Best Trekking Destinations During Dashain/Tihar in Nepal

Dashain and Tihar, the two greatest festivals of Nepal, are not just about family reunions, lively rituals, and grand festivities; rather, they’re an excellent trekking season. The whole period falls in the crisp autumn months, with clear skies, mild temperatures, and majestic views of the mountains, and it is therefore the most popular trekking season in Nepal.

Trekking during Dashain or Tihar promises to offer much more than scenic trails; it will take you through festive celebrations alive with music and color, cultural rituals unfolding in villages along the way. From classic walks such as the Annapurna Base Camp trek to spirit-lifting walks to Gosaikunda Lake, this trekking guide covers some of the best trekking destinations during Dashain and Tihar in 2025.

Why Should You Trek in Nepal During Dashain/Tihar?

• Perfect Weather: Autumn (Sept-Nov) means stable weather, crystal-clear skies, and snow-capped peaks in full view.
• Festive Ambience: The trek is through villages decorated with tikas, lights, and flowers, with a deep sense of presence in authentic Nepali traditions.
• Diverse Experiences: The season offers anything from a short trek up Poon Hill to a longer trek challenging enough to reach Annapurna Base Camp.

Best Trekking Routes in Nepal During Dashain/Tihar

1. Annapurna Region Treks

During Dashain and Tihar, when the weather is pleasant, trekking in the Annapurna Region is even more enthralling because the areas come alive with terraced fields ready for harvests, flower-decked villages glistening with lights, and clear Himalayan skies providing postcard views. Some of the prominent treks in this region are:

• Poon Hill Trek – The Sunrise Classic

Short and beautiful, Poon Hill Trek is a name synonymous with enchanting sunrise views. Imagine rising before dawn, trekking up the hill, and watching the filling sunlight turning the snow-capped peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri flash golden in their glory. That is precisely what Poon Hill is known for a magical experience. 

• Duration: 3-5 days
• Difficulty: Easy (suitable for beginners, families with children, people on a short time frame)
• Highlights: Panoramic Himalayan sunrise, traditional Gurung villages, rhododendron forests.

Villages like Ghorepani and Ghandruk will be humming with festival vibes. You’ll see locals preparing the tika ceremony with their homes glowing bright from the oil lamps and children flying kites, and this will make your trekking experience a cultural immersion, besides being a mountain journey.

• Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek – The Himalayan Amphitheatre

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a dream for those who want to experience a classic Himalayan trek. It provides a chance to walk through luxuriant forests, stone-paved villages, and alpine meadows before reaching the vast amphitheatre of Annapurna peaks. Few treks in the world can accommodate such a dramatic setting.

• Duration: 7–10 days
• Difficulty: Moderate (need fitness, but achievable for most hikers)
• Highlights: Dramatic peaks such as Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Hiunchuli; varied landscapes, and traditional Gurung culture.

On the way, you see the village celebrating, the music playing, and the feasts being prepared. Sitting with a cup of hot tea in hand, sharing stories of Dashain by a warm fireplace amid the wonders of nature is what distils an ABC trek into a human tale. This is followed by crystal clear views of the mountains every day through the autumn skies.

• Mardi Himal Trek – The Hidden Gem of Annapurna

The Mardi Himal Trek is often described as the best-kept secret of the Annapurna region. It is a fairly new trail but is very quickly becoming famous for its peaceful ridge-line walks and stunning close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Unlike Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill, which may be teeming with trekkers, the Mardi Himal gives a more personal and intimate experience with the mountains.

• Duration: 4-6 days
• Difficulty: Moderate (shorter; however, some steep ascents)
• Highlights: Gorgeous ridge-top trails, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli views; relatively few crowds.

Festival time means that the lodges and the village will glow with lights during Tihar, and the locals are likely to invite you to Bhailo and Deusi songs (traditional singing and dancing). Imagine standing on a mountain ridge, Machhapuchhre glowing under the moonlight, while distant songs from the festival echo in your ears—sheer magic! 

• Tilicho Lake Trek – The Highest Lake Adventure

The Tilicho Lake Trek takes you to one of the highest lakes in the world (4,919m) within the Annapurna region, surrounded by great peaks and awe-inspiring landscapes. With its turquoise waters against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, Tilicho makes for a beautiful, picturesque spot for a trekker who wants to soak in both adventure and tranquillity.

• Duration: 7–10 days
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Highlights: Tilicho Lake (the biggest in the world); Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges; remote high altitude trails; and Himalayan landscapes.
  

Celebrating the festivities during Dashain and Tihar means that the villages along the trekking route, including Manang and Khangsar, are decorated with colorful decorations and cultural feasts. This further brightens the cultural spirit of your high-altitude expedition, transforming it from a trek into a festive Himalayan journey.

• Khumai Danda Trek – The Rising Star

New yet ever-popular with unique mountain views and fewer trekkers, Khumai Danda is a treasure where one can walk ridges with the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre in the background.

• Duration: 4-6 days.
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
• Highlights: Ridge-top trails, sunrise views, and authentic Gurung culture.
  

Since it is an unusual choice, there’s likely a warm welcome into homes to celebrate one’s own festival with the locals, which will be an intimate cultural exchange.

Why Should One Choose Annapurna for Dashain and Tihar?

