NEPAL > TREKKING > ANNAPURNA TREK

Annapurna Panoramic Loop and Chitwan National Park - 17 Day Escorted Trip

The Annapurnas are Nepal's most popular trekking area. It's not hard to see why. Spectacular scenery, diverse cultures, forests, lakes and glaciers combine to make it one of the most scenic areas for novice or experienced trekkers. The Annapurnas were the first mountains over 8000m to be climbed.

The accommodation is mostly of a high standard in teahouses, and you can trek in relative style and comfort. The lakeside town of Pokhara is your starting point and a wonderful place to relax after finishing your trek. The famous Chitwan National Park offers another dimension to your trip with an exciting jungle safari package.

Itinerary    Trip Details    Trip Overview    Trip Dates

Itinerary

Trip details:

Day 01 Welcome to Kathmandu
A local Himalayan Holidays’ representative will meet and welcome you at Kathmandu airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a welcome drink and check-in at the hotel a pre-trek briefing will be held. The rest of the day is yours to explore the local area. o/n at hotel

Day 02 Kathmandu Sightseeing
After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel to begin an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Your English-speaking guide will escort you to Durbar Square the historic centre of the city and home to the living goddess Kumari. Then on to Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, situated high on a hill top, this stupa is one of the most recognized images of the Kathmandu Vally and affords magnificent views of the city and valley below. From here we travel to Pashupatinath the site of the most important Hindu temple in Nepal and located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we will see holy men known as Sadhus performing their religious rituals and you may witness funeral pyres burning on the river side ghats. o/n at hotel B.

Day 03 Kathmandu – Pokhara
Today we take an interesting drive to Pokhara by private vehicle. Nestled on the Phewa Lake Pokhara is a thriving township where you can spend your time doing any last minute purchases for your trek at one of the many equipment shops or enjoy a drink at one of the lakeside restaurants. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and is the perfect starting point for our trek.o/n at hotel BL.

Day 04 Pokhara -Nayapul - Tickendunga 2070m
(Approx 4 hrs walking)
Drive to Birethanti (1140m) from Pokhara. Walk through the lush, green Modi river valley, past waterfalls with plunge pools that invite you to swim. We will pass through several villages and see farmers at work with their buffalos in the fields. o/n at lodge BLD

05 Tickendunga – Ghorepani 2900m (Approx 5-6 hrs walking)
After a short descent, we ascend to the village of Ulleri, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the valley below and the peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli Then it is a gentle climb through pasture and cultivated fields. As the trail climbs higher, you walk up beside a cascading river through refreshingly cool oak and rhododendron forest to Ghorepani where we take the track a little further on to our resting place for the night and a perfect kick off point for those wishing to walk up to Poon Hill in the morning o/n at lodge BLD

Day 06 Ghorepani - Tadapani 2540m (Approx 6 hrs walking)
For early risers, a 1 hour climb up to Poon Hill at 3210m offers you an awesome 360 deg view of all the Annapurna Range. Your guide will point out the peaks of Annapurna South (7272m) Annapurna I (8091m) Hiunchuli (6441m) and you will have imposing views of the Dhaulagiri Range to the West. From the Deurali pass the trail continues along a plateau before descending steeply through dense moss-covered forest rich with birdlife, to Tadapani for beautiful sunset views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. o/n at lodge BLD

Day 07 Tadapani – Chomrong/Jinhu 2040m (Approx 5 hrs walking)
The trail drops down from Tadapani, through lush rhododendron forest. From Ghandrung there are good views of the upper Modi valley. The route starts the long ascent high above the west bank of the Modi Khola, and continues up to the village of Chhomrung (2040m). Towering above the village is the mighty peak of Annapurna South, with the Fishtail facing it across the valley.We may walk on to Jinhu where we can relax in the natural hot springs by the river. o/n at lodge. BLD

Day 08 Chomrung/Jinhu 2040m - Tolka 1700 (Approx 5-6 hrs walking)
Stony steps lead down to Kabre Chautara and soon after we turn off for Landrung, leaving the Ghandrung path dropping away towards the river. An easy ascent to the Gurung village of Landrung, then about an hour and half gentle climb takes us to Tolka. o/n at lodge BLD

Day 09 Tolka to Pokhara via Deurali - 2010m (Approx 5–6 hrs walking)
The trail climbs through forests to a clearing on the top of the hill to reach Deurali (2010 m) for an amazing and close vista of Annapurnas from here. From Deurali the trail descends to Dhampus at 1580 meters for lunch. Today is our last on the trek, we make a steep descent to Phedi, and as we make our way back the sound of the donkey bells becomes more distant and the sounds of traffic become clearer as we near the road which takes us back to Pokhara. This is usually the time to farewell your trekking crew and many people like to treat their porters to a farewell dinner in one of the many restaurants in Pokhara, which will seem like a teeming metropolis after the serenity of the hill trails. o/n at hotel BL

