April is one of the best months to be in the Nepalese Himalayas. The pre-monsoon season brings clear skies, comfortable temperatures in the lower valleys and spectacular mountain visibility before the clouds build in the afternoons. Rhododendrons are in full bloom at mid-altitude — the forests are extraordinary.

Daytime temperatures in the lower valleys will feel warm, particularly due to strong direct sunlight. As you climb, conditions change quickly — expect it to be cold and potentially below freezing at higher camps, especially overnight. At Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) and Mardi High Camp (4,500m), night temperatures can drop to -10°C or below.

Rain is possible at any stage, particularly in the afternoons. A light waterproof is essential even in April. We send a thorough kit list well in advance — read it carefully and pack accordingly. The mountain will always have the final word on conditions.

All travellers to Nepal require a valid passport with at least six months' validity beyond your expected departure date. A tourist visa is required and can be obtained either online in advance via the Nepal Department of Immigration website, or on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

If obtaining your visa on arrival, bring the current fee in cash (US$30 for a 15-day single entry) plus two passport-sized photographs. These photographs are also required for your national park permits, which we arrange on your behalf once you arrive — so bring a few spares to be safe.

We recommend applying online in advance where possible to avoid queues at the airport, particularly if arriving on a busy international flight.

Comprehensive travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover is non-negotiable on this trip. This is not a standard travel insurance requirement — it is a safety essential. The Annapurna and Mardi Himal routes reach altitudes above 4,000m in remote mountain terrain, and helicopter evacuation is the only realistic option in the event of a serious medical emergency at altitude.

Your policy must explicitly cover trekking and trail running at altitudes above 4,000m, and must include emergency helicopter rescue and medical evacuation. Many standard travel insurance policies exclude this — check your policy wording carefully before you book.

Providers such as Battleface, True Traveller, and World Nomads offer suitable adventure travel policies. We will ask you to confirm your insurance details before departure. If you are unsure whether your existing policy is adequate, please contact us and we can advise.

International flights to and from Kathmandu (KTM — Tribhuvan International Airport) are not included in the trip price and are booked independently. We recommend arriving the evening before Day 1 where possible to give yourself time to clear immigration, collect luggage and settle in before the trip begins the following morning.

Most guests fly via a Middle Eastern hub (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) or with carriers such as Turkish Airlines — typical flying times from the UK are 10–13 hours including connection. We recommend booking refundable or flexible fares where possible given the nature of high-altitude adventure travel.

The internal return flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara is included in your trip cost and arranged by us. This is a 30-minute domestic flight — no additional booking is required on your part.

Once you have booked your trip, please share your arrival and departure details with us. We will arrange your airport transfer from the moment you land.

Kathmandu and Pokhara both have an excellent range of restaurants covering most tastes and dietary requirements — Italian, Indian, American, Japanese and everything in between. You will not go hungry in the cities.

On the trail, the national dish is Dhal Bhat — a wholesome thali-style meal of rice, lentils, fried vegetables and local chilli, served in generous portions that are typically refilled without being asked. It is filling, nutritious and exactly what your body needs after a big day in the mountains.

Tea house menus are more varied than most people expect, often featuring pasta, noodle soups, fried rice, omelettes and even pizza. For vegetarians, fresh vegetables are abundant throughout. Gluten and lactose intolerances can usually be accommodated with advance notice — please let us know when you book so we can brief the team accordingly. Strict vegan requirements can be more challenging at higher altitudes but are manageable with planning.

The terrain varies enormously across the thirteen days. In the lower valleys you will run through lush rhododendron and oak forest on wide, well-defined trails at altitudes of 700–1,500m — often along glacial rivers on undulating, runnable paths with frequent village stops. These sections are genuinely enjoyable trail running.

As you gain altitude the character of the terrain changes significantly. Stone steps become more frequent, the trails narrow, and the landscape opens up to high mountain plains, boulder fields and ridgelines with peaks above 7,000m all around. Above 3,500m the trails become more hiking than running — this is entirely normal and expected.

The trails are well-marked and clearly defined throughout, passing through Gurung and Magar villages at every stage. That said, this is Nepal — there is substantial uphill involved across every stage, and the cumulative elevation across the trip is significant. The itinerary is carefully staged to allow proper acclimatisation, but you should arrive with a good base of hill fitness and be comfortable moving uphill for sustained periods.

Our porters leave the tea house around 05:00 each morning, carrying your soft luggage ahead to the next destination so you can set out with a light daypack. We depart after breakfast at around 08:00, when skies are clearest and temperatures are at their most comfortable.

