Best of Annapurna Trek to Annapurna Base Camp, Kopra Ridge and Pun Hill 2015 dates Please contact us
Includes: Starts from $2150 Grade/fitness This is a trek and requires no prior trekking experience. Good fitness is required as most days will involve 4-6 hr of trekking carrying a 5kg day pack. The trail is non technical but will reach a maximum altitude of 4130m. Trekking permits, 3 nights Kathmandu hotel, trekking guides, transport in Nepal, extensive high altitude wilderness first aid kit, all meals outside Kathmandu/Pokhara, porters to carry personal/group equipment, down jacket, sleeping bag and expedition duffel. Excludes: international flights to Kathmandu, meals in Kathmandu/Pokhara (USD 10-15 per meal), aerated and alcoholic beverages, personal items (e.g. phone calls, laundry), tips, travel insurance (incl. early departure, mountain rescue) and personal trekking gear. 2 Himalayan Ascent
HIGHLIGHTS Stunning views of the Annapurnas including Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Dhaulagiri Traditional culture of Gurung and Magar hill people Annapurna sanctuary Kopra ridge camp Pun hill OVERVIEW The Annapurna region is Nepal s original trekkers playground. This trek journeys through the best parts of the Annapurna range with stunning views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri mountains. We will follow old foot trails used by hardy Gurung and Magar hill tribes who live here in the temperate forests amongst rhododendron trees, farming on steep terraces growing staples of maize and millet. Our Route into this region begins from Pokhara. We ll trek first towards Annapurna base camp in the heart of the Annapurna sanctuary to enjoy an arena view of the 4 Annapurnas (I, 8091m 10th highest mountain and II-IV) and other peaks all above 7000m. We will then return to Chimrong, and from here head west through alpine forests to Kopra ridge. The camp on Kopra hill offers exceptional panoramic views of the entire Annapurna range including a fearsome close view of Dhaulagiri (8167m, 7th highest mountain) with a steep face that plunges into the Kali Gandakhi river, creating the deepest gorge in the world. A day hike north east of camp will bring us to Khayer lake (approx. 4000m), a sacred lake worshipped by locals during the Badau Purnima festival in September. Our trail finally winds down to Ghorepani for sunrise views of the Annapurna range from Pun hill, before we trek back towards Pokhara. 3 Himalayan Ascent
Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu A Himalayan Ascent representative will collect you from the airport. It s a free day to prepare for your trek and buy last minute gear or supplies. If you have any energy, take in some of the world heritage sites that Kathmandu has to offer. Later in the evening, there will be a group briefing and welcome group dinner. Day 3 Trek Pothana (1900m) to Landruk (1640m) ~5 hr At Pothana be sure to wake early and catch sunrise over these stunning mountains before breakfast! Today is an easy day for those still recovering from jet lag. We follow a gentle forest trail to Deurali (2100m), our highest point of the day. This little settlement enjoys views of Hiunchuli and Annapurna South. We ll then trace our path over stone steps through Gurung villages near the valley floor by Modi khola river. We stop at Landruk for the night. Day 2 Fly to Pokhara, drive to Kande (1776m) and trek topothana/australian Camp (1900m) ~1.5 hr In the morning, we ll take a short 30 min flight to Pokhara. Once there we ll load into jeeps to drive to our trailhead at Kande. We have a short day of trekking up the ridge on stone steps to Pothana. Here you ll be rewarded with your first clear views of Machhapuchhre. As a sacred mountain, climbing Machhapuchhre is prohibited so it remains an unconquered mountain. Day 4 Trek Landruk (1640m) to Chimrong (2170m) ~5 hr The start of this day is a pleasant walk further down to the valley floor heading northwards by Modi khola river. We cross a suspension bridge to bring us to the true right of the river, which we ll remain as we continue north-east to Annapurna sanctuary. After crossing a wooden bridge, it s a steep trek on the ridge to the Gurung village of Chimrong. Before the climb to the village, there s an option to enjoy natural hot springs a short walk from Jhinu Danda. 4 Himalayan Ascent
Day 5 Trek Chimrong (2170m) to Bamboo (2245m) ~6.5 hr The day begins dropping behind Chimrong to cross a bridge, and then trekking up stairs to Sinuwa. From here, the trek is easy continuing up the valley, traversing high above Modi khola. We pass through dense rhododendron and oak forests to Kuldigar, and descend to the valley floor to rest at the river settlement of Bamboo for the night. Day 6 Trek Bamboo (2245m) to Dovan (2600m) ~5 hr We trek north easterly closely following the Modi river up the valley. It s a gradual ascent up stone stairs passing through forests to Dovan. The air here begins to thin as we inch higher towards base camp. You may begin to feel some affects of high altitude. The best advice is always to walk slow and drink plenty of water. Day 7 Trek Dovan (2600m) to Machhapuchre base camp (3700m)~5 