Now, my fellow misanthropes can have their cake and eat it, too, so to speak: A relatively new loop trail, the Three Passes Trek, takes you around the Himalayas and through Everest Base Camp, while avoiding the crowds for most of the route. New York Times travel writer Alex Hutchinson recently hiked the route with his wife, and from his description it sounds just as spectacular as any trail in Nepal. Check it out:

“Behind us, looming above a turquoise glacial lake, was Mount Everest. In front of us, an immense stone staircase led down into a valley dotted with roofless stone shelters and the occasional yak — a ribbon of green hemmed in by the soaring gray and white of Himalayan rock and ice.”

Of course, there are downsides to scenery this striking: Mr. Hutchinson and his wife ended up taking a wrong turn and getting temporarily turned around. Make sure you have a map and a compass and that you know how to use them.

You’ll also need a Nepal visa, which you can either obtain at the airport when you enter Nepal or before you leave the United States. For details, see Nepal Visa Requirements for Tourists.

Also, to backpack in Nepal you need a trekking permit, which you can get from the Department of Immigration.

If you want to get your visa ahead of time, RushMyTravelVisa can help.  Your visa specialist will analyze and research your itinerary to make sure you have the appropriate visas in hand, including any transit visas that may be required. Then, we’ll walk you through the paperwork and expedite your application with the Nepal embassy for the fastest processing possible.

Apply for your Nepal visa today!

The idea behind the Great Himalayan Trail was to be able to hike straight from the western boundary of the mighty mountain chain at Nanga Parbat mountain in Pakistan all the way to Namche Barwa in Tibet. The completed trail will pass through 5 countries: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. It will be 4,500 kilometers long-just 50o kilometers shorter than tthe US Continental Divide Trail.

However, the trail is still under construction, and so far only the section in Nepal is ready for travelers. World Expeditions will begin offering guided hikes along the 1,700 kilometer section of the trail in Nepal in February 2011.

In a press release, Brad Atwal, World Expeditions’ UK Manager, explained why the Great Himalayan Trail is good news not only for backpackers, but for Nepalese communities as well:

“While each section of the Great Himalaya Trail offers something distinctive and different, the entire traverse is united by the cause of exploring the paths less travelled and benefiting the most remote communities. In line with World Expeditions’ ethos, the financial benefits from these treks will be injected directly back into the host communities, many that never see a penny from tourism, through the ethical use of local guides, porters and carriers, as well as travellers’ purchase of food, drinks and authentic hand crafted artefacts.”

To hike the Great Himalayan Trail, you’ll need more than strength and stamina.  First, you also need time- 157 days for the entire trek, although you can break it up into chunks if you  don’t want to thru-hike.

You’ll also need money-the trek costs £20,500, not including the cost of airfare to get to Nepal.

American citizens also need a US passport and a Nepal visa, as well as a trekking permit.  You can apply for your visa at the airport when you arrive in Nepal or you can apply ahead of time. Here’s what you will need to get the visa:

• Your US passport
• A Nepal visa application
• 1 passport photo
• Visa fees: a three-month multiple entry visa is  $100

RushMyTravelVisa can help you fill out the necessary paperwork to make sure your trip goes smoothly. Plus, we’ll review your itinerary to make sure that nothing is overlooked, and that you have all the required visas, (including transit visas)  to complete your journey.  After all,  when you’re spending £20,500 on a trip, you absolutely don’t want to risk having your trip messed up due to improper paperwork.

Let us help you apply for your Nepal visa today!

The Annapurna circuit is a 128 miles long, and it runs along the edge of the Annapurna mountain range, passing through jungles, canyons and finally ascending into the mountains themselves. This is not a lonely, solitary hike-the route is well-stocked with hotels (which serve food but don’t necessarily offer lodging), and with lodges (where you can purchase a bed for the night).

Every year, more than 40,000  people hike the Annapurna circuit, so unless you are a complete misanthrope, you’re guaranteed to make friends along the way.  Plus, you’ll get to experience the local Nepalese culture as you make your way along the circuit- local foods, local hospitality, interesting historical sites and ancient Hindu and Buddhist Temples.

You can either travel on your own, carrying your own gear and finding accommodations as you go, or you can hire guides and porters to help you along the way.

Before you set out on your trek, of course, you will need the appropriate travel documents. To hike the Annapurna circuit, you will need your US passport, a Nepal travel visa and a trekking permit.

Once you have your passport, you can apply for a Nepal visa before leaving home  or apply for it at the airport when you arrive in Nepal.  The Nepal visa application process is refreshingly simple-all you need is a passport,  a visa application and a passport photo, plus the appropriate visa fees. A 15-day multiple entry visa is $25, a one-month visa is $40, and a three-month multiple entry visa is  $100.

If you’re planning a backpacking trip that includes Nepal, RushMyTravelVisa can help research your visa needs and help you obtain all necessary visas quickly and easily.

Call us or apply online today!