Around Annapurna Trek

The trail heads up the Marsyandi river valley. Manaslu, 8163m, is in the background.

Crossing the Marsyandi river

A porter virtually disappears under his heavy load

Flowers along the trail

Trail high above the Marsyandi river

Most porters only wear a pair of flip-flops

A schoolgirl is watching the flow of trekking tourists

The trail crosses the broad, flat valley of Tal, 1700m, that was once a lake

The valley of Tal, 1700m

Water-powered prayer wheel

Paungda Danda, a cliff of granite, looks like a gigantic wave, Manang Valley

Manang Valley

Tibetan-looking lodge owner, Pisang, Manang Valley

A mother is washing her reluctant child, Pisang, Manang Valley

Pisang, Manang Valley

Buddha statue, Manang Valley

Men at work, Manang Valley

In Hongde, 3330m, the trail passes a long mani wall

Manang Valley, seen from the slopes of the Gangapurna Glacier

Flat roofed houses in Manang, 3540m

Playing children in Manang

From Thorung Phedi the trail leads up the Thorung La pass

The one and only

Evening before the crossing of the Thorung La pass, Thorung Phedi, 4450m

Looking down the trail that leads up the Thorung La pass

Trekking group on top of the Thorung La pass, 5416m

Panoramic view of the mountains lining the Kali Gandaki Valley, Muktinath

Dhaulagiri, 8167m, and Tukuche Peak, 6920m, seen from Muktinath

Panoramic view from Muktinath

Jharkot, seen from below Muktinath, sits on a spur overlooking the barren valley