Annapurna is a series of peaks in the
Himalayas. The massif is 55km long and highest point
Annapurna I stands at 8091m, making the 10th highest summit in the world. It is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalayas by the
Kali Gandaki River, which separates it from the
Dhaulagiri massif.
There is also
Annapurna II, which does not rank far behind Annapurna I. It is a fully independent peak, despite the close association with Annapurna I which its name seems to imply.
The Annapurna Conservation Area is a emerged as trekking region. There are three major trekking routes in the Annapurna region: the
Jomson Trek to Jomsom and Muktinath, the
Annapurna Sanctuary route to Annapurna base camp and the
Annapurna Circuit, which circles the Annapurna Himal itself and includes the Jomson route.
Pokhara is well know town which is also a starting point for these treks, and is a good starting place for other short treks of one to four days, such as routes to Ghorepani or Ghandruk.
The
Mustang district, a former kingdom bordering Tibet, is also geographically a part of the Annapurna region, but treks to Mustang are subject to special restrictions. About two-thirds of all trekkers in
Nepal visit the Annapurna region. The area is easily accessible, guesthouses in the hills are plentiful, and treks here offer incredibly diverse scenery, with both high mountains and lowland villages. Also, because the entire area is inhabited, trekking in the region offers unique cultural exposure and experience.
