Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

After a satisfactory breakfast in your hotel, you will embark for a guided tour to some of the most historical and spiritual attractions of the city that are listed under the UNESCO world heritage sites. A visit to the highly venerated Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the high-flying monkey temple at Swayambbhunath, Bouddhanath – a Buddhist shrine and one of the largest stupas in the world, and the charismatic Basantapur Durbar Square leaves impressive reminiscences at the back of your head for a considerable period of time. Later in the afternoon, you will visit our office where you will meet your trip manager, other trekkers, and crew members. Your trip leader will brief you shortly about your upcoming trip in the Annapurna region, check your equipment and interact for any unclear thoughts in your head before you go back to your hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After early breakfast in Kathmandu hotel, you will board on a domestic flight to Pokhara that offers fantastic views of the Himalayan ranges such as Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu. On arrival at Pokhara, you will drive along a snaky road leading to Naya Pul, the starting point of most of the Annapurna region treks. Walking through sub-tropical forests, you will reach a riverside village of Birethanti which is situated at the convergence of the Modi and Bhurungdi Rivers. After crossing Bhurungdi River, you will ascend up to Sudame and make another gradual climb to Tikhedhunga village. Then you will cross a suspension bridge before making a dead steep ascent along thousands of tiring staircase up to the large Magar village of Ulleri. This village offers terrific views of the landscape of the valley floor that you just walked, along with stunning views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli mountain. Overnight in Ulleri.

Leaving behind the village of Ulleri after breakfast, you will commence the climb towards Ghorepani which is a scenic journey. Ascending with gentle pace through beautiful oak, rhododendron and magnolia forests, you will reach Banthanti. After a short walk from this small village, you will arrive another tiny hamlet of Nangethanti. You will be revitalized with the much-needed energy with the most panoramic views during your uphill ascent. After hiking for about an hour, you will arrive at Ghorepani, a fascinating stop with small shops and stalls that sell local products and crafts. The charming village offers outstanding views of the Annapurna South and Nilgiri Mountain peaks. It is here that you will begin to feel the chilled weather, as this village rests at a much higher altitude. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Marked as one of the remarkable highlights of the entire trip, you will begin with a pre-dawn, steep uphill climb for almost an hour through rhododendron forests till you reach the grassy top of Poon Hill. Considered to be the most popular trekking destination in the Annapurna region, the vantage point of this hill offers tantalizing views of far-off Mustang, Pokhara and over 20 highest mountains that include Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu. The most inspiring moment today would be the unperturbed and elucidated sunrise views over the Himalayas. After spending some time at Poon Hill, it is time to descend to Ghorepani for breakfast and then proceed to hike to Tadapani. Walking mostly over hilly terrain meandering through forests and village farmlands passing charming waterfalls, Tadapani lies below the rhododendron forests. Overnight in Tadapani.

After breakfast today, you will begin treading on a downhill path through some of the most beautiful rhododendron trees. You will now be able to see the farms once you leave the forests behind, that displays farming style landscapes with perfectly manicured terraced fields. The trekking trail gradually inclines upwards for the next few kilometers crossing several waterfalls to arrive at a suspension bridge. Eventually, it is time to stop at a place called Churjung for your lunch. From here, after walking on undulating paths for quite some time, you will arrive at Chhomrong, which is situated in the valley leading directly to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Much valued by trekkers, probably due to the presence of a German bakery, Chhomron is a beautiful village right beneath the giant Annapurna massif. Overnight in Chhomrong.

Your trek today begins with a walk towards the Chhomrong River passing through the village via the 2500 stone steps with teahouses on either side of the trail. After 20 minutes, you will reach the river from where the trail climbs steeply on stone steps after the bridge. A short moment of climb will bring you to Tilche village with very few settlements. Yet another 10 minutes of walk will lead you to Lower Sinuwa from where the trail again climbs steeply on the stone staircases before reaching Upper Sinuwa. Beyond upper Sinuwa, it is the Annapurna Sanctuary region and it is marked by dense forests and clustered teahouses. Views from Sinuwa village are phenomenal and you can observe a lot of trekkers making their way towards the base camp while a handful of them returning after the trip. After a short rest, you will continue further on a mud trail that climbs up gradually for half an hour till the trail heads down and transforms into a beautiful forest of bamboo that leads to Kuldighar. From here, it is a natural downhill ramble through dense forests and the sound of the gushing Modi Khola alongside till you reach Bamboo, your destination today. Overnight in Bamboo

