Western Region Nepal has a large population of both Hindus and Buddhists, and the countryside is crisscrossed by trails in all direction. It is remote and unknown from the Western viewpoint because of its relative inaccessibility and its distance from Kathmandu. As it falls outside of the monsoon's influence or else in the rain shadow of Dhaulagiri Himal, this region receives very little rainfall and this determines its versatile vegetation . Another part that discourages trekkers in western Nepal is that many of the culturally and scenically exotic regions are in restricted areas with high permit fees. As most of the places in this region is culturally and scenically exotic, are in restricted areas with high permit fees; a significant number of tourists are lured by this region.Many of the trails in the west continue to the northern side of the Himalayan ranges of Nampa, Saipal and Kanjiroba, making it easy for trekkers to zip up trails along river valleys and into Tibet - a practice that both the Nepalese and Chinese would like to dispirit. Some of these treks, including Shey Gompa to the north of Phoksumdo Lake and Humla to the north-west of Jumla are described in the sector on Restricted Areas.

The history and anthropology of western Nepal is complex and fascinating. Majority of Peoples' are Hindu and Tibetans make up only a small part of the population, although they have the significant influence on the area through trading. Tibetan styles home with the flat roofs covered with the packed earth suited in the semiarid conditions of the area behind Dhaulagiri. In many villages the houses are packed closely together one atop another, climbing up the hillside and sharing common roofs with the few stairs inside the dwellings. Tibetan-style houses can be found here where people climb from one level to another on carved log ladders situated outside the house.

Cultural roots extend north into Tibet and west to Kumaon in India. The Chhetris of western Nepal are categorized into three groups: Thakuris, who are the aristocracy; normal Chhetris as found throughout Nepal; and Matwali Chhetris, "those who drink liquor". The status of Matwali Chhetris is fascinating because many Tibetan immigrants long ago masqueraded as Chhetris. For many generations they have evolved their own form of religion that is a peculiar mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism. The trekking season is from late spring and throughout the summer until late October.