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Annapurna I is the 10th highest peak in the world standing massif at 8091 meter. It was the first 8000 meter peak ever summited in June 1950 by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog. Annapurna region is a paradise for people who enjoy the flora and fauna as varieties of animals and birds are in abundance. 440 species of birds and animals like the marten, deer, langur and the elusive snow leopard live in this area.
 
Annapurna Base Camp (Sanctuary) trek takes you to the lap of this beautiful, majestic and magnificent mountain, Annapurna I (8091 m). The journey to this awe-inspiring scene starts with a short drive from Pokhara to Nayapul to Ulleri. From here we start the ascent traversing the Annapurna foothills through forested hillsides, terraced farm lands passing Gurung and Thakali villages such as Ulleri and Ghorepani. Along the way we are met by Nepal’s magical and majestic vistas with a spectacular panoramic sunrise over the Annapurna ranges and Dhaulagiri from Poon Hill (3910 m). As we climb further into the alpine and more rugged glacial area the majestic mountains seem to be within arm’s length. Upon reaching the Machhapuchare (Fishtail) Base Camp (3700 m), the next day we hike uphill for a few hours to reach Annapurna Base Camp (4030 m). Early morning in the Basecamp, sunrays hit the top of Annapurna I gradually illuminating the white peak of the mountain stroking it with splashes of orange, a memory that will last you a life time.
We then head back to Chhomrong via Doban, and from Chhomrong take another route through Landrung village to reach Phedi, from where a vehicle brings us back to Pokhara.

Arrive at TIA, Kathmandu, meet representatives and be transferred to the hotel. Guests welcomed with a welcome drink and rooms duly assigned. Free to visit local attractions the remainder of the day. 

Overnight at the hotel

In the morning, travel through time as you explore the various UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kathmandu. Visit the temples and palaces of the Durbar Square with beautiful architecture, Swayambhu Stupa (Monkey Temple) and watch the Kathmandu Valley atop a hill. 

In the evening a short brief about the trek and allow time to purchase last minute essentials. 

Overnight at the hotel.

After leisurely breakfast board the waiting vehicle and drive to domestic airport. Catch the 25 minutes’ flight to Pokhara. Upon arrival met by the waiting vehicle and drive to Hotel. Check in. Rest of the day is free to rest, relax and enjoy the lake side city on your own. 

Overnight at Hotel. 

After breakfast board the waiting vehicle and drive to Ulleri via Nayapul. The drive to Nayapul is on black top road and Nayapul to Ullleri via Tirkhedunga will be on newly constructed road that is not black toped. 

Upon arrival meet the porters and start the trek by passing through the Ulleri village and ascend further till we arrive at the village of Banthanti. Continue to trek through the rhododendron forest to reach a clearing in the middle of the forest to arrive at the village of Nangathanti and continue to ascend to reach Ghorepani.

Ghorepani is one of the largest Magar village (Ethnic people of Nepal) in the Annapurna region and one of the major trail junction for various trek in Annapurna Region.
Drive duration: 3- 3 ½ hours. Trek duration: 3 ½ -4  hours.

Dinner and Overnight at the lodge 

Pre-dawn alert and it is time to do about an hour trek to Poon Hill (3,200 m) one of the vantage point to view a magnificent sunrise over the Annapurna Range and the amphitheater views of the surrounding mountains. Shortly afterwards we return back to Ghorepani for breakfast. 

After breakfast we pass the village square and start to ascend through dense rhododendron forest till we reach Dewarli. Continue to trek as the trail now starts to decent to the village of Banthanti. The trail is now undulating till we reach a river and then ascend to Tadapani. Tadapani in Nepali literary means “Far Water”. 

Trek duration: 5 ½  – 6 hours

Dinner and Overnight at the lodge 

After breakfast, the trek starts with a pleasant morning walk through the main village square and follow the gradual descend through the dense forest of rhododendron and Magnolia till Chhule. Continues to descend through the terraced field until we reach the bottom of the valley, cross the Kimrong River and ascend a flight of stone steps will lead us to the village of Gurjung. Continue to ascend passing through terraced farming, small villages to reach  Chommorong, located on a ridge is the window to the wide expansive view of the Annapurna Range of mountains and valleys towards the Annapurna Sanctuary area. 

Trek duration: 5 – 5 ½ hours

Dinner and Overnight at the lodge 

Today the trek begins with descent and we cross the Chommorong Khola and then climb up on the opposite side of the valley for about 30 minutes till we arrive at the hamlet of Tilche and a little further up we reach Sinuwa. Continue to follow the ridge to reach the locality of Khuldi Ghar (2540 m) and descend to reach Bamboo (2,310m). 

