Lesotho Tours & Holidays
Nestled in the heart of South Africa, Lesotho is the ‘Kingdom in the Sky'.
This little landlocked country offers a pocket-sized package of stunning mountain scenery, hiking opportunities and wildlife spotting. With a fascinating cultural heritage and ample opportunity to get back to nature, Lesotho is a slice of mountain paradise.
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Explore tailor-made tripsLesotho at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Maseru (population 228,000)
POPULATION
2 million
CURRENCY
Loti (LSL)
LANGUAGE
Sesotho, English
TIME ZONE
(GMT+02:00) Harare, Pretoria
CALLING CODE
+266
ELECTRICITY
Type M (see D)
Learn more about Lesotho
Best time to visit Lesotho
There’s no bad time to visit Lesotho. October to April tends to be wetter, while winter (May to September) can be cold, dropping below freezing at night. The climate is mostly temperate all year round.
Geography and environment
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa. Perched on the highest part of the Drakensburg escarpment, this mountainous kingdom is filled with valleys and peaks. The lowland areas, which still soar 1000m above sea level, are home to most of the population, while the highlands are a magnet for adventurers looking to hike or pony trek between villages.
Top 5 mountain activities in Lesotho
Some of our favourite mountain activities in Lesthose.
1. Hiking
Pull on your boots and head to the hills to explore Lesotho’s mountains. The views are spectacular and you’re more likely to encounter a waterfall or San Bushman rock art than another human being.
2. Meet the Basotho
Take a walk through Malealea Village and leave with a bevvy of new friends. Curious kids and friendly adults will proudly show you around and introduce you to their traditions.
3. Pony trekking
If you prefer four legs to two, then there’s nowhere better to get on a horse (or pony) and ride than Lesotho. Set out with a guide to explore the countryside on a short or overnight trek.
4. Explore canyons
Take a hike to the stunning Pitseng Canyon. Walk under overhanging cliff faces and past cascading rockpools where, if it’s warm enough, you can take a dip.
5. Wildlife spotting
Lesotho boasts some spectacular wildlife-spotting opportunities. Keep an eye out for rare birds, vultures, meerkats, jackals, mountain reedbuck and baboons.
Lesotho travel FAQs
Entry permits are issued free of charge on arrival for most nationalities, including foreign nationals from the EU, US and Australia. All nationalities should check with their nearest Lesotho Embassy for more information.
A service charge of 10 to 15% may be added to your bill. If not, tipping is at your discretion.
Most hotels and guesthouses, shopping malls and cafes will have Wi-Fi. Connections can be slow or intermittent in more remote and rural areas.
Mobile phone reception is good in urban areas. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your carrier if you wish to use your phone. Roaming fees are often expensive, so check beforehand and perhaps consider buying a local SIM instead.
Lesotho has a combination of modern flushable toilets and squat/pit toilets, depending on where you are travelling and staying. Generally large hotels, modern restaurants and city cafes have flushable toilets, while remote areas have squat toilets.
Tap water is considered safe to drink, however, outside the main towns it’s advised to sterilise or filter the water. For environmental reasons, try to avoid bottled water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found.
Most credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants, but it's best to check with your bank before you depart.
ATMs are available in most main towns, but they can be unreliable. You can also withdraw cash from a bank using your card.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State