If you want the challenge of trekking for three weeks and crossing a high pass but would rather forgo the crowds of trekkers on the Annapurna circuit, consider springing for a fully catered trek around 26,758-foot (8,156-meter) Manaslu, the seventh-highest peak on Earth. This massif to the east of the Annapurnas is only open to organized treks; for this reason, the trails encircling this Himalayan peak see far fewer foreigners than do those of the Annapurna circuit. The Manaslu trek begins from Gokyo, the fortress town from which Prithvi Narayan Shah in the 18th century began his conquest of Nepal's many small kingdoms. The high point of the trek (both literally and figuratively) is the crossing of the 16,730-foot (5,100-meter) Larkya La pass.

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Moderate
When to go: Fall and spring