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Trekking Expeditions

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Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Altitude 5,416m/17,769ft » Duration 17 Days » Grade T1

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp with views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri

Introduction

The impressive amphitheatre of the Annapurna Sanctuary draws trekkers each year, enticed by the dramatic mountains and glaciers, including Annapurna I (8,091m) - one of the world's 14 highest peaks. Our Annapurna Sanctuary trek can be completed in just over two weeks from the UK and is an excellent introduction to trekking, as the overall altitudes are relatively moderate and the trails are good. The itinerary is designed to provide a steady rate of acclimatisation, as well as the best 'stand off' views of the mountains as you enter the Sanctuary. We fly into Kathmandu and spend the following day exploring the city. Then we access the mountains with a short flight to Pokhara. From here, the trek begins with an ascent to the famous viewpoint of Poon Hill (3,190m), early in the morning, when the air is clear and the views most reliable. Following the Modi Khola Valley to Machhapuchare Base Camp and eventually, Annapurna Base Camp is an unforgettable journey.

Our itinerary has been carefully designed for the best acclimatisation and maximum "wow factor". You can trek into the Sanctuary via New Bridge and Sinuwa, but some would consider the height gain to Machhapuchhare Base Camp to be too quick. As an experienced mountaineering company, we recognise the importance of careful acclimatisation and believe that by approaching the Sanctuary via Ghorepani and Tadopani, you are more likely to feel fit and healthy as you gain height. This of course means that you are also more likely to enjoy the views!

Jagged Globe in Nepal

Our aim is to provide you with a safe, enjoyable and successful trek in Nepal. This remarkable Himalayan country is the centrepiece of our worldwide activities and we provide all of our trekkers and climbers with a smooth and efficient service to maximise both your enjoyment and your chances of a successful trip. The benefits of joining Jagged Globe on our Annapurna Sanctuary Treks are:

Additional benefits include:

We are here to make your trek a great and memorable experience, so why not join us for your Himalayan adventure!

