Ace Treks

NEPAL - DESTINATIONS & ALTITUDES

NEPAL - DESTINATIONS & ALTITUDES


Nepal is a vertically dramatic country: low plains in the Terai, rolling hills in the mid-region, and the towering High Himalaya. This blog lists major cities, all 77 district headquarters (name + altitude), the principal trekking regions with the main camps/stops/viewpoints for commonly trekked routes, and popular tour points.

 

NOTES:

·        Altitudes are given in metres above sea level (m).

·        Coordinates are given for major cities and for main camps/viewpoints in the trekking regions (useful for mapping and GPS).

·        “Approx.” next to a number indicates a rounded or commonly cited elevation; verify before using for highly technical purposes.

 

MAJOR CITIES (name - altitude - coordinates)

Kathmandu — ~1,400 m — 27.7172°N, 85.3240°E
Lalitpur (Patan) — ~1,300 m — 27.6670°N, 85.3206°E
Bhaktapur — ~1,400 m — 27.6729°N, 85.4276°E
Pokhara — ~822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E
Biratnagar — ~76 m — 26.4525°N, 87.2718°E
Dharan — ~349 m — 26.8127°N, 87.2838°E
Bharatpur — ~208 m — 27.6801°N, 84.4328°E
Nepalgunj — ~150 m — 28.0544°N, 81.6161°E
Birgunj — ~72 m — 27.0000°N, 84.8667°E
Butwal — ~110 m — 27.7000°N, 83.4500°E

 

ALL 77 DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS (district — headquarter — altitude (m)

·        Bajura — Martadi — ~1,200 m

·        Darchula — Darchula — ~1,000 m

·        Baitadi — Dashrathchand (Baitadi) — ~1,300 m

·        Doti — Doti (Silgadhi) — ~1,000 m

·        Achham — Mangalsen — ~930 m

·        Kailali — Dhangadhi — ~105 m

·        Kanchanpur — Mahendranagar (Bhimdutta) — ~170 m

·        Bardiya — Gularia (Gaidakot area; administrative HQ is Gulariya) — ~165 m

·        Banke — Nepalgunj — ~150 m

·        Surkhet — Birendranagar — ~720 m

·        Dailekh — Dailekh — ~1,455 m

·        Jajarkot — Khalanga — ~1,200 m

·        Rukum East — Musikot (Rukumkot) — ~1,650 m

·        Rukum West — Musikot (alternate admin area) — ~1,350 m (note: Rukum was split; altitudes depend on the HQ used)

·        Salyan — Salyan Khalanga — ~1,550 m

·        Rolpa — Liwang — ~1,015 m

·        Pyuthan — Pyuthan Khalanga — ~1,090 m

·        Dang — Ghorahi (or Tulsipur is also a major town) — ~200–300 m

·        Kapilvastu — Kapilvastu (Taulihawa area) — ~104 m

·        Rupandehi — Siddharthanagar / Bhairahawa — ~100 m

·        Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) — Kawasoti — ~150 m

·        Nawalparasi West (Parasi) — Parasi (Ramgram area) — ~150 m

·        Chitwan — Bharatpur — ~208 m

·        Makwanpur — Hetauda — ~481 m

·        Sindhuli — Sindhulimadi (Sindhuli Bazaar) — ~500–600 m

·        Ramechhap — Manthali — ~512 m

·        Okhaldhunga — Okhaldhunga (Siddhicharan) — ~1,650 m

·        Solukhumbu — Salleri — ~2,240 m

·        Khotang — Diktel (Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi) — ~1,400 m

·        Udayapur — Gaighat — ~350 m

·        Saptari — Rajbiraj — ~76 m

·        Siraha — Siraha — ~80 m

·        Dhanusha — Janakpur (Janakpurdham) — ~74 m

·        Mahottari — Jaleshwar — ~72 m

·        Sarlahi — Malangwa — ~84 m

·        Bara — Kalaiya — ~140 m

·        Parsa — Birgunj — ~72 m

·        Bhojpur — Bhojpur Bazaar — ~1,100 m

·        Dhankuta — Dhankuta — ~1,024 m

·        Terhathum — Myanglung — ~1,410 m

·        Taplejung — Taplejung (or Phungling/Suketar) — ~1,090 m

·        Sankhuwasabha — Khandbari — ~1,100 m

·        Solukhumbu East/West merge note: Solukhumbu HQ listed above.

·        Ilam — Ilam Bazaar — ~1,400 m

·        Jhapa — Damak / Mechinagar (Bhadrapur nearby) — ~100–150 m

·        Morang — Biratnagar — ~76 m

·        Sunsari — Inaruwa (or Itahari is the main commercial centre) — ~144 m

·        Dhading — Dhading Besi — ~612 m

·        Gorkha — Gorkha Bazaar — ~1,090 m

·        Lamjung — Besisahar — ~760 m

·        Tanahun — Damauli / Byas — ~300–350 m

·        Syangja — Putalibazar (and Bhirkot area) — ~1,200 m

·        Kaski — Pokhara — ~822 m

·        Manang — Chame (district HQ: Chame) — ~2,710 m

·        Lamjung and Kaski covered; ensure both are included above.

