Everest Region Annapurna Region Remote Region Wild Life Rafting India Tebit Bhutan

This is the trek that everyone is talking about, a classic that takes you through high passes and deep gorges and all around the Annapurna mountains.

GRADE: MODERATE - CHALLENGING
DURATION: 22 DAYS
(18 DAYS TENTED TREK, 4 DAYS KATHMANDU)

Beginning at Besisahar and ending at Pokhara, the Annapurna Circuit is a sacred pilgrimage for the trekking faithful and a trip to remember for a lifetime. The walk takes you up Kali Gandaki Gorge (the deepest in the world), over the Thorung-La Pass (5416m) across the dry Tibetan plateau 'behind' the Himalaya and back to the green forests of your starting point.

The Annapurna Circuit offers the ultimate in variety of terrain and cultural diversity. Taking off from the lush rhododendron forests and terraced rice paddies of the mid-hills, the route follows the Kali Gandaki upriver with Dhaulagiri (8167m) to the left and Annapurna I (8091m) to the right to the dry Tibetan plateau. Gurung and Magar villages give way to settlements resembling old Tibet. The landscape changes from thick greenery to bare rock and windswept plains.

The way up the Kali Gandaki Gorge follows the ancient trade route to Tibet. On leaving the Thakali village of Tukuche (2590m), a dramatic change occurs in the vegetation, from pine and conifer forests to dry and desert-like terrain. Marpha is another important Thakali village of flat-roofed houses and narrow stone-paved alleys. Further up the trail, the Tibet-like country north of the Himalaya is a magical experience - bizarre rock formations carved out by the wind, vertical rock faces pockmarked with cave dwellings and high-altitude turquoise lakes.

Muktinath (4100m) is a highly revered Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage spot. Traversing over the Thorung-La Pass, the highest point on the trail, is an intense experience of accomplishment. Following the course of the Marsyangdi River, the trek ends at Pokhara. Bird-watchers will also find the trek most interesting (there are over 800 species in Nepal). White-capped river chats, red-starts, little forktails, whistling thrushes Camp at Muktinath (3750m) and large pied kingfishers crisscross the skies.

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