Unlike any other time of year, trekking during Nepal’s large festival further spices up the view. Not only do you get to walk on trails, but you also get to enter villages alive with tradition, music, and joy. With golden fields of harvest, blue skies, and mountain views, trekking in the Annapurna region becomes the most exceptional experience during Dashain and Tihar.

3. Langtang Valley and Nearby Short Treks

If the festival holidays offer you but a short time for adventure, the Langtang region and nearby short treks are perfect. Easily reachable from Kathmandu, these trails offer mountain views, Tibetan-influenced cultures, and the warm hospitality of village life. 

• Langtang Valley Trek – A Himalayan Balcony

Just a day’s drive from Kathmandu, the Langtang Valley Trek gives you a Himalayan experience without needing weeks on the trail. Known as the “Valley of Glaciers,” it mixes alpine scenery, monasteries, and yak pastures.

• Duration: 7–10 Days
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Views of Langtang Lirung, Kyanjin Gompa, Tibetan culture, and access trails.

• Paanch Pokhari Trek: Five Sacred Lakes of Serenity
  

A hidden jewel of the Sindhupalchok district, this trek takes you to five glacial lakes, which have wide spiritual significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. Peacefulness offered by the mounting serenity and sight of majestic mountains in the glacial lakes is a reflection of the surrounding scenery. 

• Duration: 4-5 days
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlight: Five sacred lakes, spiritual ambience, panoramic views of Jugal Himal and Langtang range.

The trail is less-populated, at times, and you get to witness a few local celebrations from small nearby villages; an absolutely heartwarming experience far away from tourists’ eyes.

• Helambu Trek – A Cultural Scenic Escape Near Kathmandu

The Helambu Trek is one of the nearest trekking routes from Kathmandu, therefore ideal for those wanting a quick yet rewarding Himalayan adventure. The trek passes through Tamang Sherpa villages, ancient monasteries, and apple orchard trails, marrying cultural wealth with grandiose views of the snow-capped mountains. The trails through rhododendron forests, terraced fields, and quiet highland villages provide opportunities for peace near the capital. 

• Duration: 5-7 days
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Highlights: Spectacular views of Langtang and Jugal Himal, vibrant Tamang and Sherpa cultures, monasteries, apple orchards, and peaceful landscapes.

Trekking in Helambu during the festival time means the villages around come alive with decorations, music, and traditional feasting. Expect a truly Nepali affection extended as locals invite you to join in the celebrations, making your trek festive and homely.

4. Cultural & Spiritual Treks

For those who wish deeply soulful journeys to unfold, Nepal offers treks of culture, spirituality, and natural beauty. These routes gain a distinctive aura during Dashain and Tihar, with traditions being enacted all along the villages and sacred places.

• Upper Mustang Trek – Little Tibet of Nepal

Popularly known as “Little Tibet,” Upper Mustang leads one into a world of ancient caves, monasteries, and dry landscapes. With restricted entry and with an air of unique Tibetan heritage, it truly feels like time travel.

• Duration: 7-10 days
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: Lo Manthang (the walled city), monasteries, caves, Tibetan traditions, and desert-like landscapes.

Local Tibetan communities celebrate in quieter, spiritual ways, making it a cultural deep-dive rather than a festive spectacle. 

• Gosaikunda Lake Trek – A Sacred Pilgrimage

The Gosaikunda Lake Trek is thus both a pilgrimage and an adventure. At 4,380m, the holy lake is considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists and is one of the places on earth that is truly beautiful in its dramatic mountain scenery.

• Duration: 5-7 days
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Highlights: sacred alpine lake, spiritual ambience, Langtang mountain views.

The Tihar time makes the area around the lake feel mystical-lamps flicker, prayers are sung, and everything glows in the moonlight.

• Kalinchok Bhagwati Temple Trek-The Spiritual and the Scenic

Situated at a height of 3842 m over Dolakha, the Kalinchok Bhagwati Temple Trek is ideal for a short festival holiday trek. Most Nepalis often mark this trek for its religious importance and the grand views it offers of the Himalayas. 

• Duration: 2-4 days
• Difficulty: Easy
• Highlights: Kalinchok temple, view of Gaurishankar, Jugal, and Langtang ranges, spirituality+adventure.

Visiting during Tihar, when lamps and prayers light up the temple, makes it even more spiritually moving.

Festival Experience on Spiritual Treks

Such pilgrimage travels as Gosaikunda, Upper Mustang, even add power to trekking during Tihar, as the air is filled with songs, oil lamps, and prayers, turning the treks into spiritual pilgrimages. 

Conclusion

Going trekking in Nepal during Dashain and Tihar is not just about reaching mountain viewpoints-it is about the life spirit of Nepal itself. At every trek, from the golden sunrise at Poon Hill to the sacred waters of Gosaikunda, from the mighty trails of Everest to the cultural heart of Upper Mustang, travellers journey through festivals, cultures, and the grandeur of the Himalayas.

If you hold a dream of starting your festival season with the world’s highest mountains, then you are in luck. Adventure Tours and Travels Nepal offers you expert guidance with the best itinerary while being passionate about host-level creations for unforgettable moments. In short, they are a pleasure to work with. Be it a short holiday hike or a challenging expedition, they will indeed find you a perfect way to chill, celebrate, and let go of some of Nepal’s magic.

So, pack your bags, put on your boots, and enjoy an incredible Dashain and Tihar expedition with Adventure Tours and Travels Nepal!