Table of Contents

Warning Overview map Map key Acknowledgements Preface Introduction Geography Climate Plants, animals and birds Brief history People of Nepal Religion Cultural considerations Getting there Visas and permits When to go Style of trekking Accommodation on trek Food Money matters Health matters Mountain safety Hazards and security What to take Maps Photography Communications Kathmandu - Gateway to the Himalayas Pokhara - Gateway to the Annapurnas How to use this guide The last word 1 Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary Trek 1 Annapurna Circuit Stage 1 Bhulbhule to Manang Stage 2 Manang to Muktinath Stage 3 Muktinath to Tatopani Stage 4 Tatopani to Naya Pul via Ghorepani Alternative Stage 4 Tatopani to Dhampus Phedi via Ghorepani and Ghandruk Trek 2 Annapurna Sanctuary Stage 1 Dhampus Phedi to Chhomrong Alternative Stage 1 Naya Pul to Chhomrong Stage 2 Chhomrong to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Stage 3 Annapurna Base Camp to Chhomrong Stage 4 Chhomrong to Naya Pul via Ghandruk Alternative Stage 4 Chhomrong to Naya Pul via Ghorepani Trek 3 Ghorepani Circuit (Poon Hill Expedition) Trek 4 Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Trek 2 Restricted areas - Mustang, Damodar and Nar-Phu Trek 5 Mustang Trek Stage 1 Jomsom to Lo Manthang Stage 2 Lo Manthang to Muktinath via Tange Trek 6 Nar-Phu Trek Stage 1 Koto to Phu Stage 2 Phu to Koto 3 Other treks Machhapuchhre region Trek 7 Mardi Himal Trek Trek 8 Machhapuchhre Korchon (Model) Trek Parbat Myagdi Trek 9 Parbat Myagdi Link Trek 10 Parbat Myagdi Circular Ridges north and east of Pokhara Trek 11 Siklis Trek Foothills of Lamjung Himal Trek 12 Khatri Thanti-Besisahar Trek Trek 13 Ramgha-Besisahar Trek Trek 14 Gurung Heritage Trek Appendix A Trek summaries and suggested schedules4 Appendix B Religious and other terminology Appendix C Useful words and phrases Appendix D Books, films and music Appendix E Useful contacts

About the Author

Siân Pritchard-Jones and Bob Gibbons met in 1983, on a trek from Kashmir to Ladakh. Since then they have been leading and organising treks in the Alps, Nepal and the Sahara. They work in Kathmandu every winter and always relish returning to the Annapurna region, one of their favourite trekking haunts.