On average you will be on your feet for 3–6 hours, covering 7–23km depending on the stage. We stop regularly for water, snacks and to take in the views — this is not a race, and the pace is set to keep everyone comfortable and together. A scheduled sit-down lunch at a tea house or viewpoint comes around midday.

We typically arrive at the next tea house between 14:00 and 16:00, giving time to relax, freshen up and explore the village before an evening briefing over dinner. An early night by 20:00–21:00 is the norm on the trail — your body will want it. Our guides and local team will brief you each evening on the following day's route, conditions and anything you need to prepare.

Altitude sickness must be taken seriously, and we do not understate its significance. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect anyone regardless of fitness level — even very experienced runners can be impacted if they ascend too quickly. Symptoms can begin as low as 2,400m and include headache, nausea, fatigue and disrupted sleep. More serious conditions — High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) — are rare but can become life-threatening if ignored.

Our itinerary is designed with acclimatisation built in at every stage. We do not rush the ascent, and we monitor every member of the group daily using pulse oximeters to track oxygen saturation and heart rate. Any symptoms reported to the guides are taken seriously, and we will always err on the side of caution.

Some guests choose to take Acetazolamide (Diamox) as a preventative measure. This is a prescription medication — if you are considering it, speak to your GP or a travel health clinic before departure. We can share further guidance on this during your pre-departure briefing.

The most important thing you can do is communicate. If you feel unwell at any point, tell a guide immediately. Descending even a short distance is often enough to resolve early symptoms. Never try to push through altitude sickness — the mountain will always be there next year.

This is a Challenging grade trip. You do not need to be an elite runner, but you do need to arrive with a solid base of fitness and a genuine comfort with sustained uphill movement over multiple consecutive days.

Daily stages range from 7 to 23km, with significant elevation gain on most days and back-to-back active days throughout. Much of the higher-altitude sections will be hiked rather than run — that is entirely expected and correct. What matters is your ability to keep moving comfortably for 4–6 hours and to recover well enough to do it again the next morning.

In the 8–12 weeks before the trip, we recommend running or hiking 3–4 times per week with a focus on hill work and back-to-back training days. If you are in any doubt about your readiness, book a free 10-minute call with us and we will give you an honest assessment.

Tipping is an important part of the local economy in Nepal and is warmly appreciated by the porters, tea house staff and local guides who work hard to make the trip possible. It is entirely voluntary but very much the norm.

As a guide, many groups collectively tip the porter and local guide team at the end of the trail. A contribution of US$5–10 per person per day is a reasonable benchmark for the trekking team as a whole, though there is no fixed expectation — give what feels right for the experience you've had.

Bring some small denomination USD or Nepali Rupees in cash for tipping. Cards are not accepted in mountain tea houses and cash availability becomes limited above the lower valleys.

Almost everything is included in your trip cost — accommodation, meals on the trail, internal flights, transfers and permits. Your main additional expenses will be drinks and snacks beyond what's provided, any optional activities or shopping in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and personal items like rehydration salts or medication.

Nepal is very affordable by Western standards. Budget roughly US$15–25 per day for additional drinks, snacks and incidentals on the trail. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, a good meal out costs US$5–15 and a beer around US$2–4.

Bring a mix of USD cash and Nepali Rupees. USD is widely accepted for visa fees and larger purchases. ATMs are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara but are not accessible on the trail — withdraw enough cash before you set out. Credit cards are accepted at most city hotels and larger restaurants but not in mountain tea houses.

Nearly 90% of our guests travel solo — and almost all of them say it was the best decision they made. Pure Trails trips are genuinely built for solo travellers. You will meet people who share exactly the same interests, and the intensity of a multi-day mountain adventure creates friendships faster than almost anything else.

Shared twin accommodation is included as standard throughout the trip — you will be paired with a fellow solo guest of the same gender. If you would prefer your own room in Kathmandu and Pokhara, a private room upgrade is available for £195pp. Tea houses on the trail are twin share only — private rooms are not available in the mountains.

If you have any concerns about travelling solo to Nepal, please reach out. We have been running solo-friendly trips since 2019 and are happy to walk you through what to expect.

We understand that life is unpredictable. Our full cancellation terms are outlined in our Terms and Conditions, but in summary:

141+ days before departure: Full refund less the non-refundable deposit.
85–140 days before departure: 50% refund of sums paid, less the deposit.
84 days or fewer before departure: No refund — all sums paid are forfeited.

We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance that includes trip cancellation cover at the time of booking, not just before departure. Unexpected circumstances can arise at any point, and a good cancellation policy in your insurance will protect your investment.