Annapurna Sanctuary Trekking

Trip Fact

Trip Duration 12 Days

Destination Nepal

Trip Grade Moderate

Transportation Private Vehicle/Tourist Bus

Accomodation Teahouse

Price US $ 850

Trip Style Tea house trek

Meals Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Max. Altitude 4190

Per Day Walking 4 - 6 Hours

Best Season March to May, September to November

More Facts Less Facts

Trip Highlights

Panoramic view of Mount Annapurna (8091m), Machhapuchhre Himal and its base camp, Gangapurna Himal, Annapurna South, Hiuchuli, and many more
Extreme views of Tibetan plateau
Beautiful and unbelievable flora, fauna and diverse ecosystem
Rare and endangered animals
The viewpoint for sunrise and sunset on the Himalayas
The pleasing setting for photographs and videography

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is the 12 days trek to the heart of Annapurna Himalayan region intentional to fulfill the fantasy of individuals to experience their holidays in the base of the Himalayas such as Mount Annapurna (8091m), Machhapuchhre Himal, Gangapurna, Annapurna South, Hiuchuli and many more of the region. This place lies 40 kilometers north of Pokhara which is the high glacial basin. Because of high peaks and mountains, Annapurna Sanctuary receives sunlight for just 7 hours a day in summer which is not even possible in winter.

The only access to the region is between the peaks of Hiuchuli and Machhapuchhre from where Modi River flows off which was perforated by outsiders in 1956. The sanctuary provides the astonishing diversity of ecosystem because of its unique combination of heights and depths including the slopes facing north and south where slope facing south is covered with the forest of rhododendron and bamboo and slope facing north have drier weather similar to that of nearby Tibetan plateau.

Annapurna Sanctuary is believed to be the home of various deities from Hinduism, Buddhism and older animistic gods, and the storage area of gold and different resources left by Nagas (the gerpent gods). It is also considered as the holy place for Gurung people because of which, they forbid anyone from bringing eggs and meat into the area, women and also some untouchables. The peak of Machhapuchhre at the entrance is considered as the home of Lord Shiva. It is one of the major routes to Annapurna region and ranges which is now part of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Because of which also, number of outside travelers, a gathering of firewood, grazing of domestic animals, is restricted.

This trek provides an overall view of natural diversity, Himalayan ranges and ecosystem so for viewing which we have prepared the flexible itinerary which can be modified as well as per your regard and time constraints.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Weather, Climate, and Temperature

Before going to the certain region, it is most necessary to know about weather, climate, and temperature of that area to ensure the absorbance of a spectacular view of nature.

Autumn - (September, October, November) and spring (March, April, May) are the best and highly recommended time to visit the place as the sky remains clear and temperature remains 19oC (10oF) which provides the best view of the surrounding Himalayas, flora, and fauna.

Winter - (December, January, February) and summer/monsoon (June, July, August) are not the best and recommended time to visit the area as the temperature falls to 5oC during the day and below 0oC at night. The climate remains foggy, wet and rainy which will not let you have the proper view around the area. There is the high chance of life risk in these seasons.

Outline Day to Day Itinerary:

Day 01:Drive to Pokhara ( Approx 6 Hrs)
Day 02:Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunda or Ulleri
Day 03:Ulleri to Ghorepani
Day 04:Ghorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani
Day 05:Tadapani to Sinuwa
Day 06:Sinuwa to Himalaya or Deurali
Day 07:Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp
Day 08:Explore Hidden Valley and back to Bamboo
Day 09:Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Day 10:Jhinu Dada to Pothana
Day 11:Pothana to Phedi and drive to Pokhara
Day 12:Drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara

