EAST OF KATHMANDU
Dharan: Dharan lies right at the foot of the hills, but the transformation when coming from the Terai is dramatic. This is unquestionably a hill town with hill people-there are scarcely any dark-skinned plains people to be seen. Dharan is a bustling bazaar town that has grown rapidly.

Dhankuta: Although Dhankuta is only 75 km by excellent road from the Terai, it seems more like a million miles. Dhankuta is quite a large town, and although there is no specific attraction, there are good views, a mild climate and plenty of interesting walks in the surrounding area. The town owes its prosperity to the fact that it was a major recruiting center for the Gurkha regiments of the British Army and quite a bit of British aid money has been spent in the vicinity.

Charikot/Jiri: About 133 kilometers from Kathmandu, Charikot provides a spectacular mountain view of Gaurishanker. In the eastern upper part of Dolakha township there is a famous roofless temple of Dolakha Bhimsen.

Namche Bazaar: The name Namche Bazaar is generally associated with Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), the highest peak in the world. It is the entrance to the Everest region. Situated on the lap of the Khumbu Himal range, Namche Bazaar is about 241 km from Kathmandu.
Hile:It is situated about 13 kilometers north of Dhankuta Bazaar. The panorama of the major peaks of the eastern Himalaya including. Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) Makalu, Lhotse and Kumbhakarna can be enjoyed from Rile.

Antu Danda: It is situated at an altitude of 1,677 m in 11am District and is famous for its unique views of Everest and Kanchenjunga. It is the best place for viewing the sunrise and sunset. There is a motorable road from 11am to Chhipitar from where one can reach Antu Danda on foot.

NORTH OF KATHMANDU
Nuwakot: The old fortress town of Nuwakot used to be an important strategic outpost. It controlled the ancient trade routes to Tibet and the kings of medieval Nepal maintained large garrisons here. Nuwakot offers terrific views of the mountains and thc surrounding rural scenery makes for an enchanting experience. There are a number of artistic buildings on thc hilltop which recall the traditional architecture of the Kathmandu Valley.

Helambu: Helambu, situated about 72 kilometers north-east of Kathmandu, is famous for its scenic grandeur anc pleasant climate. There are many Bud. dhist monasteries amidst a rich anc enchanting landscape. Sundarijal is the starting point for trekking to Helambu which is only 11 kilometers away from Kathmandu.

Gosaikund/Langtang: Gosaikund Lake is the site for a great pilgrimage in August each year - this is the height of the monsoon, not a pleasant time for trekking. The large rock in the centre of the lake is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine and it is also claimed that a channel carries water from the lake directly to the tank at the Kumbeshwar Temple in Patan, 60 km to the south.

WEST OF KATHMANDU
Manang: The village itself is a compact collection of 500 flat-roofed houses separated by narrow alleyways. To Ireach a doorway you must ascend a steep log notched with steps. The setting of the village is most dramatic, with the summits of Annapurna and Gangapurna less than 8 km away, and Ia huge icefall rumbling and crashing on the flanks of the peaks.

Baglung: Baglung is now accessible by road from Pokhara. It is the main market place of Dhaulagiri zone and the gateway to Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve which is well-known as the habitat of blue sheep.

Muktinath/Jomsom: The famous temple of Lord Muktinath lies in the district of Mustang and is situated about 18 kilometers northeast of Jomsom at an altitude of about 3,749 meters. The temple is situated on a high mountain range and is visited during fair weather. There are two ways to get to Muktinath from Kathmandu. Either take a direct flight from Kathmandu via Pokhara to Jomsom and hike for a couple of hours via Kagbeni or trek all the way from Pokhara. There is also an air service from Pokhara to Jomsom.

Mustang: Jomsom is the district headquarters for the Mustang region of Nepal. To many people, however, Mustang implies the area of Nepal that extends like a thumb into Tibet. This is the region described in Michel Piessel's book Mustang, and includes the walled capital city of Mustang, Lo Mantang. More Info

Dolpo: Dolpo is the most remote and least developed district in Nepal. Although a few anthropologists and geographers had explored the region, the entire district was closed to trekkers until 1989 when the southern part of Dolpo was opened to organised trekking groups. Peter Matthiesen's The Snow Leopard and Snellgrove's Himalayan Pilgrimage have contributed to the mystique and attraction of Dolpo.

Humla/Jumla: Jumla, on the banks of the Tila River at 2370 metres; is one of the highest rice growing areas in the world. The entire Tila Valley is covered with paddy fields growing a unique red rice that is more tasty than white rice, but is scorned by most local people. The people in this region speak their own version of Nepali. The people throughout the region are Thakuris, and also Chhetris who have the highest social, political and ritual status.