Annapurna 1, the highest peak of the Annapurna Massif was climbed in 1950 by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal. Anapurna has 4 Summits, numbered in Order of height plus Annapurna South.
The range of sights around this Mountain Massifs consists of terrassed hillsides, dense jungle, humidbamboo clumps, canopies of cloud forest, dark woodlands and silent alpine glades.Higher up the land is barren and massive Mountains of snow and ice peer down. Mediaeval Villages, Monastries with colorful prayer flags clinging to sheer cliffs, quaint farmhouses with Buffaloes, Goats and Chickens dot the landscape and women in brightly colored saris wash their clothes by the river, while excited children scurry across the fields to greet visitors. The hills are inhabited by Brahmins, Magars, Chhetris and Gurungs.
The trek begins from at Nayapul, and passes through many Gurung and Magar villages, such as Ghandruk, which is the largest Gurung village in Nepal, where the male members of the local community have sacrificed their lives to serve with the British Gurkhas and security forces around the world. In the first day or so of the trek, there is the challenge of a very steep hill climb of almost 4000 steps, before the trail moves along ridges where stunning panoramic views disclose spectacular mountain-scapes. The third day sees a diversion from the trail, when there is a steep, torchlit, early-morning climb, to the famous Pun Hill (3210m), for one of Nepal’s best panoramic, 360 degree, sunrise views, encompassing Daulaghiri I - V, Nilgiri (7061m) , Machhapuchhre (6993m) , South Annapurna(7219m) and Himchuli (6441m).
The trek into the area below the massive south face of Annapurna - known as the Annapurna Sanctuary - is one of the most popular treks in Nepal. The trek begins in Pokhara and leads up through the breathtaking Modi Khola gorge into the vast mountain ringed amphitheatre of the Sanctuary. As we trek through bamboo and rhododendron forests we have superb views of the Annapurna range. We eventually pass between the mountains of Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli which guard the entrance to the Sanctuary, and after 6 days reach our goal, the high glacial basin that is the site of the Annapurna south face base camp.
