Annapurna Trekking: Choosing the Right trekking trial for You

Annapurna Himalaya is one of the most scenic and fascinating destinations around the Himalayas and probably on earth for all types of adventure or leisure holidays, where you can marvel at the beauty of the great massive Annapurna Himalaya range of peaks as you step in at beautiful Pokhara.

Pokhara, a major city of the Annapurna Himalaya, is blessed with natural beauties of mountains, rolling green hills, valleys, and serene lakes with warm and mild temperatures where snow-capped peaks reflect on its calm lakes.

Pokhara is the main place for many treks, hikes, and other adventures, where it starts and ends in this scenic city with close views of the Annapurna Himalaya and majestic Machhapuchare Himal known as Fish Tail due to its twin summited peaks.

Annapurna the name comes from ancient Sanskrit word ‘Anna’ for crops/foods and ‘Purna’ means enough, it is interesting to know how the name Annapurna resembles as the mountains Annapurna provides glaciers that feed the rivers, and then irrigates the agriculture fields to yield more crops for the people with food enough, the word Anna-Purna.

Mt. Annapurna is listed as the world’s tenth highest peaks at 8,091 m and 26,545 ft the first eight thousand meters ever climbed in June 3rd, 1950 by the French Expeditions led by late legendary mountaineers Maurice Herzog, even before Mt. Everest was conquered.

Annapurna Himalaya is one of the massive ranges of mountains of the Himalayas,a which stretches towards west close to world’s 7th highest Mt. Dhaulagiri and touches 8th highest Mt. Manaslu in the east direction.

Main and Major Highlights

It is hard to highlight Annapurna Himalaya, a country of beautiful scenery and charming villages full of age-old culture and heritage interweaved with Buddhism religions in higher areas and Hinduism in lower areas of Annapurna.

To highlight, its main major interesting and unique places will be views of the Annapurna Himalaya from all directions on walks or just relaxing at your hotel in Pokhara or nearby town and villages.

Its special culture of mixed tribes of people around the Annapurna Himalaya, where you can find the impressive custom of both Hindu and Buddhist religion, the main tribes are Gurung in the south of Annapurna, further north and behind Annapurna are the Manang people of strong Buddhism with similar traditions and way of life of Tibetans.

Annapurna Himalaya is one of the major and Old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade and Caravan Trail between Nepal and Tibet, which extends further towards the Kaligandaki River valley into Upper Mustang that touches the border of South West Tibet / China.

Due to its varied landscapes from low as 800 m to 8,091 meters with average human settlement at above 1,000 m to 3,400 meters high, where travelers can feel the change in climate from subtropical-mediterranean cooler temperatures to an arctic zone of ice and glaciers.

Along with altitude variation, vegetation changes from tropical plants and trees to the coniferous and alpine woodland of tall rhododendron-magnolia-oaks-hemlocks-spruce-blue pines, firs to juniper trees.

Annapurna laden with the enchanting lovely forest of rhododendron and other flowering plants, some areas like Ghorepani, which is a 2 to 3 days walk from Pokhara, are filled with dense rhododendron trees, regarded as the world’s largest natural garden with wildflowers in full bloom, especially the rhododendron with many different species.

Flowering seasons in the spring time from March to May, where you can witness great varieties of wild flowers with the national flower of Nepal, the rhododendron.

Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalaya from the world deepest gorge, which you can witness on walks around the Kaligandaki River Valley, a drop of more than 6,000 m at Kaligandaki sandwiched between giant peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, it is recorded as the world’s deepest gorge about 20 times deeper than the Grand Canyon of USA.

Other highlights are its villages with the warm and friendly hospitality of local villagers enriched with ancient heritage and colorful customs with traditional farm life and cattle herding, where you can find nice and cozy lodges along the route of trekking.

Places to visit on treks or drives

Ghorepani and Poon Hill Trekking, a short and moderate walk of less than week duration take you high at Poon Hill above 3,210 m, where you can catch stunning sunrise views over the chain of 360° wide range of Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri-Tukuche-Nilgiri’s-Annapurna-Lamjung and Manaslu range with magnificent Machhapuchare Himal.

The area around Ghorepani and Poon Hill one of the most popular trekking destinations due to its scenic view-point surrounded with beautiful rhododendron forest.

Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp is one of the shortest treks to its base camp, which is quite a wonder,r a walk of a week or less duration, nothing can beat the experience like trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.

Around great Himalaya range with world giant peaks, where walk leads to two weeks or more to reach base camp of high mountains, while Annapurna Base Camp takes shorter times than you can imagine where walk leads into nice Gurung villages with daily views of peaks then entering a wide open valley into scenic Annapurna Sanctuary where base camp located enclosed by whole Annapurna range of peaks.

One and only base camp in all Himalayan where you can find the comfort of a nice and cozy lodge with rooms facing views of the mountains.

Annapurna Circuit

An enjoyable moderate to adventurous walks leads from low-warm areas to cooler mid hills to arctic zone of ice and glaciers, as walks proceeds within nice and lovely villages intact with impressive Buddhist culture enclosed within northern side of Annapurna and Chulus peaks around beautiful Manang valley, where adventure leads to cross high and scenic Thorang-la pass above 5,416 m to reach Mustang region.

After a great adventure, visit the Kaligandaki villages of Muktinath holy temple and Jomsom town with charming Marpha village famous for delicious apples, located on the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade to Tibet.

One of the most popular and picturesque areas regarded as the world’s Top Ten adventure destinations.

Tilicho Lake and Nar-Phu

Half of the walk is the same as the Annapurna circuit, with options of walking to scenic Tilicho Lake, which is off the main trails, and then either cross Mesokanto-la pass to reach Jomsom for onward journey to Pokhara or take the main Thorang-la pass trails.

Nar-Phu Areas quite different after walking some days on main trail of Annapurna circuit and then route diverts to remote and isolated corners of Manang valley into Nar-Phu villages within weather-beaten valleys, where you will be out of this world for some times exploring around this pristine country and then crossing high Kang-la pass to join at main Annapurna circuit trail to Manang and beyond.

Panchase Hill

Close to Pokhara valley, a few days walk in and around a serene forest with daily views of Annapurna, where a walk leads to a climb at 2,500 m high Panchase Hilltop for the sweeping panorama of Annapurna-Dhaulagiri-Manaslu and Machhapuchare Himal, a pleasant peaceful destination of a few days' walks.

Khair Lake Trek

Khair Lake is the same as Ghorepani for some days and then leaves the main trekking route to remote corners of Annapurna Himalaya heading towards high ridges of Kopra ridge with the grand panorama of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, and then optional hike to holy Lake of Khair a glacial pond considered as sacred located between great peaks of Annapurna.

One of the few hidden trekking destinations around the Annapurna Himalaya within the serene wilderness of mountains and green hills covered with rhododendron forest.

Overall View

Around the Annapurna Himalaya, there are more treks to explore from a week to a month, with everlasting memories and experience on the Annapurna Himalaya region for all types of adventure, where all age groups can join in.