Mount Annapurna Base Camp Trek

DID YOU SAY ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP?

Central Nepal is dominated by Annapurna Himal and the town of Pokhara, and includes some of the world's highest and most beautiful mountains. These include the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhare - the famous fishtail mountain that dominates the skyline above Pokhara.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a relatively short and spectacular trek. It traverses a variety of terrain, from lowland villages and rice terraces to glaciers, and offers outstanding high mountain views.

We employ local leaders and staff to help sustain the local communities we work with. We ensure all our porters are well treated, well paid and we provide the level of shelter, clothing and footwear that these environments demand. An experienced YokmoK mountain guide accompanies the group during this trip.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu

Your arrival here in Kathmandu marks the first day of the journey. Our representative from Nepal Hiking Team will be present at the airport to meet you, and will give you further information and explanation regarding the program. You will then be taken to the accommodation.

DAY 2

Mountain Flight Nepal – Kathmandu Sightseeing Tours

Today we get up early. Our experience start at 6am. A 50 minutes flight (with guaranteed window seat) is waiting for us. Witness fantastic Himalayan peaks, lakes and glaciers are some of the surprises. Once we go back to the hotel we have time to rest a little and be ready for the next activity. Kathmandu is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal. The city presents a wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence. We'll enjoy a guided sightseeing day in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.

DAY 3

Kathmandu to Pokhara (910m/2985ft) Duration: 30 Minutes

Today at late morning, we fly to Pokhara. Pokhara is the second largest city of Nepal. The drive will present you with the opportunity to see the wonderful landscape of terraced farmlands- green and wet with the sowing of rice and barley by the farmers, the frisky rush of the meandering rivers by the highway and the isolated valleys low-lying among the gargantuan hills and rocky gorges. The journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about 6 hours, and upon arrival at Pokhara, we shall check into a hotel, which the city has an abundance of. In the evening, you shall be able to enjoy the respite of a beautiful boat-ride at Fewa Lake and on a clear day, you can see the lucid reflection of Mount Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna Range on the crystalline surface of water.

DAY 4

Pokhara to Tikhedhunga (1,570m/5,150ft) Duration: 4 Hrs

Taking approximately four hours we will trek to Tikhedhunga after driving to Nayapul (42 km) via a private vehicle today. This is the first day of our trek and we will have short and easy walk. We will pass through the well-off village named Lumle. We will also reach to a prosperous town- Birethanti set on the union point of the Burundi and Modi River. Here, we will notice a number of tea houses and shops. Walking all the way through bamboo woods, we will also walk passing a large cascade. Furthermore, we will climb gradually up beside the valley to reach Hille lying at the height of 1,495 m. With a short ascend from Hille, we will reach Tikhedhunga.

DAY 5

Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2,850m/9,348ft) Duration: 7 Hrs

We leave Tikhedhunga and walk passing the steep climb in order to reach Ulleri on this day. Ulleri is a big Magar village set at the height of 2,070m. After an hour walk from Ulleri, we will arrive at the resting point. The track ascends slightly from this point and we will be passing by oak and rhododendron forests until we get to Banthanti lying at 2,250m. From this point, we will walk to reach Nangethanti situated at 2,460m. With an hour walk from Nangethanti, we will reach Ghorepani (2,840m). Ghorepani is the conserved area holding the largest rhododendron woods. If you are trekking on the best season of the year, you will notice the area enclosed with snow. Ghorepani will actually reward you with the spectacular vista of Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Nilgiri (6940m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and more.

DAY 6

Hike Up to Poon Hill then onto Tadapani (2,610m) Duration: 7-8 Hrs

This is the most important day of the Annapurna Panorama Trek. We will begin walking early in the morning to reach Poon Hill and witness the dreamlike moment. The magnificent experience of watching first ray of sun over the Himalayan giants like Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Mt. Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Mt. Nilgiri (7,040m), Annapurna south (7219m), Himchuli (6441m), Lamjung Himal (6,986m), fishtail or Machhapuchhre (6,997m), and more will be memorable forever. We will spend time at the hill taking pictures and return to Ghorepani. From here, we will trek to Tadapani passing through rhododendron woods. If you are trekking in spring, you will notice 15 different species of rhododendron budding colorfully before reaching Tadapani. Tadapani also flaunts the stunning views of Annapurna South (7219m), Machhapuchhre (6993m) and Himchuli.

DAY 7

Tadapani to Ghandruk (1,950m/6,396ft) Duration: 3 Hrs

From Tadapani we will on this day trek to Ghandruk lying at the altitude of 1950m. We will pass through a thick rhododendron trees and after walking for approximately 3 hours, we will reach Ghandruk. Ghandruk is an undulated settlement occupied by houses made up of stones and it is mostly occupied by the Gurung inhabitants. In Ghandruk, the close-up soaring views of Fishtail, Hiunchuli mountains, Annapurna South, and more will allure you again. Here, we will explore around the village and also visit the Gurung Museum to understand about culture and tradition of the Gurung inhabitants.

