It's UP, UP and UP today to Ghandrung home of the Ghurkhas

Expeditioners are now well into day 2 of their trekking phase in the Annapurnas* through colourful villages, rich forests, traversing rushing mountain streams and spending the night in traditional tea houses.  

Yesterday they left Nayapul (1,070m) following the Modi Khola Valley to Syange (1160m). Today is a tougher trek up to 1,940m. They will climb through the rice paddies and up stone staircases to the 2nd largest Gurung settlement of Ghandrung home to many Ghurkhas. The temperature up here is cooler than the monsoon heat of Syange. Clouds permitting (!) they will see good views of the Annapurna range and the sacred Fish Tail Mountain Machhapuchhre.  

Some typical scenery on trek: 

*For reference: The Annapurna Region in central Nepal is the most geographically and culturally diverse region for trekking. Annapurna I is the world's eighth highest mountain (8091m). The area boasts of a variety of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, tribes and castes including the Brahmins, the Chhetri, the Newars, the Gurungs, the Magars, the Manangis and the Tibetans. This area has sub-tropical lowlands, valleys, forests of bamboo, oak and rhododendron, alpine meadows and windswept desert plateaus. The area is home to over 440 species of birds and animals like the marten, deer, languor and the elusive snow leopard.