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 whose highest peak sits at 8,091m, making it the world’s 10th highest mountain. Makalu is the world’s fifth-highest mountain, a near-perfect pyramid of rock and ice thrusting 8,463m into the sky over the Nepalese - Tibetan border. This combination expedition will allow you to climb both in the space of a single spring climbing season - a huge achievement.
What the adventure involves
Although it’s only the tenth highest mountain in the world, Annapurna I, the main peak of the massif, can be deadly, with one of the highest death to successful summit ratios of any of the 8,000ers. Makalu also presents significant challenges, even to experienced climbers. Famous for its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges, it’s also regarded as a test of true climbing skill, with the final ascent of the summit pyramid requiring technical rock and ice climbing skills.
Summiting the two into a single expedition requires skill, strength and endurance. But most of all, it requires meticulous planning - and the kind of military precision preparation that Elite Exped specialise in. Our Annapurna and Makalu itinerary is based on the tried and tested expedition plans implemented by our founder Nimsdai during his Project Possible year, when he climbed all of the world’s 8,000m peaks in record time.