Detail Itinerary

Day 01:Drive to Pokhara ( Approx 6 Hrs) Early in the morning after breakfast, we will drive for Pokhara. En route we will enjoy the scenic beauty of green hills and Trishuli River. White mountains on the way to Pokhara will capture your heart and mind. By noon we will reach Pokhara where you will rest for some time. We will enjoy Davis Fall and Phewa Lake there. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 02:Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunda or Ulleri From Pokhara, we drive to Nayapul from where our trekking will begin. A 15-minute walk along the bank of the Modi Khola River brings us to Birethanti (1,065m), a large village with many shops & teahouses. From there, the trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. From there the trail climbs steadily up the side of the valley to Hille at 1,495m, and further short climb to Tikedhunga at 1,525m. This is a short and relatively easy day, allowing us to become used to the experience of trekking in Nepal. We will spend the night in Tikhedhunga or hike 1 and half hour trek more till Ulleri.
Day 03:Ulleri to Ghorepani The Annapurna South (7,273m) and the Himchuli gradually unfold on this pleasant walk uphill through fields and pastures and later through rhododendrons and oak woods. Ghorepani was originally a horse watering post, which has evolved into an important crossroads for tourists and the numerous mule caravans on the Jomoson-Pokhara trip. Overnight in Ghorepani.
Day 04:Ghorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani Today, very early in the morning, we rise to hike the 1-hour climb to Poon Hill (3,195m). A brilliant spectacle, this vantage point provides an unobstructed view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas. We spend around 40 minutes taking in the wonderful spectacle, before returning to Ghorepani for a breakfast. This is famous as "Ghorepani Poonhill Trek in Nepal". This place is the most popular for doing Annapurna Trekking in Nepal. From Ghorepani, we ascend along ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests to Deurali (2,960m), before descending to Banthanti. From here we take the turnoff to Tadapani (2,540m).
Day 05:Tadapani to Sinuwa The day starts with a steep downhill. Leaving Tadapani, we descend steeply through forests and then the trail eases as we reach the village of Gurjung -home to the Gurung people. From here it is a relatively easy walk to Chomrung (2,020m), and the start of the Sanctuary valley. After crossing this village you will reach to Sinuwa Village.
Day 06:Sinuwa to Himalaya or Deurali From Sinuw we follow the relatively easy path through the bamboo forest to reach a place called Bamboo. Next, the trail leads ascending through the deep bamboo forest and after crossing Doban we reach Himalaya Hotel. A gentle further walk will take us to Deurali where we will stay for a night.
Day 07:Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp Today the trail climbs through the beautiful "hidden valley", and on past the Machhapuchre Base Camp (which isn’t really a base camp since climbing the mountain is not permitted). From here we rest before making the 2 hour trek to the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m. This is the Annapurna Sanctuary - so called because it is totally surrounded by mountains from all sides.
Day 08:Explore Hidden Valley and back to Bamboo We spend some time exploring Hidden Valley and the glaciers above the base camp. Snowcapped peaks, cool breeze and beautiful sky, it is such a wonderful feeling that will last lifelong. Truly, you feel so blessed for being here. After some time we will continue our walk and reach Bamboo.
Day 09:Bamboo to Jhinu Danda Today, first we make uphill trip to Kuldighar followed by descend trail to Chomrung. The trail further descends to Jhinu Danda. Here we rest for the night.
Day 10:Jhinu Dada to Pothana Trail to Pothana from Jhinu Dada is amazing experience as the route has many things to offer for you, its landscapes, hills and mountains. We will spend a night in Pothana.
Day 11:Pothana to Phedi and drive to Pokhara Today, we will walk towards Phedi. It is a nicce settlement on the lap of beautiful hill. We will rest for sometime in Phedi and drive to Pokhara. We will have some leisure time to lose ourselves in the beauty of Pokhara. Overnight stay in Pokhara.
Day 12:Drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara Our trek is almost concluded as we leave Pokhara for Kathmandu. It takes around 5-6 hours to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara. On arriving capital, NTA will offer you farewell dinner.

Cost Includes

Trekkers information management system.(Tims Card)
Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit.(ACAP Permit)
2 nights accommodation in Pokhara. (Tourist Deluxe)
All necessary ground transportation as per the itinerary
Trekking Map
Complete free trekking information before going to trek
Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) during the trek
All nights in local teahouses/lodges during trekking
An experienced licensed holder guide and needed number of porters as per your group size
Medical first aid kit box ( which is carried by your team)
Foods, accommodations and local tax for guide & porters

Cost Excludes

Your travel insurance ( Travel insurance is compulsory to take an adventure trip and it must be covered both medical & emergency evacuation with the worth of USD100, 000.00 minimum.
Nepal entry visa fees
Any kind of drinks (tea, coffee, water, hot water, etc) and of bar bills (alcoholic beverages)
Hot shower, WIFI, any electronic battery charges during only in trekking
Tips and gratitude to your guides, porters, and drivers
Extra night accommodation or meals in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure and early return from trekking (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary

Rated 5/5 based on 2 reviews

MissJane735
Australia Published: Wednesday, March 05, 2014

A must for the bucket list!

