The Annapurna Base Camp trek begins at Nayapul: a 1½hr drive north of the city. The trail gradually ascends the glacial Modi Khola Valley, carrying melt water from the ring of peaks above. Forests of oak, rhododendron, and bamboo line the route. Friendly villages on terraced slopes high above the river will welcome you along the way to your trek.
Annapurna Conservation Area is located in the northwest Nepal, is the largest protected conservation area; Annapurna region covers of 7,629 square Kilometers. Beginning from 790 meters, the area’s highest altitude Mt. Annapurna I reaches 8091m., first climbed by the French. Annapurna Region forms the watershed of the rivers like Kali Gandaki, Seti and Marshangdi.
Annapurna region comprises mountain peaks, alpine pastures, trans-Himalayan valleys, forests, lakes, glaciers; rivers, waterfalls, caves and cultivated lands. The Inner Himalaya valleys (above 3600m.) such as Mustang and Manang Valley. Annapurna is very famous for trekking. It is th most visited trekking area in Nepal. More than 60,000 visitors/trekkers simply visit the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna base camp, Ghorepani-Poon Hill and around every year.
The area has entire habitat gradient from sub-tropical sal forest to perennial snow harboring 28 ecosystems. So far, only 456 vascular plants have been recorded here including 38 orchid species and 9 rhododendron species. Annapurna area is the home to 101 species of mammals, 478 species of birds, 41 -species of reptiles and 23 type of amphibians. The symbolic mammal species are Snow leopard, Musk dear, Tibetan argali and Tibetan wolf, Wild ass, Tibetan antelope, Crane and Pheasants.
The climax is reached in the spectacular Annapurna Sanctuary where the Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail) Base Camp, is followed by ABC (4,130m/13,550ft). Here you will be surrounded by an immense wall of rock and ice Himalaya’s heights in U-shaped valley. The scene early morning at sunrise is breathtaking.
The downward journey requires 2-3 nights; passing hot spring en-route. Then a short trek to Phedi One and half hour drive back to your hotel at Pokhra; and a relaxing afternoon. The drive back to Kathmandu is through scenic Middle Hill agricultural, River and terraced lands to the east.
Walkers Expedition offers an excellent introduction to Nepal and Annapurna Base Camp trekking package to the Himalayas. Annapuna Base Camp trek is naturally, culturally most famous and interesting trek in Nepal. After a day spent exploring the capital, fly/drive to west to Pokhara and enjoy its quieter atmosphere along Phewa Lake.
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“Annapurna area is globally recognized with various prestigious awards such as the Deutscher Rieseburo-Verband of Tourism and Environment; the Tourism for Tomorrow – Worldwide; the Tourism for Tomorrow – Asia Pacific; WWW’s J. Paul Getty Conservation Award; and UNESCO’s Global 500 Award.”
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
Day 02: Full day Kathmandu City excursion
Day 03: Kathmandu – Pokhara (910m/2,986ft)
Day 04: Pokhara – Nayapul – Ghandruk (1,950m/6,398ft), 1½hr drive, ~ 6 hrs trek
Day 05: Ghandruk – Chhomrong (2,210m/7,249ft), ~ 5-6 hrs
Day 06: Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2,920m/9,578ft), ~ 6-7 hrs
Day 07: Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m/13,546ft), ~ 6-7 hrs
Day 08: Annapurna Base Camp – Sinuwa (2,360m/7,740ft), ~ 6-7 hrs
Day 09: Sinuwa – Jhinu Danda (1,780m/5,859ft) – Landruk (1,565m/5,133ft), ~12km 6-7 hrs,
Day 10: Landruk – Phedi – Pokhara (910m/2,986ft), 5-6 hrs, ~ drive
Day 11: Pokhara-Kathmandu by Tourist Bus (6 hrs)
Day 12: Final Departure
Day 01Arrive Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)Our Airport Representative will meet you just outside of exit gate of the Terminal. Please, look for Walkers Expeditions play card. Transfer to hotel, introduce your trekking guide and check the necessities. Afternoon visit Thamel.
Overnight in Kathmandu at Hotel with breakfast
Day 02Full day Kathmandu City excursionAfter breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tours to world heritage sites of Pashupatinath Temple-the holiest Hindu Temple on the bank of sacred Bagmati River, Bodhanath Stupa-the biggest Buddhist Stupa architecture in the world! Swayambhunath Stupa-the 2500 years old legendary stupa on the hillock also nick-named as monkey temple. Your day tour ends Kathmandu Durbar Square Showcasing living goddess Kumari Temple, the Kaal Bhairav, the Swet Bhairav and more.
Overnight in Kathmandu at Hotel with breakfast
Day 03Kathmandu – Pokhara (910m/2,986ft)Early morning drive which may take 6 hours to reach to Pokhara or about 35 minute flight to Pokhara along the Himalayan Range. Transfer to your hotel in Lakeside, Free afternoon for wonder around lake city Pokhara and shopping. Evening, trek briefing and final preparation.
Overnight Hotel in Pokhara with Breakfast
Day 04Pokhara – Nayapul – Ghandruk (1,950m/6,398ft), 1½hr drive, ~ 6 hrs trekAfter breakfast, travel the zigzag route over the middle hills to Nayapul and begin the trek to ABC through the Birethanti, a prosperous riverside village on the Modi Khola ( the Annapurna South Glacial river ). Walk upstream through terraced paddy fields, cross the suspension bridge and ascend, with breathtaking views of Machhapuchhare (Fish tail), Hiunchuli and Annapurna South. Long stone staircases bypass a huge landslide and climb to the beautiful village of Ghandruk.
