Annapurna Circuit, New Trek Route - 16 days

"The Annapurna circuit trek - one of the best 12 walks in the world" as termed by Modern Maturity, America's largest circulated magazine is truly a one of the most favorite trekking routes in the world.

This region is the home of mainly Gurungs and Magars (the famous Gurkha people of Nepal). The small terraced fields on the mountain slopes support crops of millet and wheat, corn and barley and small flocks of sheep and goats. The people of Manang are traditionally a trading society who made there living brokering the exchange of good across the Himlayas. They are Buddhist in religion and Tibetan in origin, and their architecture and lifestyle are quite different to other ethnic groups in the southern slopes. The trek to the Manang Valley and into the rain shadow of the Annapurna ranges offers dramatic scenery of changing color of widely varied nature. After going over the high pass Thorong La 5416m and getting down,  you meet Thakali people on the other side of the Himalaya. They are smart traders controlling the busy trading and pilgrimage trail along the Kali Gandaki river valley. There are also Gurungs, Magars, Brahmans and other mixed ethnic groups when you move through the beautiful valley that is one of the deepest in the world nestled  between the towering 8000m + Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Then trail climbs up turning left from the hot spring Tatopani towards Ghorepani and Punhill, a very popular spot for viewing the wide Himalyan range majestically lining over the horizon. The trek route further  passes through beautiful small and big home villages of legendary Gurkha soldiers winding down to the edge of Pokhara valley.

This is one of the classic and most rewarding treks in Nepal combining diverse scenery with diverse cultures. On the whole Annapurna circuit trek, you will always have magnificent views of all central and western Himalayan ranges.