Annapurna region is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal. It lies to the north of Pokhara. The Annapurna Circuit trail is the major trekking route and attracts higher number of trekkers in Nepal. The major attraction of this trek is the popular high pass called 'Thorung La' (5416m). The popular Muktinath temple is equally famous between the nature trekkers and pilgrims. The Muktinath route has some ancient association for Buddhists as well. Guru Rinpoche is said to have passed through to Tibet by this temple leaving his footprints in a rock. There are many Buddhist monasteries found in the Annapurna region. The other popular trekking route in the Annapurna region is Sanctuary trek that goes direct into the heart of the Himalayas. The sanctuary is a hidden pocket of meadow, moraine and glaciers. Trekkers can enjoy with the Spectacular mountain vistas of Annapurnas (8091m), Gangapurna (7454m), Machhapuchhare (Fishtail-6997m) and Himchuli (6441m) on this trek. There are some highlights of this region such as Tatopani-famous for Natural Hot Spring, Poonhill-one of the best view points, Ghandruk and Manang for popular ethnic settlements and the world's deepest Kali Gandaki gorge also lies in the Annapurna region. There are more than 10 ethnic groups (Tibeto-Burmese: Gurung, Thakali, Bhotia, Ethnic Tibetan and Magar and Indo-Aryan: Brahmin, Kshetri, Kami, Damai and Sarki) live in the entire Annapurna region.

Everest region is situated in the eastern part of Nepal. The region is named with the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest (8,848m). The entire Everest region is protected under the name of Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976 with an area of 1148sq.km. It lies in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. The lower part of Solukhumbu is knwon as 'Solu' and the upper part is known as 'Khumbu' which is largely composed of rugged terrain and gorges of the high Himalayas ranging from 2,845m to the top of the world's highest mountain - Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848m above the sea level. Other peaks above 6,000m include Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam and Pumori. Trekkers will enjoy with the awesome views of unbelievable peaks, Buddhist monasteries, friendly Sherpa villages and their unique culture while trekking in the Everest region. Most of our trekking and climbing crew members come from the Sherpa families of this area. Everest Base Camp trekking, Kalapaththar trekking, Gokyo and Cho la pass trekking, Gokyo Lake and Renjo la pass trekking, Everest Panorama trekking, Everest View trekking are some popular trekking trails we organize in the Everest region. All these treks can be reached simply by a bus/jeep from Jiri or by a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Everest region has a legend of Yeti. Perhaps you may even have a glance of the Yeti!

Langtang is the nearest trekking region for massive snow-capped mountains from the capital city Kathmandu. Langtang valley lies to the north of Kathmandu bordering to Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Langtang area is protected under Langtang National Park established in 1976A.D. to conserve the unique flora and fauna of the region. The park is extended over parts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchok districts of Nepal. The park is also well known for its populations of red panda, Himalayan black bear, snow leopard, wild dog, ghoral, serow and more than 250 species of birds. Langtang Lirung (7246m) is the highest peak of this region. Langtang region is popular for Tamang settlement. If you prefer to make your trek off the beaten path, you may go over Ganja la pass (5106m) from Kyanjin Gompa or retrace the route back down Thulo Syabru from where the trek can be extended to Gosainkunda Lake (4380m) and Helambu village. Trekking over the Gosainkunda pass (4609m) can be a great fun for adventure seekers. The trek can be shortened by ending the trek either at Syabru Besi or Dhunche, a day hike from Lama Hotel or Thulo Syabru and then drive back to Kathmandu. Trekking in Langtang is not considered as strenuous due to the gradual ascent along the river valley but it demands some challenges too. The Langtang trek can be done any time of the year except in monsoons. July and August are considered as monsoon period in Nepal. Gosainkunda pass remains closed in February and March because of snow while the typical Helambu village has a great welcome throughout the year.

Nepal offers classic adventure treks right into the heart of the wildest Himalayas where only a few people dare to go. All those treks require a high level of stamina to go over the high passes. We have designed some off-the-beaten path treks sighting the demand of such trekkers. Some trips make a high mountain traverse across the Himalayan Glaciers and the challenging high passes. There are serious passes which require some alpine experience and climbing ropes such as the East Col (6100m), West Col (6135m) and Amphu Lapcha Pass (5800m). This is a very strenuous and demanding yet truly spectacular route where you are rewarded with the best views of the mountains above 8000 meters such as Cho Oyo (8,201m), Lhotse (8,516m), Everest (8,848m), Makalu (8,463m) and Kangchenjunga (8,586m). Our other off-the-beaten tracks include Mera la pass (5415m) trek, Tashi Lapcha pass (5755m) trek, Larkya la pass (5135m) trek, Renjo la pass (5340m)-Cho la pass (5330m) trek and some notorious high passes treks in the Dolpo region. Shey-Phoksundo Lake (3600m), Tsho Rolpa Lake (4540m) and Tilicho Lake (4920m) are some highlights that lie en-route the high passes. Some treks can be customized together with one or more Peak climbing such as Mera Peak, Island Peak, Lobuche Peak, etc.

