An alternative then other short treks in the region, the Sikles is an uncrowned corner of the Annapurna Conservation Area under the shadows of Lamjung Himal and Annapurnas II and IV. This fabulous camping trek takes you about a week, starting at Beganas Tal (Lake) and heading north to the Madi Khola, then following the river’s west bank up to well-preserved Sikles (1,980m.), Nepal’s biggest Gurung village. From here you strike westwards over the thickly forested ridge that separates the Madi and Seti Khola drainage’s and then descent via Ghachok, another Gurung settlement, to reach the Pokhara – Baglung Highway. Variations on this route are often touted as the ‘Royal Trek’, after a rally the troops swing Prince Charles took through the area in 1980 to visit the villages of Gurkha recruits. As part of an effort to develop this into a model ecotrekking route.