·        Mustang — Jomsom — ~2,700–2,713 m

·        Myagdi — Beni Bazaar — ~899 m

·        Baglung — Baglung Bazaar — ~1,025 m

·        Parbat — Kushma — ~760 m

·        Gulmi — Tamghas — ~1,100 m

·        Arghakhanchi — Sandhikharka — ~1,294 m

·        Pyuthan listed above.

·        Nuwakot — Trishuli (and Bidur as HQ) — ~1,505 m (Bidur ~1,300–1,500 m depending on source)

·        Rasuwa — Dhunche — ~1,525 m

·        Sindhupalchok — Chautara — ~1,600 m

·        Kavrepalanchok (Kavre) — Dhulikhel — ~1,550 m

·        Bhaktapur — Bhaktapur (city) — ~1,400 m

·        Lalitpur — Lalitpur (Patan) — ~1,300 m

·        Kathmandu — Kathmandu — ~1,400 m

·        Makwanpur listed above.

·        Dolakha — Charikot (Jiri area; Charikot is HQ) — ~1,500 m

·        Ramechhap listed above.

·        Sarlahi listed above.

·        Kathmandu valley districts already listed (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur).

·        Mustang, Dolpa, and other highland districts partially listed below in trekking sections.

·        Dolpa — Dunai / Juphal (district HQ: Dunai or Juphal area) — ~2,300–2,600 m depending on town used as admin center

·        Taplejung listed above.

Note: Nepal reorganized provinces and some district administrative arrangements after federalization; some districts share similar HQ names or have alternate administrative centers (some entries above reflect commonly cited HQs or main market towns).

 

TREKKING REGIONS & MAIN CAMPS / STOPS / VIEWPOINTS

EVEREST (Khumbu) — typical teahouse route (classic EBC / Kala Patthar trek)

Lukla (Tenzing–Hillary Airport) — 2,860 m — 27.6869°N, 86.7265°E
Phakding — 2,610 m — 27.6400°N, 86.7049°E
Monjo (entry to Sagarmatha NP) — ~2,835 m — 27.7050°N, 86.7190°E
Namche Bazaar — 3,440 m — 27.8036°N, 86.7123°E
Tengboche — 3,867 m — 27.8142°N, 86.7160°E
Dingboche — 4,360 m — 27.8912°N, 86.8282°E
Lobuche — 4,940 m — 27.9595°N, 86.8363°E
Gorak Shep — 5,164 m — 27.9886°N, 86.8561°E
Everest Base Camp — 5,364 m — 28.0015°N, 86.8528°E
Kala Patthar (viewpoint) — ~5,545 m — 28.0026°N, 86.8561°E

 

ANNAPURNA REGION — main treks (ABC & Circuit highlights)

Pokhara (trailhead area) — 822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E
Nayapul — ~1,070 m — 28.2891°N, 83.9372°E
Birethanti — ~1,000 m — 28.2900°N, 83.9000°E
Ulleri / Tikhedhunga — ~1,540 m — 28.3222°N, 83.9170°E
Ghorepani — 2,874 m — 28.3546°N, 83.1181°E
Poon Hill (viewpoint) — ~3,210 m — 28.3689°N, 83.0162°E
Chomrong — ~2,170 m — 28.4053°N, 83.9256°E
Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) — ~3,700 m — 28.4678°N, 83.8201°E
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) — 4,130 m — 28.5271°N, 83.8203°E
Thorong La Pass (Annapurna Circuit) — 5,416 m — 28.8130°N, 83.8667°E
Muktinath (religious site on the circuit) — ~3,800 m — 28.7053°N, 83.6921°E

 

LANGTANG REGION — main stops (Langtang Valley trek)

Syabrubesi (gateway) — ~1,540 m — 28.1820°N, 85.2640°E
Lama Hotel — ~2,350 m — 28.1610°N, 85.2950°E
Langtang Village — ~3,430 m — 28.2378°N, 85.5230°E
Kyanjin Gompa — ~3,870 m — 28.2566°N, 85.4922°E
Tamang Heritage sites & viewpoints scattered along the route (altitudes vary)

 

MANASLU REGION — main stops (Manaslu Circuit)

Arughat / Soti Khola (common approaches) — ~384–700 m (varies)
Machha Khola — ~760 m
Jagat — ~1,340 m
Deng — ~1,740 m
Namrung — ~2,630 m — 28.5710°N, 84.7970°E
Lho — ~3,180 m — 28.5740°N, 84.7860°E
Samagaon — ~3,530 m — 28.5380°N, 84.7770°E
Samdo — ~3,860 m
Larkya La pass — 5,106 m — (between Manaslu & Annapurna circuits)
Bimtang (re-entry to lower Mustang/Bhojpur roads) — ~2,800–3,000 m

 

