Chulu East

If you are fit, adventurous and wanting to build on your basic alpine skills you will enjoy the Chulu East Peak climb which includes the amazing Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Although Chulu East, 6584m, is graded as a non-technical peak, we recommend that you have some mountaineering experience and are familiar with the use of crampons, harness, ice axe, tying knots and handling climbing ropes. This climb involves glacier crossing and a steep ascent to the summit. Most of the climbing will be involved walking roped together.

From the summit of Chulu East, high above the Manang Valley, there are dramatic views of Annapurna II, III and IV, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Dhaulagiri, Tilicho Peak and Manaslu.

The route to Chulu East Peak Base Camp, 5334m, starts at Besi Sahar like the Annapurna Circuit Trail and follows the Marsyangdi river valley through a wonderful variety of landscape and culture. We start in the subtropical lower valley with its terraced fields and villages of ethnic Gurung. After crossing rhododendron and pine forests we reach the upper valley, where Manangba people live.

We branch off the Annapurna Circuit Trail at Pisang, into an uninhabited region and follow a ridge through pine forests, yak pastures, mani walls toward the Chulu East Base Camp located in the moraines below the col in the ridge separating the East and Far East peaks. While we acclimatize for 2 nights in base camp, the Sherpa team prepares a high camp (Camp I).

From high camp, we clamber over rough, steep moraine and soft snow to a broad glaciated ridge. From the col on the glaciated ridge you have to descend and cross a broken glacier then climb steep scree slopes to gain a relatively straightforward but high peak. We try to capture the magnificent view at the summit of Chulu East and descend to Base Camp the same day.

Leaving Chulu East base camp, we descend slowly into the Manang valley. We will visit ancient Buddhist Braga Monastery, 3450m, uniquely built into the side of a cliff with mud, stones and wood. The next two days follow a wide trail through Juniper Forests where we will likely see wildlife such as blue sheep and barking deer as well as enjoy the view of the Annapurna Massif to the South of us. The last two hours to the Thorung La pass, 5416m, follow a zia-zagging steep stony trail. The same day we make the steep descent to Muktinath, 3850m in the Kali Gandaki Gorge. From Jomsom we catch our flight back to Pokhara.

The Chulu East permit covers both Chulu East and Chulu Far East which are climbed from the same base camp, and high camps.