Vous préférez lire en français ? Le même guide est ici : Trekking au Népal depuis la France.
Booking your Nepal trek direct with a Nepali family company
France has one of the strongest mountain cultures anywhere. You may have walked the Tour du Mont Blanc, tackled the GR20 in Corsica, or hiked the Pyrenees end to end. Nepal is the natural next step: the Himalaya, the real thing, peaks nearly twice the height of Mont Blanc standing all around you.
We are the company that actually runs the trek. When you book with us there is no European agency in the middle taking a margin. The same trails, the same teahouses, and the guide who meets you at the airport is our own, because we are the operator on the ground, not an agency reselling someone else's handling. We offer three tiers, Budget, Standard and Luxury, so you decide exactly how you want to trek.
Our prices for French trekkers
| Trek | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp, 12 days | USD 1,399 (~€1,219) | USD 2,499 (~€2,177) | USD 4,999 (~€4,356) |
| Annapurna Base Camp, 9 days | USD 499 (~€435) | USD 799 (~€696) | USD 1,400 (~€1,220) |
| Poon Hill, 6 days | USD 499 (~€435) | USD 749 (~€653) | USD 1,111 (~€968) |
| Langtang Valley, 8 days | USD 365 (~€318) | USD 650 (~€566) | USD 1,000 (~€871) |
| Manaslu Circuit, 12 days | USD 799 (~€696) | USD 1,599 (~€1,393) | USD 2,099 (~€1,829) |
| Mardi Himal, 7 days | USD 454 (~€396) | USD 849 (~€740) | USD 1,111 (~€968) |
All our prices are set in US dollars, and that is what you are charged. The euro figures above are indicative only, converted at 0.8713 EUR per USD on 20 September 2026, and they move with the exchange rate. The price you see is the price you pay, this year or next. A card payment carries a 3.5 percent bank charge; there is no charge if you pay the balance in cash in Kathmandu.
What differs between the tiers is the level of comfort and support, not the mountain. Budget means you carry your own bag and meals on the trail are not included. Standard adds all meals, private rooms and a porter shared between two trekkers. Luxury gives you a dedicated one-to-one porter, deluxe rooms and the Kathmandu to Lukla helicopter both ways on the Everest treks. Permits, a licensed guide and ground transport from Kathmandu are included in every tier.
Why book with The Everest Holiday
- No European agency margin. Same mountains, same lodges, same trails. You are booking the company that runs the trek.
- Private treks, your dates. You do not have to join a fixed group. Choose your dates, set your pace, trek with your own guide. If you would rather join a shared departure to bring the cost down, you can, but it is your choice.
- English-speaking guides. All our guides speak fluent English. Some have picked up basic French over years of guiding French groups, but English is the working language on the trail.
- A 10 percent deposit books your trek. You pay the balance in Kathmandu when you arrive, in cash or by card.
- Three generations of family guides. Our family has guided in these mountains across three generations. The company was registered in 2016 and we run it ourselves.
Getting to Kathmandu from France
Flights from French cities
| From | Common routes | Travel time | Approx. cost (€ return) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris (CDG) | Via Doha (Qatar Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), or Delhi (Air France, then a connecting flight) | 12–16 hrs | €500–€1,100 |
| Lyon (LYS) | Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Doha (Qatar Airways) | 14–18 hrs | €600–€1,200 |
| Nice (NCE) | Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Doha (Qatar Airways) | 14–18 hrs | €600–€1,200 |
| Marseille (MRS) | Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Doha (Qatar Airways) | 14–18 hrs | €600–€1,200 |
There is no direct flight from France to Kathmandu, so you will change once on the way. Paris CDG has the best connections and prices. Qatar Airways via Doha and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul both fly all the way through to Kathmandu and are the most reliable. Air France flies to Delhi, from where a connecting flight brings you into Kathmandu. Book two to three months ahead. The cheapest fares are usually in late September and early December.
Visa for French passport holders
French citizens get a visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. There is no advance application. Bring a passport-size photo and the fee in cash, in US dollars or euros.
