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Trek the Great Himalayan Trail
Published on February 20, 2012 by Vanessa Boiser
Country: Nepal 
The Experience
Mapping out the Himalayas has been historically recorded since people started climbing and undertaking expeditions to the Mt. Everest. However, only in 2008 did Robin Boustead successfully map out a feasible traverse on the Himalayas using GPS and the help of his wife and friends. This route is known as the Great Himalayan Trail and it is touted to be the ultimate goal of any mountain trekker.
The Great Himalayan Trail is approximately 7800kms and is divided into 7 trails that may be explored individually. The Great Himalayan Trail, according to its pioneers, is more of a recommended trail rather than an actual, permanent one. Trails in the Himalayas change constantly and there are a lot of possible ones still waiting to be explored. The Tibetan region of the Great Himalayan Trail is not yet open to foreigners and has not been mapped out properly by professionals, so the whole trail may increase in distance in the future. Moreover, the Great Himalayan Trail is divided into two routes, the high route and the cultural routes. The high route Great Himalayan Trail takes you to wonderful mountain scenery and immerses you in untouched natural beauty, whereas the cultural routes immerse you to communities living on the foot of the Himalayas.
Trekking the Himalayan Trail can take over 157 days to fully complete, so to make it a bit more realistic, many break it up into smaller treks of 14 to 30 days. Beyond the breath taking beauty encountered daily, trekkers along the Great Himalayan Trail will see 8 of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m. Aside from the popular Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Circuit, other popular trails include the Dolpa Circuit, Rara Lake or the Jomsom to Mustang trek.
The Great Himalayan Trail opened in 2011 and is still growing. ll. Eventually, the hope is that it will stretch from the towering 8,000m peak Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, believed to be the westernmost marker of the Himalaya, to Namche Barwa in Tibet. When completed the Great Himalayan Trail will span five Asian countries - Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan; and allow for exploration to some of the most remote areas not previously travelled due to years of civil war.
The Great Himalayan Trail is approximately 7800kms and is divided into 7 trails that may be explored individually. The Great Himalayan Trail, according to its pioneers, is more of a recommended trail rather than an actual, permanent one. Trails in the Himalayas change constantly and there are a lot of possible ones still waiting to be explored. The Tibetan region of the Great Himalayan Trail is not yet open to foreigners and has not been mapped out properly by professionals, so the whole trail may increase in distance in the future. Moreover, the Great Himalayan Trail is divided into two routes, the high route and the cultural routes. The high route Great Himalayan Trail takes you to wonderful mountain scenery and immerses you in untouched natural beauty, whereas the cultural routes immerse you to communities living on the foot of the Himalayas.
Trekking the Himalayan Trail can take over 157 days to fully complete, so to make it a bit more realistic, many break it up into smaller treks of 14 to 30 days. Beyond the breath taking beauty encountered daily, trekkers along the Great Himalayan Trail will see 8 of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m. Aside from the popular Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Circuit, other popular trails include the Dolpa Circuit, Rara Lake or the Jomsom to Mustang trek.
The Great Himalayan Trail opened in 2011 and is still growing. ll. Eventually, the hope is that it will stretch from the towering 8,000m peak Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, believed to be the westernmost marker of the Himalaya, to Namche Barwa in Tibet. When completed the Great Himalayan Trail will span five Asian countries - Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan; and allow for exploration to some of the most remote areas not previously travelled due to years of civil war.
When to Go to Great Himalayan Trail
Perhaps the best time to trek the Great Himalayan Trail is on October-December after the monsoon season ends. It is advantageous to go during this time of the year because the monsoon season will be over by this time and there will be fewer landslides. Experienced Himalayan trekkers recommend this time as perfect for taking pictures of the landscape. Moreover, clouds from nearby settlements and regions clear out during this season and expose piercing landscapes especially if you are going to trek the cultural routes or low-level trails. It is recommended to take these trails if you are in for the experiences yet have very limited mountaineering background.
The Great Himalayan Trail is not for everybody though. Even the cultural routes prove to be strenuous for people who are not used mountain trekking and high altitudes. Moreover, there won't be any hotels or other conveniences. It is recommended to explore the Great Himalayan Trail with the help of companies who are experts in Himalayan trekking tours. Usually, tents, guides, permits and food are already provided along with the security that Sherpa or local guides provide, as they are knowledgeable around the area.
The Great Himalayan Trail is not for everybody though. Even the cultural routes prove to be strenuous for people who are not used mountain trekking and high altitudes. Moreover, there won't be any hotels or other conveniences. It is recommended to explore the Great Himalayan Trail with the help of companies who are experts in Himalayan trekking tours. Usually, tents, guides, permits and food are already provided along with the security that Sherpa or local guides provide, as they are knowledgeable around the area.
Odds n' Ends
It is recommended to select just a single trail to explore. Since this is a strenuous and risky activity, allow at least two months to prepare and train for the Great Himalayan Trail. A short trail may possibly take at least half a month if you are experienced or more depending on the distance from one pit stop to another. In addition, the mountains can get extremely cold at night, so invest in good trekking clothes and goods. Gradually increase your walking stamina by practicing from home before you go to Nepal or wherever you want to start your trek.
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