Trek Itinerary

Day 1:Fly London to Kathmandu
Our flight from Heathrow departs in the evening.
Day 2:Arrive Kathmandu
In Kathmandu, we will stay at the Summit Hotel; positioned well away from the noise and bustle of the city centre, it has extensive gardens, a swimming pool and an atmosphere of quiet, restful charm. It is a Dutch owned, British managed establishment with a friendly and helpful Nepalese staff. Team members will be accommodated on a twin share basis in en-suite rooms. Single rooms are available if you prefer, for which a supplement is payable.
Day 3:At leisure in Kathmandu
A chance to explore this fascinating city. It is a wonderful mixture of crowded bazaars, temples and shrines, in a blend of ancient, colonial and modern architecture.
Day 4:Fly to Pokhara. Begin trek
The short flight Pokhara takes approximately 35 minutes, then it's a 2-hour drive to Birethante. From here we begin our first day of trekking, following the Bhurungi Khola on good trails to Tirkedunga (1,577m).
Day 5:Trek to Ghorepani
A steep climb from Tirkedunga takes us through Ulleri Village to a high flat valley, the source of the Burung Khola, which is followed until the deserted T shop known as Jaljale. A steep climb passes through the 3,000m contour and we emerge on the ridge close to the spot height at 3,233m. We follow the ridge until a steep descent takes us to a clearing known as Fulbari and a good spot for lunch. 5 hours. After lunch, we descend to Poon Hill, which is marked by a large observation platform. A further short descent brings us to Ghorepani (2,855m), meaning 'horse water'. The village has two parts to it - one on a large saddle, the other is a little further down the hillside below. 2 hours.
Day 6:Poon Hill and trek to Tadopani
In the morning, we get up early for the one hour walk up Poon Hill before breakfast. Hopefully, the cool, still morning air from this famous vantage point will provide clear views of Machapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and the Annapurnas. After breakfast, we head off on the trek throuh jungle to Tadopnai. The trail eventually climbs along a ridge through pine and rhododendron forests to a crest at 3,030m, then drops down to Deorali, at 2,960m. The trail then continues through the rhododendron forest and follows a dry stream bed. We descend steeply to reach Banthanti and then climb back up through fields of cane on an undulating path, before reaching Tadopani (2,540m). 5-6 hours.
Day 7:Trek to Chomrong
It is a short morning of easy descent down the hillside to Kimrung Khola and a good spot for an early lunch, a swim and a wash. After lunch the route ascends high above the west bank of the Modi Khola. The village of Chomrong (1,918m) is tucked down at the very base of Huinchuli (6,336m). 6 hours.
Day 8:Trek to Doban
From Chomrong Village, we descend to Chomrong River and then climb up to Sinuwa Village. We pass through thick forest festooned with orchids and ferns on the western bank of Modi River to Khuldi. Then, it's a descent down a long, steep, slippery stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests. After the small settlement of Bamboo, the trail climbs gradually to Doban.
Day 9:Trek to Deurali
After breakfast, we have a steady ascent of about three hours from Doban to Deurali (3,048m). The bushy forest is home to troops of Langur Monkeys and it is likely you will have plenty of close up views of these playful primates. Once we reach Deurali, the forest disappears and the valley opens up, with the mountains now looking very close by. Deurali is at the foot of the Modi Himal and Machhapuchhare.
Day 10:Trek to Machhapuchhare Base Camp
It is a gradual ascent to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3,700m), though the trail crosses many avalanche paths - a stark reminder of the heavy snowfall that can occur in winter. The mountain views are fabulous; the panorama includes Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m) and Machhapuchhare itself. We are now at an altitude where we need to be very aware of how well we are acclimatising. Spending the night here is important, so that we continue to acclimatise before a further 430m of ascent Annapurna Base Camp the following day.
Day 11:Trek to Annapurna Base Camp
We get an early start for the pleasant walk up to Annapurna Base Camp, following a stream and passing by a few huts alongside the moraine. Shepherds stay here during the warm season and graze large flocks of sheep on the grassy slopes nearby. There are tremendous views of the near vertical south face of Annapurna towering above the sanctuary to the north-west. The mornings are usually clear, but clouds often obscure the peaks by noon and then clear again in the late afternoon. The morning alpenglow in this icy cirque is amazing at sunrise. There are several 'trekking peaks' in this area including Tent Peak (5,663m), Fluted Peak (6,501m), and Hiunchuli (6,336m). It is approximately 3 hours to make the climb to base camp, so there is plenty of time to appreciate the scenery, explore and take some photographs.
Day 12:Return trek to Doban
Day 13:Trek to Naya Pul (Modi Khola)
We continue downhill, descending steeply down to the "New Bridge" on the Modi Khola (1,340m).
Day 14:Trek to Austrian Camp
A short climb takes us up to the village of Landrung (1,945m) and we traverse through a mix of cultivated fields interspersed with scrub vegetation, before ascending through thick rhododendron forest onto a ridge descending from Machhapuchhare. The birdlife in the rhododendron forest is abundant. A gentle downhill walk through grassy meadows takes us off the main trail to a beautiful campsite used by Austrian mountaineers in the 1960s. The view of the entire Annapurna Massif on our final day is a fitting conclusion to this classic trek.
Day 15:Trek to Phedi, drive to Pokhara
We walk down to the roadhead near Suikhet Village, before meeting our bus and taking a one hour journey to Pokhara. We have the afternoon to have a hot shower at our hotel, relax and perhaps take a look around Pokhara.
Day 16:Fly to Kathmandu. Depart Kathmandu
After an early morning flight back to Kathmandu, we have the rest of the day to explore some more of the city, visit the bazaars and shop for mementoes. In the evening, we fly from Kathmandu to London.
Day 17:Arrive London

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, availability of porters and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The guides and their Sherpa assistants will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

Team Composition

The trek will be led by an experienced Jagged Globe British trek leader. In selecting suitable leaders, we not only look to ensure that they have the relevant qualifications but we also ensure that they have a good track record of trekking at high altitudes. Whilst qualifications and experience are essential requirements, we also make sure that our leaders have the right temperament to lead an trek group comprised of individuals who have a range of previous experience and expectations. The leader is a vital contributor to the enjoyment and well-being of the trekking members and he or she will be there to deal with any unexpected problems. To that end, we aim to provide a leader who will make the expedition both successful and enjoyable throughout.