Leaving Bamboo after breakfast today, your trek starts towards Deurali through damp and cold forests of bamboo with the steady rise and progressive steep sections until you arrive at Himalaya hotel and get exposed to the rays of the sun. Exceptional views of the glacial river flowing below can be cherished from this point. With yet another steep climb, you will surpass the Hinku Cave from where you will follow the path into the valley crossing the rocky avalanche area. The valley looks theatrical with the misty clouds, steep rocky slopes, and the magnificent waterfalls. It is a climb back up through rocky boulders and sparse vegetation till you arrive at Deurali, a spot with an astounding glimpse of the surrounding hills and Mt. Dhaulagiri. Overnight in Deurali

After a sumptuous breakfast, you are all geared up for one of the most scenic stretches of your hike climbing through boulders to cross the last lodge at Deurali. The trail from here opens up to the valley with Modi Khola and an enticing glimpse of Machhapuchhre and Gangapurna in the distance. It is a soft hike on a more leveled path till Bagar continuing past the abandoned lodges. After crossing a bridge over the Modi Khola, it is a strenuous ascent till you reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp. The most fascinating thing today is the terrain on this stretch is marked with small snow bridges that need to be crossed, while you are also entering grasslands, and small flowering plants adorn the trail in multi-hues. From here the Annapurna Base Camp is about 90 degrees to the left and the initial 1 km hike is a steep ascent. Climbing gently the path widens and sensational views of the towering Himalayan peaks can be sighted. Crossing the gorge that is the only way into this area, you will finally reach Annapurna Base Camp that offers mesmerizing views of the Machhapuchhre, the Annapurna ranges, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Gandharvachuli, and many other peaks. Overnight in Annapurna Base Camp

You will be leaving the Base Camp today after breakfast with lots of wonderful moments to cherish. Today is perhaps the longest day of the entire trek. In the event that you wish to relish the great dawn over the Himalayas from ABC, you need to wake up early. Then after breakfast, it is all the way downhill tracing back the same route you took to reach ABC all the way to Bamboo crossing MBC, Deurali, Himalaya Hotel, and Dovan. Heading back down to the valley is moderately less demanding than the climb. During the trek today, you will see cascading waterfalls that drop down from a high point to the stones underneath going through woods with glorious perspectives of Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre mountains. Today’s trek includes long stretches of steep descent interspersed with short ascents. Himalaya Hotel is a good place to stop for lunch. Overnight in Bamboo.

After breakfast at Bamboo, you will begin climbing up steep steps to Kuldighar till you reach the abandoned check post which should take about 45 minutes. From here it is another 45 minutes downhill walk to reach Sinuwa through the bamboo forest. From Sinuwa, it is a hard descent to Chhomrong Khola followed by a steep ascent to Chhomrong village on the same 2500 stone steps that you walked earlier in the trek. Checking out from the ACAP office at Chhomrong, you will begin another steep downhill trod to Modi Khola and continue till Jhinu Danda enjoying the rainforests and farms on the way. Enjoy a hot water bath in the famous hot spring at Jhinu Danda, which is about 20 minutes walk from the village. Overnight in Jhinu Danda.

The day is the last day of trekking in Nepal, trekking the Annapurna circuit route, definitely one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal. After breakfast, you will begin a downhill climb to cross the Kumnu River enjoying the beautiful hilly landscapes. With great views of the Modi Khola valley and undulating paths, you will hike gently past the small Kyumi village and Syauli Bazaar. Two hours of a steady hike from here will take you to Naya Pul, which is the official ending point of your trek. Boarding on a private vehicle from Naya Pul, you will be driven to Pokhara, which is about one hour drive. On arrival at Pokhara, you will be transferred to your hotel room where you may stretch your weary legs and relax in leisure. Later in the evening, it is the perfect time to stroll around lakeside and perhaps sit beside a candlelit restaurant and sip your favorite beer and listen to some live bands performing some soulful melodies of Nepal. Overnight in Pokhara

You will board on an early flight to Kathmandu today. On your flight back, you have time to saunter into flashback the nostalgic moments during your mesmerizing trek to the Annapurna region. On arrival at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel room. In the afternoon, you are free to catch up on some last minute shopping or explore exceptional landmarks that you would not want to miss in Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

You will be dropped off at the airport well ahead of your scheduled flight time by one of our representatives. If you have an evening flight, you may wish to visit certain heritage sites of Kathmandu on your own. However, if you wish to extend your holidays in Nepal, then Royal Holidays are ever ready to create another wonderful trip in the Himalayas.