven hours, so budget one or two extra days around them. The other four start and finish in Kathmandu, and their length already includes arrival and departure days. An 8 day trek therefore has about five or six days on the trail, not eight.
The Mardi Trek, 4 Days
Our shortest route climbs a forested ridge to the upper viewpoint of Mardi Himal at about 4,500 m. It starts and ends in Pokhara, costs from US$550 and is graded easy on our package page, which deserves some explanation. The grade reflects the lack of technical ground. It does not mean short days: three of the four days run five to seven hours on foot.
You land in Pokhara on Day 1, drive 30 to 45 minutes to Kande and begin walking to Deurali (2,100 m), a five to six hour day that starts in farmland and enters forest. Day 2 follows the ridge up to Forest Camp (2,520 m) in six to seven hours, mostly under trees. Day 3 is the climb that matters, six to seven hours up to High Camp (3,540 m), and it gains about 1,000 m of sleeping altitude, so you should expect a cold night and a quiet appetite.
Day 4 is the hardest. You leave High Camp before dawn for the upper viewpoint at roughly 4,500 m, a climb of about 960 m, come back to High Camp for breakfast and then descend to Sidhing village (1,700 m), nearly 2,800 m below the viewpoint, before a 90 minute jeep ride to Pokhara. The page lists six to seven hours for the whole thing. Trekkers with weak knees or a poor reaction to altitude will find this day tougher than the grade suggests.
Who it suits: fit walkers who have a long weekend more than a week, and who want mountain views without flying. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants a gentle first trek or has had trouble above 3,000 m, because the sleeping altitude rises fast on Day 3.
The Rapid Annapurna Base Camp Trek, 5 Days
This is the shortest way to stand at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m), and it is built for fit hikers short on time. It starts and ends in Pokhara, is graded medium and costs from US$565.
Day 1 starts with a two hour drive from Pokhara to Matque (1,070 m), then three to four hours of walking up to Chhomrong (2,170 m), a Gurung village of stone stairs on a steep hillside. Day 2 is a six to seven hour climb through bamboo and rhododendron forest to Himalaya (2,920 m), a small cluster of lodges. Day 3 takes you to Annapurna Base Camp in six to seven hours, passing Machhapuchhre Base Camp on the way up and ending inside a ring of peaks.
On Day 4 you walk back down through the same valley to Bamboo (2,310 m), another six to seven hours of mostly descent. Day 5 finishes with four to five hours to Matque and a drive to Pokhara.
Here is the honest assessment. Your sleeping altitude jumps from 2,920 m at Himalaya to 4,130 m at base camp, a gain of about 1,200 m in one day. Most altitude guidance suggests gaining no more than about 500 m of sleeping altitude per day above 3,000 m. A 10 day version of this trek gives you more time to adjust, and many people should choose that one. The 5 day trek suits people who have already slept above 3,500 m without trouble and who will turn back if symptoms appear.
The Everest View Trek, 7 Days
For people who want to see the Khumbu without a two week commitment, this trek reaches a viewpoint at 3,867 m above Namche Bazaar. It runs Kathmandu to Kathmandu with flights to and from Lukla, is graded easy and costs from US$1,325. It does not go to Everest Base Camp.
Day 1 is arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m) with a welcome dinner and briefing. On Day 2 you take the early flight of about 40 minutes to Lukla (2,800 m), meet your Sherpa crew and walk three to four hours down and along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding (2,652 m). Day 3 is five to six hours to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), including the Sagarmatha National Park gate, two suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and a steady climb at the end into the trading town.
Day 4 is built for acclimatisation. You stay at Namche but walk six to seven hours up to the Everest View Point (3,867 m), across to Khumjung village (3,790 m), where the Hillary school and the Khunde hospital stand, and back to Namche to sleep. Climbing high and sleeping lower is the correct pattern for adjusting, and it is the reason this short trek is gentler on the body than its altitude suggests. Day 5 is a long walk of six to seven hours down to Lukla, Day 6 is the 27 to 35 minute flight to Kathmandu and Day 7 is departure.
