Trails in Karnali Province
15 mapped routes in Karnali Province: 8 off-road 4x4 routes, 5 scenic drives and 2 hiking trails. Together they cover 1,613 km with 34,335 m of climbing, and the highest point reaches 5,115 m. Every route has a GPX download, elevation profile, gradient and surface analysis.
- Mapped routes
- 15
- Total distance
- 1,613km
- Total climbing
- 34,335m
- Highest point
- 5,115m
- Water crossings
- 170
Destination guide
About trails in Karnali Province
Karnali is Nepal's most remote province, and its routes cross high, lightly traveled country in the far west. Rara Lake Hike from Jumla Airport is a demanding multi-day trek over ridges above 3,700 m to Nepal's largest lake, inside Rara National Park. In Humla, the Sarkegad to Simikot - Humla route follows the Karnali gorge up toward the district headquarters.
Beyond Simikot, the Simikot to Limi Valley Expedition goes into the Limi valley, a Tibetan Buddhist area of old monasteries and high pastures close to the Tibet border. Nayalu pass - Tumling (limi valley) crosses a pass near 5,000 m, and the Limi tracks end at Lapcha, where there is a view of Mount Kailash across the border. At lower elevation, Chisapani to Kalikot - Karnali Traverse follows the Karnali river corridor on a rough road.
- Best time to go
- May to October suits upper Humla and Limi, which lie in a rain shadow. For Rara and the lower Karnali roads, spring (April to May) and autumn (late September to November) are better, because monsoon rain from June to September causes landslides.
- Terrain
- Most routes are hard or extreme, on dirt roads cut into gorges, rocky trails and passes near 5,000 m. Many routes are far from any help, so plan to be self-sufficient.
- Permits & access
- Upper Humla, including Limi, is a restricted area. Foreigners need a special permit arranged through a registered trekking agency, usually for groups of two or more. Rara National Park charges an entry fee, and Simikot and Jumla are usually reached by small plane from Nepalgunj.
Difficulty spectrum
How hard are trails in Karnali Province?
- Moderate
- 27%4 trails
- Hard
- 47%7 trails
- Extreme
- 27%4 trails
Signature routes
Limitless routes in Karnali Province
Interactive map
Map of trails in Karnali Province
4x4 & off-road routes in Karnali Province
View all 8 →Scenic drives in Karnali Province
View all 5 →Hiking trails in Karnali Province
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Navigate Karnali Province with TrailX
Download any route as GPX, or open it in the TrailX app to follow it on the trail and record your own.