The Annapurna Base Camp / Sanctuary Trek
Maximum Altitude : 4130 meters
Duration of Trek : 15 days mountain lodge
The popularity of this trek – easily the best-subscribed of all the Himalayan treks and three times more popular even than Everest Base Camp – has arisen through its combination of accessibility, scenic beauty, cultural interest and ‘walkability’ by anyone who has fairly good fitness levels.
The combination of attractive villages and terraced fields of millet and rice with the majesty of Macchapuchre, the Annapurnas and Hiunchuli makes this trek particularly rewarding.
And the experience of the Annapurna Sanctuary, or Base Camp, itself – and standing in the natural ice amphitheatre encircled by awe-inspiring peaks, is totally memorable.
Below is a more detailed description of what you can expect to do and see on each day of your great adventure !
Day to day itinerary
DAY 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu, hotel transfer, tour briefing.
DAY 02 : At leisure in Kathmandu
DAY 03 : Drive or fly to Pokhara, overnight in hotel
DAY 04 : POKHARA – TIDEKHUNGA, 1540m
A
fter driving to the start-point of the trek we begin our walk through meadow and terraced fields. After an hour or so, the trail runs across a large bridge near the confluence of the Bhurungudi Khola and the Modi Khola, where there is a large bazaar named Birethanti. We walk up a gently climbing trail, past two suspension bridges over the river and after approximately another hour reach Hille. It is about 15 minutes’ walk from here to Tidekhunga and your lodge for the night.
DAY 05 : TIDEKHUNGA – GHOREPANI, 2750m
Almost all today’s walk is up a succession of stone steps …. there are more than 3,200 !... to the small settlement of Ulleri. At Tidekhunga, we cross the Bhurungudi Khola to start the very long climb to the pretty, slate-roofed village comprising mainly Magar people, who are Tibeto-Burman in origin and extremely skilled stone-masons and wood-carvers. After Ulleri, we continue to walk on the inside of the path, ensuring that there is room for the occasional donkeys to pass. From here there are good views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, as well as the Bhurungudi Valley beneath. Now the trail ascends more gently and after around one hour reaches Banthanti. Soon we come to a beautiful rhododendron forest – a blaze of colour in March and April – and another steady climb of approximately two hours brings us to another Magar village, Ghorepani (which means ‘horse watering place).
DAY 06 : GHOREPANI – POON HILL – TADAPANI, 2595m
Today we rise early (5 a.m. !) but you will be rewarded for leaving your bed before dawn by gorgeous views of the sun rise from Poon Hill (3193m), one of the most famous vantage points in the Himalayas. Take care treading the path during your hour-long climb up to the top of Poon Hill, because it can be slippery in places. At the top is a truly breathtaking panorama, with the worlds’ seventh and eighth highest mountains, Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Manasli (8156m), ‘bookending’ the view on the west and the east respectively. We come down to Ghorepani again for breakfast and then proceed to Tadapani, which takes about four hours. From Ghorepani, the trail climbs south through dense forests, ultimately emerging on a grassy knoll with more excellent mountain views, including Macchapuchre and a panorama which stretches all the way south to the plains of India.
DAY 07 : TADAPANI – CHOMRONG, 2170m
A short distance after Tadapani, the trail veers northwards and comes out into a small clearing before dropping sharply to Chiukle, where there are a few lodges. A maze of small paths leads down through terraced fields to a large suspension bridge over the Kimring Khola. After the bridge, we climb up past a school and along the terraces to the small village of Klisigo Chiukle. After a while we will see a succession of waterfalls. From here the trail climbs a little, continuing along the terraces to join the main Ghandrung- Chomrong route. Chomrong itself is a beautiful village, typically Gurung in style, situated in the lap of the great Annapurna massif. Chomrong has evolved into two separate settlements, new Chomrong at the top (2040m) and old Chomrong below (1950m), the main part of the village. Chomrong is the highest permanent settlement in the valley.
