| Trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is, for | | | | you trek the Annapurna Circuit you can view the |
| some, the culmination of a life's dream and for | | | | sun-kissed snowy peak of the mountain from a |
| others, simply the opportunity to explore one of | | | | more respectable vantage as you pass by the |
| the most remote mountain regions of the world. | | | | base of this magnificent monolith. |
| Passing through four provinces, the lower regions | | | | Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, |
| of Lamjung and Myagdi, and Manang and Mustang | | | | Annapurna South |
| in the higher elevations, the Annapurna Circuit will | | | | All these peaks, although sharing a name, are fully |
| take you on a journey not only of miles and | | | | independent and have been conquered at various |
| mountains but of fascinating flora, fauna, and | | | | times through the 1950s and 1960s. They each |
| culture. The Annapurna circuit stretches for over | | | | have distinct silhouettes and on a clear day their |
| 300km and circumnavigates the majestic | | | | sharply contoured peaks stand in vivid contrast to |
| Annapurna Massif comprising six mighty peaks | | | | the dazzling blue Himalayan skies. As the journey |
| and many smaller ones. It is difficult to choose an | | | | continues around the Annapurna Circuit you will |
| ultimate highlight of the trek but it is easy to | | | | come to know each of these mountains by name |
| work out which are the high points... | | | | and their dominating presence will track you every |
| Thorong La Pass | | | | step of the way. |
| A trek of the Annapurna Circuit will start from | | | | Gangapurna |
| the city of Pokhara and follow the Marshyangdi | | | | While still a giant in terms of the world's peaks, (at |
| River to the summit pass of Throng La. This is | | | | 7,455m it is ranked as the 59th highest mountain |
| the highest point of the entire circuit and, at 5,416 | | | | in the world) Gangapurna is the second smallest |
| metres above sea-level, it affords spectacular | | | | of the peaks seen on the Annapurna Circuit. With |
| views across cloud-strewn valleys to the other | | | | Annapurna III as its parent mountain, Gangapurna |
| great snowy peaks which surround it. Hikers set | | | | was never going to be a pushover and was in |
| off before sunrise on the climb to Throng La Pass | | | | fact the last to be scaled in its entirety. It took |
| as strong winds later on in the day can hamper | | | | until 1965, fifteen years after the first ascent of |
| the journey and make the hike more strenuous. | | | | Annapurna I, before it was taken on by an |
| Annapurna 1 | | | | expedition of German climbers. |
| Holding the title of the world's tenth highest | | | | Trekking the high points of the Annapurna Circuit |
| mountain at 8,091m, Annapurna I is one of only | | | | is a true adventure. Those who face the challenge |
| fourteen mountains which fall into the | | | | head-on and trek the entire route are treated to |
| 'eight-thousanders', and was the first of this elite | | | | a magnificent reward, of not merely a personal |
| group to be conquered. Attempted far less often | | | | physical accomplishment but also experiencing |
| than its counterpart Everest, Annapurna is | | | | what is widely considered to be the most |
| notorious for the avalanches which ravage its | | | | beautiful landscape in the world. |
| slopes and terrorise those who try to summit. As | | | | |