Named for the Hindu Goddess of food and nourishment, who is said to live among its summits, Annapurna is a vast massif in central Nepal with 13 peaks over 7,000m, and one that sits at 8,091m, making it the world’s 10th highest mountain. Annapurna was the first of the 8,000ers to be climbed, and the passes around the massif make it a popular trekking destination. But this is no easy mountain - the steep, south face is technical, tricky, and frequently deadly. A place where being guided by the best of the best makes a real difference.
The thrilling 8000m peak
The popularity of the Annapurna Circuit as a trekking destination often lulls people into a false sense of security about the dangers of the mountain itself. While it might be only the tenth highest mountain in the world, Annapurna I, the main peak, is arguably deadliest, with one of the highest death to successful summit ratios of any of the 8,000ers. Put simply, this is not a mountain that you can afford to underestimate.
Elite Exped’s Annapurna itinerary is based on the tried and tested expedition plan implemented by our founder Nimsdai during his record-breaking Project Possible year, when he climbed all of the world’s 8,000m peaks in record time. Annapurna’s relative accessibility means we recommend leaving just 40 days for the entire trip, which includes a lengthy 26-day climbing window and plenty of time to acclimatise.