10 Best One Week or Less Treks in Nepal

You don't have much time, but do you still want to do a trek in Nepal? So where can you go hiking in Nepal for 1 to 7 days? 

If you are basing yourself in Kathmandu (maybe you came for work or had a short time to explore the country), there are some interesting short treks around Kathmandu. If you are venturing further afield to relax in the lakeside town of Pokhara, there are also short treks around Pokhara.  

Please note that the number of days shown here reflects the number on the trail and does not include pre/post days in Kathmandu or Pokhara, which may be included in your trek package. 

• Shivapuri Hike / 1–2 days

• Sundarijal - Chisapani – Nagarkot Hike 3-4 days

• Dhulikhel-Balthali Hike 2 plus days

• Chitlang Hike 4 days 

• Royal Trek 5 days 

• Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek 5 - 7 days

• Lower Mustang 3 days upwards.

• The Millennium Homestay Trek 6 days 

• Mardi Himal Trek 6 days 

• Everest Base Camp Route Trek 6-7 days

• Pikey Peak Trek 7 days minimum

Short treks around Kathmandu

Shivapuri Hike / 1–2 days

This hike can be done in one day or stay overnight in a handful of lodges to make the most of your trip. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is just outside Kathmandu, yet you get great views of the mountains and Rhododendron forests from here. The perfect getaway gets you out of the city and gives you a taste of trekking in Nepal.

Sundarijal - Chisapani – Nagarkot Hike 3-4 days

This short hike is suitable for teenagers' family tours in Nepal and fits older folks. A 5-hour hike follows a short drive from Sundarijal to Chisapani, where you stay overnight. From here, it's a bit of a long hike (7 hours) to Nagarkot. On both days, you will be forest-bathing, so there is plenty of opportunities to take short breaks to soak in the atmosphere.  

Nagarkot is a small village on a breathtaking hilltop with a panoramic view of the Langtang Range. Way off in the distance, you can also spot Mount Everest! Perhaps dream of your next trek to Everest Base Camp! You can end your hike in Nagarkot or extend it another day, explore the village, and spend another night in one of the many first-class hotels there. Don't forget to stop at Bhaktapur on your return journey to Kathmandu, with its world-renowned, vehicle-free Durbar Square and heritage. Allow at least 5 or 6 hours to explore this beautiful town. 

Dhulikhel-Balthali Hike 2 plus days

Another short hike from Kathmandu is the Dhulikhel-Balthali Hike. Drive to Dhulikhel (approx 2 hours from Kathmandu, depending on traffic). After lunch in Dhulikhel overlooking the mountain range, and perhaps a little exploring the old town, hike to Balthali village via Namo Buddha Monastery. This exciting trek can be extended by an overnight in Dhulikhel, spending more time exploring Dhulikhel's old town or perhaps stopping off at Panauti, with its old town, ghats, and temples. Please ask about tailoring this hike, perhaps combining it with Nagarkot and Bhaktapur! Small group tours in Nepal can often be tailor-made to your specifications! 

Chitlang Hike 4 days 

Only 22km from Kathmandu, this is a less visiting short trek with beautiful scenery that takes you to the village of Daman, home to a lovely botanical garden and stunning mountain views. The first part of the journey is a noisy drive out of the city to Thankot, where the hike starts. About 3 hours of walking gets us to the Newar town of Chitlang. 

The walking time the following day is much the same, around 3 hours. Again passing through exciting villages of mainly Newar people. The second night is spent in Markhu, where the trail takes us to Daman. Crossing over the Kulekhani Damn first. From Daman, the mountains open up before us! 

On the final day, we drive back to Kathmandu from Daman. This is also the perfect choice if you have those in your group who do not want to trek. 

They can drive to Daman and meet you there! I would also recommend you spend another night in Daman, if your time allows, to enjoy the atmosphere, explore the area and take in the mountain views.  

Short Treks from Pokhara

Pokhara is definitely on most visitors' itineraries! Whether doing a luxury tour in Nepal, a Nepal yoga retreat, or looking for homestay treks in Nepal, Pokhara and the surrounding area have it all!

All the treks mentioned below can be extended to the more standard lengths, but if you don't have much time, they are available as described. Just ask us! 

Please note that the days given for these treks are from Pokhara to Pokhara. 

Around Pokhara 

Of course, it all starts at Pokhara, but if you cannot go further afield, why don't you do some day hikes around the area? Boat across Fewa Lake and hike up to the Peace Pagoda, for example. Or drive to Begnas Lake and explore the surrounding forests. Don't forget to take a sail on that lake also! Hike up to Sarangkot to watch the sunrise. Or better still, watch the sunrise after an overnight in one of the hotels on top of Sarangkot and hike back down (or both ways) at your own pace. 

Royal Trek 5 days 

 This is a fantastic low-altitude trek through Gurung villages, providing fabulous views of the Annapurna and Lamjung mountains. 

But it is often forgotten as a trek as those hardened trekkers head off to higher elevations! You will walk around 6 hours daily, so a good fitness level is necessary. But since it is at a low altitude, most people will not find this too strenuous. Aside from the mountains, the best part is staying the last night at Begnas Lake – a much quieter environment than its big sister, Fewa Lake. 