DAY 08 : CHOMRONG – BAMBOO, 2350m
We set out from the lower part of Chomrong, walking down to the suspension bridge over Chomrong Khola, from where there is a fairly sharp climb. We walk high above the west bank of the Modi Khola, passing through the little hamlet of Tilche, situated in forests of oak, bamboo and rhododendron. Further along this steep trail is Sinuwa (2250m), after which the path narrows considerably and becomes enveloped by mixed rhododendron forest. After about four hours we come to Kuldigar (2350m), whose stone houses were once the centre of a British sheep breeding project. In winter this marks the start of the snow-line. Now the trail roller-coasters down through slabs of rock, before we come to the thick bamboo forest which continues through a very damp gorge. Bamboo is ubiquitous here – from the forest to the dokos (baskets) carried by the porters and the mats on the floors and walls of the lodges. There is also quite a lot of bamboo underfoot (usually lying aimed downhill), and it can become quite slippery, so exercise care here !
DAY 09 : BAMBOO – DEURALI, 2505m
From Bamboo the trail climbs steadily, crossing the Bamboo Khola and then several streams. At a narrow passage in the gorge on the east side of the path – and near a multi-stranded cascade of water – is a small shrine to the goddess Panchenin Barha, which was built by Gurung herdsmen. The primitive shrine, actually little more than a pile of stones, is usually adorned with offerings of rhododendron flowers and dhajo, the red and white cloth ribbons which are traditional gifts to the goddess. Next to the shrine is an impressive waterfall. Passing the Modi Khola, the trail goes steeply up to Hinku, a large rock overhang forming the Hinku Cave, a favourite shelter and landmark for mountaineering expeditions. Once beyond Hinku, we are in an area of boulders and low scrub which is notoriously prone to avalanches, from invisible slopes high above on Hiunchuli.
DAY 10 : DEURALI TO ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP, 4130m
After Deurali the trail crosses several streams before we enter the Sanctuary itself by crossing another small stream via a wooden bridge. When you first enter the sanctuary you will see rocky ribs descending sharply either side of you. Often, the first impression trekkers have of the inside of the Sanctuary is fog, but when it clears the mountain views are stupendous, with the vista encompassing Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Gangapurna and Macchapuchhre. From the area known as Macchapuchre Base Camp (3480m) we have a climb of about two hours to Annapurna Base Camp itself (4100m). The best views are obtained from the crest of the moraine, which we follow until it is cut through by the glacier flowing down from Himal Chuli to the north. There are fabulous views, especially of Annapurna’s nearly sheer South Face, towering over the sanctuary to the north-west. All who visit this sacred ice refuge of Annapurna (“The Goddess Mother of the Harvests” ) agree that it is an exceptional and magical experience.
DAY 11 : ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP – DOVAN, 2720m
We descend and follow the same route to Dovan, which is on the boundary of the Annapurna Sanctuary.
DAY 12 : DOVAN- CHOMRONG
Today we retrace our steps back down the trail as far as Chomrong.
DAY 13 : CHOMRONG – GHANDRUNG 1940m
After coming out of Chomrong, we cross a suspension bridge and follow the trail as it climbs out of the Khumnu Valley. The path rises steeply to Uri, which is sutuated on a pass at 2,220m, then descends through huge boulders to a small creek and descends into a maze of trails at Ghandrung.
DAY 14 : GHANDRUNG – POTHANA.
Today the trail descends to the Modi Khola, where we cross a suspension bridge and ascend to Landrung village. Annapurna and Macchapuchhre are clearly visible from the trail. WE continue through scattered woods and climb steeply for approximately three hours until we reach Deurali, where again there are excellent views of the western Nepal mountains. The trail then descends gradually to Pothana.
DAY 15 : POTHANA-DHAMPUS-POKHARA
It is a short trek down to the tiny village of Dhampus, perched high on a ridge, where our transport back to Pokhara awaits.
For further information regarding this tour please contact us.
Vast reams of material have been written on Nepal over the years, in particular over the past fifty years with the successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The past twenty has slowly seen Nepal become a well recognised holiday destination. 
