The Khumbu is home to Everest Base Camp, the Gokyo lakes and the Three Passes loop. Sherpa villages, old monasteries and some of the highest trekking on earth make it a bucket-list region, but the altitude rewards a slow, well-acclimatised itinerary.
Annapurna offers everything from a four-day Poon Hill walk to the 14-day Circuit over Thorong La. It is Nepal's most varied trekking region, with Gurung and Thakali villages, rhododendron forest and teahouses on every route.
Langtang is the closest big mountain trekking region to Kathmandu: a glaciated valley under Langtang Lirung, the sacred lakes of Gosaikunda and the Tamang villages of the Heritage Trail, all reached by road in one long day.
Manaslu is a restricted-area circuit around the world's eighth-highest mountain, crossing Larkya La (5,106 m) through Gurung and Tibetan-influenced villages in the Budhi Gandaki valley.
Upper Mustang is the former Kingdom of Lo: a high, dry rain-shadow landscape of red cliffs, cave dwellings and the walled city of Lo Manthang, open to foreigners only on a restricted-area permit.
Kanchenjunga is Nepal's far-eastern giant: a restricted-area trek through Limbu and Sherpa villages to the north and south base camps of the world's third-highest mountain, 8,586 m.
The Kathmandu Valley rim has Nepal's easiest walks: the Chisapani to Nagarkot ridge trek and the Shivapuri Peak day hike (2,732 m), both inside or beside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, reached by city bus or taxi.
Makalu is a wild trek into the Barun valley of Sankhuwasabha, crossing the Shipton La to the base camp of the world's fifth-highest mountain through forests that climb from near-tropical to alpine in a single walk.
Pokhara, on Phewa Lake, is the base for short foothill treks: the four-day Panchase ridge trek and the three-day Australian Camp and Dhampus trek, with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range, no flight and no restricted-area permit.
Dolpo is Nepal's remote trans-Himalayan plateau: turquoise Phoksundo Lake in the free-access lower valleys, and the restricted Upper Dolpo of Shey Gompa, Bon and Buddhist villages and the passes above 5,000 m.
Rara is Nepal's quiet far-west lake trek: from Jumla through pine and rhododendron forest to Rara Lake, the country's largest lake at about 2,990 m, inside its smallest national park.
Rolwaling is a hidden Sherpa valley east of Langtang, reached by road in a day from Kathmandu, with a trail to Tsho Rolpa, one of Nepal's biggest glacial lakes, under the pyramid of Gaurishankar.
Dhaulagiri is the wild western neighbour of Annapurna: the 8,167 m massif above the Myagdi valley, the Dhaulagiri Circuit over French Pass and Dhampus Pass, and the high pastures of Dhorpatan.
Ganesh Himal is the snow range between the Trisuli and Budhi Gandaki valleys, and the Ruby Valley is its quiet village trek from Syabrubesi over Pangsang Pass to Tipling and Chalish.
Humla is Nepal's far north-west: the Humla Karnali gorge from Simikot to the Tibet border at Hilsa, and the Limi Valley, three Tibetan villages beyond the Nara La reached only by air and on foot.
Api-Saipal is Nepal's far west: Api (7,132 m) above the Api Nampa Conservation Area in Darchula, the 13-day trek to Api Base Camp, and Saipal across the border zone in Bajhang.
Solu is the lower, greener half of Solukhumbu: Pikey Peak (4,065 m) for a sunrise over Everest, the sacred lake of Dudh Kunda, Junbesi and Phaplu, by road from Kathmandu with no restricted-area permit.
Jugal Himal is the snow range north-east of Kathmandu in Sindhupalchok, known for the Panch Pokhari trek to five alpine lakes at about 4,100 m, reached from Chhimti or Chautara with no restricted-area permit.
Khaptad is a high meadow plateau at about 3,000 m in far-western Nepal, protected as Khaptad National Park, with the ashram of Khaptad Baba and a sacred lake, reached by flight to Dhangadhi and a long drive to Silgadhi.
Bandipur is a preserved Newar hill town at 1,030 m on the Prithvi Highway side road, with Himalayan views and short walks to Thani Mai temple, the Tundikhel viewpoint and Siddha Cave, no permit and no flight needed.
Ilam is the tea country of eastern Nepal: easy walks through the Kanyam and Fikkal tea gardens to the Antu Danda sunrise watchtower, plus the Ramsar lake of Mai Pokhari, with no permit and no altitude.
Palpa, with its hill town of Tansen, is the old Magar capital on the Mahabharat ridge: an easy walk up Srinagar Hill for the Himalayan view and a long descent to the Rani Mahal palace at Ranighat, with no permit and no flight.
Gorkha is the birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah: a 1,500-step stairway to the hilltop Gorkha Durbar with views of Manaslu and Annapurna, and a pilgrim walk to Manakamana temple, with no permit and no flight.