Day 10 Pokhara- Day at Leisure
A sightseeing tour can be organized if you wish. o/n at hotel B

Day 11 Pokhara to Kurintar
Today we travel to Kurintar in our prviate vehicle for our stay at the Riverside Springs Resort, we arrive at lunch time which gives us plenty of time for some optional river rafting in the afternoon, or for awesome scenery why not take the Manakamana Cable Car to the ridge and visit the important Manakamana Mindir temple. Of course you can simply relax by the pool at the resort B.L.

Day 12 Kurintar to Chitwan National Park
After a relaxing morning at the resort, we travel to the town of Sauraha close to the gate of the national park, in order to commence our jungle/safari activities. In the afternoon we take an oxen pulled cart to a nearby Tharu village where we can meet and chat with the Tharu people, learn more about village life and perhaps purchase some locally made handicrafts. Later there may be opportunity for a slide and information session on the wildlife and flora of the area before your smorgasbord evening meal of fresh local produce. o/n at resort BLD

Day 13 Safari Activities
Today we take a canoe ride to the elephant breeding centre, spotting many different species of birds as we travel up the river. After visiting the centre we return by jeep, before lunch there may be time for a swim in the resort pool, or you may choose to get involved in the hilarious elephant washing routine where guests get as wet as the elephants do. Our afternoon elephant ride takes us into the jungle where we get the chance to see rhinos, monkeys, and deer and if very lucky we may catch a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger. In the evening you can see the Tharu Cultural Show where you will be invited to join in the dancing and fun. o/n at resort BLD

Day 14 Chitwan National Park - overnight stay in the forest wildlife viewing tower
Today your guide will take you to a wildlife viewing tower in the midst of the jungle. The viewing tower sleeps 6 - 8 people and your guide will be there to give you information on the wildlife that you will see in the evening, during the night and early in the morning in this exciting habitat.  BLD

Day 15 Chitwan National Park – Kathmandu
An early morning walk gives us the opportunity to do some more bird watching, then it is time for breakfast before we depart for Bharaptur and our flight to Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. o/n at hotel BL

Day 16 - Kathmandu
Today you are free to spend the day at your leisure. Optional extras which can easily be arranged include an early morning Everest mountain flight, or further sightseeing to Patan, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley, or to the Medieval city of Bhaktapur. o/n at hotel B

Day 17 Kathmandu
There is the last minute opportunity for shopping before your late morning transfer to the airport for international departure B

Overview of the Annapurna Panoramic Loop Trek

The following morning you begin your trek in the Annapurna region north of Pokhara. You will climb gradually along the ridges that are the foothills of the Annapurnas. Passing through many villages you will have ample time to take photographs and chat with the local people.

There are many different ethnic groups along the trail, the Gurungs, Magar and Chetrie people the predominant being the Gurungs, better known as Gurkhas, soldiers in the British Army.

Along the trail the scenery is magnificent, and we will see Himalayan giants such as Dhaulagiri (8167m), Lamjung, Annapurna II, and Machapuchare (6993m). The terrain varies from sub-tropical valleys with banana trees and rice paddies to high ridges clad in thick rhododendron forest. In January and February these may well be covered in snow, while during March and April they will be a blaze of red rhododendron flowers.

Altitude
Altitude on this trek varies from 915m at Pokhara to just over 3200m at Poon Hill, the low altitude allows you to experience the spectacular scenery of the Annapurnas without the symptoms sometimes associated with higher altitude.

Accommodation on the trek
Accommodation will be simple twin or triple share rooms in lodges, and toilets and showers will be of varying standards.

Food
Mostly rice, pasta, potato dishes, soups and pizzas for lunch or dinner. Delicious pancakes, porridge, toast and eggs are the main breakfast fare, while tea, coffee and hot chocolate are always available. You will probably be pleasantly surprised at the variety of food at the lodges.

Physical Fitness
There are a lot of steep ascents and descents on the trek and a good level of fitness is required, as some days you may be required to walk up to 6 hours, please note that the estimated walking time each day will vary according to the fitness of the group and the weather conditions.

Trip Datess
Depart Melbourne 17th November 2010
Depart Kathmandu 3rd December 2010

Fully escorted with services of 2 Australian group leaders traveling from/to Australia in addition to local specialist guides within Nepal.

Group size - Minimum of 8 - Maximum of 14

For more information on 2010/2011 trips

please contact us.

# Meals Code: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner