Top Ten Treks in the Nepalese Himalaya

Annapurna Sanctuary

By Ethan Gelber

Amphitheater of mountains at Annapurna Sanctuary's base camp (Berger/Smith)

The Annapurna Sanctuary trek is a 10-day adventure. It can also be an added week-long bonus undertaken by inspired hikers fresh from the adrenalin rush of Thorung La on the Annapurna Circuit. An out-and-back walk from Pokhara, its turn-around point is the Annapurna Base Camp nestled in the middle of the Annapurna Sanctuary, a depression alongside the South Annapurna Glacier and surrounded on virtually all sides by Himalayan majesty. All but one of the visible peaks rise more than 21,000 feet above sea level. The 23,000-foot Macchapuchhre to the southeast is a holy mountain that has never been summitted! Although a short trek, the path is steep and sometimes treacherous, especially during or after a rain or snowfall. Like the Annapurna Circuit, there are plenty of accommodations for the unguided, self-sufficient hiker.

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Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Published: 29 Apr 2002
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.