The second thrilling stage of our journey plunges us into the epic tale of the Annapurna massif, tracing the 1950 French Expedition's relentless quest to find a route to the summit of Annapurna I.

Imagine the sheer audacity of it! Unlike today's climbers, armed with satellite maps, a wealth of past expedition reports, and countless online forums, Herzog, Lachenal, and their intrepid team faced an entirely unknown landscape. They had to painstakingly decipher the terrain, formulate audacious theories, and embark on multiple, gruelling reconnaissance missions.

Initially set on Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I soon became their daring alternative, fuelled by an unwavering determination to achieve the world's first successful ascent of an 8,000-metre peak. With the monsoon's relentless advance pressing upon them, the party divided, and Herzog himself ventured into uncharted territory. Aided by local hunters, he pushed upwards, driven by the desperate hope of finding a viable route to Annapurna I. Will he succeed? That's the mystery we'll unravel in this gripping stage.

Highlights of this stage include:

• The Alternative Annapurna Circuit: We'll embark on a breathtaking climb towards the renowned Tilicho Lake, traversing the majestic Mesokanto La (5100m), before descending to the main Annapurna Circuit trail and conquering the iconic Thorong La (5416m). This section features a truly wild backcountry experience, camping beside a stunning lake at nearly 5000m.
  
• A Night by the Clouds: Experience the unparalleled thrill of camping next to one of the world's highest lakes, a truly unforgettable moment.
  
• Echoes of Trade: Delve into the trading history of the region's inhabitants, uncovering centuries of exchange and connection.
  
• Herzog's Epic Adventure: Immerse yourselves in the visceral experience of Herzog's exploration, gaining profound insights into the pivotal decisions that shifted their focus from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna.
  
• Spiritual Confluence: Discover the interwoven tapestry of Hinduism and Buddhism, understanding how these two profound religions converge along the sacred Kali Gandaki valley.

While Maurice Herzog grappled with the Annapurna enigma, a small party of French climbers were simultaneously scouting routes in the Dhaulagiri massif. On this expedition, they discovered an unknown valley, inadvertently bestowing a new name upon it. They thoroughly explored various aspects of Mount Dhaulagiri and Mount Tukuche, gleaning a wealth of information about a region that had remained largely uncharted until their arrival.

This journey revealed unforeseen truths about the Himalayas to the French climbers, insights they hadn't anticipated when they embarked on their adventure. Pressure mounted as the monsoon drew ever closer.

In this stage, we will re-live the challenging journey of Lionel Terray and Louis Lachenal, who endeavoured to open a route on Dhaulagiri, coming to understand the immense gravity of the adventure that lay before them.

Equipped with their collective experience and findings, both had to return to base to contribute to the infamous "war room" discussions, where they would assist Maurice Herzog in deciding which mountain to approach.

The highlights of this stage include:

• Trekking to the famous Hidden Valley (5200m) and Dhaulagiri Base Camp ( 4750m).
  
• Crossing the high-altitude French Pass (5360m) and Dhampus Pass(5200m), and camping near the Dhaulagiri Icefall.
  
• Experiencing the dramatic landscape change in the Hidden Valley and gazing towards the Tibetan Plateau.
  
• Understanding why the expedition ultimately abandoned their primary objective of climbing Dhaulagiri, shifting their focus to Mount Annapurna.

After a big mission, it's time for us to rest, refuel and contemplate the War Room where the French Expedition was to sit around and decide what to do. Meanwhile, few climbers return from the journey where they have managed to find a way towards the base of Annapurna, and the possible route up to the summit. 

After nearly two months of scouting the area, the expedition faced a crucial decision. Unable to locate a viable route up Dhaulagiri, Maurice Herzog opted to attempt Annapurna instead. They chose the route previously explored by Schatz and Couzy's team. The decision was made on 14th May 1950, with the monsoon season predicted to arrive in the first week of June. The expedition team promptly set off towards their final objective: Annapurna I.

Little did Maurice realize that this journey would forever alter the lives of many, including his own. This lesser-known base camp of Annapurna I is where the French expedition of 1950 began their climb from. During this trip, they followed up the Mirsti River traversing eastwards towards the base of Annapurna I.

In this final stage we will retrace the footstep of the expedition- get to the base of the mountain and spend a day studying the famous French Route of Annapurna.

At the end of the trip, we will head to Pokhara on day 25th.

Backup Day for unforeseen weather forecast, road condition or anything that may require us to have a day extra.