On June 3, 1950, an expedition led by French climber Maurice Herzog became the first team to reach the summit of Mount Annapurna I. It was also the first time that climbers had reached the top of an 8000-meter peak. In 2020, Nepal opened a new trail which follows the expedition’s route to the little-known and seldom-visited north base camp of Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain.

Barely 25 miles north of Pokhara sits the most beautiful mountain range in Nepal – the Annapurnas. It was not until the mid-1950s that these majestic mountains were first explored by the outside world. Today the Annapurna Range is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world, and with good reason – it is easily accessible from Pokhara and offers tremendous potential for scenic walks and for alpine exploration in a splendid high Himalayan setting. The mountains forming the great Annapurna Range boast no fewer than eight peaks over 7000 meters, including Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna 1 (8091 meters), Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Annapurna V. Macchapuchare (Fish Tail) is surely the most famous mountain in this range, standing only 23 feet (7 meters) below the magical 7000 meter mark.

The Annapurna North Base Camp is located in the Annapurna Conservation Area, north of the popular Annapurna Sanctuary and south of famed Thorong La Pass, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit. The recently opened Maurice Herzog Trail is 29 miles (47K) of beautiful trail and offers a safe alternative to the old route which crossed the rugged and rockslide-prone Thulo Bugin Pass. This area is rarely traveled by trekking groups and there are no lodges except for very basic shelters to escape the elements. We will operate this trek in tented camping expedition style and employing the services of a full cook and kitchen crew.