Summary:
Trek through Gurung Villages, one of the major ethnic group in Nepal, then climb through forests into the Annapurna sanctuary, a valley surrounded by high Himalayan Peaks. This trek offer a great opportunity to get into the closer view of mountain without the altitude problem of the Everest region.
Detail Itinerary:
Day 01 :
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m.) which takes about seven hours. You depart for the seven hours drive to Pokhara (820m,), 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu. As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to quickly descend again to the Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its junction with the Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up through heavily terraced fields and small hill towns to the Seti River that takes you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara is tourist's paradise with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with mountains. You can observe views to the north across the hills and Phewa Tal (lake) to the white peaks of the Manaslu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri ranges. This drive will take most of the morning, leaving much of the afternoon to fall in love with its beauty..
Day 02 :
Pokhara (820 m) - Tikhedhunga (1500m), drive via Nayapul.
3 - 3½ hours, 50m descend, 500m ascend
After breakfast at hotel, you could drive by car or van for 1 and half hours to Nayapul (1070m). Then you start your trekking. The first part of your trek is easy passing through numerous small villages and settlements. Afterwards you could ascend gently to the final destination of the day. The majority people here are Gurung and their religion is Buddhist. They are engaged in agricultural activities and animal husbandry, tourism business; some are employed in Gorkha and Indian regiments and overseas employment.
Day 03 :
Tikhedhunga (1500m) - Ghorepani (2900m)
6 - 6½ hours, 1400m ascend, 100m descend
To begin your trek, you could ascend steeply for the early 2 hours upto Ulleri (2010) and then ascend gently passing through Banthanti, Magar villages. On the way, you could see good view of Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6993m.), Hiunchuli (6441m.), and Annapurna South (7219m.). Now your trail is quite easier passing through rhododendron and shadowy trees and descends gently up to the final camp. You could see some of the wild life such as monkey and various species of birds.
Day 04 :
Ghorepani (2900m) – Poonhill (3200m) – Tadapani (2700m)
5½ - 6 hours, 800m ascend, 1050m descend,
Early morning trip to Poon Hill (3200m.) to enjoy the sunrise view over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.), Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7555m.), Machhapuchhare (6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung Himal (6932m.) and other numerous snowcapped mountain peaks. After breakfast trek Ghorepani to Tadapani (2700m.). After walking for almost one and half hour you reach Gurung Hill (3200m) which has the splendid mountain views as Poon Hill. From here you follow forests with rhododendron, bamboos until you reach Deurali (3100m). The trail goes steeply down through deep forests all the way to Banthati (2650m). It takes one hour from here to reach Tadapanil After breakfast trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani (2700m.) through the deep forests of rhododendrons, bamboos and oaks. En route, you frequently see waterfalls, rocks, wild animals, local birds and green scenarios. Tadapani is a small village surrounded by beautiful forests which grants you a magnificent view of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Fishtail, and Mardi Himal.
Day 05 :
Tadapani (2700m) – Ghandruk (1950m)
2- 2½ hours, 750m descend, 20m ascend
It is very easy trek by descending gently all the way through rhododendron, oak and other kinds of dense forests. You could hear different kinds of birds chirping on the way. This is one of the popular destinations for the birds' lovers. Ghandruk is a big Gurung village. There is a handicraft centre and Gurung museum. From this village you could see good views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna (7455m.), Annapurna III (7755m.) and Fishtail.
Day 06 :
Ghandruk (1950m) – Chhomrung (2210m)
4- 4½ hours, 810m ascend, 460m descend,
At the beginning of the day, you could ascend gently for an hour up to Ghandrukkot (2100m.) and descend steeply to the Kimron Khola (1800m.). Immediately, ascend steeply and walk at a level for an hour and still ascend gently to the final camp. Chhumrung is a gateway to Annapurna Sanctuary trek and inhabited by Gurung, one of the major Ethnic group of Nepal.
