Annapurna Sanctuary

Grade 1 2 3 4 5
Grade 3 – Challenging
Fairly demanding treks, usually in the high Himalaya, going up to 13,000ft / 4,000m. Trails can be ill defined, narrow, steep, and rocky, and will usually take you into uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas. Average walking is 6 - 7 hours a day.
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Trek Difficulty Grading

Our treks vary from easy hikes in the foothills to challenging climbing adventures in the high Himalaya. More often than not, we use trails that have since ancient times been the only link between villages, settlements, and their inhabitants. The trails may take you through a well-inhabited area with many villages and tea-shops, or through a mountain wilderness without a single permanent settlement for days, but one thing is certain: there'll be lots of ups and downs as we walk from one Himalayan valley to another. Treks are graded on the basis of altitude, trails, walking hours per day, and length of trek.

Grade 1 – Easy
Treks in the foothills staying below 6,500ft / 2,000m. Trails are relatively gentle & wide, and average walking is 3 - 4 hours a day.
Grade 2 – Moderate
Treks in the foothills and the middle-hills going up to 10,000ft / 3,000m. Trails are mostly gentle and wide, but at times may involve more difficult stretches like a steep stone staircase. Average walking is 5 - 6 hours a day.
Grade 3 – Challenging
Fairly demanding treks, usually in the high Himalaya, going up to 13,000ft / 4,000m. Trails can be ill defined, narrow, steep, and rocky, and will usually take you into uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas. Average walking is 6 - 7 hours a day.
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.
Note on altitudes
The altitude definitions indicate elevations through the major part of the trek. Treks usually involve side-trips into elevations exceeding the altitude ranges defined for their grades. Grade 3 and grade 4 trek itineraries are designed to allow proper acclimatization, with acclimatization days when we take side trips to higher elevations where necessary.

 

16 days – The classic trek to the Annapurna Base Camp
  • 12 days challenging trekking in the middle hills and high Himalaya (maximum elevation 4,130m / 13,550′)
  • Surround yourself with the summits of the Annapurna Himal range, spectacular views of Dhaulagiri & Manaslu Himal ranges
  • Encounter the terraced hillsides and ethnic settlements of the middle hills underlying the Annapurna Himal range
  • High Himalayan wilderness experience
fishtail-180x270On this classic and popular trek, we hike up the Modi Khola gorge into the vast natural amphitheater of the Annapurna Sanctuary, where you are literally encircled by a panoply of 7,000m – 8,000m / 23,000′ – 26,000′ Himalayan summits.

Our trek begins at the trail-head at Nayapul; we soon ascend through oak-rhododendron forests to Ghorepani. An early morning climb up Poon Hill is rewarded by a dawn panorama of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himal ranges and a spectacular view of the elevated country we are venturing into. We continue through a marvelous expanse of oak-rhododendron forests to visit the charming Gurung village of Ghandruk before proceeding up the Modi Khola gorge to the “gates” of the Sanctuary.

Standing at the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the massive 6km / 4mi long wall of Annapurna I rises 4,000m / 13,000′ into the skies, a dominating presence anywhere within the bowl of the Sanctuary. On our return, we retrace our steps down the gorge before taking a detour to enjoy the hot springs at Jhinu. Descending to cross the Modi Khola, we climb to the Gurung settlement of Landruk and finish our trek with beautiful parting vistas of the lofty mountains we have just visited.

Trip Itinerarymap_asn

Day 1  Arrival and orientation.
Day 2  Morning drive to Pokhara. Afternoon at leisure.
Days 3-4  Drive Pokhara (884m / 2,900′) to Nayapul (900m / 2,950′). Trek to Ghorepani (2,870m / 9,414′; 6 hrs).
Days 5-6  Early morning climb Poon Hill (3,210m / 10,530′) for a dawn panorama of the Central Nepal Himalaya. Trek to Tadapani (2,710m / 8,890′) and Ghandruk (2,150m / 7,050′).
Day 7  Trek to Chhomrong (2,210m / 7,250′).
Days 8-10  Trek up the Modi Khola gorge to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3,700m / 12,140′) with stops at Dobhan (2,500m / 8,200′) and Deurali (3,140m / 10,300′).
Days 11-12  Excursion to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m / 13,550′). Retrace steps to Bamboo (2,310m / 7,580′) and continue to Jhinu (1,750m / 5,740′).
Days 13-14  Trek across the Modi Khola gorge to Pothana (1,990m / 6,530′). Finish trek at Phedi (1,130m / 3,710′) and drive to Pokhara.
Day 15  Drive to Kathmandu.
Day 16  Depart for onward destination.

Dates and Pricing

Oct 5 - Oct 20
Oct 19 - Nov 3
Nov 2 - Nov 17
Nov 16 - Dec 1
Nov 30 - Dec 15
Feb 19 - Mar 6

Mar 5 - Mar 20
Mar 19 - Apr 3
Apr 2 - Apr 17
Apr 16 - May 1
Apr 30 - May 15

  Standard Hotels
2 - 5 personsUS$ 1,177
6 - 12 personsUS$ 1,009
Single room supplement US$ 155
Cost Information
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Cost Information

The trip cost quoted is the cost per person, and includes:

  • Hotels: Accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara on twin / triple room-sharing basis with breakfast.
  • Tours: Sightseeing tours indicated with a certified English-speaking guide.
  • Transfers: All land transfers by car (Toyota Corolla or similar) or van (Toyota Hiace or similar).
  • Trekking: Room-sharing accommodation in local lodges, all meals, services of trek crew (guide, sherpa(s), and porter(s) to carry all luggage & equipment), applicable trekking / ACAP permit / National Park entry fees.
  • Permits, Fees, & Taxes: All applicable permits, entry fees, and taxes.
  • Trek leader: We provide a trek leader on groups of six or more. A tour leader can be provided upon request for smaller groups, upon additional cost.

Not included in the cost are:

  • Meals other than indicated.
  • Flights: All internal flights are extra. Internal airfares indicated are subject to change without notice.
  • Personal clothing & equipment (upon confirmation you’ll receive a clothing & necessity checklist of items we recommend you bring, items you can hire / purchase locally are indicated).
  • Personal expenses, bottled / alcoholic beverages, and tips to crew.
  • Insurance: We strongly recommend that all trip participants be covered by their own personal insurance that also covers emergency evacuation.
  • Other unforeseeable expenses that may arise due to factors beyond our control, like bad weather or flight cancellations.
  • Nepal visa fee.

 

  Standard Hotels
KathmanduNirvana Garden Hotel
PokharaSampada Inn
Suggested Trips