Nepals Annapurna Region

Mountains, mountains, and more mountains! The Himalayas form the mighty backbone of diminutive Nepal and are very much the country’s geographical USP. This hulking range contains eight of the ten highest peaks in the world, and it’s visible from all over the country. Don’t keep your distance, though; discover their scale and variety at close range by pulling on your walking boots and trekking under their shadow. Most visitors to Nepal come to trek, and many make a beeline for the Annapurna region. Over half of Nepal’s 140,000 annual trekkers take on the full Annapurna Circuit, but those with less stamina or time can walk shorter sections and offshoots.

Then there’s the people: hardy men with loads the size of fridge-freezers springing up the trails; women with sleeping babies on their backs, stirring pots of dhal bat. Join your hands in a ‘namaste’ greeting and you’re met with warm smiles and welcomes. It’s all part of the intoxicating appeal of the Annapurnas, but the star attraction remains the mountains. To see their flanks turning pink in the first rays of the morning sun is an unforgettable experience.

Roads now stretch up into the higher reaches of the range, and trips that combine a jeep journey with trekking will relieve tired legs and condense itineraries. Don’t rush through the Annapurna region, though. This is not somewhere to race through, bagging shots of the peaks before heading back down. Instead, relax into the walking and relish the journey. Nothing beats waking up each morning, knowing you don’t have to think about anything at all that day. All you have to do is walk and marvel at the majestic views of the Himalayas.

The Jun-Aug monsoon season brings the risk of landslides and flooding, so it’s best avoided. At almost any other point in the year the region is ready to be discovered. In autumn (Sep-Nov) there are fantastically clear skies and a sense of newly washed freshness, thanks to the recent rains. Spring (Feb-mid April) is warmer, with longer days and incredible colour, as rhododendrons bloom and the lower levels brim with wildflowers. It can be hazy in May, though, as temperatures climb towards the monsoon. You can also visit and trek in winter. Snow often blocks the Thorong La pass, building delay or a detour into a trek, but Nov-Dec are less popular months so the trails are wonderfully quiet. Wrap up, though; temperatures are crisp by day and below freezing at night.

Although a jumping off point for hikers, Pokhara boasts enough highlights to make it a destination in its own right. Wander the streets of Old Pokhara, visit the Mountaineering Museum or Gurkha Museum or take a boat trip on the lake. If you have energy to spare, walk to the Japanese Peace Pagoda with great views of the mountains, or hire bikes to explore the surrounding countryside, cruising through villages with a stream of excited local children running along in your wake.