Helambu Trek, 6 Days from Kathmandu

Forest ridges, Tharepati and the Hyolmo villages of Helambu, close to Kathmandu and without flights

From US$430 per person

Duration
6 days
Grade
Moderate
Highest point
About 3,650 m / 11,975 ft (Tharepati)
Group size
1 to 20
Starts and ends
Kathmandu
Best time
Mar to May and Oct to Nov

Govt RegdTAAN #1586300+ ★ reviews

  • Three generations of family guides in the Himalayas, independent since 2016
  • Government-licensed Nepal trekking company (Reg 147653)
  • TAAN Member #1586
  • 300+ reviews
  • Secure payment via Himalayan Bank
  • Four-time TripAdvisor award winner (Travellers' Choice 2020, 2023, 2024 and Certificate of Excellence 2019)

Overview

From US$430Updated Oct 5, 2026

Helambu is one of the closest trekking regions to Kathmandu, with no flight and no long road journey. This six-day route starts at Sundarijal, follows the forest ridge past Chisapani to Kutumsang and Magen Goth, crosses Tharepati by day, and comes down through the Hyolmo villages of Melamchigaon, Tarkeghyang and Sermathang.

We spread the route over six days so that the long crossing of Tharepati is not rushed, and so that you never sleep at the 3,650 m high point. It is a good first trek, or a quiet one when the busy trails are crowded.

Why book with The Everest Holiday

  • Three generations of family guidesFamily-run since 2016 with three generations of guiding heritage. Not an agency — the family that runs the company leads your trek personally.
  • Private group, no strangersEvery trek we run is private. Your group only. We never combine bookings or add strangers to your party. If you book solo, you walk with a guide; if you book as four friends, your group stays four.
  • Nagarjun Learning Center givebackA fixed share of every booking funds the Nagarjun Learning Center — 70 children, 7 community centres, 3 full-time teachers, 600+ medical interventions, 275+ women supported. You can visit the centre before or after your trip; we arrange the visit separately.
  • Government registered, TAAN memberGovt Regd. No. 147653/072/073. Trekking Agency Licence 2090/072, Travel Agency Licence 2838/072. TAAN Member #1586. Over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. We are a real, audited Nepal company — not a booking-platform middleman.

Day by day

2,0003,0004,000Day 1: 2,200 mDay 2: 2,470 mDay 3: 3,300 mDay 4: 3,650 mDay 5: 2,600 mDay 6: 2,600 m123456Highest 3,650 mDay
Altitude in metres: the highest point named in each day’s plan. Hollow dots are rest and acclimatisation days.

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Prices

The Helambu Trek, 6 Days from Kathmandu with The Everest Holiday costs $430 (Budget), $800 (Standard), or $1,195 (Luxury) per person for the 6-day trip. Allow about $20 a day for personal expenses, and buy your travel insurance at home before you travel. Book with a 10% deposit; the balance is payable in Kathmandu.

Budget price by group size
Travellers in your groupPrice per person
1US$700
2 to 4US$430
5 to 8US$240
9 to 12US$190
13 to 20US$160

Discounts are determined exclusively by the size of your group. We do not add additional members to your group.

Book Budget

Himalayan Bank logoSecure payment by Himalayan Bank.

What is included

On the Budget level.

Included

Guide and porters

  • Licensed trekking guide (English-speaking)
  • No porter: you carry your own bag (a day pack and a small bag is all you need on this short route)

Accommodation

  • Simple lodges, shared rooms

Permits, transport and fees

  • Langtang National Park permit, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park fee and TIMS card
  • Local shared vehicle from Kathmandu to Sundarijal at the start and from Melamchi Pul Bazar back to Kathmandu at the end
  • Government taxes and our service charge

Medical assistance

  • First aid kit with pulse oximeter
  • Arranging rescue operations in an emergency (funded by your travel insurance)

Complimentary

  • Bottled water in the vehicle
  • A local SIM card on arrival in Kathmandu; your guide shows you how to buy a cheap data pack, which you pay for.

Not included

Not included

  • Meals and drinks on the trek
  • Hotel nights in Kathmandu or Pokhara
  • International and domestic flights
  • Travel insurance (buy at home)
  • Tips for the guide and porters
  • Personal expenses, laundry and charging
  • An extra porter, if you want one (USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and 3.5% bank charge)
  • Wifi, hot showers, charging, heated blankets and anything else outside the room price, paid by you directly to the teahouse or hotel.

Dates

Your trek, your choice, your price. Choose the style that suits you. Book a private departure on any date with just your party, or join a fixed group departure and trek with fellow adventurers from around the world. Same routes, same guides, same quality — 3 comfort tiers on both options. Per-person price follows our group-discount tiers based on YOUR party size (a couple pays less per pax than a solo trekker, 5+ pays less again) — the same tiers apply on both booking types.

