Saldang village, high in the mountains of western Nepal 22 Sep 2016
About this photo
Far removed from the rest of the country, western Nepal is a land apart, an untamed and sparsely populated region offering rich rewards for the hardy and determined traveller.
Trekkers bound for west Nepal enter a world far removed from the teahouses of the south. Only the hardy need apply – those willing to weather the difficulties for the great rewards of more isolated and rugged Nepal. Except for the Terai and silt-fed valleys, the region is agriculturally impoverished. All food and drink must be carried in as there are few opportunities to restock.
Customarily ill-prepared to accommodate outsiders – peoples such as the Thakuris consider it polluting to house a foreigner and so there is no tradition of trekking lodges here – tents and camping equipment are also required. A reliable trekking guide is invaluable in finding elusive paths and dealing with non-English speaking porters. Travel to the remote west is no easy jaunt. While the high Mugu and Limi valleys in Humla have been opened to permit-holding hikers and a number of operators offer organised trips here, facilities are almost non-existent, access is difficult, and the terrain wild. This is one of the poorest and most remote parts of Nepal, and a trek here still has many of the characteristics of a genuine expedition – thrilling, authentic and rewarding, but not to be undertaken lightly.
For a less arduous but nonetheless rewarding trekking experience, look no further than Insight Guides' Annapurna Adventure, a trip that will take you mountain-biking, trekking and white-water rafting in the heart of the Himalayas.
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