Fastpacking in Nepal: Everything you need to know
Planning Your Fastpacking Adventure
Fastpacking can be a real joy - you can travel at your own pace, switching between trail running with hiking. The true pleasure comes in moving quickly, seeing lots of beautiful views, immersing in nature, and only carrying a light pack.
Carrying less gear does come with some risks, however. It is important to be prepared and ensure you have sufficient gear and supplies to ensure a safe mission.
Before heading on your fastpacking journey, spend some time understanding the region you'll be exploring. Research its climate and review multiple weather forecasts. Look into logistics like transport, accommodation options (guesthouses or tents?), food availability, water sources, and trip duration. This will determine the gear you need to pack.
A tea house in the Annapurna region that provides accommodation and food.
Here are 10 key pointers to consider:
Fitness Level: A base level of fitness, especially cardiovascular endurance and leg strength, is essential. Practice walking/jogging/running with a weighted backpack to train for your adventure.
Training: Train with a backpack that weighs at least 7kgs (15 lbs) for several days in a row to build endurance and get your body accustomed to the load. Include hills or stair workouts to prepare for elevation changes. Make sure you also cover some terrain similar to what you’ll encounter on your fastpacking mission, too.
Florence carries a 30L pack on a fastpacking mission - Annapurna’s Triple Crown.
Guides: While experienced fastpackers can navigate independently with proper planning, having a guide can be invaluable. They can share local knowledge, ensure safety, and help you connect with the culture - ensuring a more enjoyable and immersive experience. Reach out to us if you’d like to discuss the possibility of a local guide for your mission.
Permits: Nepal requires permits for most trekking regions. A TIMS card and national park fees are mandatory for non-Nepali fastpackers. Restricted areas may require additional permits.
Permits are checked at checkposts.
Gear: While Kathmandu offers a plethora of outdoor stores, quality and sizing can vary. Consider purchasing gear before your trip to ensure quality. See our complete trekking packing list for advice on which gear to purchase prior to coming to Nepal.
Seasonality: Spring (March-May) offers pleasant weather. Summer (June-August) is the monsoon season, with lush landscapes but potential travel disruptions. Autumn (September-November) is the peak trekking season with clear skies, but also higher crowds. Winter (December-February) is cold but offers stunning mountain views.
Note that the historic stability of seasons in Nepal is changing with climate change, so the weather may be more unpredictable. Ensure you check multiple forecasts before heading out and research the trail’s current condition.
Navigating a waterfall and old avalanche debris while fastpacking Annapurna’s Triple Crown.
Distances: Depending on your training, expect to cover anywhere from 10 to 30+ kilometers (6-18+ miles) per day. The pace will naturally slow down at higher altitudes. The Himalayas also has a lot of elevation loss and gain. In a recent trip, we descended over 2km and ascended over 2km total elevation in just 29km!
Altitude Awareness: Be mindful of altitude sickness. Ascend gradually, and descend immediately if you experience symptoms. Ensure you have time in your itinerary for acclimatization. Drink plenty of water and rest well. Consider consulting a doctor about Diamox for altitude prevention prior to your trip.
Altitude sign reading 4,200m at the Mardi Himal viewpoint.
Food and Hygiene: Tea houses along many trails offer local delicacies like Dal Bhat (rice, lentils, and curry). For safety, purify water using purification tablets, a SteriPen, or a filtration system- we use SWAYER’s water filters.
Daal-bhaat is a staple dish that most Nepalese eat twice a day regularly.
Safety: Carry a personal first-aid kit, including blister treatment, bandages, and medications. Consider a satellite communicator (like inReach®) for emergencies, and invest in helicopter evacuation and medical insurance.
Rescue Helicopter flying over Annapurna Conservation Area.
