Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Begin your adventure at the Royal Singi Hotel in Kathmandu, the start point for many of our Himalayan treks over the years. Around 6pm, bid namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead during a full trek briefing. Your tour leader then ensures a big Nepalese welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want to explore Kathmandu further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

This morning, we fly west to Pokhara, the 20-minute flight offers views of the Himalaya range to the north (on a clear day). Pokhara is set in a beautiful valley overlooked by the Annapurnas and the fishtail-shaped Machhapuchhare, one of the most distinctive of the Himalayan peaks. We take a bus transfer (approximately two hours) from Pokhara Airport to Birethanthi, at the confluence of the Modi and Burungdi rivers, where we stay overnight. If there is time this afternoon, the tour leader takes you on an optional warm up hike to Tomijung, a pretty Gurung village.

We start our trek by following the Burungdi upstream. After a lunch stop in Tirkhedunga (renowned for its variety of local beer called chang), we climb up on a steep, stone staircase (approximately three hours) through neatly terraced hillsides to Ulleri. Continuing through Ulleri, we climb a little further to our lodge at Banthanti.

Continue our ascent through rhododendron forest, following trails, crossing suspension bridges and tackling more steps up as we head up to Ghorepani. Trains of mules provide vibrant, noisy interludes to the continuous ascent today (there are many stone staircases). Finally, we emerge from the forests at Ghorepani and suddenly a splendid mountain vista appears before us – Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhare, Lamjung and other Himalayan giants. We continue up through Ghorepani to our lodge in Upper Ghorepani (9,515ft/2,900m), usually arriving by lunchtime.

This morning there is an optional ascent of Poon Hill (10,530ft/3,210m, about an hour's walk uphill) to see the spectacular sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range. As the sun emerges from behind the mountains, the sky glows red and pink. We head east after breakfast, following a ridge to cross a pass at 10,335ft (3,150m). We cut through more forest and past teahouses and then the descent becomes steeper as we take stone steps through jungle to a few lodges in a clearing called Banthanti at 9,055ft (2,760m), where we have lunch. Descending further to a small stream, we cross a bridge and climb back up to 8,825ft (2,690m) at Tadapani where we have a superb view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. From here, we descend for a short while to our lodge at Chuili, where we have great views of the mountains from the lovely garden.

We have an easier day today. The trail descends steeply through the forest to the Siprong Khola, a tributary of the Modi River. A steep ascent then brings us to Gurjung, where we have an early light lunch break. The trail then ascends further to Chhomrong (7,285ft/2,220m) another Gurung village and the last permanent settlement in the valley. Beyond here we see yersas, the summer shelters used by herdsmen. From Chhomrong, we have good views again of Annapurna South and from this point onwards the twin-peaks of Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) that give the mountain its name.

The trail from Chhomrong descends first on a stone staircase to cross the Chhomrong River and then climbs steeply on another stone staircase out of this side valley to Sinuwa, where we enter the main Modi River valley. After a welcome tea break, the trail descends on stone steps through dense jungle and then undulates to lunch at Bamboo, a cluster of lodges in a clearing surrounded by bamboo thickets. These are cut extensively to make dokos, the carrying baskets used by our porters, and woven mats for floors and roofs. Undulating further through the bamboo forest we reach Dobhan at 8,200ft (2,500m), another small forest clearing with several teahouses.

The trail today undulates down the Modi River valley. We follow the valley down to the road head at Sinwai. If the road is in good condition, we pick up our transport here (sometimes our vehicle cannot get to here) and drive back to Pokhara. If we have to walk to Birethanthi this will add an additional three hours (6mi/10km).

Enjoy a full day to relax in Pokhara. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the lakeshore where you can watch paragliders in flight. You may wish to take a rowing boat across Lake Phewa and walk up to the hilltop World Peace Pagoda for fantastic views of the lake. There are also plenty of shops and a traditional bazaar where you can pick up souvenirs. Alternatively, there are several museums to visit, including the International Mountain Museum and the Gurkha Museum.

We fly to Kathmandu. If the weather plays nicely, we can have good views of the western end of Nepal on this flight. The afternoon is free for sightseeing. You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambhunath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Boudhanath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath.

You’ve trekked through magnificent landscapes, explored the Annapurna Sanctuary and stayed at basecamp; but today, the tour comes to an end, so it’s time to start your return journey home. Alternatively, swap mountain trails for animals tracks by joining our add-on safari tour in Chitwan. Speak to your sales representative to book.