Naturalist-led trekking in Nepal
Small groups across Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Manaslu and the lowland reserves. Same guides every season, the same village teahouses, porter wages we publish. Run from Kathmandu by Vimal Kumar Thapa.
Naturalist-led from Kathmandu since 2007
Founded in 2007 by Vimal Kumar Thapa, a Kathmandu-based guide focused on naturalist-led trekking and President of Bird Conservation Nepal. Nature Treks Himalaya runs small-group, community-first trekking from Kathmandu — slow itineraries, locally-owned teahouses, named guides, porter wages we publish.
“I manage this company personally, not just as a business, but as a mission. Every trek I lead, every bird I help visitors spot, every teahouse family we book through and pay—it's all connected.”
With 30+ years of guiding behind him, Vimal runs trips around what the landscape is actually doing — which birds are in which canopy this season, which teahouse family is hosting, which village just changed its water source.
Four things we do differently
Each one is operational, not aspirational — published numbers, named partners, group caps that don't move.
Naturalist-led, not just guided
Our lead guides read the landscape. They name the bird in the canopy (Himalayan Monal at 3,500m; Satyr Tragopan in mid-hill rhododendron), point out the ethnobotany along the trail, and explain who farms which terraces.
Community-first since 2007
Operating since 2007 from Kathmandu. Trips stay at locally-owned teahouses we have worked with for years. Porter wages and in-region revenue share are published — see /about/ecotourism.
Small groups, capped
Group sizes capped at 12. We do not raise the cap to fit demand. Porter ratio published per trip; loads stay within IPPG guidelines.
Conservation funding, named
Each trip price includes a community-forest user-group (CFUG) revenue share. Partner CFUGs, the share amount, and the most recent audit are listed on /about/ecotourism — alongside where we still fall short.
Teahouse treks through Annapurna and Everest
Our most-booked multi-day treks — small groups, named guides, locally-owned teahouses.
Rhododendrons of Milke Danda
A 16-day botanical walk from Basantapur to Tumlingtar along the Tinjure–Milke–Jaljale ridge in east Nepal's Koshi hills, topping out around 3,200 m on Milke Danda. Expect rhododendron forest in bloom — Rhododendron arboreum among them — and mid-hill cloud forest, not megafauna. Small group (min 4), naturalist-led, walking through Basantapur, Chauki, Gupha Pokhari, Milke Danda, and Khandbari.
Snow Leopard Tracking — Nar Phu Valley
A trans-Himalayan expedition of 18 days into the Nar Phu valley behind the Annapurna massif, tracking snow leopard (Panthera uncia, IUCN Vulnerable) and its blue sheep prey (Pseudois nayaur). Naturalist-led, with a community wildlife tracker on every expedition. Nar Phu is a restricted area; passes here sit above 5,000 m. Sightings are not guaranteed — come for the landscape, treat the cat as a bonus.
Langtang Bird Trek
A walk-in birding trek through Langtang National Park, north of Kathmandu, with habitats running from riverside creeks to alpine pass. Park records list 380 bird species, ten of them globally threatened. The route names Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) on the Langtang Khola and crosses to Gosainkunda. Naturalist-led, locally-owned teahouses, IPPG-aligned porters.
Mohare Danda Community Eco Trek
Mohare Danda is an 11-day trip from Kathmandu with six days walking through Magar villages in Myagdi, topping out at 3,300 m on Mohare Hill for an Annapurna–Dhaulagiri panorama. Expect rhododendron forest, terraced millet and buckwheat, and community-owned lodges in Bas Kharka, Nangi, Mohare, Danda Kharka, and Tikot — a quieter ridge west of Poon Hill.
Khopra Ridge Community Trek
Khopra Ridge is a 17-day walk from Galeshwor, west of Pokhara, to the alpine bowl of Khayer Lake (4,600 m), with a ridge night at Khopra (3,660 m) facing Dhaulagiri I across the Kali Gandaki gorge. Expect oak and rhododendron forest, seven Magar villages, and community-owned lodges on every trekking night — the long, quiet alternative to the Annapurna Base Camp queues.
Upper Mustang Trek
A 14-day journey into Upper Mustang — the trans-Himalayan kingdom of Lo, closed to foreigners until 1992 and still a designated restricted area. Walk through eroded red and ochre canyons to Lo Manthang, the 600-year-old walled capital, with two days inside the city to explore the royal palace, three monasteries, and the surrounding Sky Caves of Mustang.
Beyond the classic routes
Base-camp treks are most of what we do — but not all of it. Specialist wildlife trips, cultural walks across Kathmandu Valley, and cross-border expeditions where we work with named local partners.
Wildlife tracking
Snow leopard expeditions in Dolpo (21–25 days, 2 departures/year), red panda tracking in Langtang and Mai Pokhari, Chitwan jeep + walking transects with park-licensed naturalists. Sighting probabilities published per trip — not guaranteed.
Cultural walks
Three- to five-day walks through Kathmandu Valley — Newari villages, Bouddha and Pashupatinath, the old salt-trade routes through Patan and Bhaktapur. Slow. Walkable. Hosted by Newari-speaking guides where possible.
Cross-border expeditions
Mt. Kailash pilgrimage (Tibet), Jumolhari Trek (Bhutan), Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand). Run jointly with named partner operators in each country — we do not subcontract anonymously.
Talk to a human
Tell us your dates, group size, and what you want to see. Vimal or one of our guides will reply within one business day from Kathmandu.Email and WhatsApp are the fastest. Phone works during Nepal office hours (9 am – 6 pm, NPT).
Best for detailed itinerary questions, custom trips, and group bookings. Reply within one business day.
Phone & WhatsApp
9 am – 6 pm Nepal Time (NPT, GMT+5:45). WhatsApp is faster outside hours.
Office (Kathmandu)
Thamel Marg, KathmanduNepal
Stop by for trek planning, gear questions, or a cup of chiya.
Monthly notes from the trail
A monthly note: which routes are open, what we're seeing in the field, and where we still fall short.