Annapurna I

Overview & Geography

The tenth-highest mountain in the world at 8,091m, Annapurna I was the very first 8,000-meter peak ever climbed by humanity, accomplished by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal in 1950.

Annapurna ('Goddess Full of Food' or 'Harvests' in Sanskrit) is a 55km-long massif containing one peak over 8,000m, thirteen over 7,000m, and sixteen over 6,000m. The historic 1950 French expedition to Annapurna I marked the start of the golden age of Himalayan exploration. While its North Face remains notorious for objective avalanche danger, the Annapurna Sanctuary beneath its southern ramparts welcomes thousands of trekkers into an amphitheater of 7,000m snow fortresses.

Ascent History & Heritage

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the summit on June 3, 1950 without supplementary oxygen or accurate maps. Herzog's best-selling memoir 'Annapurna' inspired a global generation of mountaineers. In 1970, Don Whillans and Dougal Haston made history by summiting the gargantuan South Face.

Standard Route

Lush bamboo and rhododendron forests giving way to a sheer circle of icy peaks in the Sanctuary, accompanied by excellent teahouse infrastructure.