The Annapurna Circuit

This next chapter of our trip is called Lost in the Himalayas.
With some preparation in Kathmandu buying and renting warm trekking gear for the high altitudes, we head towards the beginning of the Annapurna Circuit, one of the world’s best treks.

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Walking 20km a day, we start at 800m and try to reach Thorung La, the world’s highest trekking pass at 5416m.

A snowstorm the day before our departure leads to 10 days of complete sunshine. We first pass by rice fields, bamboo groves, pine tree forests and tropical trees and as we climb higher we start catching glimpses of the higher peaks. We cross the Marsyangdi river innumerable times via the long suspension bridges.
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As the hours go by the scenery keeps changing: steep canyons, wild waterfalls, apple orchards, yak pastures, blue glaciers, vertical cliffs, deserted glacial valleys, boulders, all spotted with Tibetan chortens, long walls with prayer wheels and picturesque villages.

All these landscapes are topped by the magnificent, snow-capped peaks of the Annapurnas.  The mountains rise on both sides of the valley and we feel we can touch them.

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We left far behind the noises, pollution and traffic. It would take at least four days to walk to the nearest road.

Despite of being remote, small villages along the way have lodges where trekkers can eat, rest and exchange travel experiences around a fireplace.

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We acclimatize to the altitude and to the walking boots, starting every day as the sun rises and stopping at sunset, when it is too cold to be anywhere outside the sleeping bag.

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And we finally make it through the snowy Thorung La pass, the highest place we’ve ever been to.

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This will surely be one of the highlights of our trip, for the good combination of some the things we long for: Pure nature, adventure, nice company and amazing landscapes.

Perfect.

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