Private departure

  • Any date you choose
  • Just your party + dedicated guide
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size

Fixed group departure

  • Scheduled dates (see below)
  • Join other trekkers from around the world
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size (same tier as Private)
Prefer email? Send a question and we will reply within a few hours.

Peak season (Sep–Nov) — our guides book up fast. Get in touch 6–8 weeks ahead to secure your preferred dates.

Other dates

Need a different date? Other dates are available on request. Contact us or message Shreejan on WhatsApp.

Fixed departures are dates we have already committed to run. Your party still treks as its own private group with its own guide; we never merge bookings or add strangers, and solo trekkers are welcome on any date. Private departures on any other date you choose are also available. On both, the per-person price is set by the size of your own party.

Shreejan Simkhada, Director of The Everest HolidayShamjhana Basukala, Co-founder of The Everest Holiday

Shreejan and Shamjhana plan every trek personally

Your hosts since 2016. Ask us anything; we reply within hours.

Ask Shreejan on WhatsApp

Essential information

Before you go

  • Altitude: you sleep at about 3,300 m at Magen Goth on day 3, then cross Tharepati at about 3,650 m on day 4 and sleep lower at Melamchigaon. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide at once if you get a headache or feel unwell.
  • Insurance: your policy should cover trekking to 4,000 m, including helicopter rescue.
  • Fitness: you need to be able to walk for several hours a day on steps and uneven ground. No technical skill is needed.
  • Packing: a day pack, warm layers for the evenings, good walking shoes, a rain jacket and a head torch. We send a full packing list when you book.
  • Hotel nights before and after the trek are not included, so we can fit them to your own dates. We can book them for you.
  • Documents: bring your passport.

Read before you go: Helambu Trek for Beginners · Helambu Trek Month by Month · Which Nepal Trek Should You Do? The Best Choice for 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 Days (2027)

Questions people ask

How hard is the Helambu trek?
It is a moderate trek. The days are on forest paths with steady climbs, and day 4 is long. The high point at Tharepati is about 3,650 m. You need to be able to walk for several hours a day.
Why six days?
A five-day version has to cross Tharepati and reach Melamchigaon in one very long day, or sleep at Tharepati, well above the night before. Six days let you sleep at Magen Goth first, cross Tharepati by day and sleep low at Melamchigaon.
What permits do I need?
A Langtang National Park permit, the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park fee and a TIMS card. We arrange all of them and the cost is in your price.
Can I extend it to Ama Yangri?
Yes. Our Ama Yangri trek covers the hills above Tarkeghyang. Ask us and we will build a longer plan.
Is this trek private?
Yes. Your guide, and your porters on Standard and Luxury, are for your party only, so the trek itself is private. On Budget and Standard the road transfers are in a shared vehicle; on Luxury the vehicle is private too. We never merge separate private bookings.
What is the difference between Budget, Standard and Luxury?
The route is the same. Budget gives you a guide, simple lodges with shared rooms and the permits and transport, with no porter and no meals. Standard adds one porter for every two trekkers, a private room where the lodge has one and all meals. Luxury gives each trekker a dedicated porter, the best rooms available and all meals, with tea, coffee, juice, soft drinks, fruit and nuts carried by your porter and all the hot water you can drink. Road transport follows the level too: a local shared vehicle on Budget, a shared tourist vehicle on Standard and a private luxury vehicle on Luxury.
What happens if I need to cancel, or you cannot run the trip?
If we cannot run your trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf, or move you to another date. Plans change? You can reschedule free to any date within one year with at least 72 hours' notice. The deposit itself is not refunded if you cancel.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Buy travel insurance at home, before you travel, and check that it covers trekking, medical care, emergency helicopter rescue and the dates of your trip. Your cover should include trekking to 4,000 m. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal.
How do I pay?
You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance before the trek. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. Paying the balance by card carries a 3.5% bank charge, and cash in Kathmandu has no fee.
How much does the Helambu Trek cost?

It is from USD 430 per person for 2 to 4 people on Budget, USD 800 on Standard and USD 1,195 on Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 700, 935 or 1,570, because the guide and transport are not shared. Larger groups pay less per person, and every price is shown on this page.

When is the best time for the Helambu Trek?

March to May and October to November gives the clearest weather and views. We check conditions before every departure and tell you if anything changes.

Can I do the Helambu Trek on my own?

Yes. We run it privately for groups of 1 to 20, so you never wait for other people to sign up. On your own the price is USD 700 on Budget, 935 on Standard and 1,570 on Luxury.

What is the highest point of the Helambu Trek?

About 3,650 m / 11,975 ft (Tharepati).

Where does the Helambu Trek start and finish?

It starts and finishes in Kathmandu. Tell us your hotel when you book and we plan the timings around it.

From, per personUS$430