Nepal’s famous teahouses, ancient monasteries, and proximity to the world’s tallest peaks nearly guarantee it a slot on any hiker’s bucket list. We at Backpacker dream of it, too. That’s why since 2019 we’ve teamed up with Wildland Trekking to bring hikers like you to Nepal while also doing a little good along the way.

Nepal, as a country, has been through a lot in the past decade. In 2015, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit, killing thousands and destroying infrastructures like schools, hospitals, and homes around the country. Five years later came the pandemic, which depleted its already limited resources even more. So now, we’re going to Nepal to hike and give back, and you’re invited.

This year, we are offering two trips: the Nar Phu Service Trek (Oct. 11-30), and the Langtang Valley Service Trek (Nov. 1-21). The first week of each trip is devoted to philanthropy. We have ongoing service projects that focus on health or education—both of which were significantly impacted by the 2015 earthquake and Covid-19. You don’t need any special skills or experience to help, and your efforts make a real, tangible impact on the community.

The health clinic we helped construct on our 2022 and 2023 trips is officially built and serving the village of Kakani, which is an hour and a half north of Kathmandu. This year, we’re returning to Kakani to continue to expand the local school, which is a project we started in 2024. In the school building, there’s not enough space for the growing student population, so there’s no instruction offered at all for the 11th and 12th graders. These efforts will help local kids stay in school.

For the remainder of the trip, we’re hitting the trails. What that looks like depends on the trip you’ve picked. Both offerings include training plans, Nepali guides and porters, freshly cooked regional cuisine, and much more. Hikers in good shape will be able to thrive on both treks. Here are the details:

Nar Phu

This October’s trip will take you on a nine-day journey through the country’s lesser-trekked Nar Phu valley, between Annapurna and the Tibetan border. We’ll stay in remote villages that were home to Tibetan communities centuries ago, visit ancient Buddhist monasteries, ford giant rivers, and hike in the shadows of Himayalan giants on Kang La Pass. There’s nothing like being face-to-face with Annapurna and feeling a connection to the mountains that you had previously only seen in photographs.

Want to join us? This year, our trip is scheduled October 11-30, and space is limited. Learn more and register here.

Langtang Valley

We’ll cross several suspension bridges over huge rivers and between glaciated peaks on our 10-day journey through the Lantang Valley this November. Our trek will also take us to spiritual summits where monks would pray centuries ago, teahouses owned by locals, the forests of Langtang National Park, and much more. 

 In the national park, we’ll have the chance to see red pandas, Himalayan black bears, snow leopards, and more than 250 species of birds. Villages along this trek also offer unique tourism opportunities, such as a trip to a yak cheese factory.

Reminisce with us on last year’s Langtang trek with this video. Want to join us in 2025? This year, our trip is scheduled November 1-21, and space is limited. Learn more and register here.

Want more? In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out stories from previous trip attendants, stories on what the service component entails, and more.