Latest Updates

ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY

The route to Annapurna Sanctuary is a spectacular short trek. Through it has some climbs the trek is not difficult. It is the only major trekking route in Nepal. The Sanctuary trek traverses a variety of terrain from low land villages and rice terraces to glaciers, and offers outstanding high mountain views. One will have a fine opportunity to the Himalayan peaks in a short distance. You can make the trek, from Pokhara to Annapurna Base Camp and back, in as few as ten days.

Day 1 : Pokhara to Tolka

9:30 am starts the trek by a jeep or bus from Pokhara to Phedi, then continue a short distance along the road to a trail that climbs steeply up to the right. You can spot the Dhanpus trail coming down the hill and easily find it where it reaches the valley floor. Starting at an elevation of 1080 meters, in a forest that is so overgrazed that it looks like a manicured municipal park, the trail climbs steeply past some scattered houses to the ridge a Dhampus, at 1850 meters. At Dhampus, you are rewarded with great views of the mountains that continue to improve as you ascend along the ridge. The trail climbs through forests to a clearing on top of the hill at 2010 meters, where there are views of Annapurna South and Himchuli. From there make a steep descent through forests alive with birds, ferns and orchids, into a huge side canyon of the Modi Khola. The trail descends past several houses at Bichok (also known as Bheri Kharka), then descends further to the head of the canyon. After crossing a stream on a suspension bridge at 1690 meters, the trail climbs gently out of the side canyon. There are frequent shops as the trail emerges into the main Modi Khola Valley and descends to Tolka, a small settlement at 1720 meters, with several scattered along the trail.

Day 2 : Tolka to Chhomrong

From Tolka, the trail descends to a stream at 1620 meters, then climbs through forests to a teashop on a ridge. It is an easy walk, past fields, a school and some

unusual oval shaped houses, before the trail drops a bit to the flagstone streets of Landrung, a Gurung village at 1550 meters. The village itself are in old houses. So they are small and a bit crummy. Along the trail you will probably meet people collecting money for schools. They will produce a ledger book. Descends through the paved country yards of Landrung to the small Himalayan Hotel, below the village at 1480 meters. The trail to the Sanctuary leads to the right, just

behind the hotel. There may be an orange sign pointing the way. The downhill trail leads to the river and then climbs to Ghandruk. You can see Ghandruk Village high above you on the opposite side of the river. The trail to the Sanctuary turns up the Modi Khola valley on a narrow trail, alongside rice terraces then through forests, to the rustic Namaste Lodge. A short walk up the riverbed leads to New Bridge at 1,240 meters elevation. There are several substantial hotels on both sides of the suspension bridge. The trail climbs steeply to Samrong the crosses a stream at 1430 meters. This is the lower part of Khummu Khola, but here it is known as the Kladi Khola.   A steep climb leads to Jhinuwa Danda, where are two hotels on a ridge at 1600 meters. There is a hot spring with cement bathing pools about 25 minutes up the valley from here. You can see houses on the top of the ridge far above, this is your next destination. It is a long, steep climb along a treeless ridge to a few teashops at Taglung at 2050 meters. The route now joints the Ghandruk the Chhomorong route so the trail is wider and better from here to Chhomrong. A short distance from Taglung is the isolated Himalayan View Lodge, then the trail rounds a bend and enters the upper part of Chhomrong. The Gurung village has involved into two separate parts. New Chhomrong is the upper part at an elevation of 2040 meters, old Chhomrong, at 1950 meters, is the main part of the village. This is the highest permanent settlement in the valley, but herders take sheep and goats to upper pastures in the sanctuary during the summer. There is a tremendous view of Annapurna South, which seems to tower above the village, and there are good views ofMachhappuchhare (machha, fish and puchhre, tail) across the valley. It is from this point onwards thats the reason, the name of this peak become apparent.

