When you trek the Annapurna Circuit, it’s not just a trek — it’s a journey through some of the most dramatically beautiful and raw country in the world. And, along the verdant valleys and step-terraced countryside to the breezy alpine deserts and snow-draped peaks, this colossal route never does anything that would strain your visuals. But on a trail that wends for as many as 230 kilometers (and past dozens of villages, passes, and side trails), it can be difficult to know where those lovely scenes are.
If you are considering following in the footsteps of the Bombay TV reporters on a Himalayan pilgrimage — or just reading over travel dispatches — here are the tricks to not miss those show-stopping views, whether you’re trekking on your own or with a group.
Start with a Simple Reveal If You’re New to Surprises
Hanging out, Photograph by Ian Derring. Many of the trekkers at the festival are drawn to the shortcuts to high altitude offered by jeeps. Sure, it’s a time-saver, but you will also miss some of the most breathtaking transitions of the landscape. Beginning at a lower altitude, either Besisahar or Jagat, it spans the region’s entire diversity — from sweaty subtropical forests, to high-altitude alpine meadows, and finally, snow-covered passes. This juxtaposition only dramatizes the views across these high-altitude reaches.
For, as you mount, the mountains inform their mysteries to you — first shyly in the distance and then darkly by using your path. And it’s the gradual unfolding of the Himalayas, the mild peel and reveal, this is the beauty of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Continue Upper Trek from Pisang to Manang
The most beautiful part of the loop is between Pisang and Manaang, and you have two options once you’re here – the lower via Humde and the high via Manangu and Ngawal. And if you want a view, the one on top is the way.
And on the upper level route from Upper Pisang in particular, all day there’s a panorama of Annapurna II, III, I, IV, and, most aptly (for it seems no part of it is apt), the world’s largest rock face – Paungda Dan da. It’s a ridgeline as you descend into old hilltop villages, and the mountains are that close. This part of the trail will be a little more of a leg burner with the slope, but it is all seriously worth it when you get to those views.
Rest a Day at Manang — And Climb High. Errorf: ‘Rest Day at Manang — And Climb High’
But Manang isn’t only a great locale to rest up while acclimatizing — it’s also the starting point for some of the circuit’s most amazing side hikes. Rest day out here is not a restful day. Now, put it to work up high on a few views that challenge the rest of your body, too, but also reward it with scenery.
Acclimatization, We visit the viewpoint (short/long walk as per your interest) at the top of the village and monastery to see Gangapurna Glacier, Ice Lake. If you’re in the mood for a slightly tougher climb, head higher, to Ice Lake, at around 4,600 meters (15,000 feet). When there is clear weather, the lake offers beautiful, unobstructed views of the Annapurna range and beyond — hands down one of the best spots along the trek.
Consider a detour to Tilicho Lake.
A side trip, not part of the main hike, but a cool little detour,r Anchora,ge Ala, ska Lowest price $574. And it’s also one of the highest in the world, 16,138 feet, ringed by gargantuan Ranges like Tilicho and Nilgiri.
Tilicho Lake The trail to Tilicho Lake is HARDER than down, here, and you will be able to see the string of people carefully picking their way up and down a thin, thin path while tracers out across a bit of everything from loose scree to the snow. But the prize is worth the trek. All of that is white against the blue water of the lake — it’s magical, especially the light in the mornings.
Finally, tack on an additional couple of days if you want to include a detour to the magnificent Tilicho Lake, as there’s a lot of retreading to restitch back together this and the high route to Thorong La. Mountain Giveaways Annapurna Circuit Challenge Well, slap in the middle of the Annapurna Circuit, we have the glorious 5,416-meter-high Thorong La pass – the highest point on the circuit. It’s not just about the view, which is one of the greatest treks on the planet, the climb is like digging holes-hardyakka! And, mostly, trekkers head out before dawn to avoid the whistling winds at altitude — or believe me, i, does,, and you don’t want it. The dres one to submit in time to watch the sunrise.
The 360-degree rings of peaks — from Annapurna and Mustang in every direction — cannot be ignored, and you’ll find yourself just sitting and staring at it all. There’s something whimsical, but also a little odd, about this place. It’s bitterly, bitingly cold, and the air is so thin it is virtually unbreathable, but it is also one of the most extraordinary places you will go on the whole trek. Don’t race through Mustang: Once you have crossed Thorong La Pass, trek down into Mustang. Get ready for the landscape — and everything else — to turn on its head. Snow has turned to dry, wind-hated valleys, red cliffs, eroded canyons, and vast riverbeds. Towns like Mukhtinath and Kagbeni, with a desert-mountain background, will leave your tongue hanging on dirt. What is downstream and upstream Kali Gandaki from the trail head of Kagbeni, till after Upper Mustang and outside the trail head, and the Kali Gandaki gorge, is a simple scenic tour de force even. The training for the treks looks amazing as well. Hopefully will be more than Netflix and UK Ubus Too! That’s a whole new story, a whole new adventure there. End on a Sunrise – Poon Hill. Not officially on the trekking route, but a lot of trekkers pay the small amount to continue past Tatopani to Ghorepani and watch the sunrise from Poon Hill to end their trek. Yes, that takes a couple of additional days, but it’s worth it.
The pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill (3,210 meters), a popular sunrise spot, is the pre-dawn start time, and my reward there is a sunrise that sets alight the vast panoply of peaks. From this viewpoint, some of the most rewarding views of Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare (Fishtail), and several other giants can be seen all in a single line!
It’s an appropriate farewell — a closing coda that gets at the essence of what made the Annapurna Circuit so remarkable in the first place.
Talk to the locals/the other trekkers.
Not every perspective can be pinned to a map.” And though guidebooks and trekking agencies have you covered on all the main attractions, some of the most rewarding places to stop, stare, and contemplate are ones that locals, or fellow trekkers even, send you to while you’re walking the trail. And whether it’s a brief hike to a secret monastery, a ridge simply behind a teahouse, or a view simply up the hill from some village, those are someinstancesof little gem stones that turn out to be the highlighting of the journey.
Stay curious, and keep asking, asking, asking, and don’t be afraid to take a little facet trip down a rarely traveled route, because you simply by no means know when the next vista will leave you breathless.
Final Thoughts
What to See on the Annapurna Circuit Taking in the sights on the Annapurna Circuit isn’t so much about crossing items off a list of points of interest as it is about appreciating beauty wherever you are. They are grand, loud, near-silent sowings, tiny flashes of true light: the burning away of morning fog from a far ridge, the silence of muddy prayer flags that hug a cliff, a tempering of a setting sun strumming along a stone-lined village path.
Take your time. Let the trail unfold slowly. And remember, as much as it’s the summits that attract people, it will be the effort of getting to them that will make any of those views hard-won and entirely your own.
