> Annapurna Treks
The Annapurna region is undoubtedly one of Nepal’s most popular and beautiful areas. It hosts a variety of superb treks, ranging from a few days easy hikes such as Poon Hill and Jomsom, intermediate one week treks like Annapurna Base Camp (Annapurna Sanctuary), and culminating with the two week Annapurna Round Circuit trek which gradually ascents through a 5416m pass, and its impressive side trek to Tilicho Lake.
Annapurna Round Circuit
First days at low altitude: green hills, rice terrases, rapid streams
High School (around Chame)
Newborn calf hiking Annapurna for the first time
Nepali porters wearing short pants and flip flop sandals, carrying a refrigirator or a billiard table on their back is not such a rare sight on these mountains
Tibetan Buddhist prayers (“Om Mani Padme Hum”) are ubiquitous: inscribed on Mani stone plates, waving with colorful flags, rolling with prayer wheels in a holy harmony.
Kagbeni lies in the Kali Gandaki valley.
It’s also the gate to the secluded Upper Mustang region.
Looking back at far away Thorung La pass (5416m) from Kagbeni
Annapurna Base Camp trek (Annapurna Sanctuary)
Formidable sheer canyons towards the ABC.
ABC top – Mt. Machapuchare (Mt. Fish Tail)
Tillicho Lake
Tillicho lake, at 5200m is a strenuous 3 day side trek from Manang.
Girls at remote Khangsar village playing Hopscotch…!
A scary section of the narrow trail towards Tillicho base camp:
looking up looking straight ahead looking down
Searching for the frozen lake around the corner…
Tillicho lake is revealed, completely frozen around May
© all rights reserved to Amit Rosner 2007
March 18, 2007 at 10:15 am |
Breath-taking sights captured by a sharp visual talent!
Looking forward for the fruits of the next trips.
Well done.
April 12, 2007 at 5:26 am |
Hi: I am thinking of doing the same trek and wonder how strenous is it? How fit do you have to be in order to survive it? Please could you give me any recommendation to this trekking.
April 14, 2007 at 11:14 pm |
Hi Christel,
There are are actually several treks described in this post, which can be taken separately or concatenated (the way I did): Annapurna Round Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp (also known as ABC or Annapurna Sanctuary), and Tillicho lake.
1. Annapurna Round Circuit: I’d say it’s the easiest trek of these three treks, althouhg paradoxically it’s also the longest and highest of them.
The Round Circuit does include few steep sections (namely the section from Thorung Pedi to Thorung La, the high pass), but for its most part its gradual elevation enables the body to accomodate to the height and physical effort. If you are physically healthy you can probably do it without too much difficulty – you don’t need to be in super good shape. In fact I’ve seen families with kids, and elderly travelers on the trail!
Two factors make it possible:
* You don’t have to carry your own bag if you wish – there are plenty of Nepali porters who would happily carry it for you for low price, leaving you with only a camera and your bottle of water to carry.
* You can control the pace – there are so many little villages providing accomodation along the trail, so you can always decide to “call it a day” even after a short walk if you feel too exhausted.
Note that if you’re still hasitating whether you can do it or not, or lacking the time, you can consider doing only parts of the entire circle:
* “Jomsom trek”: flying one way from Pokhara to Jomsom and hiking back. This part of the trail is mostly easy walking (and less impressive)
* “Poonhill trek”: basically this is a mini trek (3-4 days?) where you climb a famous hill, take a quick view and the high peak surrounding it and return home.
2. Annapurna Base Camp: although it’s a short (and beautiful) trek, it does elevate rather steeply and includes long streches of stairways, and fewer over night rest stops along the way.
3. Tillicho Lake: this is a spectacular 3 day side-trek from Manang (in the middle of the Annapurna Round Circuit). Climbing to Tillicho by far less travelered and in my opinion harder then the previous two treks.
Let me know if you have further question, and good luck to you out there!
Amit.
April 15, 2007 at 12:05 am |
Hi Amit:
Thanks so much for the information, indeed very helpful. Based on this, I think I will do the Annapurna Circuit tour. You kind of encouraged me. Do you have any recommendation on a guide/porter, etc.
Thanks again,
Christel
July 26, 2007 at 12:53 pm |
Hi Amit,
Great website you have here. I’m considering doing Annapurna Base Camp trek. Any suggestions…. How is the weather in the end of Sept? When were you there? It looks so beautiful… clear blue skies. I’m not a big fan of cold weather, since I’m from Thailand.
Is it ok for a female to travel alone?
Thanks!
Jan