Day 3 : Chhomrong to Bamboo Lodge

The trail descends on a stone staircase and crosses the Chhomorong Khola on a swaying suspension bridge then climb high above the Modi Khola on its west bank, the trail passes through the tiny settlement of Tilche in forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. Climbing further on a rocky trail you reach at Sinuwa, 2250 meters. The trail continues in rhododendron forests, climbing to Khuldi, 2350 meters. This was once a British sheep-breeding project. In winter, it is

common to find snow where from this point on. From Khuldi, the trail descends along, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forest. It is then a short distance on a muddy trail to Bamboo Lodge (2100 meters). In early autumn and late spring, this part of the trail is crawling with leeches.

Day 4 : Bamboo Lodge to Himalayan Hotel

The trail climbs steeply through stands of bamboo, through rhododendron forests up the side of the canyon, occasionally dropping slightly to cross tributary streams, but ascending continuously. When there is snow this stretch of trail is particularly difficult because the bamboo lying on the trail, hidden beneath

the snow, provides an excellent start to a slide downhill. Local people hack down the dense bamboo forests beyond khuldi to make mats for floors and roofs and for dokos, (the basket for porter’s carry. Beyond Doban the trail traverses several avalanche chutes, to upper Doban and the Annapurna approach lodge, at 2470 meters. The trail is muddy and high above the river, but it is no problem for those who suffer vertigo, because thick stands of bamboo block the view of the rushing river and waterfall. The trail then crosses a landslide and another avalanche to the Himalayan Hotel at 2680 meters.

Day 5 : Himalayan Hotel to Machhapuchhre Base Camp

From the Himalayan Hotel it is about an hour walk, first on 2960 meters. This is called Hinko Cave because a huge overhanging rock provides some protection against rain and avalanches. There is a funny hotel built into the cave that can accommodate few peoples. The trail crosses a ravine and a major avalanche track just beyond Hinko, then climbs through large boulders. About a half hour beyond Hinko is (yet another) Deurali, at 3000 meters, where two hotels offer an

alternative to the crowded conditions at Hinko. Above Deurali, the valley widens and becomes less steep and you can see the gates to the sanctuary. Avalanches from Himchuli and Annapurna south, peak are above, but not visible from this point, come crashing into the valley with frightening speed and frequency. As the trail continues into the sanctuary, it crosses two wide avalanche tracks on a narrow trail that huddles up against the cliff. The trail then descends to meet the Modi Khola and follows river to Bagar. Here the mountain views are stupendous; the panorama includes Hiunchuli, Annapurna (8091 meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters), Gangapurna (7454 meters) and Machhapuchhre (6997 meters).

Day 6 : Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp

It’s about 2 hours climb to Annapurna base camp, elevation 3900 meters. The trail passes a few roofless herders huts alongside a moraine. There are tremendous views of the south face of Annapurna that towers above the Sanctuary to the north - west. Several peaks that are accessible from the sanctuary are on the trekking peak list. Tent peaks (5000 meters) offers a commanding mountainview of the - entire sanctuary. Its higher fluted peak (Singu chuli, 6390 meters), offers a mountaineering challenge. Hiunchuli (6441 meters) to the south is also open to trekking parties. All three of peaks are significant mountainering challenges and requires skill equipment and planning. There are few birds and animals in the sanctuary like Ghoral, Himalayan weasel and pika.

Day 7 : Annapurna Base Camp to Himalayan Hotel Described Reverse

Day 8 : Himalayan Hotel to Chhomrong Described Above

Day 9 : Chhomrong to Ghandruk

Follow the trail described above the to Khimnu, then cross the suspension bridge and stay on the main trail as it climbs at Uri situated on pass at 2220 meters. The trail descends through huge boulders to a small creek and descends gently into the maze of trails of Ghandruk at 1940 meters.

Day 10 : Ghandruk-Chandrakot

Follow the trail descends to the suspension bridge, thenafter ascends to the Chandrakot.

Day 11 : Chandrakot-Pokhara

The trail is very easy almost flat over the ridge, and end to the Lumle. Then drive back to Pokha

Latest Blog Posts