The two most popular trekking regions of Nepal are the Annapurna and Everest ranges. Each region is undisputedly home to some of the best trekking and most staggering scenery found anywhere on Earth, though plenty of off-the-beaten track routes through lesser-known areas offer equal enjoyment.
The Annapurnas are probably the most accessible 8,000m range in the world. The scenery in the foothills is homely, with small, colourful villages ringed with bright green agricultural terraces and forested mountains, but the towering giants are always there: Annapurnas I to IV, Gangapurna, and the instantly recognisable Machapuchare, or Fish Tail Mountain. The massif is, in total, 55 kilometres long. The Annapurnas offer some of the greatest variety in scenery, from ancient forests of oak and rhododendron to high plateaux, thundering rivers, Alpine scrub and semi-desert akin to Tibet. This precious ecosystem was the first and remains the largest conservation area in the country. It is home to Poon Hill, sometimes called the best sunrise in Nepal, and perhaps the greatest natural amphitheatre in existence, the Annapurna Sanctuary. Our treks here also visit Pokhara, a lakeside town known for its paragliders and adventure seekers looking for a more relaxed feel than bustling Kathmandu.
Everest Region
The Everest region is deservedly famous for its sublime beauty. It is home to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 8,848m, and has a prestigious trekking and climbing pedigree as a result. Trek here, amidst the Sherpa heartland, and you’ll be following the footsteps of Tensing, Mallory and countless other explorers and climbers of the past. All our Everest treks start with a short dramatic flight through the mountains to Lukla, inaccessible by road, and the gateway to perhaps the most famous trek of all, Everest Base Camp. Compared to the Annapurnas, the Everest region is starker – higher altitudes mean lower temperatures, and the rarefied air is pure and crisp. Most routes quickly ascend past the tree line to uninterrupted views of the gigantic, snow-clad Himalayan peaks and huge glaciers all around. Highlights include the rainbow-hued monastery at Thyangboche and the Gokyo Valley, renowned for its chain of stunning turquoise glacial lakes.
