New Itinerary

New Itinerary for the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek (Click on Red words for more information)

Saturday 4th April - FLY TO POKHARA. DRIVE TO DHAMPUS PHEDI (3,000ft/914m). 1 to 1½ hrs. TREK TO POTHANA. (6,000ft/1,829m). 4 to 5 hrs.

From Pokhara, it takes about 1-1½ hours to drive to Dhampus Phedi, (bottom of the hill). From Dhampus Phedi there is a steep two-hour uphill walk to the village of Dhampus for lunch, with Annapurna as the backdrop. From here the trail climbs up more gradually for 2 hours to Pothana, a small village in the middle of the woods, with a grand view of the Annapurna range including the majestic Mt. Machhapuchare (‘Fish Tail’), a beautiful spot for the first overnight stay in a lodge.

Bahundanda means “hill of the Brahmins” and the settlement of mainly Hindu population sits on the crest of a ridge. There is a small temple in the village and in the centre of the village square is a large pipal tree, which has religious significance. If the group still have some energy after their days’ walk there are some hot springs 30 minutes away. Overnight lodge.

Sunday 5th April - TREK TO NEW BRIDGE. (4,396ft/1,340m) 5 hrs.

From Pothana, the trail leads up through chestnut forest with occasional views of the snow-capped peaks. The trail climbs gradually, before reaching the ridge top at Deurali (this takes about an hour). Deurali is a fabulous spot with enchanting views of the surrounding landscape. After a brief stop here, a steep half hour descent brings them down to Bheri Kharka. The trail is then almost level with a few undulations until you reach Landrung village (about an hour from Bheri Kharka). From Landrung, the route diverts north west towards Chomrong, and an hour’s walk brings them to the bank of the River Modi. From here the trail winds uphill gradually, alongside the river, for an hour until New Bridge is reached for the overnight stay in a lodge.

Monday 6th April - TREK TO SINUWA (7,677ft/2,340m). 6 hrs mostly uphill.

From New Bridge the group will traverse round to cross a river and then climb very steeply, firstly to the houses of Jhinu Danda and then further uphill to reach the main Gandrung to Chomrong trail. The trail then climbs more gently to a corner before making a long descent on stone steps to Chomrong village, the gateway to the Sanctuary. Weather permitting, they will be treated to a surfeit of fantastic mountain views, which include Annapurna South (23,687ft/7,220m), Hiunchuli (21132ft/6,441m), Annapurna III (24,786ft/7,555m), Machhapuchare (22,943ft/6,993m), and Gandharba Chuli (20,498ft/6,248m). From Chomrong the trail continues down on steps through terraced fields to cross the river. After the bridge it is steeply uphill through farmland and forest for an hour and a half to Sinuwa Danda, a small settlement on the ridge with 2-3 teahouses and offering great views of the surrounding landscape. Overnight in a lodge.

Tuesday 7th April - TREK TO HIMALAYA VIA BAMBOO. (9,416ft/2,870m). 4 to 5 hrs.

From Sinuwa, an hour’s walk through forest brings them to the small village of Khuldi-ghar, where their trekking permit and conservation ticket is checked and registered. From here you descend on slabs and then climb gently upwards to a small place called Bamboo, 7,700ft/2,347m, named after the dense vegetation in this area. Another hour’s walk through bamboo forest, following the River Modi upstream, will bring them to another small settlement of Dovan, or Dobang. The Group then continue more steeply uphill, high above the river until they reach Himalaya for their overnight stay in a lodge.

Wednesday 8th April - TREK TO MACHHAPUCHARE BASE CAMP. (12,000ft/3,658m). 4 to 5 hrs. >

The trek from here is uphill most of the way with a few short steep climbs en route to Deorali. From this point they will now be feeling the altitude, as they get closer to the snowy peaks and the vegetation changes from forest to shrubs. From Deorali the trail narrows as they pass through the so called ‘gates’ of the Sanctuary, and then there are several steep climbs to reach the Machhapuchare Base Camp area, for the overnight stay in a lodge.

Thursday 9th April - TREK TO ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP. (13,550ft/4,130m). 3 to 4 hrs.

