The Annapurna Region

The Annapurna region carries several distinct treks rather than one: the Circuit, which takes two to three weeks around the whole massif and crosses the Thorong La at 5,416 metres; the shorter walk up to Annapurna Base Camp inside the sanctuary; and the four-day Ghorepani and Poon Hill loop that most first-time trekkers do. The appeal is the range of country crossed in a short distance, from subtropical rice terraces and rhododendron forest on the southern side to dry, Tibetan-influenced villages in the rain shadow beyond the pass. Roads have now been built along long sections of the old Circuit, particularly in the Kali Gandaki and Marsyangdi valleys, which has changed the walking considerably and pushed some trekkers onto newer alternative trails.

What you actually see

• The Thorong La - the 5,416-metre pass on the Circuit.
• The Annapurna Sanctuary - the basin ringed by peaks at base camp.
• Poon Hill - the short-trek viewpoint above Ghorepani.
• The rain-shadow villages - Manang and Mustang beyond the crest.

When to go

March to May for rhododendron flowering and September to November for the most stable weather and clearest air. Winter closes the pass with snow. The monsoon brings cloud, leeches and landslides, though the rain-shadow section stays drier.

Honest expectations

Altitude is a real risk on the Circuit and people die on the Thorong La most years. Roads have replaced parts of the old trail with jeep track and dust. Lodges on the main routes are busy in season. Regulations on guides have changed repeatedly, so check current requirements before booking.

Nearby

Pokhara is the gateway; Mustang lies north of the pass.