Trekking out West is like stepping into another time zone: Tibetan traders still ply the Himalayan passes, while the remnants of early Hindu king’s castles stand atop rock promontories. Carved wooden statues mounted on bridge postings are reminders of the animist beliefs of this remote corner of the Himalaya.

• The Wild West: Jumla to Dolpa
  27 days trekking. Challenging. Camping Trek. 2,347m-3,840m.
  Jumla captures the feeling of Nepal’s wild west, with its central square and local taverns serving local apple raksi. You’ll follow an old trade route east, crossing several passes (3,840m/12,600ft) before reaching the fortress towns of lower Dolpa. From here, the trail turns northward, approaching Lake Phoksundo (3,650m/12,000ft), the sparkling turquoise lake set below Shey Gampa, of Peter Matthiessen’s book "The Snow Leopard". From a camp near the lakeshore, you can day-hike to a nearby ridge top for views of the western Himalaya. You exit via a flight from Dunai.

• Crystal Lake: Shey-Phoksundo

12 days trekking. Moderate. Camping Trek. Min/Max: 2,760m-3,650m.
Your plane sets down in the wide grassy valley of Dhorpatan (2,760m/9,055ft), a setting reminiscent of the western plains of North America a hundred years ago. But the similarity stops there: the trail quickly climbs to Tarakot, with its hilltop fortress and Tibetan-like inhabitants, and then follows the Bheri Khola (river) to its source, Lake Phoksundo Set in a cleft amidst 2,000m high cliffs; the azure colored lake is a memorable sight. Scattered villages are inhabitant by the hardy people of Dolpa. Some still practice the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, Bon, in their centuries old monasteries. Blue sheep, musk deer, snow leopard, tahr and black bear are protected in this remote National Park.

• The Ultimate Pilgrimage: Simikot to Kailash

25 days trekking/travel. Challenging. Camping Trek. 2,865m-5,400m.
Since pre-historic times, Mount Kailash has been considered the Navel of the Universe by Hindus and Buddhists alike. This trek follows the old pilgrimage and trade route over the Himalayan range from western Nepal onto the Tibetan plateau. Travel in this remote corner of the world is more of an expedition that a trek, but requires no mountaineering skills. The trek begins in Simikot, accessible by air, and heads west toward Yari before crossing the 4,325m/14,200ft Nara La (pass) and onto the Roof of the world. A vehicle is waiting to take you to Taklakot and Lake Mansarovar (4,558m/14,954ft), a holy lake with healing powers. A three0day trek around Mount Kailash, crossing a 5,400m/17,716ft pass, allows time to mingle with other pilgrims. The return route crosses the Tibetan plateau by vehicle to Zhangmu. Near the Nepal border.