Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Your trip starts in the lively and bustling city of Kathmandu with an explosion to the senses - take a deep breath! You’ll be met at Kathmandu airport by a friendly face from Active Adventures who will accompany you to our hotel. If you arrive early, you can head out to explore the city’s labyrinth of back streets, courtyards, colorful market stalls and ancient temples for your first taste of Nepal’s culture and friendly people. This afternoon, your guide will meet you at our hotel and run through what to expect from the days ahead. Tonight, we’ll take you out for dinner at a local restaurant, for your first experience of Nepalese dining - a culinary crossroad between the influences of China, India and Europe, which makes for some really interesting flavor combinations.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4600 feet)

Today we’ll head a short distance out of town to an ancient stone pilgrim stairway that leads to the Swayambhunath Temple. Keep an eye out for macaque monkeys as they often join us on the walk up the stairway – they’ve even been known to steal hats on occasion, so stay alert! According to local legend, Swayambhunath (meaning ‘self-arisen’), was said to have risen up from a lake that once covered the land where Kathmandu now stands. Up on the hilltop temple, the smell of incense and butter lamps will follow you as you gaze out over the sprawling city of Kathmandu below. Local devotees come here daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the centerpiece stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine) and spin the prayer wheels set into its base. After lunch, we’ll head to the airport where we’ll take a short flight to Pokhara, the beautiful gateway town of the Annapurna Himalayas. We’ll enjoy dinner on the lakefront at one of our favorite lakeside restaurants.

Elevation: Pokhara - 827 meters (2713 feet)

Today we hit the trail! We’ll journey from Pokhara, past Naya Pul, to start hiking the trail on the banks of the Modi Khola (meaning river), which we’ll follow to its source below Annapurna I. After meeting our Gurung porter team, we’ll start our trek - a gentle trail takes us past rice paddies on our way up the valley, with high peaks looming ahead. After lunch at Kilyu, at the base of the stairs, we'll start our ascent to Ghandruk. Tonight, you can enjoy a traditional dal bhat (lentil curry) meal cooked by our Nepalese hosts.

Elevation: Ghandruk- 1940 meters (6,364 feet)Hiking:12 kilometers (7.5 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation + 700 meters (2,296 feet)

This morning we’ll head off on a lesser used part of the trail, hiking through low jungle where we encounter monkeys in the trees above us. We'll cross the Kimrong Khola, and enjoy a tea break at Komrong where the views up to Annapurna are mesmerizing, before hiking the steeper section of the trail to the village of Chhomrong. Oddly enough, this town is world famous for its German bakeries - chocolate croissants and apple pie are a heavenly reward after a big day. Whilst we relax and admire the view straight up the valley to Machapuchare, keep an eye out for huge Lamagier vultures as they circle on thermals high above. Machapuchare, also known as ‘Fish Tail’, is unconquered - it’s considered a sacred mountain by the Nepalese and therefore climbing to the summit is forbidden.

Elevation: Chhomrong - 2170 meters (7,120 feet)Hiking:9.6 kilometers (6 miles), 7hours, elevation + 680 meters (2,230 feet), elevation - 450 meters (1,476 feet)

We’ll start the day descending from Chhomrong, past the local school and away from civilization, down towards the river. We’ll stop at Sinuwa for a cuppa and some soup, before continuing through a landscape of dense bamboo, oak and rhododendron forests dotted with orchids and ferns. We’ll follow a cobbled pathway and series of staircases past the village of Bamboo, and onto Dobhan, where silvery langur monkeys can often be spotted at dawn and dusk.

Elevation: Dobhan - 2600 meters (8,530 feet)Hiking:11.5 kilometers (7.1 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation + 430 meters (1,410 feet)

Our day begins with a short hike up out of the canyon, with the sights and sounds of the forest providing a fantastic distraction from the climb. After lunch at the settlement of Himalaya (meaning mountain range), we’ll trek a steep section of the trail to Hinku Cave, a shelter that’s been used by yak herders for centuries. The vegetation starts to thin out as we follow the trail out of the canyon to Deurali, our home for the night.

Elevation: Deurali - 3200 meters (10,500 feet)Hiking:5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation + 600 meters (1,968 feet)

Today we’ll break through the treeline and into the alpine region. We’ll leave the forest and its wildlife behind and take in the mountain views, which at this point become even more spectacular. As we progress, the valley becomes gradually flatter and widens as we hike towards the ‘gates’ of the sanctuary. We’ll crisscross the valley a little while longer before we arrive at Machapuchare Base Camp. The mountain panorama that greets us includes the peaks of the Annapurna Massif and the triangular south face of Machapuchare itself. We’ll spend the night at the foot of these icy giants before we set off for the Base Camp of Annapurna in the morning.