Nepal government has restricted some areas for foreign visits and it is allowed to a foreigner only with a special permit. A foreigner desiring to trek in such permissible trekking regions and areas will have to obtain this permit from the Department of Immigration. Trekking Encounters Nepal can apply on your behalf to obtain this permit and there will be minimum two persons required to acquire such permits. Upper and Lower Dolpa (Dolpo), Manaslu region, Nar and Phu Villages in Manang, Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Humla and Simikot, recetnly opened Tsum valley are restricted areas and special ‘Trekking Permit’ will be required to trek in these areas apart from the conservation or national park permits. The permit fee for Upper Dolpa and Upper Mustang is fixed as USD 500 per person for 10 days which is minimum number of days that the permit needs to be issued for while the other areas are significantly less than this amount.

We have listed our two major unspoiled treks namely Kanchenjunga and Makalu Base Camp trekking in this section. Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m)-world's third highest peak and Mt. Makalu (8463m)-world's fifth highest peak lie in the Eastern Nepal. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area covers a land of 2035sq.km and situated in Taplejung district. Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m), the "Treasures of the Snow" is believed to be the home of the legendary Yeti. The Kanchenjunga area with unique mountain ecosystems is envisioned as a tri-national peace park with Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China to the north and Sikkim of India in the east. The area is protected as a conservation park by the Nepal Government. The Himalayan animal species residing here include-red panda, black bear, musk deer, blue sheep, rhesus macaw and the elusive snow leopard. The flora is also inspiring with 1200 species of flowering plant, 69 types of orchid and 30 varieties of rhododendron. Similarly, Makalu-Barun National Park was established in 1992 covering an area of 2330sq.km which contains some of the last remaining areas of unspoiled forests and alpine meadows in Nepal. This unique landscape shelters some of the rare species of animals and plants of Nepal. Over 3000 species of flowering plants, 440 species of birds and 75 species of mammals, including the endangered clouded leopard, red panda and musk deer have been recorded in this area. Trekking in East Nepal is truly adventurous, demanding and enriched by cultural diversities.

The West Nepal treks are often described as ‘unexplored’ and 'vergin' as the area is remote and unknown with its unique culture and language. Access available from Kathmandu is by air or road and needs a minimum of two to three weeks to trek in the western regions of Nepal. The jewels of the regions are the unspoiled Rara Lake situated in the Rara National Park of Mugu district and Shey-Phoksundo Lake situated in the Shey-Phoksundo National Park of Dolpa district with many pristine Buddhist monasteries. The area is popular for thickly forested hillsides and the snow-capped peaks. The coniferous forest of rhododendron, Himalayan spruce, Himalayan cypress, black juniper and oak supports an abundance of wildlife including the red panda, musk deer, black bear, wild boar and monkeys in the western Nepal. The Rara Lake attracts migrant wildfowl and is regarded among one of Nepal’s finest regions for bird watching where we can see merganser, coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe and red crested mallard. The other remote area of west Nepal is Humla, situated in the snowy North-Western corner, sharing a border with Tibet. Life for Humli people is extremely challenging due to the remoteness of the region. Simikot is the capital of Humla, only accessible by plane or two weeks walk from the nearest road, is the gateway to Mt. Kailash and the holy Manasarovar Lake in Tibet.

There are many new trekking routes developed with the initiation of TAAN and many local organizations in order to compensate the need of alternative trekking routes in the areas where some trails have felt risks of the motor-able road being constructed. One of the major risks found is in the Annapurna region as the popular Annapurna Circuit trail has been highly affected with the new building road. There are also many trails developed to provide a socio-cultural experience promoting the village tourism with home stay provisions in different parts of the country. These newly developed trekking routes are more environmentally-friendly and economically beneficial to the local communities. Here are some trails listed as new trekking routes recently opened for foreign trekkers.