The trail from here ascend passing through bamboo groves, and small brooks to reach Doban (2600 M). 

Trek duration: 5 to 6 hrs.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge  

After breakfast the trail enters the forest of rhododendron and continue to ascend till we arrive at Himalayan Hotel (2850 m). Continue on a rocky trail, following the flow of the rivers, until the last stretch where a steep path which leads to Hinku Cave (3170 m) and further up to Deorali (3210 m). 

Continue on the trail that huddles up against the cliffs following the west side of the valley and cross few bridges to reach Bagar.  Ascend on a rocky trail to arrive at the cluster of lodges at 3700 meters to  Machapucchre Base Camp (MBC.) 

Views from here includes Annapurna South (7219 meters), Hiunchuli (6441meters), and Annapurna I (8091meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters), Gangapurna (7454 meters), and Machapucchre (6997 meters).       

Trek duration: 5 ½ to 6 ½  hrs.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge in M.B.C.

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is only about two hours away. Except for a few hills, the route is gradual and therefore quite easy. A little further from ABC, the path leads to a small hill which is the best point to admire the entire panorama of the Sanctuary. 

Trek duration: 2 ½ – 3 hrs.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge in A.B.C 

Early morning wake up to view the mesmerizing sunrise over the Annapurna Himalayas and do some exploration. After breakfast we back track to Doban, roughly about 1590 meters descent through the same trail. It is much faster and easier going down hill. It’s an easy downhill passing through small settlements and forest, until we arrive at Doban.

From Doban we retrace our steps further down to Bamboo. 

Trek duration: 6 ½ to 7 ½ hrs.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bamboo

From Bamboo, it is an uphill trek to Kuldighar followed by a downhill walk to Chhomrong Khola. Then we climb the stone steps to Chhomrong. The trail then descends to Jhinu Danda, where we will be resting for the night. Today we will have an opportunity to enjoy the hot springs which is just a 15-20 minute downhill walk from Jhinu Danda to relax.

Trek duration: 6 hrs.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge 

After breakfast trek down the suspension bridge over Kyumrong Khola, from here it is a steep climb to New Bridge. Passing New Bridge at the end of the village trail junction, there are two paths, one goes right up in the direction of Shauli Bazaar. We take the right hand trail and reach Shauli Bazaar and board the waiting vehicle and drive to Pokhara 

Overnight in Pokhara. Trek duration: 3 ½-4 hrs. Drive Duration: 2 ½ – 3 hrs

Overnight in Pokhara.

After leisurely breakfast board the vehicle and drive to domestic airport and catch the 30 minutes flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival meet assist and transfer to the hotel.

Rest of the day is free to rest relax and do final minute shopping and packing.

Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu

Free for final minute packing and shopping until departure to Airport for final Departure

Best Period:                  Feb, Mar, April, May – Oct, Nov, Dec
Time Period:                 13 Nights / 14 Days.
Trek Period:                  08 Night / 09 Days
In Kathmandu:              03 Nights
In Pokhara:                    02 Nights
Trek Type:                     Strenuous
Highest Altitude:          4130 m
Warning:                        Altitude Sickness.

National Park:   Annapurna National Park (1148 sq. kms)

Mountains:         Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhare, Fishtail, Dhaulagiri etc.
 
Rivers:                Modi, Burgundi, Kimrong etc

Tribes:                Brahmins, Chettris, Newars, Gurungs, Magars, Thakalis, Manangis and the Tibetans

Forests:              Of Rhododendron and Pine.

NEPAL TREK INFORMATION

A simple way to under Tea house / Lodge is probably ‘a small hotel’. However this can sometimes be misleading, as they do not have high-end facilities like modern hotels in urban areas. The concept though is same as hotels in providing accommodations (rooms) and meals for guest staying in it.

So if one does a trek going from point A to B to C etc., and spending nights in these kind of lodges or teahouse is called a ‘Lodge Trek’ or ‘Tea House Trek’

The most popular regions for treks in Nepal are Annapurna, Everest Langtnag and Upper Mustang.  All these places have good quality lodges, well managed, variety of food to choose from the menus available and boast of Wi-Fi, bakeries etc.  

Around the areas that have lesser trekkers like, Makalu Barun, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga etc. the tea house/ lodge are very basic in comparison. 