The weak point is the flight. Lukla flights can be delayed or cancelled by weather, and the trek has only one spare day, the departure day. Our page recommends adding an extra night in Kathmandu after the trek, and we recommend you do not book an international flight for the day after Day 7. Heli return can be arranged on request at extra cost.
Who it suits: first-time trekkers and families who want a taste of Sherpa villages and the Everest range in a week. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants to reach a base camp or has a fixed departure date.
The Muldai View Trek, 8 Days
Muldai is a newer route in the Annapurna foothills, and it stays below 3,700 m. It runs Kathmandu to Kathmandu with a flight to Pokhara, is graded moderate and costs from US$1,090. The page calls it a 7 day trek in places and an 8 day trek in others. The itinerary is eight days from arrival to departure.
Day 1 is arrival in Kathmandu and trek preparation, including a gear check. On Day 2 you fly to Pokhara (800 m) in about 25 minutes, drive two and a half hours to Kimche (1,610 m) and walk two hours up to Ghandruk (1,940 m), a large Gurung village with slate roofs and a view up the valley. Day 3 climbs three to five hours through rhododendron forest to Tadapani (2,600 m).
Day 4 is the first real altitude day: four to six hours to Dobato (3,350 m), a gain of 750 m. Day 5 starts at the Muldai View Point (3,637 m), the highest point of the trek, then crosses to Ghorepani (2,874 m) in four to five hours. Day 6 starts before dawn with the hike up to Poon Hill (3,210 m), whose panorama takes in the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. After breakfast you walk down to Hile (1,480 m), a descent of about 1,400 m over five to six hours, and drive to Pokhara. Day 7 is the six to seven hour drive back to Kathmandu, and Day 8 is departure.
The sleeping altitudes rise by 660 m, 750 m and then fall, which is gentler than the Rapid ABC route and easier to adjust to. The price includes a down jacket and a flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara. Who it suits: people who want Poon Hill and a viewpoint with fewer trekkers, with moderate fitness and a week to spare. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who wants to reach a base camp.
The Short Langtang Trek, 8 Days
Langtang is the closest high valley to Kathmandu, and this trek reaches Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m) and a viewpoint at Kyanjin Ri (about 4,773 m). It runs by road, which removes flight risk, is graded medium and costs from US$895, the lowest price of our Kathmandu-start treks.
Day 1 is arrival in Kathmandu. Day 2 is the long drive to Syabrubesi (1,420 m), a journey the page gives as 8 to 9 hours in one place and 6 to 7 in another, so plan for a full day. Day 3 is a five to six hour walk up the Langtang River through forest to Lama Hotel (2,340 m). Day 4 climbs five to six hours to Langtang village (3,480 m), the point at which the valley opens, with yak pastures and stone houses.
Day 5 is short, three to four hours to Kyanjin Gompa (3,870 m), and it gives you the afternoon to walk around the village and rest. Day 6 starts early with the hike to Kyanjin Ri, then you walk all the way down to Lama Hotel, six to seven hours in total on top of the climb. Day 7 is four to five hours to Syabrubesi and Day 8 is the drive back to Kathmandu.
The altitude pattern needs attention. Your sleeping altitude climbs from 2,340 m at Lama Hotel to 3,480 m at Langtang village, a gain of 1,140 m in one day, followed by 390 m to Kyanjin. Short Langtang has no rest day, and the long descent on Day 6 means you gain and lose nearly 1,000 m in a single morning. Strong walkers who adjust well will enjoy it. Trekkers prone to headaches above 3,000 m should consider the 12 day Langtang trek, which adds time.
The Rara Lake Trek, 8 Days
Rara Lake is the odd one out in this list, because the altitude is low and the cost is high. It is the largest lake in Nepal, in Rara National Park in the far west, at about 2,990 m. The price, from US$2,390, reflects three flight legs each way rather than the trek itself.
