Beside the Everest region, the area around the Annapurna massif is perhaps the best-known trekking destination in Nepal. Based on sheer numbers of trekking visitors it is certainly the most popular. As the title suggests, the centerpiece of this part of Nepal is the range of mountains that includes Annapurna I, the first of the 8000-meter peaks to be climbed. Also included in this general area is another 8000-meter giant, Dhaulagiri which is located west of Annapurna I. Between these two mountains runs the valley of the Kali-Gandaki River, the deepest gorge on earth. Combine this with lush, fertile farming land, stands of undistributed natural forest and a mixture of different ethnic inhabitants and you have a diverse range of experiences that make this area one of the most satisfying trekking destinations in Nepal.

The fact that the main Himalayan range runs south of the border with Tibet means that that the northern parts of the area are in the rain shadow and are considerably drier than the southern slopes of the mountains. This leads to unusually diverse landscapes.