Why is this trek titled as Annapurna Semi-Circuit?

The trek is generally called Annapurna Circuit or around the Annapurna circuit. However, the full circuit trek takes more than two weeks of walk. Rather than this, this trek ends near the halfway point of Jomsom town . This enables us to skip a few days of walking. Therefore, this trek is known as the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek.

What kind of culture and customs do you expect on treks?

The main culture and custom in this trekking region is Buddhist. The culture around Manang and Mustang is centered around Buddhism , and you can witness prayer walls and monuments. Along with this, we can also visit monasteries en route. The culture and customs of Manang and Mustang are similar to their Tibetan predecessors.

Is altitude a big problem on these treks, and why?

Not at all. Altitude is not a big problem as we gain altitude slowly at a gradual pace. We have a few stops and rest along the walks before climbing to make the trekking enjoyable and filled with lovely views. The only sharp climb and rise in altitude is an uphill trek to Thorong-La Pass. However, we would be acclimatized by this point and have gotten used to the rough terrains. Besides the sleep climb, the rest of the trek is moderate and pleasant until the journey's end at Jomsom.

How has the motorable road been reached on this trek?

The motorable road connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara has reached the main Manang village on the northern side. The motorable road after the Thorong La pass has reached Muktinath and Jomsom. Although the motorable road is built, the drive can be bumpy and tiring due to narrow dirt tracks.

How are the lodge, food, and other facilities on treks?

The lodge accommodations are nice and cozy throughout the trek. The only simple and basic lodge is at High Camp before crossing Thorong-La pass. Every lodge has electricity, either run by hydro or solar power. There, we can charge our electronic items. Along with this, there are some facilities for hot showers. However, we may need to pay extra for hot showers and charging gadgets. The food is good , with most restaurants serving Continental, Chinese, Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan foods with snacks and drinks. Some lodges and restaurants also serve fresh bakery items such as cakes, pastries, and pies.

Annapurna Semi Circuit Trekking 12 Days

‘A short and scenic adventure around the grand Annapurna Himalayas’

Annapurna Semi Circuit Trekking is a short trek that lasts less than two weeks. This trek allows us to experience the glorious scenic landscapes.

On this journey, we walk around the grand Annapurna Himalayan range extending from Lamjung Himal to the east, Manang Valley to the North, and close to Mustang areas along with Dhaulagiri Himalayas. This journey covers the most beautiful areas from the North and south of the Annapurna Himalayas.

This adventure's charm and beauty start from the low subtropical paddy fields and ascend to the higher, cooler alpine hills. Then we head towards the arctic zone of ice and glaciers at the end of Manang Valley and high Thorong-la Pass.

Annapurna Semi Circuit trekking takes us through the lovely forest of pines, oaks, firs, and rhododendron trees. Then, we walk through the lush green vegetation, and tree lines disappear as we reach mountainous terrains filled with wilderness. Along with the breathtaking mountain view, we can also enjoy the local cultures of Manang villages.

As we continue our journey, we walk through the lovely settlements with old traditions and cultures of Buddhism. The towering peaks of the Annapurna Himalayas and Chulu are a constant view as we enter the beautiful Manang Valley.

Our wonderful adventure starts around Manang's scenic valley and ends at Mustang's stunning location. After that, we climbed to the top of Thorong-La Pass, the highest point of the journey and the boundary between Manang and Mustang district. Our enjoyable and exciting trek starts with an interesting drive to the foothills of Annapurna and Lajung Himal at Syange.

Our trek leads towards the cooler region at Manang as we leave the low farmland. Then, we walk through the lovely villages lined with prayer walls before reaching the northern side of the massive Annapurna Himalayas.

We view the amazing views of Annapurna Semi Circuit by following the Marsyangdi River right to the glacial courses at Manang Valley. Here, we spend extra days in Manang for acclimatization and enjoy a short hike for the rest of the day at scenic viewpoints.

Our walk finally leads us towards the valley's western rim at Thorong Phedi. Here, our journey takes us to the top of the Thorong-La Pass, the highest place of the adventure. This point of our adventure is encircled by the giant mountain range of Annapurna, Damodar, and Chulu Himal, with views of Dhaulagiri as far as the Manaslu Himalayas.

From our highest point of the trek, we take a long descent to reach the Mustang area along with the holy sites of Muktinath. This place is revered as one of the holiest places around the Himalayas for pilgrimage for the Hindu followers. Here, we take some moments to visit the holy temple of the Muktinath and get blessings after a successful trek crossing the high Thorong-La Pass.

Our trek slowly ends as we reach Jomsom, one of the major towns and the headquarters of the Mustang area. The next morning, we will have a short panoramic flight towards Pokhara's lovely and scenic city, a perfect place to conclude our wonderful adventure on Annapurna Semi-Circuit Trekking.

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