Top Ten Adventures on a Shoestring

Trekking Nepal

By Steve Jermanok

Macchapuchare towers over the Nepalese Himalayas (Corbis)

5. Trekking in Nepal
Surrounded by the tallest mountains on Earth, including Everest, Nepal serves as the gateway to the Himalayas. Yet you don't have to be as fit as Sir Edmund Hillary to hike amidst these spectacular peaks. Himalayan Encounters, a Nepalese/British venture founded in 1984, takes six to twelve fortunate hikers on treks through the Himalayas. One of its finest hikes is the eight-day Macchapuchare Trek that climbs the flanks of this 23,000-foot peak, rewarding hikers with spectacular views of Annapurna Massif (home to five of the world's twelve highest peaks). A team of sherpa guides and porters hired from neighboring villages carries all gear, including your backpack, as you trek three to four hours in the morning and two to three hours in the afternoon. Cost of this all-inclusive trip is a mere $575.

Away.com's Nepal Vacation Guide

Boston-based writer Stephen Jermanok has authored or contributed to 11 books on the outdoors, including Outside Magazine's Adventure Guide to New England , Discovery Channel's Backcountry Treks , Discovery Channel's Paddlesports , Outside Magazine's Guide to Family Vacations and Men's Journal's The Great Life . His latest book is New England Seacoast Adventures . His many adventures appear in National Geographic Adventure , Outside , Men's Journal , Forbes FYI , Travel + Leisure , Hooked on the Outdoors , and Backpacker . He can be reached at farandaway@comcast.net.

< Previous

Next >

Last Updated: 18 Apr 2011
Published: 29 Jun 2009
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.