hr Today requires a significant altitude gain. Be sure to trek slowly. The route now journeys to the head of the valley, on a trail that is flanked by Hiun Chuli (6434m) on the left and Mardi Himal (5553m) and Machhapuchre (6997m) on the right. We will pass through several settlements before reaching Machhapuchre base camp that is situated at the terminal end of the South Annapurna glacier. In this clearing, you can enjoy close views of Tare Kang and Gangapurna in the north, and Machhapurche in the south east. Day 8 Trek Machhapuchre base camp (3700m) to Annapurna base camp (4130m) ~2.5 hr It s another gradual ascent to Annapurna base camp following a trail alongside the glacier heading west. At this high altitude, any increase in incline makes every step tiring. However, it s a rewarding experience when we reach our first objective of Annapurna base camp in the heart of the sanctuary. Surrounding us in this wonderland is some of the highest peaks in the world. We have the afternoon free to explore this haven of himalayan giants. 5 Himalayan Ascent
Day 9 Trek Annapurna base camp (4130m) to Himalaya Hotel (2900m) ~5 hr The second stage of our adventure awaits us so trek back first to Machhapuchre base camp and then descend down the valley to our rest stop at Himalaya Hotel. Day 10 Trek Himalaya Hotel (2900m) to Chimrong (2170m) ~5 hr It s an easy day as we gently descend and ascend back to Chimrong. Now back in low alpine forests and richer air, we rest our bodies to prepare for our next objective, Kopra ridge. Day 11 Trek Chimrong (2170m) to Tadapani (2630m) ~5.5 hr At first we head south west following the mountain contour passing a few small Gurung settlements and beautiful farm gardens. This is a quiet trail with few tourists. We drop 300m to the river, cross it and hike up through a thick rhododendron canopy containing some of the tallest rhododendron trees in Nepal. After a brief break for lunch, it s then a short walk to Tadapani on top of the ridge for the night. Day 13 Trek Bailey Kharka (3300m) to Kopra danda (3720m) ~4 hr Taking a short cut from the regular route that dips down into the valley and then back up the ridge, we will instead trek around the ridge and up onto Kopra danda. Parts of the section are steep. The view from Kopra danda is one of the finest in the region. It affords a quiet and exceptional close panoramic view of the himalayas. Day 14 Day hike to Khayer lake (~4000m) ~8 hr For those feeling energetic and curious to explore this region further, there s an option to day hike to the spirtual Khayer lake. It s a worthy pilgrim s hike up the steep hills to the lake. The views of Dhaulagiri are ever closer here. We trek back to enjoy sunset views across the valley. Day 15 Trek Kopra danda (3720m) to Sontha (1800m) ~5 hr Day 12 Trek Tadapani (2630m) and Bailey Kharka (3300m) ~6 hr This section of the trek is more remote and follows villager trails towards Kopra hill. We break from the main trail of trekkers heading to Ghorepani and ascend up a long ridge. We have an easy down hill day back down the ridge to a small settlement near the valley floor. Sontha is one of many Magar villages in the area; hardy hills peope who live off the land and farm on steep terraces. It s a harsh but traditional lifestyle, and is representative of how many Nepalis live in farming village communities. 6 Himalayan Ascent
Day 16 Trek Sontha (1800m) to Ghorepani (2750m) ~3.5 hr From Sonetha we cross the river and trek up the hillside to the town of Ghorepani. This is the main tourist centre in the Annapurna region so we re now back on well trodded foot trails. You can wander the bazaar or learn about the local Magar culture in the museum for the afternoon. Day 17 Trek Ghorepani (2750m) to Birethanti (1025m) ~7 hr, drive to Pokhara From Ghorepani, Pun hill (3185m) is a short 1 hr walk which we ll do before the sun rises so it will be an early start. The lookout offers a wonderful panorama of the entire Annapurna range, and a sun rise view of this setting is just glorious! We ll return to our teahouse for breakfast and prepare the big descent to Birethanti. The trek down includes a long stone staircase between Ulleri and Hile, so use walking poles to protect your knees.it s a pleasant walk along the Bhurungdi river through Magar villages and bamboo forests to the trail end at Birethanti. We ll load into jeeps, farewell our amazing porters, and drive back to Pokhara to hot showers! Day 18 Fly to Kathmandu Hopefully if the day is clear, we ll enjoy a fantastic mountain flight back to Kathmandu passing the Annapurna and Langtang ranges. Day 19 In Kathmandu Our last day to catch in some sight seeing, shop, relax and prepare for departure. If you didn t make it to Bhaktapur or the other durbar squares in Patan/Kathmandu, make sure you don t miss these world hertiage sites. They provide another viewpoint of Nepal s diverse culture and ancient architectural talents. Day 20 Depart Kathmandu We bid Kathmandu and Nepal farewell...until next time. Note: daily walking hours include a lunch break 7 Himalayan Ascent
