Upper Pisang to Braga – and I’ll take the Low Road

At this altitude I was feeling chesty and Jet was feeling heady. We decided we could continue but not as far as Manang, and that we should take the official lower track of the Circuit and not the higher route, to get more oxygen in our systems. Fantastic views from the guest house and we were off at 8am, making our way down to the river. 

We passed small fields of barley (light colour) and buckwheat (brown) with the harvest just starting, and down in the valley people threshing the buckwheat with huge flails. I like this photo.

We also passed many prayer wheels and shrines during the day and Jet was doing good. Always turn the prayer wheels clockwise and don’t eat the yellow snow. Thanks Frank.

The track rose over mountain sides and down into the valley a few times, giving good views of the direction in which we were going.


Prem and Sulis, looking like dodgy geezers. Standing on a street corner, suitcase in my hand. Thanks Lou.

Juliet,  trekking like a good un.

The Annapurna range was to our left, as we are walking around it anti-clockwise. And that meant that it was south of us at the moment, and views in that direction were the highest mountains and a lot of snow.

However northwards to our right the Kangla Himal was fantastic too. 

A horseman came down the track at a gallop, stopping and posing to allow my photograph. Proud and hardy. 

After lunch we carried on up the valley, finally arriving at Braga in the dip here, with Manang, our original destination, behind and higher up the hill. Lower altitude tonight for me and Jet. 

The views from our guest house room are fabulous. Cop these!

There is a south facing balcony and Jet was catching some rays. 

We ate earlyish and went to bed. In the morning Jet was still heady and I had woken many times gasping a bit, so we decided to take a rest day and stay in this guest house in Braga. Jet slept and I walked up to Manang and got more medical supplies, drinks and spice (bounty bar, toblerone and locally made popcorn). I dropped in to the medical centre to get advice on altitude sickness in case either of us developed it. We’ll see how tonight and tomorrow goes.

Night night.