Overnight at Lodge in Ghandruk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 05Ghandruk – Chhomrong (2,210m/7,249ft), ~ 5-6 hrsThe path heads north of the village on an exposed trail past pastures to a ridge, before descending into a green valley and a suspension bridge over the Kimrong Khola. After lunch, the trail climbs out of the valley through stands of rhododendron and oak forest, winding around the hillsides to Chhomrong: with closer views of the giant peaks above.
Overnight at Lodge in Chhomrong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 06Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2,920m/9,578ft), ~ 6-7 hrsAfter breakfast, the trail drops to cross the Chhomrong Khola and then ascends to the charming village of Sinuwa. Thereafter the trail enters the upper Modi Khola Valley through dense forests of cane, rhododendron and oak. It rises then drops to the village of Bamboo (2,310m/7,580ft) on the banks of the river: a prefect lunch spot. After lunch, continue up through uninhabited forest to Dobhan, later crossing several avalanche chutes before reaching the small village of Himalaya Hotel.
Overnight at Lodge in Himalaya Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 07Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m/13,546ft), ~ 6-7 hrsAs the altitude increases, forest gives way to alpine scrub and grasses. The valley walls steepen with the river raging far below. Explore the cave at Hinku before crossing a ravine and major avalanche track prior to reaching Deorali (3,230m/10,598ft). Breathtaking views into the sacred Annapurna Sanctuary gradually appear as the trail heads over a ridge and climbs to the Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3,700m/12,136ft). Another two hours slow walk up grassy slopes leads to the Annapurna Base Camp hotels on the Annapurna South glacial moraine: some 3,900m/12,800ft beneath the peaks crowning the surrounding ice walls.
Overnight at Lodge in ABC
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 08Annapurna Base Camp – Sinuwa (2,360m/7,740ft), ~ 6-7 hrsA pre-dawn wakeup call promises unforgettable views and photo opportunities from the rim of the glacier. A circle of peaks from Hiunchuli, past Annapurna South to the vast ice wall topped by Annapurna I (8,091m/26,538ft) and Khangsar Kang, Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Machhapuchhare towering to the east. After breakfast, start your steps slowly down to Sinuwa for a more comfortable night.
Overnight at Lodge in Sinuwa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 09Sinuwa – Jhinu Danda (1,780m/5,859ft) – Landruk (1,565m/5,133ft), ~12km 6-7 hrs,Today’s route descends to the Chhomrong Khola before climbing the stairs back to Chhomrong. It then descends steeply to Jhinu Danda for lunch and a dip in the hot springs at the river below the village. Later, cross the Modi Khola at New Bridge and climb steeply to Landruk, with good views behind you.
Overnight at Lodge in Landruk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10Landruk – Phedi – Pokhara (910m/2,986ft), 5-6 hrs, ~ driveThe trail continues through scattered trees and bushes to the village of Tolka before beginning a steep and attractive two hour ascent to Deurali with an extended view of the Annapurnas from Dhaulagiri (8,167m/26,796ft. the highest peak in western Nepal) across to its right horizon. It also offers excellent views over the Pokhara Valley with Phewa Lake to the south. After short down through forests the ends to Pothana and on down to the large village of Dhampus. A further short downward walk leads to Phedi and meet the Pokhara-Baglung Highway and drive to hotel in Pokhara ~ free afternoon.
Overnight at Hotel in Pokhara
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11Pokhara-Kathmandu by Tourist Bus (6 hrs)After breakfast, transfer to Tourist bus station and 07:30am drive back to Kathmandu by tourist bus. This scenic drive offers fascinating glimpses of rural Nepal as you pass through Middle Hill scenery along the famous rafting Trishuli 4River originated from Tibet north east of Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu 02:30 to 03:00pm.
Overnight in Kathmandu at 3 star Hotel with breakfast
Day 12Final DepartureTransfer to international airport and fly to onward destination.
November 25, 2023
Unsere 3-wöchige Nepal-Reise wurde von Rajan perfekt individuell nach unseren Wünschen vorbereitet und organisiert. Angefangen vom Flughafen- Transfers bis zu erstklassigen Hotels in den Städten und im Chitwan-Nationalpark bis zu vorgebuchten Zimmern in den Lodges war alles bestens. Wir konnten uns jederzeit auf seine Erfahrung und seinen Weitblick verlassen! In den ersten Tagen in Kathmandu haben wir einen Einblick in die Kultur und Religionen erhalten. Anschließend sind wir mit dem Bus nach Pokhara gefahren und haben u.a. den Phlewa-See besucht, bevor wir zu unserer Trekking-Tour zum Annapurna-Basecamp gestartet sind. Wir hatten die ganze Zeit tolles Wetter, so dass uns die eindrucksvolle Bergwelt und wunderbare Landschaft, aber auch das ländliche Leben in den Dörfern, sicherlich noch lange in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Die letzte Woche haben wir im Chitwan-Nationalpark mit verschiedenen Aktivitäten wie Jeep-Safari, Elefantenreiten, Kanufahren, Dschungel-Spaziergang etc. verbracht. Der Urlaub war so vielfältig und abwechslungsreich, dass die Zeit verflogen ist! Danke an Rajan und seine umsichtige Führung - wir hätten uns keinen besseren Guide wünschen können!
- Iris Ebel-Philippi, Germany
