Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

After your arrival in Kathmandu, our team Pristine Nepal staff or guide will come to pick you up in the airport. A private vehicle will be provided for you and you will be assisted in the hotel of Thamel where you will stay overnight.

After your breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up and introduce you to the unique flair of Kathmandu, a blend of modernization and old lively cultures. You can witness how the fast-growing city revolves around and engulfs medieval period villages and experience the charming mixture of modern life with customs and lifestyle of the locals as it was for hundreds of years.

Kathmandu is a city with outstandingly rich ancient history and you will tour some famous Durbar Square, as well as numerous impressive Buddhist and Hindu temples, including the great Swayambhunath Stupa (also known as ”Monkey Temple”) overlooking the busy streets of Kathmandu. After an interesting tour, you will have free time in the afternoon to stroll around the small charming backstreets of Kathmandu and prepare for the Annapurna Base Camp & Sanctuary trek.

The Annapurna Base Camp & Sanctuary trek starts with an interesting and exciting overland drive on currently the only highway in Nepal. On the way to scenic Pokhara, our journey leads past farm villages and towns, overseen by our beautiful mountains. Upon arrival in Pokhara, you will be transferred to your hotel near the pristine and beautiful Phewa Lake.

(option: There is a very scenic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu with the super panorama of mountains and landscapes. It takes about 30 minutes. The prices vary. Please let us know, if you are interested.)

We start the morning with a short drive of about two hours to Nayapul. Here, we begin our trek and pass the lovely Bhirethati village located at the Modi River. We continue through farm villages, coming across trekkers, mules and donkey trains along our way to the Syali Bazaar area. From here we go uphill on stone steps to Kimche village and gradually climb to Ghandruk. Here we stop for the night in a nice lodge.

From Ghandruk village you can see Annapurna South, Huinchuli and the towering Mt. Machhapuchare (also called “ Fish Tail”). Ghandruk is a large village of the Gurung people, which became internationally famous as Gorkha soldiers in the UK and the Indian armies, and as gallant soldiers. Usually, these people are farmers and shepherds following Tibetan Buddhism as they originated from Tibet.

This day begins with a lovely morning walk with great views. Our path walk leads above Ghandruk village and then steeply up to Kimrong danda (the ridge) for about one hour. Here, we have a short break before we continue downhill into pristine forests and reach the lovely Kimrong valley. After lunch, we start to climb uphill through terraced farm areas for about one hour before we reach a level stone paved path which leads to the top of Chomrong. A short descent brings us to the main Chomrong village for our overnight stop.
Chomrong is a large and the last permanent Gurung village before Annapurna base camp. After Chomrong there are only temporary settlements which evolved around the teahouses, lodges, and guest houses all the way to Annapurna base camp.

We start the day walking downhill to a river, then cross a short bridge and head up to reach Sinuwa at 2,360 m altitude, a lonely spot with a few shops and nice lodges. From here, our path leads into a cooler forested area with oak, rhododendron and pines trees. A short steep descent brings us to Bamboo, a small settlement of 5-6 lodges surrounded by bamboo trees located on the Modi River gorge. After Bamboo, we climb up for a bit more than an hour to reach Dovan for our overnight stop.

After a nice overnight stop at Dovan with the sound of raging Modi River, morning walk leads higher through thickly forested area reaching Himalaya Hotel located beneath Huichuli peak and large over after a nice overnight stop at Dovan with the sound of raging Modi River, we start the day going uphill through thick forests and reach Himalaya Hotel which is located beneath the Huichuli peak and the large overhanging Hinko Cave. We then descend to Modi River crossing an ablation caused years ago by avalanches of rocky moraine material. A short climb brings us to Deurali as we leave the gorge area arrive in wider , more open terrain. After a lunch stop in Deurali, we head uphill leaving the tree lines behind. We continue following the raging glacial Modi River all the way to the Machhapuchare base camp located beneath to the wearing North Face of the Fish Tail Mountain at 3,700 m altitude. Here we stop for the night. ranging from Hinko Cave. From downhill by the Modi River crossing ablation of old avalanches of the rocky moraine, then a short climb brings at Deurali after leaving the gorge area to more wide open area. From Deurali after lunch stop heading higher leaving the tree lines behind following the raging glacial Modi River all the way to Machhapuchare base camp at 3,700 m high for an overnight stop, located beneath towering north Face of the Fish Tail Mountain.

Today we enter the famous and picturesque Annapurna Sanctuary where the Annapurna base camp is located. We start from Machhapuchare base camp, the entry point of the Sanctuary, and hike to higher ground for few hours before we then enter the sanctuary, an amphitheater of peaks that surrounding this amazing place. A few hours of pleasant walking bring you to the highest spot of this adventure, Annapurna base camp at 4,130 meters altitude.
In the afternoon, you relax and enjoy the views of Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,457ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft), Mt. Machhapuchare (Fish-tail) at 6,790 m.

After a memorable and enjoyable moment at the base camp within the Annapurna Sanctuary, we go back down to Bamboo and spend another night there.

After our second visit to Bamboo, we leave Modi River and the gorge behind and climb up to Khuldi-Ghar into a forested area. A short gradually climbing path brings us to Sinuwa danda. From here we descend to Chomrong River, and then climb up again on stone steps to our lunch stop at Chomrong.
After Chomrong we continue to climb for a little while to reach the top ridge. A short downhill walk brings us to the scenic and lovely Jhinu village for our overnight stop. Jhinu is located on a ridge top offering phenomenal views of rolling green hills. A short descent of 25 minutes brings you to a lovely hot-spring back at the Modi River.

After a nice break at Jhinu village morning walk downhill on stone steps reaching at another Nayapul (New Bridge), from here on crossing a long suspension bridge, a short climb to reach another large village at Landruk. After a short rest with commanding views walk is easier on winding trails with few short and up and down to reach Tolka village with grand views of Annapurna South and Huinchuli.
From here on gradual trail with few short ups and downs, passing village Bheda Kharka, and then an hour or less climb into the cool forest to reach at Pitam Deurali at 2,100 meters high, offering grand views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Huinchuli, Mt. Machhapuchare and of Ghandruk village. From Deurali downhill through the forest to Pothana village for last overnight stop on the high hills of Annapurna.

In the morning, you can catch fantastic views of snowcapped peaks as we start our last day walk into the cool forest. We walk up to Thulo Kharka (also known as Australian Camp), a scenic and pristine spot located on a large meadow with parallel views of both, the Annapurna and the Manaslu range of mountains.
Our final walk of this adventure leads us down to the road on which we head to Kande village. We are picked up by our Jeep and drive back to picturesque Pokhara, located at the serene Phewa lake, where we can say farewell to the impressive peaks which accompanied us for the last two weeks on the exciting Annapurna Base Camp & Sanctuary trek.

We depart early from lovely Pokhara for interesting and exciting overland journey to Kathmandu which takes about six hours. You are brought back to your hotel and the afternoon is free for your individual activities as you may want to go shopping for souvenirs or enjoy the urban vibe of Kathmandu after 2 weeks in the calm and remote mountains.
(option: There is a very scenic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu with a super panorama of mountains and landscapes. It takes about 30 minutes. The prices vary. Please let us know, if you are interested.)

At your last day in our beautiful country Nepal, our staff will transfer you to the airport at any time that is convenient for you. We, the people from Pristine Nepal Trekking, will have made sure that you had an enjoyable and memorable time at the Annapurna Base Camp & Sanctuary trek by providing quality service, experienced guidance and by doing our best every day.