2003. 267 pp, many color maps and photos. Seen from the lakeside town of Pokhara in central Nepal, a tremendous wall of snow and ice-capped mountains dominates the northern horizon; the Annapurna Himal. With no less than twelve summits topping 7000 metres (23,000ft) soaring above a foreground of intricately terraced foothills, this is one of the most beautiful and ethnically diverse landscapes on earth.
Around this island block goes the route of the classic Annapurna Circuit - one of the great walks of the world. Into the heart of these mountains another trekker's trail leads to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Through the world's deepest valley, between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, goes the Pilgrim's Trail to Muktinath, while the Ghandruk Foothill Trek provides an introduction to some of the best of Nepal's hill villages and mountain views.
Kev Reynolds describes each of these treks with full route details for 'tea-house' trekkers and those journeying with and organised group. Information with regard to lodges, tea-houses and villages is provided; there are sections on how to plan a trek, where and when to go, permits and preparations, health matters, an equipment check list and, of equal importance, how to avoid giving offence to the local people. Outline suggestions are offered for other treks in the region, and details of Trekking Peaks are also given. This is a new, full-colour edition of an established guide.
INTRODUCTIONLandscape of DreamsAnnapurna TreksTrekking and Trekking StylesWhen to GoPre-Departure PreparationsGetting There Permits and VisasPre-Trek Health MattersOn-Trek Healthcare The First Aid KitEquipment Check-ListMapsMinimum Impact TrekkingCultural InteractionNepal – Facts and FiguresTime in KathmanduAbout this GuidePre-Trek Check
TREK 1: THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUITPrologue: Kathmandu-Dumre-BesisaharSection 1: Besisahar to Manang Besisahar to Bhulbhule Bhulbhule to Bahundanda Bahundanda to Jagat Jagat to Tal Tal to Bagarchhap Bagarchhap to Chame Chame to Pisang Pisang to Manang High Alternative Route: Upper Pisang to Mungji Time in ManangSection 2: Manang to Muktinath Manang to Yak Kharka Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi Thorong Phedi – Thorong La – MuktinathSection 3: Muktinath to Tatopani Muktinath to Tukuche Tukuche to TatopaniSection 4a: Tatopani to Pokhara via Beni Tatopani to BeniSection 4b: Tatopani to Pokhara via Ghorepani Tatopani to Ghorepani Ghorepani to Naya PulSection 4c: Ghorepani to Chhomrong Ghorepani to Chhomrong Pokhara
TREK 2: THE ANNAPURNA SANCTUARYSection 1: Pokhara to ChhomrongSection 1a: Phedi to Chhomrong via Dhampus and LandrukSection 1b: Naya Pul to Chhomrong via Syauli Bazaar and New Bridge Section 1c: Naya Pul to Chhomrong via GhandrukSection 2: Chhomrong to Annapurna Base CampReturn Routes to Pokhara
TREK 3: THE PILGRIM'S TRAIL TO MUKTINATHSection 1: Pokhara to TatopaniSection 1a: Beni to TatopaniSection 1b: Naya Pul to TatopaniSection 2: Tatopani to Muktinath Tatopani to Tukuche Tukuche to Muktinath To Muktinath via KagbeniReturn Routes to Pokhara
TREK 4: THE GHANDRUK FOOTHILL TREKSection 1: Naya Pul to GhandrukSection 2: Ghandruk to ChhomrongSection 3: Chhomrong to LandrukSection 4: Landruk to Dhampus and Pokhara
OTHER ANNAPURNA TREKSUpper Mustang Annapurna Panorama The Tatopani–Ghorepani LoopThe Korchon Ridge TrekThe Siklis TrekBegnas Tal to the MarsyangdThe Bara Pokhari Lekh APPENDICESAppendix A: Summary of TreksAppendix B: Annapurna – The First Fifty YearsAppendix C: Trekking Peaks in the Annapurna RegionAppendix D: Useful AddressesAppendix E: GlossaryAppendix F: Useful PhrasesBibliography