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek 5 - 7 days

This is one of the iconic short treks from Pokhara. Poon Hill at 3,210m is a viewpoint like no other! Setting off by vehicle from Pokhara, the first day sees you walking for around 4 hours to reach the village of Ulleri. This name you will never forget! Why? Because over 4,000 stone steps await you! If you fancy a challenge, please follow this route. If you are less enthusiastic about the steps, ask us about the alternative route! Meantime, At Ghundruk village you can visit the Gurung Museum. Educational as well as fun, particularly if you have kids with you. 

Poon Hill is the highlight of this trek with its incredible sunrise and sunset over the Annapurnas. 

It's an all-year trek with plenty of trekkers, but the views are worth it!

Lower Mustang 3 days upwards.

You are in Lower Mustang when you get on the trail out of Pokhara. 

Poon Hill, for example, falls into Lower Mustang. But if you don't have the time to trek longer, you might want to fly into Jomsom from Pokhara and explore Lower Mustang. You could base yourself out of Jomson – hiking down to the cobblestone village of Marpha – famous for its apples. Then you can hike out of Jomson uphill towards the unique village of Kagbeni, on to Jajarkot and the famous Hindu shrine at Muktinath with its eternal flame.

This is also an ideal way to experience the mountains and trekking life in Nepal if you cannot walk far because out of Jomson, jeeps are available to take you to Muktinath. Around Jomsom, there are fewer trees; it's more of a stark landscape (which gets starker if you venture into Upper Mustang – your next trip,, perhaps!) And it is very windy as the wind rushes up the gorge! Of course, you can extend your hike, enjoy the Jomson and Muktinath trek, and then fly or trek out. Or extend it further and head to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Ask us!

The Millennium Homestay Trek 6 days 

An even more unique trek in the Annapurnas is the Millennium Homestay Trek. 

This hike is a low-altitude trek that lets you stay in people's homes and experience village life first-hand. No need to worry about the best season to visit Nepal, for this trek can be done all year round. Perhaps not the monsoon (July and August), as the trails will be slippery,, and it may rain!   

Mardi Himal Trek 6 days 

This is another trek for those who like something different, with fewer crowds and less strenuous. It is still classified as a moderate trek because it is the Himalayas! This trek is full of diversity of flora and fauna and incredible mountain ranges – the Annapurnas, Mardi Himal, Manaslu, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), etc.   

This trek starts at the Australian Base Camp – a short drive from Pokhara. High Camp is at 3,900m and is the highest sleeping altitude. Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4,500m, but we will only be at that altitude for a short time, returning to sleep at High Camp.  

Short Treks in the Everest Region

So you have come to Nepal and want to go to Mount Everest. But you don't have much time. And the Everest flight doesn't seem adventurous enough for you. Are there any treks you can do that get you into the Everest Region but won't take too much time? Yes! 

Everest Base Camp Route Trek 6-7 days

Unless you are a superhuman, born-in-the-mountains type, it will be implausible, and you could reach Everest Base Camp on foot within a week. Of course, there are heli tours in Nepal, allowing you to fly into Everest Base Camp, land for a few minutes, and take iconic pictures. But that's another trip…

Most treks into this region start with a hair-raising flight into Lukla on day 1. 

By the evening of day 2, you have reached Namche Bazaar. Unfortunately for those on a tight schedule who are not high-altitude mountain goats, everyone needs to acclimatize for an extra day in Namche. 

At this point, you can head off to Khumjung village to visit the school Sir Edmund Hillary set up to thank the Sherpas for helping him be one of the first two men on Everest. The other being Tenzing Norgay. You can trek up to Tengboche Monastery the next day once you have acclimatized. From here, the views are amazing – fitting for the highest monastery in the region. If you have time, you can trek to Dingboche before returning to Namche and to Lukla, where you overnight before your early morning flight. I must warn you that the weather often delays flights out of Lukla. So please leave a few days between departing Everest and your international flight home. 

Pikey Peak Trek 7 days minimum

So this might be pushing things a bit to complete within seven days, but it's such an exciting trek I wanted to include it here. Sir Edmund said his favorite view in the whole of Nepal was from Pikey Peak! If that's not enough reason to include here, I don't know what is. From here a number of mountains can be seen – including Everest, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Gauri Shanker, Lhotse Shar, Numbe, Khatang, Karyalung, Annapurna, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Shisapangma, Thamserku and Mera Peak.

 This trek starts with a flight to Phaplu followed by a 5-hour hike to the first overnight at Salleri. The days on this trek are 6 to 8 hours long, but the yak pastures and grazing yaks, the ethnic villages, and the monasteries you can visit make up for this. If you are around at the right time of year, you might witness an annual mountain biking race in this area. Something to aim for participating in in the future, perhaps? You will also pass the old trail from Jiri to Everest Base Camp. Before the days of flights, anyone attempting to scale Everest had several weeks to trek in from Kathmandu. Exhausting – before the climbing even started!

Other Short Treks 

I suggest you select your trek – to help you, please see my earlier blog, Which Trek Should I do in Nepal? – then, get in touch with one of the best travel companies in Nepal, Swotah Travel, and ask them if it's possible to tailor your chosen trek to your available timeframe.  

Happy Trekking!