Annapurna III

Annapurna III (7,555m) is one of the principal summits of the Annapurna massif, rising between Gangapurna (7,455m) to the west and Annapurna IV (7,525m) to the east. The mountain's dramatic north face, rising over 3,500m above the Marsyangdi Valley, forms part of the extraordinary wall of peaks visible from Manang village — one of the most impressive concentrations of high altitude in the world at eye level.

First climbed on October 6, 1961 by M.S. Kohli, Sonam Gyatso, and Pasang Wangdi of an Indian Army expedition led by N. Kumar, via the south face from the Annapurna Sanctuary. The expedition reached the summit by a difficult route that has rarely been repeated. Like its more famous siblings in the massif, Annapurna III maintains a severe fatality rate and has seen relatively few ascents since the first. The north face in particular remains an extremely difficult objective sought only by elite alpinists.

For trekkers, Annapurna III is a constant, dramatic presence on the Annapurna Circuit. From Manang (3,540m), the peak's ice-plastered north face and razor ridges can be studied in detail — an experience made extraordinary by proximity. The short acclimatization hike from Manang to the Gangapurna Lake viewpoint frames Annapurna III alongside its neighbors in one of the most photographed mountain panoramas in Nepal. The Annapurna Sanctuary trek on the south side offers a completely different perspective of the massif. Best trekking seasons: spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November).