©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Annapurna Region Includes ¨ Why Go? Annapurna Panorama With well over 100,000 visitors a year, the Annapurna Himal Trek . 129 has long been the most popular region among trekkers, and Khopra Ridge Trek . 133 for good reason. The mountain views are exceptional, the Annapurna villages you pass offer an exotic slice of Nepali and Tibetan Sanctuary Trek . 136 culture, and the area is easily accessible, with excellent food Annapurna and accommodation just about whenever and wherever you Circuit Trek . 144 need it. During the 2015 earthquake, buildings collapsed in Nar-Phu Trek . 175 Jomsom and Mustang, but most of the region escaped with- out serious damage. Mustang Trek . 184 The city of Pokhara, with its relaxed traveller hub of Lake- side on the shore of Phewa Tal, makes an excellent base for all the treks in the Annapurna region, including the famous Circuit, the Annapurna Sanctuary and several shorter treks. Best Mountain The Annapurnas are also the launching pad for adventurous Views treks into the restricted areas of Mustang and Nar-Phu. For many of these treks, you can be on the trail within an hour ¨ Annapurna Sanctuary or two of leaving Pokhara. (p136) ¨ Upper Pisang (p151) ¨ Khopra Ridge (p133) When to Go ¨ Poon Hill (p130) ¨ Autumn and early winter (October to December) are ideal ¨ Thorung La (p161) months for trekking, with warm days and cool nights; this is the peak season. There is very little rain (although mountain weather is always unpredictable) and usually the mountain views are crystal-clear. Bear in mind that October sees twice Best of Mountain as many trekkers in the Annapurnas than any other month. Culture ¨ Spring (March to May) is Annapurna’s second-best and ¨ Lo Manthang (p188) second-most popular season for trekking. The days are ¨ Manang (p156) warming up and Nepal’s famous rhododendron blossoms colour the trails. ¨ Ghandruk (p132) ¨ The monsoon (May to September) brings rain and leeches ¨ Muktinath (p161) to most trails, although not to Mustang and Nar-Phu, both ¨ Nar-Phu (p174) sheltering in the Himalaya’s rain shadow. 125 020km TIBET e# 010miles (CHINA) 1. Annapurna Panorama Trek (p130) 2. Khopra Ridge Trek (p134) Lo Manthang ##\4 3. Annapurna Sanctuary Trek (p137) 4. Annapurna Circuit Trek Day 1-4 (p145) 5. Annapurna Circuit Trek Day 5-11 (p152) 6. Annapurna Circuit Trek Day 12-15 (p165) Ts arang #\ #\ Surkang 7. Annapurna Circuit Trek Day 16-18 (p172) 8. Nar-Phu Trek (p176) Nyi La c#\ Ghemi 9. Mustang Trek (p185) (4020m) 10. Greater Pokhara (p126) #\ #\ Geling Tange TIBET Samar #\ (CHINA) #\ Chele Bhrikuti R(6364m) Kagbeni 5 ANN 6 #\ Eklai Bhatti #\ #Þ Thorung La 4 44 A Muktinath #1 666666PURN 9 #\ #\ Thorung 8 Jomsom Phedi Phu#6 Marpha #\ Letdar #\ 4444444444 4444444A Tilicho Tal R #7 Manang EGION Annapu444rna 444##\5 44444444444444 Titi #– 666666North Base #\ 66 Lake Camp South Hongde Annapurna Gangapurna REGIO Ghasa #\ Annapurn444a IR Gl444acier 444Glacier44 4 4444 (8091m) Chame 4 Annapurna #\ Base Camp N Annapurna #\ Bagarchhap Dana #\ South S# HIG (7219m444) R 4443 444444 4444 #\ R Machhapuchhare 6Tatopani 66666#\ 66 Khopra (6997m) H Khayer LIG 2 Danda Himalayan #æ Tal Hotel Annapurna 444 44444444 44hts 44 Conservation Ghorepani Area Poon Hill R#\ Ghandruk (3210m) 3 #\ Landruk # Siklis #\ #\ Jiunda #\ 44 Tikhedhunga Bahundanda 666666#\ Tolka #\66 #\ Beni Birethanti #2 Annapurna Sanctuary #\ Naya Pul#\ 7 Phedi#\ 1 #\ Baglung Besi #\ Sahar Phewa 10 Pokhara Kusma #\ (Fewa) Tal ^# 666666#– Dipang Tal #\ Chisopani Annapurna Region Highlights 1 Trekking around the Machhapuchhare from the Milarepa’s Cave or scenic Ice Annapurna massif, savouring traditional Gurung village of Lake outside Manang (p156) . perfect views and crossing the Ghandruk (p132) . 6 Overnighting in the 5416m Thorung La (p161) . 4 Trekking through eroded photogenic, medieval 2 Watching the dawn light desert canyons, past ancient community of Phu (p177) . inch down the frozen fluted chortens and monasteries, to 7 Teaming up with other peaks from the Annapurna reach the fabled, walled city of trekkers for the challenging Sanctuary (p136) . Lo Manthang (p188) . three-day excursion to high- 3 Savouring the breakfast 5 Acclimatising in style on altitude Tilicho Tal (p157) . views of Annapurna and spectacular side trips to holy .