Day 1 is arrival in Kathmandu with a welcome dinner. Day 2 is the scheduled flight to Nepalgunj, in the southern plains near the Indian border, with an overnight stay. Day 3 is a 25 minute flight to Talcha (2,950 m), then a three to four hour walk through pine and juniper forest, past villages, to the lake. You sleep in a teahouse on the shore.
Day 4 begins with a boat trip on the lake, then a packed-lunch hike to Chuchemara Hilltop (4,090 m), about 1,100 m above the lake, with views north towards the Himalaya. Day 5 is unscheduled time around the lake, which your guide shapes around weather and energy. Day 6 is a three to four hour walk back to Talcha. Day 7 is the flight to Nepalgunj and on to Kathmandu, and Day 8 is departure.
The altitude profile is the gentlest in this guide, because you sleep at about 2,990 m throughout and climb to 4,090 m only on a day hike. The risks are logistical. Three flights each way depend on weather in the west, and a missed connection can cost a day you do not have. Who it suits: people who want a remote, quiet walk without sleeping high. Who should look elsewhere: anyone with a tight schedule, or who wants snow peaks at close range.
Treks Just Over the Line
If you have a little more time, these four treks offer excellent alternatives:
- Panchase Trek: 9 days, easy, from US$980. Starts with a boat ride across Phewa Lake, passing the World Peace Pagoda and Bhumdi village.
- Annapurna Foothill Trek: 9 days, moderate, from US$1,990. Explore the foothills with distant views of the Annapurna range.
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: 10 days, easy, from US$1,260. A longer itinerary with more time to enjoy the trail.
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek: 10 days, moderate, from US$1,390. Journey into the Annapurna Sanctuary with a more gradual schedule.
These longer itineraries provide more time on the trail, although actual acclimatisation benefits depend on the route and altitude profile.
The Best Short Treks By Region
Near Pokhara, the choices are Mardi (4 days), Rapid ABC (5 days), Muldai (8 days) and the Panchase and Foothill treks. These are the easiest to reach, because Pokhara is a 25 minute flight or a drive from Kathmandu. In the Everest region, the Everest View Trek (7 days) is our only trek under 10 days, and it depends on Lukla flights. In the Langtang region, the Short Langtang Trek (8 days) is reached by road. In remote Nepal, the Rara Lake Trek (8 days) is the only short option, because most remote regions need two weeks or more.
The Best Short Treks By Traveller Type
First-time trekkers. The Everest View Trek and the Muldai View Trek have the gentlest altitude patterns, with an acclimatisation loop on the first and moderate gains on the second. The Mardi and Rapid ABC treks are better with some previous experience.
Trekkers who want to avoid altitude. Rara Lake keeps your sleeping altitude near 3,000 m. Muldai tops out at 3,637 m. Both give you far less to adjust to than a base camp trek.
Trekkers who want a base camp. Only the Rapid ABC Trek reaches one in under 10 days, and only for fit people who accept the pace.
Families and older trekkers. The deciding factors are walking hours and altitude, not the label on the trek. Days of six to seven hours suit few young children. Tell us ages and ability when you enquire, and we will tell you which route is realistic.
Culture and villages. The Everest View Trek visits Namche, Khumjung and Khunde. Muldai passes through Ghandruk, a large Gurung village. Short Langtang passes Langtang village and Kyanjin Gompa.
Sunrise and photography. Poon Hill on the Muldai trek and the upper viewpoint at Mardi are both reached before dawn. We cannot promise clear skies, and we do not.
Altitude And Acclimatisation On Short Treks
Short treks compress the time your body needs. Acute mountain sickness causes a persistent headache, nausea, dizziness, poor sleep and unusual tiredness. Fitness does not prevent it, and very fit trekkers are affected as often as less fit ones.
