Summary: Pictures in this gallery are from a 7-day trek from Pokhara to the Annapurna Base Camp, aka Annapurna Sanctuary. see my Annapurna Base Camp travelogue. Map of Nepal, the Annapurna range lies north of Pokhara.
Route to Annapurna Base Camp Route from Nayapul via Gandruk.
Selection of videos and timelapses from Annapurna Base Camp trek.
Pokhara is a great place to relax, not only after finishing tough treks, but also before starting one. Selection at the sea-front cafes is great.
Phewa lake in Pokhara.
The Annapurna Sanctuary trek takes me to the other side of the Machapuchare, from where it looks like a fishtail with its double-peaked summit ridge.
Lamjung Himal (6'998m) is one of the many peaks that rise above the foothills near Pokhara.
A short walk up from Syauli Bazaar the valley opens up and Hiunchuli appears, the valley to the right of it takes me to the sanctuary 3 days later.
Colourful flowers and warm temperatures near Syauli Bazaar on the way to Gandruk.
All kinds of butterflies increase the tropical atmosphere of the lower foothills of the Annapurnas.
One of the larger butterflies is the blue-winged Crow butterfly.
Belladonna Horsfieldi spotted higher up on the way to the Annapurna sanctuary.

Just three hours after starting in Naya Pul, the walls of the Annapurna Sanctuary appear high on the horizion.
On the way to Choomrong looking south towards Gandruk with typical puffy clouds building up in the afternoon while there is plenty of sunshine on the rice terraceses.
Millet and rice are grown on the terraces.
Isolated houses near Choomrong surrounded by rice terraces, harvest season has just begun.
Characteristic landscape of Nepal's middle hills where rice terraces dominate the man-made landscape.
Well-marked trails take me from Syauli Bazaar to Gandruk, a great one-day walk through fields of rice with an occassional glimpse of the Annapurnas.
Countryside with typical Gurung architecture amidst rice fields and banana trees.
Rice, picturesque when grown on rice terraces and tasty when being served with lentils.
Lentils, beans and rice form the staple diet of Nepalis, and most trekkers even though variety at lodges is usually bigger.
Corn is piled or hung out to dry in each household.
Millet is turned into flour to make flat breads, its other use of making mildly alcoholic chang is probably a usage more appreciated by most.
Picturesque farmhouse further down the valley.
October is harvesting season for rice in many parts of Nepal.
Though hard work, these women have a good time cutting the rice rice.
Walking the Annapurnas...
Faces in Gandruk
Faces in Gandruk

A great things are simple!
Great atmosphere in the kitchen where fresh dal baht and vegetable curry mark the end of a strenuous day.
Typical bill in lodge where rooms are very cheap, and food and beverage depend on personal taste. I ususally stick to simple local food, an instant noodles for breakfast.
At the foothills of the Annapurnas, rice terraces, forests and traditional houses are a common sight.
Gurung house in Gandrk with Hiunchuli and Annapurna South rising into the blue sky.
Often there is corn and hollow tree trunks for bees hanging on the whitewashed walls.
Simple and effective architecture, great views at and from the window, see sunset on Hiunchuli on next picture.
Household chores being done in the courtyard of the typical Gurung house, at the right rises Annapurna South out of the morning clouds.
Clouds usually move in during the afternoon, just before sunset they open up and reveal Hiunchuli (6'441 m) from Gandruk.
It is worth getting up early for nice light, and to walk in the relatively cool mornings instead of hot afternoons with clouds.
Rice terraces from Gangdruk, with fine views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. The way to the Annapurna Base Camp goes up the valley between Hiunchuli and Machapuchare, but first some sidevalleys need to be crossed.
Rice terraces, forested hillsides and Annapurna South on way to Kimrong.
Rising high above the ridge near Komrong, the hanging glaciers of Annapurna South cling to its steep south face.

Dark green foliage catching the morning sun with Fishtail mountain rising high into the blue sky; from Kimrong the trail descends and steeply climbs up again to Chomroong.
Annapurna massif with South peak and Hiunchuli rises above the small pass near Kimrong. It is a short and beautiful walk from Gandruk with snow-capped peaks over colourful forests. Far to the right Annapurna III and Gangapurna can be seen as well.
Great contrasts between inhospitable mountains and gentle valleys are a stunning aspect of the Annapurna Base Camp trek.
In clear nights the stars are incredible, and at lower altitudes with warmer temperatures it is more tempting to get up at night than at base camp.
Fantastic light a few moments before the sun hits the summit of the 7'219 m Annapurna south.
The sun wanders quickly down the south-eastern flank of Annapurna South.
Just a few minutes after sunrise, the orange light has gone and the entire flank is illuminated.
The Fishtail mountain rises steeply above the hills surrounding it.
On the way to Choomrong, Machapuchare rises above the forested ridge.
Fishtail is not high, but very impressive esp. when it rises high into the sky behind the forested hillsides.
Hiunchuli rising into the clear blue Himalayan sky.
After Sinuwa, the trail enters a dense forest for two days, quite a different world than the rice terraces below and the open spaces higher up.
After a night of rain the small trails turn into small rivulets in the enchanted forest.
After a two-hour walk in a snow stom up to base camp, it is very relaxing to having found a good lodge first, and then enjoy a hot milk tea with chocolate, and a nap afterwards.
The clouds break in the late afternoon, and reveal parts of the gigantic south face of Annapurna I.

The snowstorm stops and just before sunset the clouds open up for a fine view of the steep west face of Fishtail (6'993 m).
Across the valley from Annapurna Base Camp, the famous moutain rises high into the air.
Double-fluted peak of Machepuchare with the steep rock and snow flanks.
Late afternoon view of Annapurna 3 (7'555 m) from Annapurna Base Camp.
View from Annapurna Base Camp to other, less known peaks that surround us on all sides.
Annapurna South from the Base Camp of Annapurna with fog and clouds moving in during the late afternoon.
A very clear and very cold night at the Annapurna Base Camp, but too beautiful not to get up and take pictures after midnight.
The few moments before sunrise turn the mountains into a magic light, the orange sun will wander down the steep 3'500m vertical wall in an instant.
Morning sun illuminating the vertical south face of Annapurna I (8'091 m).
Magic light on the east-face of Annapurna South.
A freezing cold morning reveals the 360° panorama of the Annapurna range.
The steep, almost 4'000 m high wall that rises from the glacier near Base Camp to 8'091 m.
Though only 6'501 m high, the delicate southern flank makes Singu Chuli an impressive small peak in the sanctuary.
Incredibly steep wall of Annapurna I on the way to the Base Camp.
Weather changes quickly, just 24h apart from a snowstorm now everything seems gentle, warm and pleasant.
Annapurna III rising over the brown meadows of the Annapurna Sanctuary.
At eastern rim of the Annapurna sanctuary rises the 6'250 m high fluted peak of Gandharba, one of the lower mountains in the massif.
Panorama with lodge at Annapurna Base Camp in the sanctuary.