Kiwi.com’s claims specialist Lukáš Hermann took the longest trek around the tenth highest mountain in the world, Annapurna I in Nepal. Over 24 days he walked 400 kilometres and snapped his best highlights
The Annapurna circuit is one of the most popular treks in the world. It is between 160 and 230km long, and it takes between 7 and 15 days, depending on where the hike starts and ends. There are numerous side trips and extensions to the circuit which means it could take up to 25 days to walk the whole trail. Lukáš chose the longest option and walked 400 kilometres in 24 days — Lukáš Hermann
At 5,416 metres, Thorang- La Pass is the highest point of the circuit. The night before Lukáš climbed there he slept in a camp at 4,800 metres and started his ascent at 4am. The nights are very cold, and it was difficult to fall asleep because the rooms were shared by up to 30 people — Lukáš Hermann
People in Nepal are extremely friendly. The main ethnic groups around the Annapurna Massif are Gurung, Thakali and Managba. The living conditions in this part of the world are not easy, but the Nepalese take it well with a big smile on their faces — Lukáš Hermann
Dal bath’ is a traditional meal in Nepal. It consists of cooked rice and lentil or vegetable sauce, but It can also be served with meat. Even Nepalese beer tastes great but the price gets higher as the altitude does — Lukáš Hermann
Toilets on the trek come with a great view. Hygiene is hard to maintain because the water freezes early in the evening and does not start running again until late morning. However, water stations can be found on the way and helps the local communities to collect some money from the tourists — Lukáš Hermann
Buddhism and Hinduism are widely practised in Nepal. It is believed that Buddha was born in Lumbini, a town situated in the south of Nepal. Lukáš managed to attend a few religious festivals and rituals while travelling — Lukáš Hermann
Unfortunately, poverty can be seen everywhere in Nepal. Also, the country is often hit by floods and earthquakes. Therefore, visiting Nepal can help to improve the quality of life there — Lukáš Hermann
These hairy and huge animals are called yaks. They are kept for their milk and meat. You can order a yak burger with yak cheese on top of it. Delicious — Lukáš Hermann
If you don’t feel like carrying your backpack, there always are Sherpas around to help you out. This costs about $20 per day. Sherpas are regarded as great mountaineers and can also be hired as local guides — Lukáš Hermann
Annapurna I is the tenth highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,091 metres above sea level. The whole massif is about 55km long. Annapurna means Goddess of the Harvests — Lukáš Hermann