I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

OK, so I am learning Nepal run companies are cheaper and probably just as good. It appears they all stop at different tea house stops along the trek. How to know the best places to stop? The prettiest? The coolest culture? The best food? Etc. ? They all pretty much start in Besi Sahar and end in or near Pokahara. How do you know what is the best place to stay? Can anyone help?

Thanks fellow Trippers

Susie

I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

The short answer is that you don%26#39;t know ! Your Nepali staff (assuming that you%26#39;ve hired a guide and a porter) will have their particular favourites, but to a great extent it%26#39;s a matter of luck. On a well-trekked route such as the Circuit there are numerous good lodges (particularly on the way back down the Kali Gandaki valley). Menus (and prices) appear to be fixed at the same levels across large areas (apart perhaps from the few %26#39;up-market lodges catering to the tourist rather than the trekker, and you%26#39;ll be mercifully out of range of those very quickly).

In most lodges you%26#39;ll get a small double room (worth taking your own sleeping bag), adequate food - though probably not a great range of choice, and a warm welcome. Take it as it comes, staying aware that you are in Nepal, not the West, and enjoy it for what it is.

In terms of landscape and culture it%26#39;s a very varied trek: the highlights will depend on what you are looking for. Ours included

enjoying the dense woodlands of the first few days, with flocks of parakeets flitting through the trees,

the views of the Annapurna range as you turn west towards Pisang,

the curious village of Bragga,

the almost Medieval feel of buddhist Manang, (ignoring the %26#39;Manag Video Centre !)

the delight of reaching the summit of the Thorung La after a long plod

the total tranformation of the landscape as you cross the pass and look over the aridity of the kali Gandaki

Muktinath temple

The towns and villages of the kali Gandaki, with superb views of Dhaulagiri

etc

It%26#39;s not an over-hard trek, though it has a problem with acclimatisation as you are only a 3000 metres at manage, and then in a couple of days are faced with the ascent of the Thorung La up to 5400 metres (assuming that you are doing an anti-clockwise circuit, which is preferable as otherwise the ascent to the pass is longer and harder)

If you are feeling fit it%26#39;s worth climbing up from Tatopani to Ghorepani, then descending via Ullieri and Birethanti to reach the road at Nyapul. The views from Ghorepani are magical.

Enjoy !

I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

ditto previous post. The key is your guide and relationship with that person. I have only done the western 1/2 of the circuit but my guide exceeded all my expectations in service. Great tea houses and food, some surprise stays, great interactions with the local cultures.

Stops are best based on your ability and desire to travel on any given day as most villages run but an hour apart for the next, though you plan on 4-7 hours a day trekking.

makeup