Annapurna Circuit Trek

This trip was unforgettable! Many people choose to do the Annapurna Circuit on their own and they mainly follow the Jeep track, which didn’t appeal to us. We were so happy and grateful that we decided to go with Exodus - we had the best guides! Sukman and his assistant guides Dipendra and Lakpa Sherpa were fantastic. We had knock knock tea in the mornings - loved that part, and followed a mix of alternate trails (that weren't well known) with certain sections along the main Jeep track. On those quieter trails, we rarely encountered other trekkers and definitely no other tour groups. We did pass herds of goats and met local people. We only saw other people along the main jeep track. Two days before reaching Thorong La Pass, we had heavy snow. Thanks to Sukman’s expertise, he made the difficult decision to backtrack immediately. Many trekkers without guides, or those who chose to wait out the storm, ended up stranded at high camp and had to be rescued. We were fortunate to make it safely off the mountain in time, though it meant rerouting the second half of our trip. Even with the detour - we thoroughly this trip thanks to the amazing team. The porters were also incredible companions. Without them, carrying all of our belongings for three weeks would have been tough!!

The most stunning trek you can imagine. The Himalaya's really are great cathedrals of nature. Walk alongside 3 of the top 10 peaks in the world, with an itinerary set up to ensure you succeed at altitude and make it over the amazing Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. Most competitors do the trek in 2 weeks, missing large sections or not acclimatising properly - the 22 day version means you complete (just about) everything.

An incredible trek during a less crowded time. Drier and cooler at this time of the year though (crossing the pass we started at -5F).

I wanted to complete the Annapurna Circuit before I reached a landmark birthday (70!). It was amazing! Our leader, Valerie was a font of information, especially relating to the cultural aspects - Tibetan Buddhism and local cultural traditions. The accommodation was basic, but comfortable, and the trip notes made it clear what to expect. There were extra duvets in the beds at higher altitude, so there was no problem with being cold at night. There was plenty of choice regarding the menus - more than I expected. I would certainly recommend this trip to anyone with the required fitness level and a taste for adventure.

This trip was an arduous but ultimately very fulfilling trek round 158 miles of some of the most beautiful scenery in Nepal. Luckily, we had no rain and most of the time walked in bright and glorious sunshine.