Elevation: Machapuchare Base Camp - 3700 meters (12,140 feet)Hiking:5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation + 500 meters (1,640 feet)

Today is the day! We’ll make our final push to the Base Camp of Annapurna, sitting at 4130 meters (13,549 feet). It’s an amazing accomplishment, so congratulate yourself and your fellow trekkers! You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the south face of Annapurna I (the 10th highest peak in the world) and the glacier falling beneath it. There are few places on the planet that can match this – the peaks of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Annapurna I and Machapuchare seem like they’re barely a stone’s throw away and yet utterly unreachable at the same time. Make sure you have plenty of space on your camera as you’ll be taking heaps of photos. After a cup of tea at the Base Camp, we’ll descend down the valley to Machapuchare Base Camp, where we’ll eat a hearty breakfast, and, re-energized, head back into the bamboo and cloud forest, winding our way back to Dobhan in time for a well-deserved shower and dinner. Well done!

Elevation: Annapurna Base Camp - 4130 meters (13, 549 feet)
Elevation: Dobhan - 2600 meters (8,530 feet)Hiking:Hike to Annapurna Base Camp: 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation + 426 meters (1,415 feet)Hiking:Hike to Dobhan: 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), 7-8 hours, elevation - 1100 meters (3,608 feet)

Today we’ll retrace our steps down carefully maintained cobblestone paths through the forests and canyons, passing waterfalls and crossing rivers along the way. As we get lower, the air becomes more oxygen rich and slightly warmer, giving you a bit more bounce in your step. We’ll have lunch in Chhomrong and afterwards explore the local handicraft markets (keep an eye out for some Tibetan influences here). Tonight we’ll stay in Jhinudanda and soak in the renowned natural riverside hot pools.

Elevation: Jhinudanda - 1780 meters (5,840 feet)Hiking:14 kilometers (8.6 miles), 5-7 hours, elevation - 820 meters (2,690 feet)

This morning we’ll cross back over the Modi Khola River, leaving it behind for the first time on our trek. As we ascend to the Gurung village of Landruk, you’ll notice many of the locals still wear traditional dress. After a hot drink, we’ll aim to get to Tolka early in the afternoon so we have a chance to kick back and take in the epic views all around. Relaxed and refreshed, it’s time for a song and dance with our Nepalese hosts.

Elevation: Tolka - 1700 meters (5,580 feet)Hiking:9 kilometers (5.6 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation - 80 meters (262 feet)

Our hike this morning rewards us with great views of the Annapurna Himalayas Range and is also an excellent opportunity for bird-watching; there are many different species in this area. Rhododendron forest gives way to grassy meadows before we reach the village of Australia Camp, an excellent ridgetop vantage point, where we’ll farewell the now familiar peaks. After lunch, we’ll weave our way down a series of stone staircases to the village of Kande, where we’ll take the short journey back to Pokhara. Tonight, we’ll all head out to the Silk Road Restaurant and Bar for a celebratory dinner with our guides and porters.

Elevation: Pokhara - 830 meters (2,720 feet)Hiking:11 kilometers (6.8 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation - 870 meters (2,854 feet)

Today is all yours to relax and explore. Pokhara is the main town on the shores of Lake Phewa and the adventure playground of Nepal. There are some fantastic street and lakeside cafes, outstanding bakeries and heaps of outdoor activities to choose from - just ask your guide for suggestions. Or, if you’re not feeling too lively today, your guide can arrange for you to visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Museum and the Pokhara World Peace Monument instead. This evening you might like to try some of Pokhara’s restaurants, where local lake fish is a specialty. Or you might like to try our favorites like the Everest Steak House or Monsoons.

Elevation: Pokhara - 830 meters (2,720 feet)

This morning we’ll farewell the Himalayas in Pokhara and take a short flight back to Kathmandu. For those who are keen this afternoon, we’ll walk to Durbar Square, the place where Nepal’s kings were crowned in past times. The square is in the center of old town Kathmandu, and is the city’s greatest example of traditional architecture – so much so, that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Today is a great opportunity to find a bargain amongst Kathmandu’s many markets. Tonight we’ll meet at a local restaurant for our final dinner together to celebrate our achievements and adventures in the Himalayas.

Elevation: Kathmandu - 1400 meters (4,600 feet)

Today is the final day of your Himalayas trekking trip. You’ll have completed one of the world’s most renowned treks – a feather in the cap of any outdoor enthusiast. If you have extra time after your trip, we’re happy to make suggestions on how to make the most of it. On the other hand, if you’re on your way home today, we’ll send you back refreshed and invigorated from the great hiking and adventures you’ve had with us in Nepal!