Photo: Sergey Ashmarin ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Inside the Annapurna amphitheatre.
The Annapurna Sanctuary is that rare place where a week of walking drops you inside a closed ring of seven-thousanders. We take the long way in over Ghorepani and the dawn viewpoint at Poon Hill, then narrow into the Modi Khola gorge and finish on the moraine at 4,130 m. Teahouse trekking, nothing technical, but a genuine gain in altitude.
- Sunrise from Poon Hill, 3,210 m
- The wall of Machhapuchhre above the trail
- A night at Annapurna Base Camp
- The Jhinu Danda hot springs on the way down
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Briefing and preparation
Gathering in Pokhara
We meet in Pokhara (820 m) on the shore of Phewa Lake. Packs are sorted, porter loads weighed, sleeping bags checked for minus five. The evening briefing covers acclimatisation and the day-by-day plan.
Overnight: Hotel in Pokhara - DAY 2 · 12 km, 900 m of ascent
Nayapul and the climb to Ulleri
Ninety minutes by jeep to Nayapul (1,070 m), then on foot along the Burungdi river to Tikhedhunga. The day ends on the famous 3,300-step staircase up to Ulleri (1,960 m). Around 12 km and 900 m of ascent.
Overnight: Teahouse in Ulleri - DAY 3 · 9 km, 900 m of ascent
Rhododendron forest to Ghorepani
The path climbs into old rhododendron forest through Banthanti and Nayathanti. We gain height to 2,860 m, and by afternoon Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South are out. Some 9 km, 900 m of ascent, five hours.
Overnight: Teahouse in Ghorepani - DAY 4 · 12 km, sunrise at 3,210 m
Poon Hill and the traverse to Tadapani
A pre-dawn start for Poon Hill (3,210 m), forty-five minutes of climbing for sunrise over Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and the whole Annapurna wall. After breakfast we traverse via Deurali to Tadapani (2,630 m), about 12 km.
Overnight: Teahouse in Tadapani - DAY 5 · 10 km, 700 m down and up
Down to Chhomrong
We drop to the Kimrong river and climb again onto the terraces of Chhomrong (2,170 m), the Gurung village that guards the gate of the Sanctuary. Machhapuchhre shows itself in full for the first time. About 10 km.
Overnight: Teahouse in Chhomrong - DAY 6 · 13 km, 750 m of ascent
Modi Khola gorge to Himalaya
A long staircase down to the bridge, then a full day up the left bank of the Modi Khola through Sinuwa and Bamboo. Forest gives way to bamboo thickets and we sleep at Himalaya, 2,920 m. Around 13 km.
Overnight: Himalaya teahouse, 2,920 m - DAY 7 · 11 km, 1,210 m of ascent
Entering the Sanctuary
Past Hinku Cave and Deurali the gorge opens into the cirque. By midday we reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700 m), and after a rest the last two hours take us to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m.
Overnight: Teahouse at base camp, 4,130 m - DAY 8 · 15 km of descent
Morning in the ring
Dawn on the moraine: Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre stand in a near-closed ring. After breakfast and a walk to the climbers' memorial we descend to Bamboo (2,310 m).
Overnight: Teahouse in Bamboo - DAY 9 · 12 km, hot springs
Jhinu Danda and the hot springs
Back through Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then a steep drop to Jhinu Danda (1,780 m). Twenty minutes below the village are hot springs on the bank of the Modi Khola, the best thing you can do for your legs after six days.
Overnight: Teahouse in Jhinu Danda - DAY 10 · 7 km and a transfer
Out to Siwai
A short riverside day to the road head at Siwai, then jeeps to Pokhara, about three hours on gravel and tarmac. Dinner by the lake in the evening and a look back over the route.
Overnight: Hotel in Pokhara - DAY 11 · Reserve day
A free day in Pokhara
A reserve day in case mountain weather has put us behind. If all has gone to plan, there is a boat on Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda on the ridge, a massage and the shops of Lakeside.
Overnight: Hotel in Pokhara - DAY 12 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast and a transfer to Pokhara airport or the Kathmandu bus. The highway takes seven to eight hours, the flight twenty-five minutes.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Teahouses on the trek, twin rooms
Hotel in Pokhara, 2 nights, breakfast
Three meals a day on the route
A licensed Nepali trekking guide
Porters, one for every two trekkers
ACAP permit and TIMS registration
Transfers Pokhara — Nayapul and back
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
The Kathmandu — Pokhara flight, about €110 each way
Hot showers and device charging in the teahouses
Drinks, bottled water included
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
You need to be ready for five to seven hours of walking on six consecutive days with a 6–8 kg pack. Two months out Ivan sets a plan of long hill days and step work: almost the entire Annapurna trail is built of stone staircases.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- Broken-in trekking footwear and a suitable daypack
- Rain gear, an insulating layer and spare socks
- Poles, if you are used to them
- Personal items within the agreed luggage allowance and suited to the accommodation
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.