This is the one everyone dreams about, to trek to the base of the tallest mountain on Earth. These days, the majority of trekkers headed to Everest Base Camp start by flying into the precariously situated mountainside village of Lukla. The flight is an adventure in itself as you wing your way up the steep-walled valley of the Dudh Kosi; from Lukla, it's a nine-day trek to base camp.

However, since you can't even see Everest from base camp, you're really better off skipping this climbers' tent city and instead heading to Lobuje to climb to the summit of 18,190-foot (5,544-meter) Kala Pattar, from which you have a view of Mount Everest that would take your breath away if the elevation hadn't already done just that.

If it's knock-your-sweaty-socks-off mountain scenery that you crave, there's no better trek in Nepal than the hike into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Set in a high, grassy valley, the sanctuary is completely surrounded by some of the highest peaks on earth, including Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, and the film-gobbling Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Peak),

which is hands-down the most photogenic mountain in Nepal. Within the sanctuary are both Machhapuchhare and Annapurna Base Camps, which have been used by mountain climbers but which also have several lodges each. After acclimatizing to the 13,000-foot (3,963-meter) elevation, you can spend several days here bagging some of the lower peaks, searching for Himalayan tahrs (similar to mountain goats), or, if you thought to get a permit before leaving Kathmandu, summiting one of the three trekking peaks that rise above the sanctuary.

If it's a challenging wilderness river expedition you're looking for, there's no better choice in Nepal than the Sun Kosi River. Considered one of the top rafting trips in the entire world, the Sun Kosi is packed with Class IV and V rapids, though the trip starts out with a couple days of easy paddling in Class II and III water.

After spending most of a day getting to the put-in, you'll push off into the current and begin an unparalleled adventure. Each day you'll paddle till your arms feel like rubber, and each night you'll pitch camp on a remote riverside beach. This is the longest whitewater run in Nepal and is an absolute classic.

Destination NepalWild, steep, and relentless are the best words to describe the short run down the Bhote Kosi. On this river, only a few hours' drive northeast of Kathmandu, nonstop Class IV and V rapids keep adrenaline junkies screaming for more. The big waves and big rocks add up to big fun if you're an experienced rafter.

However, despite what rafting companies in Kathmandu might say, you really don't want to make this your first-ever rafting experience. The Bhote Kosi run usually consists of two separate stretches, one above and one below a dam on the river. At night, you'll stay in a riverside lodge, where you can recount the day's adventures over big bottles of local beer. By the way, in Nepali,"Bhote" means "Tibet," and this river does indeed originate in Tibet.

Destination Nepal While it would seem that Nepal must be one of the finest mountain biking destinations on the planet, I'm sad to say it just ain't so. Nepalis are not fond of switchbacks and would rather head straight up a mountainside on a stone staircase. Consequently, the many famed trekking routes are nearly impossible to ride on a bike. Those who try usually end up

having a porter carry their bike much of the way. However, the hills that ring Kathmandu Valley are a welcome exception to this rule. Dirt roads and wide trails wind through these hills, often connecting small villages and remote temples and shrines. One of the finest rides in the valley begins in the tourist village of Nagarkot (famed for its Himalayan sunrises and sunsets) and descends to the floor of the valley. It's up to you whether you ride up or take a bus before your descent.

Destination NepalThe rhino exploded from the thick underbrush and launched itself off the six-foot-high stream bank. Landing with a resounding THUD, it thundered off through the forest. If I hadn't witnessed the sight with my own eyes, I would never have believed that a rhino could ever go airborne. Seeing that armor-plated hulk rocketing through the air,

I was thankful that I was sitting on the back of an elephant. Given the option, I would spend all my time in Chitwan on the back of an elephant, and likewise, given a choice, I'd opt to stay at one of the expensive lodges inside the park. Although you're likely to see a rhino or two even if you stay at a lodge outside the park, your chances generally improve if you stay inside the park's boundaries.

Destination NepalIf you have plenty of time, money, and stamina, there is no more rewarding trek than a long exploration of the Dolpo region in central Nepal. Located to the west of the crowded Annapurna circuit, the Dolpo region was the focus of Peter Matthiessen's novel The Snow Leopard. With everything from wet lowland forests to dry, trans-Himalayan valleys akin to

landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau, Dolpo is as geographically and culturally diverse a region as you'll find in Nepal. Because a trek here takes so long and must be done as a fully catered trek due to the lack of lodges, it is a region little traveled by foreigners; consequently, the villages are far less westernized than on the more popular inn-to-inn trekking routes.

Destination Nepal There are 14 peaks in the world that are over 8,000 meters; you can find eight of these in Nepal. Among these is 28,200-foot (8,595-meter) Kanchenjunga, which rises along Nepal's border with Sikkim and is the third highest peak on Earth. Opt to do the Kanchenjunga trek and you may be forever explaining where this mountain is, but you'll have an incredible experience.

Because of its remote location in far eastern Nepal, Kanchenjunga sees only a handful of trekking groups each year. However, keep in mind that this trek is long and is best suited to those who are in excellent physical condition. You'll be on the trail for three weeks and will have to cross one or two high passes, depending on your route. Not only are there great mountain vistas along the way, but you'll also go through many interesting small villages.