- 15 days: USD 30 (~€26)
- 30 days: USD 50 (~€44)
- 90 days: USD 125 (~€109)
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter. The process at the airport takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Best months to trek, and how they line up with French holidays
- October and November (Toussaint and autumn): the golden window. Nepal's weather is at its best, with clear skies, stable temperatures and excellent visibility. The Toussaint holidays overlap almost exactly with Nepal's peak trekking season.
- March to May (spring holidays): warmer temperatures and rhododendrons in flower along the trails. The April school holidays are a good window, with fewer people than autumn. Well suited to Annapurna, Langtang, Poon Hill and Mardi Himal.
- December to February (Christmas holidays): cold at altitude but clear skies lower down. Christmas and New Year work for shorter treks such as Poon Hill or Mardi Himal. Not the season for Everest Base Camp or Manaslu.
- June to August (grandes vacances): French summer holidays fall in Nepal's monsoon, so it is not the time for most treks. The exceptions are Upper Mustang and Dolpo, which sit in the rain shadow and stay dry through summer.
For anyone working to a school or office calendar, Toussaint in late October is the single best French holiday for a Nepal trek. Add a few days and you have a comfortable two-week window for Everest Base Camp or Annapurna.
Our most popular treks for French trekkers
Everest Base Camp trek, 12 days
The trek everyone pictures. You stand at 5,364m at the foot of the highest mountain on earth, with peaks all around you nearly twice the height of Mont Blanc. Budget USD 1,399 (~€1,219), Standard USD 2,499 (~€2,177), Luxury USD 4,999 (~€4,356) per person.
Annapurna Base Camp trek, 9 days
Rice terraces, rhododendron forest and hot springs lead you into the amphitheatre below Annapurna I (8,091m). France has a real history here: Maurice Herzog's 1950 expedition made Annapurna the first 8,000m peak ever climbed. Budget USD 499 (~€435), Standard USD 799 (~€696), Luxury USD 1,400 (~€1,220) per person.
Poon Hill trek, 6 days
The gentlest introduction to the Himalaya. Sunrise over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri from the viewpoint at 3,210m. If you have done the TMB or the GR20, the effort will feel familiar and the scenery far bigger. Budget USD 499 (~€435), Standard USD 749 (~€653), Luxury USD 1,111 (~€968) per person.
Langtang Valley trek, 8 days
The closest major trek to Kathmandu. Tamang villages, cheese made in the valley, and views of Langtang Lirung (7,227m). Quieter than the Annapurna region, and all the more genuine for it. Budget USD 365 (~€318), Standard USD 650 (~€566), Luxury USD 1,000 (~€871) per person.
Manaslu Circuit trek, 12 days
The quieter alternative to the Annapurna Circuit. You cross the Larkya La at 5,160m through a restricted area, so it suits experienced walkers who want solitude and a proper challenge. Budget USD 799 (~€696), Standard USD 1,599 (~€1,393), Luxury USD 2,099 (~€1,829) per person.
Mardi Himal trek, 7 days
One of Nepal's newer trails. Quiet ridge walking with close views of Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail. Short enough for a week off, rewarding enough to stand beside far longer treks. Budget USD 454 (~€396), Standard USD 849 (~€740), Luxury USD 1,111 (~€968) per person.
What French trekkers need to know
Permits
All trekking permits are included in our price. For most treks that means the National Park or Conservation Area entry permit and the trekkers' card. For restricted areas such as Manaslu, Upper Mustang and Dolpo a special restricted-area permit is needed, and we arrange everything.
Insurance, assurance rapatriement
Your French Securite Sociale and your mutuelle do not cover medical treatment or helicopter evacuation in Nepal. You must take out separate travel insurance with adventure-sports cover that specifically includes helicopter rescue at trekking altitude. A helicopter evacuation from the Everest region can cost several thousand euros, so this is not optional.
French providers worth checking include Chapka Assurance, ACS, Allianz Travel and Europ Assistance. Your carte bancaire, such as a Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold, may include some travel cover, but check whether it extends to trekking at high altitude and to helicopter rescue. Please buy your policy at home, before you fly. We ask every trekker for insurance details before departure, and we ask you not to rely on a policy bought in Nepal, as rescue operators and hospitals here often will not accept one.