Basically good lodges have developed where foot traffic is the most and Annapurna, Everest and Langtang receive the most trekkers in Nepal. 

The rooms are very basic in most places. In some very popular areas like Annapurna and Everest high-end rooms with attach bath and flush toilet and ruining hot/ cold water have come out in the recent years. However these kinds of lodges are very few and not available in all places on the trek route. 

Basic room’s sizes are on an average of 8 feet by 8 to 10 feet. They have twin cots with mattress and pillows. Most lodges provide blankets, however for hygienic regions it’s advisable to carry a good sleeping bag of your own.  The walls are pretty thin and noises carry. Earplugs are recommended to be carried. 

In more remote areas one may only get dormitories for accommodations and dinning and sleeping arrangements may be in the same common area.

Most lodges have several common toilets inside the lodge. The number depends on how big the lodge is. On an average a lodge having 15 /18 rooms may have 3 /4 common toilets. The toilets are very basic and no flush or running water is available in the toilets. Please bring you own Toilet paper. Drums with water and a mug are the ways to flush!

In Annapurna and Everest region we try and provide rooms with attach bath 

where available. However, do note that there are only a handful of places where this kind of facility is available. 

Menu in most places especially the more popular trekking routes have extensive looking menus ranging from local, Tibetan to western delicacies.  Items like Dal Bhat (rice, vegetables and lentils), pizzas, pastas, momos (dumplings), noodles, soup, fried rice etc., are amongst the common ones in all menus. 

Our recommendation is to avoid meat, as in most places porter carry the meat to lodges without any hygienic way to keep the meat fresh on the way. It takes at least few days to reach the lodges. Even the canned meat items are not recommended, as one has no way to check the expiry date etc. 

Recommended food items are the local ones like Dal Bhat, Momos (Dumplings), noodles etc, as they are freshly made in comparison to other food items. Please remember the cooks in the lodges are ‘not chefs’, very few are trained professionally as most have learned through looking at other cooks cooking in the same lodges or similar ones in the area. Basically sticking to local food is best as they are hygienic and fresh. 

For breakfast pancakes, porridge, toast (not available everywhere), eggs etc. are available in all lodges. 

There is a common dining area with fireplaces in all lodges. This is not only a place to eat but also a good place to unwind, interact with fellow trekkers, read a book, play board games or cards and relax.

Everyday our guide will help you and provide information on what choices to make in which places / lodges for food. 

One can get boiled water or bottled mineral water or filtered water in the Everest region, Annapurna and Langtang region. On an average a liter of water will cost US $ 1.50 to US $ 4.00 per liter. As one gains altitude on trek or goes further from the urban areas the higher the cost of drinking water. 

Hot or Cold showers are available everywhere in the Lodges.  In some lodges, especially as we go higher in altitude instead of showers a bucket of hot water may be the option.  

A hot shower cost on an average of US $ 3.00 to US $ 5.50 per shower. The higher we go the more expensive the bath.

We recommend not to take too may baths on treks specially if one is going to high altitude treks. The reason being the temperature drops rapidly as the sunsets and getting the body temperature back to normal after shower at high altitude becomes difficult. This increases the chances of catching cold and walking with cold at high altitude with thin cold air is not a pleasant experience.  So please try and avoid taking showers as much as possible.

Electricity hasn’t reached all places in Nepal. So electricity is limited to certain areas of the trek. On an average one has electricity till about 3500 meters in altitude.  As we gain altitude solar system has been set up in all lodges. 

Rooms have lights only till places where electricity has reached. So where electricity has not reached there are no room lights. Dining hall, toilets and all common areas have electricity through the night even if it is being supplied through solar system. 

Charging camera batteries, mobile phones can be done at the dining hall upon informing the management. They charge on an average of US $ 2.00 to US $ 6.5 for getting the batteries fully charged. The higher we go the more expensive to charge. 

We recommended that you put your batteries in your sleeping bags at night to keep it warm as in cold the batteries drains energy very fast. 

Annapurna and Everest regions have lodges that provide Wi-Fi. A cost of US $ 5.00 to $ 12.00 depending on what data package they have is charged on per hour or per day basis. 

Other trek areas have not developed this facility. 

Annapurna and Everest region has good mobile connectivity. Other areas don’t have much coverage but the mobile network connection is growing.  Please enquire via mail about the mobile phone coverages on trek routes for details. 

One can get a mobile phone sim card on arrival at the airport. Passport photocopies with passport size photo (one) is required.