Day 07 :
Chhomrung (2210m) – Bambo (2310m)
4- 4½ hours, 560m descend, 210m ascend
Leaving Upper part of Chhomrong, the trail descends on a stone staircase (2226 steps, which was I had counted in last year) and crosses the Chhomrong Khola on a wooden bridge, then climbs out of the side valley. High above the Modi Khola on its west bank, the trail passes through the tiny settlement of Tilicho in forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. Climbing further on a rocky trail (beware of the stinging nettles) you reach three hotels at Sinuwa, at 2340m. Gently Climb in rhododendron and oak forests to Kuldi, at 2470m. This was once a British sheep breeding project; now the stone houses are an ACAP visitor centre and check post. In winter, it's common to find snow anywhere from this point on. Descend a long, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests. It is then a short distance on a muddy trail to Bamboo Lodge (2310m.).
Day 08 :
Bambo (2310m) – Deurali (3240m)
4- 4½ hours, 900m ascend, 50m descend,
You trek gently ascend through bamboo forests with varieties of rhododendron and oak trees. The first town you reach is Dovan (2540m.) where there are three lodges and camp sites. Now you pass through muddy trail which traverses high above the river. There are debris of avalanches except during winter season. After short trek, you reach at Himalayan Hotel (2840m.), the town named after the Himalayan Hotel. Beyond it, the trail is steeply ascend up to Hinko Cave (3160m.), this named as a huge overhanging rock provides some protection against rain and avalanches. It takes approximately twenty minutes through normally ascend path to reach Deurali (3240m.)
Day 09 :
Deurali (3240m) – Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) (4130m)
4- 4½ hours, 890m ascend, 100m descend,
From here, the valley widens and becomes less steep and you can see the gates to the sanctuary. The trail is less steep. As the trail continues into the sanctuary, it crosses two avalanche tracks on a narrow trail that hurdles up against the cliffs. After short trek you will be at Bagar (3310m.), a meadow and some abandoned hotels. The normal trail follows the left side of the valley. Now the trail appears gently ascend until you reach Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3700m.). Here you find almost 5 lodges. This is one of the places, where you can enjoy the view of Mount Hiunchuli (6441m.), Annapurna South (7229m.), Annapurna I (8091m.) the 9th tallest mountain in the wold, Annapurna III (7555m.), Gangapurna (7454m.) and Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6993m.). The path follows through alpine meadow and after some distance your trails go gently up. After a short trek, you begin to approach Annapurna Base Camp (4130m.). From here, you can see the views of several peaks at 360 degree.
Day 10 :
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) (4130m) – Dovan (2540m)
4- 4½ hours, 1600m descend, 20m ascend,
Trek from Annapurna Base Camp, all the way down to Machhapuchhre Base Camp which is gently descend. From here again gently descend all the way to Dovan. It's much easier going down. You should have no problem reaching Sinuwa in a single day from Annapurna Base Camp.
Day 11 :
Dovan (2540m) – Chhomrung (2210m)
5½ - 6 hours, 810m descend, 610m ascend,
The path is descend up to Bamboo passing through forests with varieties of rhododendron, oaks and bamboo plants. After Bamboo, the trail goes steeply up to the Kuldi Ghar and now the trail is quite flat until you reach Sinuwa. You trek gradually descend to the Chhomrong Khola and you have to climb steep stone staircase for almost one and half an hour to reach Chhomrong. Chhomrong is the second largest Gurung village entire this trek. Also highest settlement all year round in this area.
Day 12 :
Chhomrong (2210m) – Tolka (1850m)
4 - 4½ hours, 910m descend, 550m ascend,
The first part of the trail is steeply descend upto New Bridge (1300m.) via Jhingudanda (hot springs) then the trail gradually assent until the final camp of the day, passing through Landruk (1640m), a beautiful Gurung Village.
Day 13 :
Tolka (1850m) – Dhampus Phedi (1070m), then drive to Pokhara.
5 - 5½ hours, 950m descend, 50m ascend,
The first part of the trek is reasonably flat of to Bherikharka (1850m) then steeply climb to Deurali (2100m). Your trail descends gradually for at least an hour and follows gravel road for two hours and then steeply descends to Phedi passing through Dhampus village, paddy fields and forest protected by local community. Upon your arrival at Dhampus Phedi, you could take a vehicle to reach Pokhara.
Day 14 :
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal's first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to capital city.
You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes approximately 25 minutes.
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