Annapurna Sanctuary Mountain Culture Trek – 16 Days

Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Meals: NO

After breakfast, we depart the hotel for a full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, the “city of glory.” We visit Durbar (Palace) Square, the epicenter of religious and cultural life, an area filled with old temples and historical significance with old glorious Newari architecture. Some of the sights include Kal Bhairav, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap, and Kumari Ghar; home to the Living Goddess. Afterward, we visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, said to be one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world, which is majestically set high on a hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley. We proceed towards Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This massive temple complex sits alongside the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the courtyard of the temple, whereas tourists can see the temple from the eastern side of the Bagmati River. Later we visit Boudhanath, a Buddhist Stupa said to be one of the largest in the world. This massive structure stands tall with four pairs of eyes each facing the four cardinal directions, watching for the righteous behavior of mankind and for human prosperity. Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner

After morning breakfast in the hotel, we take a 25 minutes flight from Kathmandu Airport to Pokhara. In Pokhara, we visit the deep, narrow gorge of the roaring Seti River from where we drive to Davi’s Falls and further to Gupteswar Cave and the Bat Cave. In the evening we go lazing by the Phewa Lake for the leisurely row on its sparkling waters. Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we drive 41km/25 miles to Nayapul for the start of our ABC trek. A steep trail from Nayapul directs us down to a bridge over a small stream to get to Birethanti, a large and prosperous village. From Birethanti we take the left branch of the trail on the west side of the bridge at the ACAP Checkpost where we need to show ACAP permit and TIMS Card. Following the trail through the main streets of Birethanti, winding through bamboo forests and past a large waterfall and swimming hole we reach Sudami beyond a pasture used by caravans. We climb steadily up the side of the valley to reach Hille and about 15 minutes above Hille is the Tikhedhunga. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is a 4-6 hours trek which starts crossing the Tikhedhunga Khola on a suspension bridge, then drops and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola on a large bridge at 1520m. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase that is said to have more than 3300 steps which continue to the large Magar village of Ulleri (2080m) and climbing gently through the pastures and cultivated fields the trail makes its way to deep forests to reach a hamlet of Banthanti. Crossing the magnificent oak and rhododendron forests the trail passes through two sparkling clear streams, a small ridge, and another stream before making a final climb to another Magar village of Nangathanti (2460m). About an hour past this village we reach Ghorepani where we can see eight different species of Nepal’s national flower rhododendron in the hillsides below Ghorepani.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After about an hours climb in the morning we reach Poon Hill which is a viewpoint for the spectacular Himalayan panorama extending from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna to Machhapuchhre; that stretches from Dhaulagiri I ( 8167m) and Tukuche (6920m) to Nilgiri (6940m), Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8091m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Tarke Kang (7193m). Climbing just a little further beyond the viewpoint, the trail descends a bit and then goes through series of ups and downs through the forest of bamboo, rhododendron, and birch to reach a hamlet of Deurali which also has a viewpoint tower some 200m/660ft above the hamlet. Beyond Deurali, crossing through the slippery stretches we reach a stream and taking the path above the stream. Crossing the bridge over the stream we climb steep stone steps with iron railings and reach the hamlet of Banthanti. The path drops steeply down now through the dense forests and crossing the bridge in the stream climb steep stone steps to reach Tadapani which offers an excellent ringside view of the entire region with a ring of mountains. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This day has a long descent of 780m and the ascent of 280m starting from the narrow trail through forests full of bromeliads to a pasture and now crossing through Chiule we drop down on steep steps through corn and millet fields to Siprung and then to an old suspension bridge over the Khumbu Khola from where the trail starts climbing to the spread-out village of Ghurjung passing through the yards of several homes and lodges. Now crossing a wooden bridge we walk 30 minutes in and out of side valleys to Dhiklyo Danda, where the Ghandruk –Chhomrong trail joins the route. Now climbing steeply gaining the views of Machhapuchhre we pass through Taglung and reach Chhomrong. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Chhomrong, the trail descends on a stone staircase and crosses the Chhomrong Khola on a swaying suspension bridge at 1860m, and climbs out of the side valley via the tiny settlement of Tilche, through forests of bamboo, rhododendron, and oak. Climbing further on a rocky trail we reach Bhanuwa and then Sinuwa. Now climbing in a forest of rhododendrons we reach a stone-paved trail that passes Kuldi from where the trail enters the upper Modi Valley and descending a long, steep, slippery stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forest we arrive at Bamboo (2310m). Now the trail climbs steeply through stands of bamboo and then rhododendron and crossing tributary streams on narrow bridges occasionally and keeping on eye on the troops of black-faced langur monkeys and after traversing several avalanche chutes we reach the stone-paved trail of Dobhan. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is a long ascend in which we start crossing a stream and avalanche chute we climb across a landslide to reach a forest with a small temple of Baraha and one should not carry eggs or meat beyond this point. Climbing past a cascade over a rock platform we pass a decorated temple of Shiva to reach a rocky trail through forests then up a steep ravine to Hinku Cave. Now the trail crosses the remnants of a glacier just beyond Hinku Cave from where we climb through large boulders to Deorali. Above Deorali, the valley widens and becomes less steep from where the gate of the sanctuary can be seen. The trail now diverts to the east side of the valley to avoid dangerous avalanche area and climbs through an unusual mix of bamboo and birch to reach Bagar. From here, we climb across more avalanche paths, and then through a sparse birch forest and crossing a moraine descend to a stream. Now a stone staircase leads us to a helipad and a nearby German meteorological office from where we choose a lower trail to reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700m/12140ft) from where we can enjoy the great mountain panorama views of Hiunchuli, AnnapurnaIII, Gangapurna, and ever-changing Machhapuchhre. Trail hard if fresh snow/ pleasant walk / the trail follows a stream and then climbs to a few huts, where shepherds graze their sheep during summer/the area is cold, windy, and often snowbound. Walking past the porter shelter and volleyball court to a prayer flag-draped viewpoint on the moraine for a spectacular view over the glacier and nearby memorial Chorten for climber Anatoli Bourkreev killed in 1997 by an avalanche, we reach ABC and the Sanctuary. In the sanctuary, we can see a few birds, tahr, Himalayan weasels, and pika. Tharpu Chuli (5663m), Singu Chuli (6501m), and Hiunchuli are the three trekking peaks accessible from the sanctuary which requires skill, equipment, and advance planning to climb. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Heading back down the valley retracing our steps to Dobhan and further making a long steep climb back to the Chhomrong.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

