Field notes

Stories from the trail

Guides, preparation notes and ideas from Nepal's outdoors — written by the Trailma team in Kathmandu.

Twin snow peaks glowing at dusk above a sea of cloud

Trekking·3 min read

Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp? How to choose

Two of Nepal's greatest treks share a name and a region but offer very different journeys. Distance, days, altitude, permits, difficulty and scenery compared, so you can pick the one that fits your time and appetite.

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Planning·3 min read

When to trek in Nepal: a season-by-season guide

Autumn skies, spring rhododendrons, monsoon rain-shadow valleys and cold clear winters — what each season in Nepal means for hiking, trekking, running and cycling, and which regions suit which months.

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A snow-capped peak rising above a high golden plain

Trailma·4 min read

What is Trailma? Nepal's outdoor companion, explained

Trailma is an outdoor app built specifically for Nepal — trail discovery, route planning, offline navigation, activity tracking, medals and a community of people who actually go outside. Here's what it is, who it's for and why it exists.

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A wide glacial valley with forest and snow mountains beyond

Trekking·3 min read

Nepal trekking permits explained: TIMS, ACAP, national parks and restricted areas

Which permits you need for Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Mustang and the hills around Kathmandu, where to get them, and how the guide rules work — a practical overview for planning a trek in Nepal.

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Snow-covered Himalayan peaks in the Everest region under cloud

Trekking·4 min read

Everest Base Camp trek: a plain-English planning guide

How long it takes, the day-by-day route, altitudes, permits, the Lukla flight, costs to budget for and the mistakes first-timers make — everything you need to plan the Everest Base Camp trek.

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A runner on a quiet road at sunrise with hills beyond

Training·3 min read

From morning runs to multi-day treks: building up your outdoor fitness in Nepal

You don't go from the sofa to Everest Base Camp in a week. A practical progression — runs, hill walks, day hikes, an overnight — that gets your legs and lungs ready for a Himalayan trek, with routes around Kathmandu and Pokhara.

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A narrow trail winding along a steep mountain valley

Navigation·3 min read

Offline navigation: why it matters in the Himalaya (and how to prepare your phone)

Mobile signal in Nepal's mountains is patchy at best and absent at worst. How GPS works without data, what to download before you leave and how to keep your phone alive for two weeks on the trail.

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A trekker on a high ridge with layered mountain ranges behind

Trekking·3 min read

Understanding altitude: how to prepare for high treks in Nepal

Above 2,500 m your body starts to notice the thin air. What altitude sickness is, how to recognise it, the acclimatisation rules that actually matter and how to plan a Nepal trek around them.

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Misty green cliffs and forest ridges in soft morning light

Hiking·4 min read

Your first day hike around Kathmandu: six trails to start with

You don't need a permit for a restricted area or a month off. Some of Nepal's best walking starts at the edge of the Kathmandu Valley — here are six beginner-friendly day hikes, what to expect and how to plan them.

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