Annapurna Circuit Trek, Nepal

Nepali Woman - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A local woman strikes a majestic pose near the village of Khorto on the third day of our Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Dawn at Thorong La Pass - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Early morning climb to Thorong La Pass along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Namaste, Grandfather and Grandson - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

This little boy greets us with "Namaste" (Nepali for "hello" or literally "I bow to you"), puts his hands together in the traditional greeting motion. His grandfather looks on proudly, laughing at our reaction. Taken on the way to Syange village on the second day of our Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

View of Himalayan Mountains in Black & White - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A view of the village of Braga and surrounding mountains on the way to Yak Lake. Taken on day 7 of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Colorfully Painted Rocks with Buddhist Prayer - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A group of colorfully painted rocks create a Buddhist chant or prayer. Taken along the Annapurna Circuit on the way to Dharapani, Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Big Basket for a Small Girl - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A young girl learns to carry wood for her family. Taken near Chame on day 4 of our Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Mules Walking through Town - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Mules walk down main street on the way from Kagbeni to Jomsom. Taken on day 12 of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Carrying Up Tourist Chickens - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A porter carries tourist chickens - so named because they have bigger, juicier breasts like tourists like - along the eastern side of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Upper Mustang, Forbidden Kingdom - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Looking into the "Forbidden Kingdom" of Upper Mustang from the 600-year-old Tibetan Buddhist gompa (monastery) in the village of Kagbeni. The village used to be a stop on the Tibetan trade routes. Now it's the jumping off point for treks into the restricted area of Upper Mustang (tourist permits are $700). The wind blowing up the Kali Gandaki river valley was intense. Taken on the eleventh day of the trek around the Annapurna Circuit. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Heavy Load of Wood - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

A young girl with a heavy load of wood. Taken on the way to Kalopani on day 13 of the Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Tibetan Smile - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

This Tibetan woman from Letdar was incredibly shy when we first entered the village. She became embarrassed when we admired her amulets; she tucked them into her clothes for safe-keeping. Eventually, she warmed up to us and gave us a smile and hearty wave as we left for Thorung Phedi base camp. Taken on the ninth day of the trek around the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Prayer Flags at Thorong La Pass - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Colorful prayer flags mark the crossing point at Thorong La Pass along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Notice the mountain vista in the back. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Annapurna 2 Peaks - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

We rose at the break of dawn in Upper Pisang to beautiful views of Annapurna 2 from the Tibetan Buddhist gompa (monastery) at the top of the village. The clouds that slowly moved in took on a fluid look. Taken on day six of our trek around the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Traditional Wood-Fired Kitchen - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Traditionally, families cook with wood along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Some groups are trying to change this to help protect against deforestation as populations increase. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Harvest Time - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Women carry fertile soil in baskets to stone-ridden fields before planting season in the village of Tukuche on the western side of Nepal's Annapurna Circuit (day 12). Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Young Welcome - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Greeted by a group of young kids in the village of Kagbeni along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Harvest Time - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Out in the field with a sickle during harvest time along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Taken on Day 2 of the trek around Jagat. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Wise Elder - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Taken on Day 3 of our Annapurna Circuit trek on route to Dharapani, Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Buddhist Temple in Upper Pisang - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

The caretaker of the Tibetan Buddhist gompa (temple) in Upper Pisang lets us in for a look around in the late afternoon. The gompa's interior is beautifully painted with tantric Buddhist paintings. This gompa becomes even more impressive when we learned that it was a work of community cooperation, built with the labor (54 days per person) and contributions of the village. The talented painter was also local. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Prayer Flags - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Prayer flags take on the harsh winds of the upper route leading from Upper Pisang to Manang on the western side of the Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Prayer flags always seemed spiritually placed in the vicinity of terrific mountain views. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Chickens Up the Mountain - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Human porters carry chickens up the trails on the eastern side of the Annapurna Curcuit, selling them in villages along the way. We saw plenty of local chickens in the villages, making us wonder what the need was for these other chickens. Our porter explained that tourists don't like the taste and texture of local chickens (they are tough) so "tourist chickens" are brought in for more delicate palates. "Meat is like potato" was how our porter described tourist chicken meat. The lengths that Nepalis will go to, to ensure tourists are happy and well-fed. Taken on the way to Jagat, Nepal on Nepal's Annapurna Circuit. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Herding Water Buffalo - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

This man patiently waits for his hungry water buffaloes near the village of Ngadi Bazar, towards the beginning of the Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Hikers Going to Base Camp - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

The landscape became dry and sparse as we made our way above 4,000 meters (over 13,000 feet). We trekked in slow-moving lines on the way from Letdar to Thorong Phedi (base camp for Thorong La pass). Taken on the ninth day of our trek around the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Read more about our Annapurna Circuit trek. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Charcoal Eyes - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

This young girl's eyes are all done up with charcoal. Taken on Day 3 of our Annapurna Circuit trek on route to Dharapani, Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com

Sadhus Walking from Tatopani - Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Two holy men (sadhus) walk in the dry river bed near Tatopani in Nepal. Read: Himalayan Trekking Stew © UncorneredMarket.com