Api

Api (7,132m) is the highest mountain in far western Nepal and the highest peak in the Api Himal, a remote sub-range located in the extreme northwest corner of Sudurpaschim Province in Darchula District, bordering India and Tibet. The mountain gives its name to the Api Nampa Conservation Area (established 2010, covering 1,903 sq km), one of Nepal's least-visited protected areas.

First climbed on May 10, 1960 by K. Hirabayashi and Gyaltsen Norbu of a Japanese expedition via the northwest face, remarkably during the monsoon season — a testament to Japanese mountaineering determination in an era when far western Nepal was virtually inaccessible. Since then, ascents have been exceedingly rare; Api sees perhaps one expedition every few years, making it one of the least-climbed 7,000m peaks in Nepal.

The approach to Api Base Camp is itself a serious undertaking — a 12-14 day trek from the trailhead at Gokuleshwor, passing through traditional Kumaoni-influenced villages, pristine alpine forests, and high yak pastures before reaching the glacier. The region's extreme remoteness has preserved a way of life largely unchanged for centuries, and the trek offers a rare glimpse of Nepal's far western frontier. The Api Himal is also spiritually significant; Api is revered by the local Bhotiya and Kumaoni peoples. The mountain's lower slopes harbor medicinal plants collected for traditional remedies. Best seasons: late spring (May-June) and autumn (September-October).