Rating:

Sometimes intuition, or gut instinct, leads you to make the right decision. I met marketing staff’s of NTA in the streets of Thamel and like many others, he gave me a business card and invited my husband and I to visit their office and discuss our travel plans. There are so many touts on the streets of Thamel but NTA’s staff open friendly manner won the day. After entering to the office we found Manager is thorough, his services reliable and very affordable and his staff and team of guides and porters are friendly, trustworthy and committed to caring for their clients. They skillfully organizes all the details for a successful trip - pickups, buses, hotels, tour activities, a checklist for trekking requirements and, of course, wonderful treks. His team organized a everything for us like- Chitwan National Park, Pokhara,The Annapurna Base Camp Trek and the Helambu trek. What an experience! Chitwan was amazing and our only regret was that we did not allow more time there after our organised activities to relax and explore the local villages more. Yes we were tired at the end of both treks but every aching muscle and sore toe was well worth it. We trekked through some of the most spectacular scenery that either of us has ever seen. The climax was, of course, Annapurna Sanctuary. It is a very special place and definitely a fitting home for the gods! The old adage holds out – no pain, no gain. We felt blessed! Trekking is a great way to get a real feel of Nepal, its countryside, its villages, its people and its magnificent mountains. I am so glad that we have had the opportunity and time to have had these wonderful experiences. A big thanks you, once again, to Manager, to our wonderful guide and friend on both treks, and our incredible porters. Don't leave it to intuition of gut instinct like I had to, but take my advice and put your trust in the hands of Manager and the wonderful staff at NTA.
Jan & Neil
Faroe Islands Published: Sunday, October 28, 2012

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Review

Rating:

In September we did the Annapurna sanctuary trek with this company. We enjoyed it so much and we had the time so we decide to go on another. This time we chose the Helambu trek. We were fortunate to have the same guide again. Ram our guide looked of our every need. It is impossible to not enjoy a trek anywhere in Nepal. The scenery everywhere you look is amazing. Thank you Nepal Trek Adventures we are sad to be left of our two months stay, but we will be back!

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Difficulty

This trekking is classified as the moderate level of trekking. The challenging level of this trekking is rated as 6 out of 10. This trek can be easily accomplished by the non-trekkers, non-walkers, and beginners so, it’s recommended not to worry much about it. But as we all know, prevention is better than cure. Very few difficulties are likely to occur during a trek. Thus, it is highly recommended to take some hiking/trekking courses in your native land so that it will be much easier for you to complete your venture. You do not need to be highly professional but the basic knowledge about walking on the snowy land simply hiking is good to have. All these will help you fulfill your dream to the lap of Himalayas successfully overcoming all the possible difficulties.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Route

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek route is one of the most popular trekking routes towards Annapurna region covering the places like Pokhara, Nayapul, Tikhedhunga / Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poonhill, Tadapani, Sinuwa, Deurali, Annapurna Base Camp, Bamboo, Jhinu Danda, Pothana, Phedi and again back to Kathmandu via Pokhara.
Our journey starts with a drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara which will take about 6 hours to reach there. Reaching and resting for some moments is followed by roaming around the beautiful territory of Pokhara which is optional. You will have views of different mountains, lake (Phewa), Davis falls and many more. Then we drive to Nayapul from where our actual trekking begins. During trekking, we will pass through the village with small shops and teashops, rhododendron, bamboo and oak forest, and various vast landscapes. The view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas from the viewpoint of Poonhill and exploration of the hidden valley surrounded by the mountains from all sides make this trek more interesting and attractive.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek versus Annapurna Circuit Trek

Both Annapurna Sanctuary Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek are the trekking routes to Annapurna region which provide the mind-blowing view of Himalayas and flora and fauna around the area. In Annapurna circuit trek, the march is extended to 4 districts i.e. Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Kaski making the full circuit around the area. It gives the panoramic view of popular peaks of the world namely Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). We also observe the massive Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA). More than 100,000 trekkers set their path to this route yearly. In Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, the march starts and ends in a district i.e. Kaski. It provides an opportunity to observe world’s tenth highest peak Annapurna from a close distance. You can also get the view of sunrise and sunset on the face of the Himalayas from the viewpoint named Ghorepani Poonhill.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek Distance

Annapurna Sanctuary is 168km away from Kathmandu which is the actual covering distance of our journey but the total hiking distance is 27.5km. We start our trekking from Nayapul from where the distance of Sanctuary is 27.5km where we have to walk uphill. Traveling through private jeeps and walking for about 4 to 5 hours a day are included in this trek but the hours of walking may increase or decrease due to the demand of circumstances.

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