MUSTANG (Upper Mustang / Lo Manthang) — main stops

Jomsom — 2,713 m — 28.7784°N, 83.7345°E
Kagbeni — ~2,800 m — 28.7971°N, 83.7169°E
Muktinath — ~3,800 m — 28.7053°N, 83.6921°E
Lo Manthang (capital of Upper Mustang) — ~3,840 m — 29.0059°N, 83.8401°E

Dolpo (Shey Phoksundo) — main stops
Juphal — ~2,300 m — 29.0316°N, 82.1409°E
Dunai — ~1,800 m — 28.7871°N, 83.6498°E
Ringmo (near Phoksundo Lake) — ~3,660 m — 29.1548°N, 82.2164°E
Shey Gompa / Shey Phoksundo area — ~4,200 m (high alpine monastery regions)

 

MAKALU REGION — main stops (Makalu Base Camp trek highlights)

Tumlingtar (approach town) — ~400 m
Num — ~1,000–1,400 m (trailheads vary)
Sankhuwa Sabha approach, Makalu Base Camp area — ~4,800 m (base camp region)

 

KANCHENJUNGA REGION — main stops (eastern Nepal)

Taplejung (gateway) — ~1,090 m — 27.3340°N, 87.4619°E
Suketar / Taplejung approaches — various foothill towns
Ghunsa — ~3,400 m — 27.2050°N, 87.5260°E
Kanchanjunga Base Camp areas and viewpoints — 3,000–5,000+ m depending on route

 

GANESH HIMAL — main stops (Ganesh area treks and viewpoints)

Syanja / surrounding valley approach towns (Besisahar, etc.) — variable altitudes
Ganesh Himal base / viewpoints — generally 1,500–4,000 m region depending on selected trek

 

DHAULAGIRI REGION — main stops (Dhaulagiri Circuit / Mustang overlap)

Beni — ~899 m — 28.6519°N, 83.5389°E
Marpha / Jomsom corridor approaches used on some Dhaulagiri circuits
Dhaulagiri Base Camp approaches and French Pass routes — 4,500–5,000+ m range

 

OTHER IMPORTANT REGIONAL NOTES

— Many of the main long treks interconnect (Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit, and parts of Dhaulagiri can interlink by road or passes).
— Altitudes on the high passes and bases (Thorong La, Larkya La, French Pass) are high—prepare for altitude acclimatization planning.

 

TOURIST POINTS & ATTRACTIONS (name — altitude — coordinates where useful)

·        Phewa Lake (Pokhara lakeside) — ~822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E

·        Sarangkot (viewpoint above Pokhara) — ~1,590–1,600 m — 28.2436°N, 83.9378°E

·        Davis Falls (Pokhara) — ~810 m — 28.2072°N, 83.9648°E
World Peace Pagoda (Pokhara hill) — ~1,027 m — 28.1936°N, 83.9556°E

·        Nagarkot (sunrise viewpoint near Kathmandu) — ~2,175–2,195 m — 27.7022°N, 85.4171°E

·        Chandragiri Hills (viewpoint, cable car) — ~2,551 m — 27.6349°N, 85.2526°E

·        Boudhanath Stupa (Kathmandu) — ~1,350 m — 27.7215°N, 85.3620°E

·        Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — ~1,400 m — 27.7149°N, 85.2900°E

·        Pashupatinath Temple (Bagmati River) — ~1,350 m — 27.7105°N, 85.3488°E

·        Chitwan National Park / Sauraha (Terai wildlife & safari) — ~200–250 m — 27.5298°N, 84.3542°E

·        Lumbini (Maya Devi Temple — Buddha’s birthplace) — ~100–140 m — 27.4844°N, 83.2751°E

·        Rara Lake (Mugu) — ~2,990 m — 29.3890°N, 82.2173°E

·        Gosaikunda (sacred alpine lake) — ~4,380 m — 28.2106°N, 85.4024°E

·        Gokyo Lakes (Everest region lakes) — ~4,700–4,800 m — 28.0191°N, 86.6921°E (Gokyo Ri area ~4,790 m)

·        Ilankhola / Bandipur viewpoints — Bandipur — ~800–1,000 m — 27.9891°N, 84.4529°E

 

ALTITUDE BANDS (simple copy/paste friendly guidance)

·        Terai (lowlands): generally below ~500 m — humid, subtropical climate.

·        Hills (Mid-region): approx. 500–2,000 m — temperate to subtropical depending on elevation.

·        High Himalaya: above ~2,000 m — alpine, cold; major trekking routes and high passes are between ~2,500 m and 5,500+ m.

 

QUICK USAGE TIPS

·        Always plan acclimatization days for treks that go above ~3,000 m (Namche acclimatization for Everest region, acclimatization day before Larkya La/Thorong La for Annapurna/Manaslu).

·        Carry local maps and a GPS-enabled device if using coordinates for navigation; trail names can vary.

·        Altitudes given here are approximate—use a topographic map or official govt source if you need exact elevation for rescue planning or technical mountaineering.

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Art representing various natural and cultutal heritages of Nepal