This trek cum climb is difficult to match for its rugged mountain scenery, trekking and mountaineering challenges and the expose it provides on the variety of ethnic Nepalese cultures.

Starting in the lowland paddy fields the trek steadily gains altitude passing through oak and pine forests and eventually emerging into high desert country at Manang (11798 ft/ 3597 m.) and culminating in the ascent of Chula West (20992 ft/ 6400 m.). The descent is equally amazing and varied. Since the trek to the Base Camp of Chulu gains altitude slowly, you will have enough time to observe the people and their customs. Lowland, farming communities of Brahmin and Chettri people of Aryan stock give way, slowly, to the highland trading communities of Magar, Gurung and Bhotia people of Mongoloid stock. As the people change, so does the dominant religion. Temples and shrines, used for worship by the lowland Hindus give way to Shamanism in the middle hills which, in turn, gives way to the gompas and monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism of the higher reaches.

Strenuous trekking is well rewarded at both low and high altitudes, on the approach to the Thorung La as well as during the descent from it. Close up views of the Annapurna range (40 miles between the two river valleys contain at twelve 22960 ft/ 7000 m. peaks and many more above the 19680 ft/ 6000 m. mark). Varied ecosystems, diverse cultures and an ever-changing landscape - lush, green paddy fields and oak forests, arid deserts, the deepest gorge and some of the most fascinating mountains make this one of the most popular areas in the world for trekkers and mountaineers.

This "classic" journey around the massif of the Annapurna Himal starts with a drive to Besi Sahar and then leads up the Marsyangdi River Valley through the villages of Chamje, Bagarchap Pisang and Manang. From Manang, making a slight detour, it leads to the BAse Camp of Chulu West and then rejoins the main trekking trail to cross the Thorung La (17712 ft/5400 m.). The trail then switches over to the Kali Gandaki River valley and descends through the villages of Muktinath, Jomsom and ends with a flight back to Kathmandu.