Annapurna Circuit
The Annapurna Circuit is a trekking route ( long-distance hiking trail ) around the Annapurna mountain range in the Nepalese Himalayas .
course
The complete round can be done by trekkers with average acclimatization and fitness levels in 18 to 21 days and is considered one of the most beautiful and varied in the world. Most of the route goes through the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) , the first and largest landscape conservation area in Nepal.
Most trekkers start from Besisahar ( 780 m ). It goes over the places Khudi ( 820 m ), Tal ( 1620 m ), Pisang ( 3180 m ) and Manang ( 3530 m ) on the pass Thorong La ( 5416 m ). Via the holy pilgrimage site Muktinath ( 3790 m ), the district capital Jomsom ( 2770 m ) and Marpha ( 2680 m ) you finally get to Tatopani ( 1160 m ), which is famous for its hot springs. A final ascent over the Ghorepani Deorali ("horse drink pass ") at 2874 m leads to the 1070 m high end point, the place Birethanti , from where taxis or buses go to Pokhara .
The trek leads most of the time - with the exception of the immediate vicinity of Thorong La - through agricultural, populated land. There are plenty of places to stop and sleep everywhere, so the trek is not a logistical problem. Nevertheless, it can also be walked with so-called porter guides , who not only carry part of the luggage, but are also cultural mediators.
Since 2008 there has been a trail that can be used by off-road vehicles and motorcycles from Pokhara via Tatopani and Marpha to Jomsom and on to Ranipauwa and Muktinath. Parts of the trek can be shortened using the bus and jeep taxi.
On the other side of Thorong La, a road from Besi Sahar to Manang has also been under construction for several years, but so far only short sections, partly interrupted by landslides, have been built and the final completion is uncertain. In April 2015, the drivable slope to Manang was completed and opened.
Variations on the classic route
As its name suggests, the circuit is a circular route. The path meanders mostly through valleys, with a pass crossing at Thorong La. Nevertheless, it is possible to vary the route without great logistical effort.
Detour to Tilicho Lake
The most famous variation is a detour to Tilicho Lake , which is one of the highest lakes on earth ( 4920 m ). To reach the lake, you leave the circuit in Manang . After crossing the village of Khangshar ( 3734 m ), follow the path ( Upper Route or Lower Route ) through the Khanshar Valley to the Tilicho Base Camp Lodge (approx. 4000 m). The Upper Route requires a lot of additional altitude, but is therefore well suited for acclimatization, because you climb to 4700 meters and then descend again 700 meters. The Lower route leads at a constant level for a long time by very steep and Slipping boulder fields and carries a higher risk of falling rocks. Overnight is possible in the Tilicho Base Camp Lodge. The hut is open throughout the spring and autumn, but is not heated. From the Tilicho Base Camp Lodge it is about 3 hours ascent to the lake.
Annapurna Circuit by mountain bike
With a few exceptions, it is possible to ride the Annapurna Circuit in around 14 daily stages by mountain bike. The soil conditions alternate between asphalt and gravel roads, right up to single trails .
climate
If you start from the division into climatic zones , then on this trek you cross all physical climatic zones in the world except the tropics.
Travel times
The most popular travel times are spring and autumn. In spring (April, May) it is pleasantly warm, in the valleys even hot, but the dust of the Indian plain comes with the south wind into the Himalayas and the mountain views in the morning can be a bit cloudy. Autumn, especially October and November, is the best time to travel in average years due to pleasant temperatures and clear mountain views. Summer is very humid, there is monsoons, and leeches can be a problem, but the trek is mostly doable. In the middle of winter, Thorong La is very dangerous and often difficult to cross.
acclimatization
For the exposed altitude of the path in the part between Manang and Muktinath , i.e. on the four or five days of the trek above 3500 m, acclimatization is absolutely necessary in order not to be affected by altitude sickness . At Thorong La there are several deaths every year due to poor or incomplete acclimatization.
A good acclimatization can be guaranteed from the Manang side, because on this side the number of stages up to the pass is greater and the difference in altitude between the individual stages is smaller. In the area around Manang in particular, there are also a variety of daily routes that are ideal for getting used to the altitude. This is why the pass is crossed more often from the east than from the west. Many trekkers circle the Annapurna massif counter-clockwise.
Disaster on October 14, 2014
An extension of the tropical cyclone Hudhud caused an unexpected, extraordinary onset of winter and a blizzard on October 14, 2014 , especially on the west side of Thorong La. More than 300 people were rescued by local security forces using helicopters, the number of deaths was given as 43 and the number of injuries as 175. On October 19, 45 people were still missing.
literature
- Andreas Stimm: www.AroundAnnapurna.de - a photographic-poetic journey around Annapurna (map & illustrated book) , Epsilonmedia, ISBN 3-00-016002-7
- Birgit Wenzl and Frank Hartl: Circumnavigation of Annapurna with a mountain bike (paperback) , Editorial Montana, 1st edition January 2012, ISBN 978-3-9814962-0-8
Web links
- Tilicho Trail Detailed description of the Tilicho Trail (from Manang to Jomson), engl.
- trekkingvisions.com - Description, pictures, trekking map and climate table ( Memento from July 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- stereoscopic picture gallery on nepal.3dfoto.pl
- 7000 Pics, maps, Gps and journal about Annapurna Circuit
Individual evidence
- ↑ Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) ( Memento from January 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Annapurna Circuit by mountain bike - tour description with all daily stages
- ↑ Deadly snowstorm on Annapurna: Dozens are still stuck in the Himalayas. SPIEGEL ONLINE, October 17, 2014, accessed October 18, 2014 .
- ↑ Nepal trekking disaster: Britons still 'missing' after severe snow storm. TELEGRAPH, October 19, 2014, accessed October 19, 2014 .
Coordinates: 28 ° 48 ' N , 83 ° 56' E