The Annapurna Base Camp Trek leads into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a natural amphitheater of ice and rock surrounded by Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the sacred Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).
The trail passes through Gurung and Magar villages, rhododendron forests and terraced fields before climbing into the high alpine basin at 4,130 m. Lower maximum altitude than Everest makes it an excellent choice for many first-time high-altitude trekkers, while the scenery remains world-class.