WHY HIMALAYAN ASCENT? Himalayan Ascent is owned and managed by local Nepalese guides Sumit Joshi and Lakpa Sherpa. With more than 40 years of guiding experience between the pair across the Himalayas in Nepal, Tibet, India, Pakistan and Bhutan, Himalayan Ascent know the Himalayas, its challenges, people and mountains. As avid rock climbers with a passion for the mountains, Sumit and Lakpa have led numerous expeditions to Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Ama Dablam. Raised in the outdoor wonderland of the Solukhumbu, the Himalayan Ascent difference is a guiding and support team of personnel who are intimately familiar with the Himalayas, who actively enjoy the outdoors and love sharing the experience with others. With a growing reputation for providing affordable, international standard complete guiding service for challenging treks in remote areas or demanding 8000m expeditions, Himalayan Ascent has the experience to deliver the type of service that s desired by international outdoor adventurers. 8 Himalayan Ascent
Other Information Sleep and food Whilst on the trail you ll sleep in local friendly teahouses. These provide basic accommodation (twin-share), common toilets and a large common dining hall. Teahouse kitchens cater for international and local tastes, from pizzas/pastas to typical Nepali favourites. Other facilities including showers, internet, battery charging and laundry are sometimes available for an extra cost. Your Kathmandu accommodation is a midrange 3.5 star hotel, but we can adjust according to your budget (i.e. budget to 5-star). Note that meals in Kathmandu are not included in the cost. Plan for USD 10-15 per meal on these days. Gurung and bhotia culture The hill ethnic groups of Nepal are ancient descendents from Mongolia, hence their variant facial features from Hindu Indo-Aryo tribes. Gurung and Magar people primarily reside in the hill regions of central and West Nepal, farming corn and millet on steep terraces. They practice a hybrid religion of Hinduism and Buddhism. Hill tribes, particularly Gurungs and Magars, have a proud Gurkha history of service in the British and Indian Army. Health tips This trek reaches a maximum altitude of 4130m at Annapurna base camp. As such, you may experience some affects of high altitude (e.g. headaches, increased breathing, disturbed sleep) as your body adapts. The trek schedule has been designed to allow for proper acclimatisation. However, everyone responds to high altitude differently, so the best advice is to walk slow, drink plenty of water (~4L/day), listen to your body and alert your guide if you are feeling unwell. Nepal is a developing country so some travel vaccines are advised. Obtain these at least 2-6 months before arrival to ensure good immunity. Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Japanese Encephalitis are recommended. Ensure that you are up to date with routine immunisation (MMR, DPT). Malaria tablets are not needed. What s A typical day on the trail? You will be woken up with a knock on your door around 6am by a staff member. You ll get dressed and packed for the day s walk, and have your duffel ready for your porter before breakfast ~7am. The aim will be to leave the teahouse or camp and hit the trail by 8am. On the trail, you ll carry a small day pack (20-40LL, ~5kg ) with your personal items, water, warm clothing and wet weather gear. Generally lunch is at the rest stop for the night, which leaves the afternoon free to rest and soak in the views. Dinner is ~7pm, and most trekkers then either read/play cards or head to bed early ~8-9pm to prepare for the next day s adventure. Climate Spring and autumn are dry seasons. The forests are flowering in spring and lush in autumn. Below Machhapuchre base camp, temperatures can reach ~28oC in the day. Whilst above 3000m, day temperatures can range 15oC-20oC. Nights are cool and may drop to 0oC during storms. Prepare cool and warm attire as suggested in the packing list. 9 Himalayan Ascent
Packing list 20-40L day pack Trekking clothes (1 shorts, 2 t-shirts, 2 pants, etc) 1 set windproof/waterproof shells 1 fleece (mid-heavy weight) 1 mid layer shirt or fleece 1 fleece pants 2 sets thermal underwear (top/bottom) 1 pair of insulating gloves 4 pairs of trekking socks 2 pairs of liner socks 1 pair of waterproof trekking boots 1 pair of sandals (e.g. Crocs) 1 set of trekking poles 1 warm hat (wool/fleece) 2 sets of buff/scarf 1 sunglasses (category 3) 1 sunhat 2 One litre water bottles (e.g. Nalgene) 1 head torch (plus batteries) Personal toiletries (including sunscreen, hand sanitiser, body wipes, etc) Passport, travel insurance (including mountain rescue) and copies of passport Entertainment (e.g. books, notebook, camera, cards) Sleeping bag, down jacket, tents and duffel will be provided by Himalayan Ascent Visas Tourist visas can be obtained directly at the immigration department of Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. Bring at least 2 passport sized photos, a copy of your passport and USD 40 cash for a 30-day tourist visa. You can also prearrange a visa from your nearest Nepalese consulate. 10 Himalayan Ascent
P.o. Box 3885 Bansbari 3, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4379509 Email : info@himalayanascent.com