Our leaders hold current mountain first aid certificates and have experience of dealing with mountain related medical conditions.

The leader will be supported by one of our excellent Sherpa guides, who know the region very well. A well-trained cook and kitchen crew provide all the meals on trek and our team of local porters will carry your personal gear.

We will take a maximum of 14 people on each trek, although the number may well be less than this.

Food and Accommodation

You are accomodated in tents whilst on trek. We usually camp near lodges and are able to use the lodges in the evenings, but retire to our own tents at night. Some of the lodges are very busy and in some villages, we camp well away in more picturesque spots. We have our own cook team who will do all the cooking on trek. This also ensures that we have good control over hygiene, which is sometimes an issue in lodges. Overall, we have the best of both worlds, by enjoying the camaraderie (not to mention the warmth!) found in lodges, but by also being able to get away from it all and enjoy the quiet of camping outside.

Experience Required

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is graded T1.

The Annapuran Sanctuary trek is suitable for keen walkers who are able to walk for 4 - 6 hours in a day, with a light rucksack. Some of the days are quite long, and the walking feels more strenuous at altitude. Generally the trail is a good track, but occasionally it will be uneven and rocky, particularly on the trek up to Annapurna Base Camp.

You are welcome to contact us if you would like to discuss the treks and your experience in more detail.
Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good skills preparation for an expedition.

Jagged Globe supports the work of the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) and trekkers are asked to adhere to its guidelines, which we provide.

Porter Protection

Any trek or expedition to Nepal relies on the hard work of local porters. It is their carrying of our supplies and baggage that makes a journey into the mountains possible. Jagged Globe is therefore careful to ensure that they are well treated, not exploited and have good protection from the elements. We work closely with our Nepal based partner, Kit Spencer of Summit Trekking, to provide shelter, clothing and footwear that match the severity of the environment. Porters who become sick are treated with the same care and attention as team members, and we have used helicopters, at our expense, to rescue porters from hazardous situations.

Jagged Globe supports the work of the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) and Tourism Concern, and provides help and advice to those organisations to improve the working conditions of the porters on whom we depend. All trekkers are asked to provide feedback on porters' working conditions in post-trip questionnaires.

Pre-Trip Meeting

Prior to all our treks and expeditions, we host a Pre-Trip Weekend in North Wales. The primary purpose of the weekend is to provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions about the forthcoming trek and to introduce them to other team members. The weekend covers topics as diverse as personal equipment and acclimatisation and usually involves a hike and some skills training. To find out more about our Pre-Trip Weekends [click here].

Equipment

Find out about our comprehensive Equipment Hire Service.

Trekkers need to provide their own personal clothing and equipment. Some items of equipment are available for hire from us but we strongly recommend that you purchase your own personal equipment and test it before departure.

A complete kit list is contained in the Trek Dossier, which is sent to you on receipt of your booking deposit.

What the price includes

What the price does not include

Insurance

Special travel insurance is available from us which provides a wide range of cover. The premium for this trek is detailed in the Prices & Booking section. A full explanation of the Jagged Globe Insurance Scheme is available on the website and in our brochure.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the trek or your suitability for it, please contact us by telephone:

Alternatively, you can contact us by email via the Contact Page on the website.

Booking

If you would like to book a place on this trek, you can do so on our secure on-line booking facility, on our website. The £300 deposit for this trek will secure you a place on your chosen departure. You will receive an automatic email confirmation, followed by a written confirmation of booking, experience questionnaire and Trek Dossier. Alternatively, you can book over the telephone or by sending in a booking form by post. Book Now!