For mountaineers around the world, the Himalayas symbolize the crowning apex of nature’s grandeur. The dramatic gorges that rise above the skylines, the snow-capped mountain peaks, and high-altitude deserts, will convert your trekking adventure into a memorable experience. Home to more than 40 million inhabitants, the wild territory of the Himalayan chain is a vivid mosaic of cultures, traditions, and people.
Crisscrossed by pilgrimage routes and ancient trading, the destination is an excellent opportunity for travelers to test their mettle against the world’s most dangerous, thrilling, and audacious peaks.
The Himalayas span on a 2500 km-long semicircle from the Asian territories of Kathmandu and Kashmir to the wilderness of Ladakh and Lhasa in India. There are numerous engaging hiking trails across the chain, and if your goal is to get to the top, the following trekking trails will surely exceed your expectations.
The Snow Lake, Karakoram Range
The Karakoram Range is one of the Himalayan chain’s longest glaciers and highest peaks. In the middle, trekkers will stumble upon a superb snow lake that’s 16,000 feet deep. It features the finest adventures and the most breathtaking views of the surrounding area. However, reaching the lake is not that easy. There’s a special route trekkers are advised to have in mind. The journey begins from the village of Askole and it moves all the way to Bifo Glacier, which is 40 miles away. There will be a 17,000-foot cross you’ll have to pass
between Hispar La and Hispar Glacier. The end of route is at the Snow Lake, and as soon as you’ll arrive to your destination, you’ll never want to leave.
The Manaslu Circuit
The trekking route is absolutely astonishing. Located on the east side of Annapurna Circuit, the Manaslu adventure begins from the small town of Ghorka, and it goes all the way up to Rupina La. Trekkers will have to go through the Burj Gandaki Valley, and from then on their adventure moves to Nupri, a remote region that still perverse Tibet’s original Buddhist cultures.
Lunana & Laya
Commonly known by travelers as one of the most expensive trekking adventures in the world, the region between Laya and Lunana looks untouched and it’s absolutely stunning. Only visited by a handful of tourists annually, the route features very few known routes. Begin your hike from Punakha and move up north to Laya, which is located just outside the Tibetan border. For that point, make sure to continue your adventure to Lanana region, which is roughly 17,000 feet high. As soon as you passed by Gangkar Punsum – the world’s highest mountain peak that was never climbed thus far, head south until you get to Tongsa, which the end of your trekking route.
Trekking across Zanskar
Trekking the Zanskar River means being prepared for a hiking adventure that’s beyond 13,000 feet in altitude; the hike starts from a famous Buddhist monastery in Lamayuru and it continues with a journey to Singi-La. Be ready for a 3-day trip until you’ll finally reach Padum, a village where most homes are made of stone and mud. At some point you might get the feeling that the trek is infinite. As a matter of fact, the journey spans on roughly 3 weeks and it is considered one of the most alluring treks of the whole Himalaya chain.
Concordia & Gondoro La
The route that spans from Concordia to Gondoro La, features a close-up of the 2nd highest mountain in the world K2. The trekking route begins at Askhole and it goes on for 7 days until Baltoro Glacier, a stunning glacial intersection looped by 4 peaks also known as the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods. The end point of your trekking adventure is at Gondoro La, and unless you’re a professional trekker you shouldn’t engage in this extremely difficult trekking path.
Exploring the Himalayas is a chance of a lifetime to see landscapes you never thought existed and experience adventures you could never imagined are so challenging. Nevertheless, if you’re an avid traveler with a weak spot for the world’s most audacious, adventurous, and breathtaking destinations, a trekking trip to the roof of the world might be exactly what you need