The measure to watch is the sleeping altitude gain from one night to the next. Widely used guidance suggests staying below about 500 m per night once you are above 3,000 m, with a rest day every three or four days. Here is where each short trek departs from that:
Mardi Trek: about 1,000 m from Forest Camp to High Camp on Day 3
Rapid Annapurna Base Camp: about 1,200 m from Himalaya to base camp on Day 3
Short Langtang: about 1,140 m from Lama Hotel to Langtang village on Day 4
Muldai View: about 750 m from Tadapani to Dobato on Day 4
Everest View: about 790 m from Phakding to Namche on Day 3, followed by an acclimatisation loop
Rara Lake: under 50 m, since you sleep at the lake throughout
That does not make any of these treks unsafe. It means your guide watches everyone every day, you tell the guide about every symptom, and you accept that the pace may change. If symptoms worsen, you stop ascending, and if they become severe, you descend. Your insurance should cover emergency evacuation to the highest point of your trek, and insurance is not included in our prices.
Trek | Days | Starts and ends | Highest point | Grade | Flights | From (per person) | Best for |
| Mardi Trek | 4 | Pokhara | About 4,500 m | Easy | None | US$550 | Fit walkers with a long weekend |
| Rapid Annapurna Base Camp Trek | 5 | Pokhara | 4,130 m | Medium | None | US$565 | Fit trekkers who have slept above 3,500 m before |
| Everest View Trek | 7 | Kathmandu | 3,867 m | Easy | Kathmandu to Lukla and back | US$1,325 | First-timers who want the Everest region in a week |
| Muldai View Trek | 8 | Kathmandu | 3,637 m | Moderate | Kathmandu to Pokhara | US$1,090 | Sunrise at Poon Hill with a quieter viewpoint |
| Short Langtang Trek | 8 | Kathmandu | About 4,773 m (Kyanjin Ri) | Medium | None (road transfers) | US$895 | Strong walkers who want a high valley without flights |
| Rara Lake Trek | 8 | Kathmandu | 4,090 m (day hike) | Medium | Kathmandu to Nepalgunj to Talcha and back | US$2,390 | Remote, low-altitude walking |
What Do Short Treks Cost in 2027?
Our published package prices per person for 2027 are listed below, along with the approximate cost per day.
Trek | Duration | Price per person | Cost per day |
| Mardi Trek | 4 days | US$551 | US$138 |
| Rapid Annapurna Base Camp Trek | 5 days | US$565 | US$113 |
| Short Langtang Trek | 8 days | US$895 | US$112 |
| Muldai View Trek | 8 days | US$1,090 | US$136 |
| Everest View Trek | 7 days | US$1,325 | US$189 |
| Rara Lake Trek | 8 days | US$2,390 | US$299 |
Prices are per person. Daily costs are approximate and calculated by dividing the package price by the trek duration.
The pattern is clear. Road-based treks cost the least per day. The Everest View Trek costs more because of the Lukla flights, and the Rara Lake Trek costs the most because of three flights each way and the remoteness of the route.
What is included in our packages, according to each package page: a government registered, English-speaking guide trained in first aid, a Sherpa porter for every two trekkers, full board meals with tea and coffee on the trek, teahouse accommodation, permits and entry fees, a sleeping bag (returned after the trip) and a duffel bag, a first aid kit, and all government and local taxes. The packages that start in Kathmandu also include deluxe twin-sharing hotel accommodation with breakfast, airport transfers and a farewell dinner.
What is not included: your Nepal visa, international flights, travel and rescue insurance, lunch and dinner in Kathmandu beyond the dinners listed, and extra hotel nights if you arrive early, leave late or finish ahead of schedule. Budget for tips for your guide and porter, drinks and personal gear.
We are not the cheapest operator, and we do not aim to be. We pay guides and porters fairly, our private trips use guides with at least 15 years of experience, and we use deluxe hotels in Kathmandu. A cheaper quote may leave out porters, flights or hotel nights, so compare what each price contains.
