Along the Marsyangdi river, on easy trails and suspension bridges, through rice terraces and forests, we will follow the famous Annapurna Circuit and slowly gain altitude and acclimatize. After Pisang there are stunning up-close views of snowy and glaciated high peaks including Annapurnas II, III and IV. This remote area lies in a rain shadow formed by the Annapurnas, and the landscape supports little in the way of forest apart from pine, juniper and scrub rhododendron. Huge glacial moraines abound, etched by wind erosion into fantastic pillars. The Thorong La (5415m) wilderness is one of the highlights of this trek. After the pass, we reach Muktinath and Marpha, where the Dhaulagiri Circuit starts. This extraordinary route was first discovered by the 1950 French expedition that climbed Annapurna I, and provides stunning views of the whole Dhaulagiri range. It is particularly attractive to people drawn to high mountains and wilderness areas, and requires an excellent physical condition and basic mountaineering skills. After the the Thapa Pass (5230m) and the French Pass (5400m), we will reach the Dhaulagiri base camp (4750m), which is dominated by the gigantic mass of Dhaulaghiri I (8091 m) to the south, and the Dhaulaghiri II (7751m), III (7715m), IV (7661m) and V (7618m) to the west. The trek ends in the Myagdi Khola valley, which offers beautiful rural landscapes and several glimpses of the simple lifestyle of the Nepali peasants.