For those who revel in thin air and prefer staying close to the summits, Khumbu is an unmistakable choice. But for those who want it all-from subtropical valleys to snow-bound passes and the high desert landscape - the Annapurna-manaslu region has it.
The ecological diversity of the central west Himalayan supports a great variety of wildlife, from rhesus and languor monkeys and wild boar to musk deer, black bear, and blue sheep, with some 440 recorded bird species. Distinct religious and ethnic communities, each with a different lifestyle, follow altitudinal gradients: the Hindus of Aryan descent occupy lowland valleys, while Gurungs and Magars, Mongoloid in features, populate the middle hills; Manangis, Lopa, and Thakalis, evidently from Tibet in face and culture, eke out a living in windswept valleys to the north. Deep in the gorges, ammonite fossils abound and holy waters gush forth; snow-capped peaks create a natural amphitheatre. Most treks begin or end near Pokhara, a lake side retreat accessible by road or air.

• Jomsom to Pokhara
  13 days trekking. Moderate. Camping or Lodge Trek. Min/Max: 900m-3,600m.
  If you haven’t enough time to circle the Annapurnas, just do half of it: fly up one of the deepest gorges in the world – squeezing between Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I, both 8,000m – and land at Jomsom (2,700m/8,858ft) amidst the stunning high desert scenery of the upper Kali Gandaki River. You’ll begin by visiting Muktinath, a millennia-old holy spot, and visit ancient fortress settlements of your way down the Kali Gandaki. An overnight stop at Tatopani “hot springs” prepares you for the climb to Ghorepani and Poon Hill for a spectacular sunrise view on the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri range.
• Poon Hill
  10 days trekking. Moderate. Camping or Lodge Stay Trek. Min/Max: 2,000m-3,350m.
  This trek visits the thriving Gurung settlement of Ghandruk, where many ex-Gurkha soldiers run cozy lodges. It winds through the magical rhododendron forest that inspired the setting fro the Hobbit trilogy. At Ghorepani, the ridge-line trail meets a major trade route, plied by donkey trains carrying loads north toward Tibet. An early morning climb up to Poon Hill (3,200m/10,500ft) rewards you with panoramic views of the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail Peak), and Dhaulagiri. During spring, rhododendron trees are ablaze with red, pink and ivory blossoms.
• Annapurna Sanctuary
  15 days trekking. Moderately Challenging. Camping or Lodge Stay Trek. Min/Max: 900m-100m.
  Considered by local Gurungs to be the throne of the gods, the Annapurna Sanctuary is a natural amphitheatre ringed by ice-bound peaks towering to 6-, 7- and 8000m/26,247ft. From Pokhara, you’ll trace an ancient trade route to Ghandruk, the headquarters or the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP0, internationally know for its conservation and development activities. Sacred Machhapuchhre peak guards the Sanctuary entrance, a shady gorge harboring bamboo groves, and countless birds. The Sanctuary is ideal for scouting out climbing routes on one of the popular nearby Trekking Peaks (See Treks Plus Peaks below).
• Annapurna Circuit
  22 days trekking. Challenging. Camping or Lodge Trek. Min/Max: 500m/5,500m.
  This classic trek circles the magnificent Annapurna massif, crossing a 5,416m/17,716ft pass that separates two major river valleys: the Marsyangdi and the Kali Gandaki, each with its own unique climatic and cultural identity. On this timeless journey, you’ll pass through nearly every ecological zone in the central Himalaya. Although this is one of the most popular treks in Nepal, boasting well tended lodges and gourmet mountain menus, there are plenty of opportunities for getting away and enjoying quiet village life. This is indeed the best of all worlds: high mountain scenery and an immense variety of lifestyles, wildlife, and vegetation.
• Around Dhaulagiri
  25 days trekking. Challenging. Champing Trek. Min/Max: 1,000m-5,700m.
  The impressive Dhaulagiri Himalaya is the centerpiece of this strenuous trek. Beginning near Pokhara, riverside trails follow the mountain’s southern and western flanks, leading into the shadow of Dhaulagiri I (8,167m/26,795ft). Gaining elevation, you’ll spend the night at Base Camp before crossing two 5000+m/16,400ft passes to the Kali Gandaki River valley. This route follows the footsteps of early trader and conquerors. This trek is for the true adventurer, exploring seldom visited and remote corners of central-west Nepal, where few amenities but unspoiled natural beauty are known.

• Dhdh Pokhari Trek
  14 days trekking. Moderate. Camping Trek. Min/Max: 1,000m/3,500m.
  A 17th century place crowns the hilltop town of Gorkha, once capital of the emerging Kingdom of Nepal. A stone staircase begins the ascent northward into the lap of Himalchuli, Baudha and Ganesh HImal. The trail descends through forest and vale to the tidy village of Barpak, and continues west through terraced farm lands and high grazing pastures. Tucked into the rocky slopes, Dudh Pokhari (Milk Lake, 4,270m/14,000ft) lies hidden in mists. The route turns south, descending through fir and rhododendron forests to follow a long, village-dotted ridge before ending near the Dorandi Khola (river) below Gorkha.
• Siklis Stroll
  11 days trekking. Gentle. Camping Trek. Min/Max: 900m-3,300m.
  Off the beaten Annapurna circuits, the
  Siklis trek offers a quick getaway with superior close-up mountain views and true village4 experience. Beginning in Pokhara, the route climbs gently into a side valley leading to Siklis (2,000m/6,561ft), a centuries-old Gurung settlement that retains much of its traditional charm. From meadows above the village, views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre loom overhead. After a restful reprieve, you’ll follow the Modi Khola Back to Pokhara.
• Magic Manaslu
  29 days trekking. Challenging. Camping Trek. Min/Max: 1,150m/5,200m.
  Circumnavigation of the holy mountain Manaslu is considered auspicious to the Nepalese and is now a privilege that trekkers can enjoy. The Manaslu trail has been described as nothing short of magical, with thick fir forests like no place else in Nepal. Beginning in Gorkha, the route heads north, undulating between ridge tops and river gorges, into the wooded central Himal. Rounding the eastern shoulder of Manaslu (8,163m/26,781ft) you’ll be transformed to the high plains of Tibet, where rugged peoples of Tibetan stock live in flat-roofed timber houses and worship at secluded Buddhist monasteries. Larkya La (pass) marks the divide between Manaslu’s less-trekked western flanks and the Marsyangdi River valley. The circle finishes in Pokhara.
• Ancient Relics: Upper Mustang
  13 or 20 days trekking. Moderately Challenging. Camping Trek. Min/Max: 2,730m/4,877m.
  The upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki River valley are geographically and climatically part of the Tibetan plateau; and though within Nepal, the Mustang region, as it is known, and the people of Lo Manthang the Lo-pa are culturally and physically very much Tibetan. The Nepal government has recently allowed tourists to visit Upper Mustang.
  This area is not for everyone, with its harsh dry climate and rugged terrain, but those who venture forth are treated to artifacts and encounters of one of the last reaining Himalayan kingdoms, with its walled citied and cliff-side cave dwellings, the landscape is unearthly with strangely twisted landforms and vibrant natural colors. The trek route begins and ends with a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom.