The Annapurna Circuit

Often voted one of the world's best long-distance treks, the Annapurna Circuit is a route within the mountain ranges of central Nepal covering a total length of between 100 and 145 miles depending upon where you start and end your trek.  Only opened to foreign travellers in 1977, it encircles the Annapurna Massif - consisting of the mountains Annapurna I to IV as well as a number of other peaks of 6000 to 8000 metres in elevation - and provides views of other large peaks including Dhaulagiri, Machhpachhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak and Pisang Peak.  The trek reaches its highest point at the Thorung La pass at 17769 feet where it touches the edge of the Tibetan plateau.  

I had made it a New Year’s ‘resolution’ to visit the Himalayan Mountains and so it was timely that Toby, who had done the trek the previous year, asked if I was interested in going at the back end of the year to complete the circuit.  Like most people we would hike the route in an anticlockwise direction; this way the daily altitude gain is slower which makes acclimatisation and crossing the high Thorong La pass easier and safer.  Arrangements were made: four of us would fly to Khatmandu, collect a guide and sherpa and head off to start our walk at Besi Sahar before finishing nearly 3 weeks and 140 miles later.