Trip Grade

Nepal offers some of the best trekking destinations in the world with its diverse topography and vast altitude variation from 600m to 8848. Based on duration, topography, climate, level of difficulties and variation in altitudes, trekking destination in Nepal can be classified into 5 different trekking grades:

  • Easy or Grade A
  • Moderate or Grade B
  • Strenuous or Grade C
  • Very Strenuous or Grade D
  • Technical Challenging or Grade E

Trekking planner suggests you choose a grade according to your health, physical fitness and trekking experience in remote and high altitude. These trekking grades provide information about the difficulties and nature of trek which helps trekker to select the destination that fits their ability.

Easy

As the name suggests, it is an easy level trek. The trails will not be rugged and you will rarely find any difficulties during the trek. The treks are generally around for 1 week and you will be walking for 5-6 hours ascending 300-600m on nice weather condition with easy access to facilities in the trails. The trek reaches up to 3000 meters altitude. The prior experience is not required and an elderly person or a child who are fit and have hiking experience is fit enough to do this trek.

Moderate

Moderate grade trek is quite harder in comparison to easy trek as the trails are nor easy nor tough. The moderate trek normally lasts for 1 week to 15 days reaching up to 1500- 3500 altitude range. The trail can get rough in times but the weather condition doesn’t get extreme. You will be ascending and descending 400-700m every day walking in steep hills for 5-7 hours. You may encounter high altitude and decrement in the level of oxygen sometimes so keeping fit with physical and mental fitness is highly recommended. You need to have a day for acclimatization over 3000 meters.

Strenuous

Strenuous trekking grade is both moderate and difficult. The trek covers 4000m t0 5000m. The trails get steep, and you will continually be ascending and descending 500-1000m walking generally 6-7 hours every day. You may have some risk of altitude sickness during this grade trekking so you are required to have acclimatization day and take some hot drinks or soup for precaution. These levels of trek require good physical condition and having prior trekking experience will be beneficial. You are recommended to have some long hiking experience and keep up with exercises, physical and mental fitness.

Very Strenuous or Grade D

Very strenuous trekking is a tough trek to higher elevation covering 4000m to 5500m. You will be ascending and descending 500-1000m, walking for about 6-8 hour daily into remote and wild areas with unfavourable weather conditions which get worst at time. The trail and terrains get steep and slippery with snow and the altitude becomes the main obstacle of this trek. As we ascend to a higher altitude the air gets thinner and it is very difficult to walk in low oxygen level. Acclimatization is an essential part of this type of trek. There is no doubt, physical fitness is most and this trek is recommended for people with high fitness level, good physical and mental health as well as good trekking experience.