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 Maktinath, 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.

Table of Contents

TREK 1: THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT; Prologue: Kathmandu-Dumre-Besisahar; Section 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 Manang; Section 2: Manang to Muktinath; Manang to Yak Kharka; Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi; Thorong Phedi - Thorong La - Muktinath; Section 3: Muktinath to Tatopani; Muktinath to Tukuche; Tukuche to Tatopani; Section 4a: Tatopani to Pokhara via Beni; Tatopani to Beni; Section 4b: Tatopani to Pokhara via Ghorepani; Tatopani to Ghorepani; Ghorepani to Naya Pul; Section 4c: Ghorepani to Chhomrong; Ghorepani to Chhomrong; Pokhara TREK 2: THE ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY; Section 1: Pokhara to Chhomrong; Section 1a: Phedi to Chhomrong via Dhampus and Landruk; Section 1b: Naya Pul to Chhomrong via Syauli Bazaar and New Bridge; Section 1c: Naya Pul to Chhomrong via Ghandruk; Section 2: Chhomrong to Annapurna Base Camp; Return Routes to Pokhara; TREK 3: THE PILGRIM'S TRAIL TO MUKTINATH; Section 1: Pokhara to Tatopani; Section 1a: Beni to Tatopani; Section 1b: Naya Pul to Tatopani; Section 2: Tatopani to Muktinath; Tatopani to Tukuche; Tukuche to Muktinath; To Muktinath via Kagbeni; Return Routes to Pokhara TREK 4: THE GHANDRUK FOOTHILL TREK; Section 1: Naya Pul to Ghandruk; Section 2: Ghandruk to Chhomrong; Section 3: Chhomrong to Landruk; Section 4: Landruk to Dhampus and Pokhara; OTHER ANNAPURNA TREKS; Upper Mustang; Annapurna Panorama; The Tatopani-Ghorepani Loop; The Korchon Ridge Trek; The Siklis Trek; Begnas Tal to the Marsyangd; The Bara Pokhari Lekh

About the Author

A lifelong passion for the countryside in general, and mountains in particular, drives Kev's desire to share his sense of wonder and delight in the natural world through his writing, guiding, photography and lecturing. Spending several months each year among various high mountain regions researching guidebooks, makes him The Man with the World's Best Job; a title he aims to keep by remaining active for another 100 years at least. Kev has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Cicerone since the 1970s, producing walking and trekking guides to the Pyrenees, Alps and Himalaya, as well as walking guides for Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds and he has several more books in the pipeline. A frequent contributor to outdoor magazines, he also writes and illustrates brochures for national tourist authorities and travel companies. When not away in the mountains, Kev lives with his wife in a small cottage among what he calls 'the Kentish Alps' with unrestricted walking country on the doorstep. But he also travels throughout Britain during the winter months to share his love of the places he writes about through a series of lectures. Check him out on www.kevreynolds.co.uk

Reviews

'If the Annapurnas present an enticing goal, there can be no better source of information than Kev Reynolds's Annapurna - A Trekker's Guide. ... Each trek has been thoroughly researched and lovingly described ... bringing back fond memories and recalling detail I found impossible to fault.' (Lindsay Griffin, High) 'This is a good guide book covering all the essentials and a bit more which still manages to be almost pocket sized.' (Julie Carter, The Pinnacle Club Journal) 'Kev describes the beauty and fascination which make this region such an attractive destination for the trekker. If a reader were in any doubt about undertaking a trek in the area, the author's enthusiasm for the region and its people clearly extols its merits, but if this were not enough the excellent photographs will clinch the deal. ... While the guide gives clear specific directions, its principal strength lies in the additional information it provides the visitor about the history of the area, the activities of the local people, their religion, ecology, the history of exploration and mountaineering, and much more. ... This is an excellent book. If you are going to the area, buy it. If you are just researching a trip, buy the book and reserve the tickets, it will get you hooked.' (Stewart MacKenzie, The Leader)