DAY 8

Ghandruk to Sinuwa (2310m/7575ft) Duration: 5 Hrs

Today from Ghandruk, we will go up for about an hour to Ghandrukkot. After that, a perpendicular descend to the Kimron Khola will be done. We will have an easy walk for an hour and will then continue on the path rising to Chhomrong. While ascending, we can look at the striking peak of the Annapurna South over the community along with the sight of the Fishtail Mountain. The views of these peaks are very fascinating and beautiful to look at. Chhomrong is a striking village shadowed by the giant Annapurna massive. From Chhomrong the trail descends until Chhomrong Khola then trail begins a slow climb as we head up to our destination for the day.

DAY 9

Sinuwa to Deurali (3150m/10330ft) Duration: 6 Hrs

We proceed to Kuldi Ghar about 2 1/2 to 3 hrs walking. There is a clearing in the forest a little further on, from there the route goes very steeply down a bank of rock and then levels out, running through thickets of bamboo at the bottom of the gorge, keeping always on the west side of the river. We pass by the pasture of Tomo, and then the very neck of the gorge at pantheon Barah, where there is a small trail and a shrine. The track climbs to Himalaya.

DAY 10

Deurali to Machhapuchre Base Camp (3700m/12135ft) Duration: 3-4 Hrs

Today, we will cross the small bridge at Modi Khola, and continue climbing towards the scattered glacial valley. From this point, a different side of the Fishtail Himalaya can be seen and we can notice the difference in the vegetation as well. After walking for couple of hours following the Modi Khola again, we find tea houses there. We shall spend one night before pushing ourselves towards the Annapurna Base Camp. As we are very close to the Himalayas, the views gets even more gorgeous up close and special.

DAY 11

Machhapuchhre Base Camp to ABC (4,130m/13,545ft) Duration: 2-3 Hrs

There won’t be a much walking today, as we are very close to our destination and major highlights of this trek. In just two hours, we will be there at the Annapurna Base Camp. We don’t see much vegetation at this altitude. Also known as the Annapurna Sanctuary, we can feel ourselves being surrounded by high Himalayas from all direction.

DAY 12

Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (2310m/7575ft) Duration: 7 Hrs

Descending the same trail which is like a boon companion to us by now at this point, we shall hike down to Modi Khola at Bamboo, the elevation dropping by 1700m. The area is flanked by some lodges and tea-houses, isolated among the vastness of the open mountain, greeted each morning by crisp cold air and the immensity of solitary desolation.

DAY 13

Bamboo to Jhinu Danda Hot Spring (1780m/5840ft) Duration: 6 Hrs

We shall hike the trail to Chhomrong, passing through Khuldighar where the people have established an experimental sheep farm, the journey paved with the abundance of our national flower, Rhododendrons, blooming in colors of red, white and pink, contrasting to the primary of glaucous green of the bamboo forests. From Chhomrong, the trail descends steeply to Jhinu Hot spring where you can respite in the naturally salubrious hot spring and have an interlude and rejuvenate yourselves.

DAY 14

Jhinu Danda to Pokhara (910m/2985ft) Duration: 5 Hrs

On this day, we shall depart from the Jhinu hot spring and excurse by the right bank of Modi Khola for 5 hours to Birethanti, enjoying the most relaxing and reposing walk of the entire trip, all gilded with the grace of the river birds fishing for prey and the solemn ambiguity of the flowing river under an azure sky. We shall then reach Nayapul, and after an hour’s drive, we will be back to Pokhara.

DAY 15

Full day Pokhara Sightseeing Tours

After breakfast, we shall visit David’s falls, which is a beautiful waterfall cascading down from the hills and has an interesting story behind its name. We visit to the Tibetan refugee camp. The area of the refugee camp is beautifully adorned with prayer flags which enhances the beauty of the place. It has housed numerous monks and therefore you can hear the rumbling of the monks chanting their payers. We will then have a visit to the International Mountain Museum, which traces the history of the Himalayan range with mountaineering and nature exhibits; then have a lovely interlude with boating on the Phewa Lake and then in the evening, we will drive to the World Peace Stupa for a glorious sunset, then be back to Pokhara.

DAY 16

Pokhara to Kathmandu and departure

Today, morning flight to Kathmandu then a representative from Nepal Hiking Team shall take you to the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. You will bid farewell to the stupendous turn of affairs, filled with memories and wonderful stories to tell.