What is the best mountain hike in 2010?  Maybe it is World Expeditions‘ new tour along the Great Himalaya Trail, the world’s longest alpine walking track.

The famous trail winds through the world’s largest mountains and remotest communities and five Asian countries (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan).  It covers more than 4,500km, from Namche Barwa in Tibet to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan.

Only the Nepal section (1,700km) is available to traverse since it has been walked and mapped thoroughly.  During the Nepal section,  all the country’s 8,000m peaks can be viewed along the legendary mountain trail.

Says Brad Atwal, World Expeditions’ UK manager says:

“While each section of the Great Himalaya Trail offers something distinctive and different, the entire traverse is united by the cause of exploring the paths less traveled and benefiting the most remote communities. In line with World Expeditions’ ethos, the financial benefits from these treks will be injected directly back into the host communities, many that never see a penny from tourism, through the ethical use of local guides, porters and carriers, as well as travelers’ purchase of food, drinks and authentic hand crafted artefacts.”

The full trail trip will take 157 days to complete but travelers can choose one of its seven stages.  The stages are:

• Stage 1: Kangchenjunga Exploratory (30 days)
• Stage 2: Makalu & Everest Travers via Sherpani Col (34 days)
• Stage 3: Everest & Rolwaling Traverse via Tashi Labsta Pass (28 days)
• Stage 4: Langtang via Tilman Pass (18 days)
• Stage 5: Manaslu & Annapurna (26 days)
• Stage 6: Upper Dolpo Traverse (26 days)
• Stage 7: Rara Lake & Yari Valley (23 days)

For more info, check out World Expeditions online.

Images courtesy of World Expeditions

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