When travelers set their sights on the Himalayas, the mind often jumps to the legendary heights of Everest. However, after twenty years of trekking through these peaks and writing for the world's most established travel journals, I have learned that the best introduction to high-altitude walking isn't found at the foot of the world's highest peak. Instead, it lies within the deep, glacial bowl of the Annapurna Sanctuary.

So you want to trek in the Himalayas. Your mind likely fills with images of Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit. Those famous trails are magnificent, but they ask a lot of you. They ask for weeks of time, a significant budget, and a body ready for long, steep days at breath-stealing altitudes.