Permits For Short Treks
Each of these treks needs permits, and the type depends on the region. The Annapurna treks fall within the Annapurna Conservation Area, the Everest View Trek within Sagarmatha National Park, the Langtang trek within Langtang National Park, and the Rara Lake trek within Rara National Park. Our packages include the permits and entry fees listed on each page, and we confirm the current fees at booking, because Nepal changes them with little notice. Several package pages list a TIMS card as included, so ask us exactly which permits apply to your dates.
The best time for short treks
March to May and September to December are the main seasons for all six treks, according to the package pages. The Rara Lake page lists March to May and September to November.
Autumn gives the most settled weather and the busiest lodges. Spring brings rhododendron flowers on the lower slopes, which suits the Muldai and Mardi routes, and afternoon cloud is more common at height. December is cold at the highest overnight stops, such as High Camp on the Mardi trek (3,540 m), Dobato on the Muldai trek (3,350 m) and Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m), where nights fall below freezing. The monsoon from June to August is not a good season for views on any of these routes. Flights to Lukla, Pokhara and Talcha also depend on weather in every season.
Short treks compared
Ghorepani Poon Hill versus Mardi Himal. Poon Hill is a sunrise viewpoint at 3,210 m on a well-served route, while Mardi reaches about 4,500 m on a ridge with very basic lodges. The Muldai trek includes Poon Hill and adds a quieter high viewpoint. Mardi suits fit walkers who want height, and Poon Hill suits those who want a gentler trip.
Everest View versus Everest Base Camp. The Everest View Trek reaches 3,867 m in a week and gives a view of the Everest range from a ridge above Namche. It does not reach Everest Base Camp, which takes at least ten days at a safe pace. If your goal is the base camp, choose a longer trek.
Short Annapurna versus Langtang. Annapurna routes start from Pokhara and offer lodges at short intervals. Langtang requires a long road journey, then offers a single valley with a monastery at its end. Annapurna suits trekkers who want choice and Langtang suits those who want a quieter valley.
Short trek versus long trek. A short trek gives a sample of the mountains. A long trek gives time to adjust and see more. If you can spare ten days or more, the longer version of the same route almost always handles altitude better.
Helicopter tour versus short trek. Short on time? Our helicopter tours offer another way to experience Nepal’s mountains, including the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour (3 to 4 hours, from US$3,950), Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour (from US$3,255) and Langtang Valley Helicopter Tour (1 day, from US$2,990). Helicopters offer spectacular aerial views in less time, while trekking lets you walk through mountain villages, meet local communities and experience the landscape at ground level.
What To Pack And How To Prepare
Even a 4 day trek asks for comfortable boots that you have already worn, trekking poles for the long descents, a warm layer and a waterproof shell, a headtorch for sunrise starts, a water bottle and sun protection. Our packages include a sleeping bag and a duffel bag, and the Muldai trek includes a down jacket. Training should centre on stair climbing and long hill walks with a daypack, with attention to descents. The Mardi and Muldai itineraries each include a descent of more than 1,400 m in a day.
The right short trek comes down to three questions. How many nights can you sleep above 3,500 m without trouble, how much flight risk can your schedule absorb, and how many days do you really have once Pokhara or Kathmandu travel is counted? If you are fit and have slept high before, the Rapid Annapurna Base Camp Trek gets you to 4,130 m in five days. If you want a gentler pattern, the Everest View Trek and the Muldai View Trek build in an acclimatisation loop or moderate gains. If you want to sleep low and keep away from crowds, the Rara Lake Trek stays near 3,000 m, and the Short Langtang Trek reaches a high valley by road with no flights. Send us your dates, your walking experience and any altitude history, and we will tell you which of these routes fits and which does not, and we confirm current fees and flight schedules before you pay a deposit. You can compare the full itineraries on the package pages at nepalvisiontreks.com, or contact us by email at [email protected], by call or WhatsApp on +977 9802342081, or at our office on Dabali Marga, Thamel, Kathmandu.