Money
Nepal uses the Nepali rupee for spending on the ground. Cash machines in Kathmandu and Pokhara take French Visa and Mastercard, but there are none high on the trails, so carry enough cash for tea, snacks and tips once you leave the towns. Your trek itself is paid to us in US dollars, by card or in cash in Kathmandu.
Food on the trail
Dal bhat, rice with lentils, vegetables and pickle, is the staple on every trail, with refills at most teahouses. You will also find noodles, fried rice, momos, Tibetan bread, soups and egg dishes. It is not French cooking, but it is hearty and it keeps you going. Vegetarian food is everywhere. It is wise to avoid salads and uncooked food higher up.
Altitude
Altitude is the real risk on any Himalayan trek, whatever your fitness. The summit of Mont Blanc is 4,808m; Everest Base Camp is 5,364m, and you sleep at height rather than only passing through. Your body needs time to adjust, so we build acclimatisation days into every itinerary. Our guides carry an oximeter and check you each day, and if symptoms appear we go down. That is not negotiable.
Phone and internet
Buy an Ncell SIM at Kathmandu airport, around five euros for a data pack, as your French SIM will only work on expensive roaming. Most teahouses have wi-fi for a small fee. Do not count on a reliable signal above 4,000m.
Tipping
Tipping your guide and porter is customary and appreciated in Nepal, more than it would be in France. As a guide, around USD 10 to 15 a day for a guide and USD 5 to 8 a day for a porter is normal. It is not included in the package price.
About The Everest Holiday
We are a family trekking company from Kathmandu, run today by Shreejan Simkhada and Shamjhana Basukala, with 80 to 90 guides and staff. The company was registered in 2016, and our family has guided in these mountains across three generations. We hold a government travel and trekking agency licence (2838/072, valid to 2031) and we are members of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN #1586).
Our charity, the Nagarjun Learning Center
A part of every booking supports the Nagarjun Learning Center, which our family founded. It provides free education and hot meals to children in rural Nepal, fully running the centre at Saldum and supporting seven learning centres in all. The centre is verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal.
Questions French trekkers ask
Do French citizens need a visa for Nepal?
Yes, but it is simple. You get the visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. Bring a passport-size photo and USD 50, or the same in euros, for a 30-day visa. There is no advance application.
Does my Securite Sociale or mutuelle cover Nepal?
No. French social security and your mutuelle do not cover medical treatment or helicopter evacuation in Nepal. You need separate travel insurance. Check whether your carte bancaire offers any cover, but confirm it includes trekking at high altitude and helicopter rescue.
Do I need a guide to trek in Nepal?
Yes. Since 2023 Nepal requires trekkers to walk with a licensed guide on the main trails. Our guides are government trained and licensed.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking five to seven hours a day on mountain paths. If you have done the Tour du Mont Blanc, the GR20 or regular days in the Alps or Pyrenees, you have the right base. Start specific training 8 to 12 weeks ahead. No mountaineering skills are needed for the standard treks.
Can I trek solo, or do I need a group?
You can trek privately as one person, as a couple, as a family or with friends, from one person up to twenty. You do not have to join strangers. If you would prefer to join a shared departure to lower the cost, that is offered too, and the choice is yours.
Can I pay in euros?
Our prices are shown in euros for convenience, but the payment is taken in US dollars through our secure Himalayan Bank gateway, and your card handles the conversion. A card payment carries a 3.5 percent bank charge; paying the balance in cash in Kathmandu avoids it.
What is included in the price?
All permits, a licensed guide, a porter on the Standard and Luxury tiers, accommodation throughout, meals on the Standard and Luxury tiers, ground transport from Kathmandu and airport transfers. International flights, your visa, insurance and personal spending are not included.
How do I book?
Choose your trek and tier and pay a 10 percent deposit through our secure Himalayan Bank gateway, then pay the balance in Kathmandu. Or simply message Shreejan on WhatsApp and we will plan it together.
Plan your Nepal trek
Whether you are a veteran of the GR20 or planning your first big mountain journey beyond the Alps, we will make your Nepal trek personal, safe and genuinely yours: your dates, your pace, your tier, your route.
WhatsApp: +977 9810351300
Email: [email protected]
Website: theeverestholiday.com
Three generations. One family. Your Himalaya.
Chat with Shreejan