Everyone has their own favourite part of the Annapurna Circuit, but for many people their favourite part of the trek is the charming ‘apple capital’ of Nepal – Marpha. Known worldwide for its delicious apples, you’re likely to find trekkers in this part of the circuit tucking into delicious apple pies and drinking the local liqueur made from fermented apples. Of course, Marpha isn’t just about the delicious food and drink; this part of the Annapurna Circuit is steeped in history and was once an important part of the old salt route.

Marpha manages to take many trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit completely by surprise, as it is very different from the rest of Nepal. The buildings in Marpha are not the typical Nepalese teahouses that you’ll encounter throughout your trek, but are instead pristine white, with burnt red-trimmed doors. The white buildings are the reason why Marpha is dubbed the “Santorini of the Circuit” by many trekkers in the know.

As the town is located towards the end of the route, many companies recommend that you save your souvenir shopping until you reach Marpha. If you manage to drag yourself away from the bakeries for a few minutes, you’ll find a fantastic range of traditional souvenirs that range from Ghurkha’s knives to tiger balm. Of course, it may be that you can’t bear to leave the bakeries, and if that’s the case then who can blame you? Crunchy apple crumble, chewy apple Danishes, and crisp apple pies are all sold in abundance, and you won’t be able to resist glass after glass of the wonderfully fresh apple juice.

If, after days trekking the Annapurna Circuit, you need something a little stronger than apple juice, then a visit to the Marpha Apple Brandy Distillery is a must. The distillery is a government-run factory that employs all the traditional methods when making brandy, and a bottle of the liqueur will set you back just 70 rupees. Although the apple brandy has a strong herby taste, the alcohol content is quite low.

If you’re looking to do something rewarding at the end of your Annapurna Circuit trek, or just want to visit somewhere incredibly humbling, then Marpha is the home of the Tibetan Refugee Camp. This government-funded project has been in operation for many years and the children love to see foreign visitors. How you choose to help is entirely up to you; it may be by teaching English to a class of enthusiastic school children, or helping out with the restoration projects that are currently being carried out at the centre’s Buddhist temple.

Marpha has its own Buddhist monastery and this plays host to several important festivals throughout the year. If you choose to trek the Annapurna Circuit during April, then you may be lucky enough to pass through the area during the Buddhist New Year celebrations. However, whatever the time of year that you choose to visit, the monks will go out of their way to make you feel welcome – you’ll even find that photos are encouraged!

Author Bio: Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have run a classic Annapurna Circuit trek for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Annapurna Circuit