Hike Ngawal - Manang

Just below Ngawal you can see almost the entire route of this stage – the path slowly descends into the valley and approaches to the river. On the horizon it links with „lower“ path leading through Humde with a small airport. Except for Annapurna peaks out also the top of Gangapurna and Tilicho peak on the horizon.

On the way you can see also nice chortens and mani walls. If you look back, you can see also the path descending from the upland plain, on which lies Ngawal and above that all thrones Pisang Peak.

After a while opens a nice view to the side valley of Sabje Khola and to the small pass in „only“ 5500 meters above sea level, which is the lowest on the ridge connecting Annapurna III.and IV. And thanks to that clouds are quite often flying through it.

You need to walk just another few tens meters and you can also see a small pointy pyramid of Annapurna IV.

After less than two hours from Ngawal at Mugje connect the Lower and Upper paths and then all tourists continue altogether. There is also a nice meadow with weathered rocks (see the introductory slide of the photoreport) and also smaller lodges. You shall thus consider whether not to accommodate here rather than in overcrowded Manang.

Only a short distance above the village there is very nice chorten and panoramic view of the surroundings.

The valley is really picturesque in these places and one might almost not guess that it is still the same river, which was wildly rushing through the canyon rapids in Lamjung.

Horizon is dominated by beautiful and unmistakable Annapurna II.

After a short 20 minutes long walk from Mugje appears beautiful village Bhraka, which is definitely worth at least a short visit.

It is only short way from Bhraka to Manang where contrast new lodges for tourists with the old way of life. It is the most overcrowded place in the whole trek, mainly due to high concentration of tourists who are getting acclimatized here and make trips before the main ascent over the pass Thorong la.

Classical Tibetan buildings in this area – small stone houses and flat roofs on which crops are dried.