he Annapurna Sanctuary is a high glacial basin lying forty kilometers directly north of Pokhara Nepal's second city, and concealed within the folds of two great southward projecting ridges of the Annapurna Massif, lies the secret mountain fastness of the Annapurna Sanctuary. So narrow is the gateway to this most spectacular high mountain Amphitheatre, at the head of the Modi Khola and squeezed between the peaks of Hiunchuli and Macchapuchare, that it was not until 1956 that any outsider penetrated its defences. More recently, the Annapurna Sanctuary has become a popular trekking destination, and with good reason - It isEasily accessible from Pokhara and offers tremendous potential for scenic walks and for alpine exploration, in a splendid high Himalayan setting.

The ring of mountains which form the rim of the Annapurna Sanctuary includes no fewer than eight of over 7000 meters, including Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna 1 (8091 metres), Gangapurna, Annapurna 3 and Annapurna 5. The ring is completed by the peerless Macchapuchare, only 7 metres below the magical 7000 metres. The walk-in to the Sanctuary provides a taste of the great variety of landscape types which serve to make Nepal such a special trekking destination. Starting out at Phedi, we encounter sub-tropical heat, pretty villages and neatly terraced rice fields.

Gaining height gradually, we enjoy several days of pleasant ridge walking with a mix of abundant forest and scattered areas of farmed land. Finally, beyond the last of the bamboo and rhododendron woodland, the valley narrows at the entrance to the world of ice and snow that is the Annapurna Sanctuary. Throughout the walk-in, there are always outstanding panoramas of the high peaks to the north and the contrast of the rice-fields and villages with the snow peaks above, makes for very picturesque trekking indeed. From Poon Hill above Ghorepani the dawn views of Dhaulagiri and nearby Tukuche Peak are legendary.