To descend to Ghandruk we return to a trail junction at Taglung and swing right to climb to the top of a landslide and again turn left after some time at the trail junction and now we head towards straight south which is a heartbreaking sight. Now descending steeply we reach Kimrong village just above the Khumbu Khola. At Kimrong we cross the bridge and stay on the left trail as it climbs out of the Khumbu Valley and making a steep climb through the forest we reach Kumrong Danda. From Kimrong Danda it’s an easy descent to a bridge over the Kyuri Khola, ten minutes from where the route is joined by a fork of the Ghorepani-Ghandruk trail from where we turn east to reach the second largest Gurung settlement in Nepal, Ghandruk village that has two museums out of which Gurung Traditional Museum is the best. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trek from Ghandruk to Landruk is the steepest part of our entire trek. The descent from Ghandruk to Kyumi at the bank of Modi Khola is almost 70 degrees vertical. Then we climb up to Landruk which is almost equally steep but shorter. Though a straight line distance between the two villages would not be more than 500 meters, it takes us more than 3 hours to reach from Ghandruk to Landruk. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The early morning view from Landruk is gorgeous. We see another show of the beautiful Annapurna shrouded by clouds towards the north. Towards the south, we see the beautiful hills and the Modi river valley. The trek from Landruk is pretty easy for the first hour, somewhat steep for the next two or three (till Deurali), and a gentle downhill to a small village of Pothana through the forests for two more hours. The mountain views from Pothana are indeed heavenly with Machhapuchhre dominating the vista. The remainder of the trek is gradual downhill through the trails to Dhampus village. It takes us about two hours to reach Dhampus. This is the exit point of the ACAP region and foreigners need to check out at Dhampus. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Pokhara Dhampus is connected to the highway by a graveled road to Pokhara. So we take a short walk downhill to Phedi passing a few teashops and houses from where we reach Pokhara after half an hour's drive. Meals: Breakfast

From Pokhara, we fly back to Kathmandu and are dropped at the hotel. This is a leisure day that can be utilized by buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening you will be invited to join FAREWELL reviewing great photos and share experiences of the trip. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours, etc. Meals: Breakfast