Nepal's Annapurna Himal - the most popular region of the world's foremost trekking destination - is an area of breathtaking cultural diversity and scenery. Beneath the towering peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri lie valleys inhabited by Manangis, Thakalis and the mysterious Lo-pa peoples. The scenery changes are astonishing, from rice fields which pour down slopes like molten green lava to the silent beauty of the snow clad mountains and the medieval splendour of Lo Manthang. While the geological obstacles are formidable enough, it is also the modern political barriers that make the Annapurna region so intriguing. It is possible to hike right through the Himalayas to the Tibetan Plateau on the other side, to what is essentially, both geographically and ethnically, Tibet. Here is the first photographic book to focus on this prime region. Following the stages of three key routes, the classic Annapurna Circuit, the short but sensational Annapurna Sanctuary and the epic trail north into the secretive prinicipality of Mustang, Andrew Stevenson's photographs, maps and text record a mesmerizing cultural journey.