From Machapuchare Base Camp the trail winds up steeply for 1 hour. As they reach the upper ridge in the open wide valley, the group will enter a hidden amphitheatre with a complete view of an array of snowy peaks spread out before them. Another 1-2 hours of slow and steady walking will bring them to Annapurna Base Camp in the heart of the Annapurnas. Overnight in a lodge.

Friday 10th April - TREK TO HIMALAYA HOTEL. (9,416ft/2,870m). 6 hrs.

Rise early to be rewarded with the most spectacular sight of the sun rising over Annapurna South and her awe-inspiring neighbours. You are now completely surrounded by soaring, snow-capped giants, including Annapurna 1, Tent Peak, Hiunchuli, Gandharba Chuli, and Machapuchare. This is a morning to ensure you have plenty of film! After this unforgettable feast of glorious mountain scenery, you retrace your journey back down to Himalaya. The lungs respond well to the treat of going downhill and to the lower altitude. Overnight in a lodge.

Saturday 11th April - TREK TO CHOMRONG. (7,119ft/2170m) 6 to 7 hrs.

Today’s walk begins with a downhill walk through dense forest of oak, rhododendron, pine and bamboo, all the way to Bamboo, a temporary settlement built to cater to the needs of the trekkers, with 4-5 teahouses. From Bamboo, a 45 minute steep climb brings them back to Khuldi Ghar where they have to sign out before they leave. The group will walk through forest back to Sinuwa and then descend steeply to the river. After crossing the bridge, an hour steeply uphill on steps brings them back to Chomrong village for their overnight stay in a lodge.

Sunday 12th April - TREK TO TADAPANI. (8,497ft/2,590m). 5 to 6 hours.

From Chomrong the group will climb stone steps out of the village back to the corner where the trail forks, one way down to New Bridge and the other round into the valley of the Kimrong Khola. They stay on the high trail and continue round to where the trail divides again, one branch going downhill to Kimrong Village and on to Gandrung and the other branch, on the right, staying high and going to Tadapani. They will take the right branch and follow an easy wide trail which meanders through the farm fields and then descends to the Kimrong river valley and down to the river. Your route then leads west, very steeply uphill, through dense forest for three hours until Tadapani is reached for the night’s stay. This is a magnificent spot in the midst of the magnolia and rhododendron forest, overlooking great views of Annapurna South, Machhapuchare and beyond towards the Manaslu range.

Monday 13th April - TREK TO GHOREPANI. (9,022ft/2750m). 6 hrs.

The path descends to cross a small stream and climbs to the village of Banthante. Then it is steeply uphill in a narrow forested gorge, often climbing on stone steps, to reach Deurali, four hours from Tadapani, from where there are good views down into the valley of the Kali Gandaki. From Deorali they will climb again for a short while through fine forest before reaching an open ridge top from where there are fantastic views if the weather is still clear at this time of the day. There is another hour of easy descent through the rhododendron forest to Ghorepani, which is famous for its panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu and beyond, from the nearby Poon Hill. Overnight in a lodge.

Tuesday 14th April - CLIMB POON HILL (10,532ft/3210m), TREK TO BIRETHANTI (3,449ft/1050m) (5-6 hrs walk from Ghorepani to Hille).

The option of an energetic early morning hike to Poon Hill, 10,531ft/3,210m, to catch the sunrise over the Himalayan peaks (about 45 minutes steeply uphill). After this beautiful and memorable image of the mighty Himalaya, trek down on the busy trail of the old Trans-Himalaya trade route where they will often see laden mule trains, firstly through forest to Banthante, continuing to Ulleri, before the classic descent of 1,640ft/500 metres on a steep Gurung ‘staircase’ to Tirkedhunga (5,052ft/1,540m) before continuing more gently down to Hille (4,987ft/1,520m) and on to Birethanti. Overnight in a lodge.

Wednesday 15th April - Contingency Day (This day will be used as necessary on trek, eg to give additional acclimatisation time on the outward trek, or to vary the route/pacing on the return)

Thursday 16th April - TREK TO NAYA PUL. ¾ hour, DRIVE TO POKHARA ¾ hour. Fly to Kathmandu.

After breakfast, they continue to the road head at Naya Pul. Here they will be picked up and driven to Pokhara.

Friday 17th April - Day at leisure in Kathmandu

Saturday 18th April - Fly to UK