Annapurna Base Camp Trek
14 days

Join Global Crossroad on a kaleidoscopic voyage through the legendary Annapurna mountain range. With a history as beautiful and vivid as the mystic landscape, this region of the Himalayas offers a 10-day trek, overpowering ones senses with gigantic and blanched glaciers, ice-flowing rivers as well as surrealistically lush forests and impossibly-existing, yet tempting, hot springs. Remote villages and tea houses filled with warmly-welcoming and smiling faces serve as daytime and overnight rest areas

Proposed Itinerary

Day 1: Preparation for Trek in Kathmandu

Day 2: Leave for Pokhara by bus. Here, participants will receive a final briefing and prepare for the first leg of their trek in the afternoon.

Day 3: Transfer to the starting point of the trek, Naya Pul. Take an easy walk along the sub-tropical Modi Khola River Valley to Birethanti (a large village on the old Nepal-Tibet trading route). Pass through the checkpoint before continuing through the intricately-terraced rice paddies, arriving at Tirkhedhunga for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Tirkhe Dhunga – Ghorepani, From Tirkhe Dhunga, this trail crosses a stream before ascending a steep, stone staircase to the large Magar Village at Ulleri (2070 m). The trail then winds through rhododendron and oak forests; across streams before making a short, final ascent to Nangethanti. From Nangethanti, the journey will trek up to Ghorepani (2850m) for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Poon Hill to Tadapani: Trekkers will rise with the sun, ascending to Poon Hill (3195m) where an awe-inspiring sunrise greets observers from over the mountains. Clear climate permitting, onlookers can experience a magical, panoramic view of the mountains of Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Annapurna I (8019m), and Manalsu (8156m). Also: views of the 6,000-meter-deep Kali Gandaki Gorge and the trans-Himalayan ranges are viewable – forming the border of Nepal with Tibetan China – making this one of Nepal’s most sought-after vantage points. After this panoramic treat, descend to the lodge for a late breakfast before continuing onto Ghorepani (2780m) – an important stop-over on the old trading route to Tibet. From Ghorepani, the walk is all downhill through beautiful forests before arriving at the village of Banthanti – finally ending the day’s journey at Tadapani for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Tadapani – Chhomrung, From Tadapani, the trail descends through additional rhododendron and oak forests, arriving at Chhomrung for a midday lunch. Chhomrung is a Gurung Village, and the highest permanent settlement in the valley with a tremendously vast view across to Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. The day closes with an overnight stay in Chhomrung.

Day 7: Chhomrung - Dovan or Himalaya Hotel. Here, the trail descends via a stone staircase, eventually crossing the Chhomrung Khola. Participants climb high above the Modi Khola, traveling its west bank, and pass through forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. This portion of the day’s trek is followed by yet another ascent to Kuldi before finally descending a long, steep, stone staircase to Dovan for an overnight stay.

Day 8: Dovan - (Machhapurchhe Base Camp) or Annapurna Base Camp (Sanctuary). From Dovan, the trail climbs high above the river, on to the lateral moraine, and down the other side to the glacier. This leg of the journey takes trekkers up the bed of the glacier before finally arriving at the Annapurna Base Camp (4237m) for an overnight stay.

Day 9: Annapurna Base Camp – Bamboo. Beginning with an early morning ascent for a stunning sunrise and breakfast, the journey returns to Bamboo for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Bamboo- Chhomrung. Descend a long, stone staircase through bamboo and rhododendrons forests to Kuldi. The trek continues through beautiful rhododendron forests and down to Sinuwa. From Sinuwa, the trail leads downhill to the Modi Khola, closing the day with a steep climb to Chhomrung where trekkers will remain overnight.

Day 11: Chhomrung - Ghandrung, From Chhomrung, the trek heads back to Taglung – descending gently through forests to Kummu. Once again, the journey passes Ghandrung – offering, yet another, picturesque, panoramic view of Annapurna South before ending the day’s voyage with an overnight stay in Ghandrung.

Day 12: Ghandrung - Pokhara, Trek downhill through villages and terraced fields to Syauli Bazaar, then onto Nayapul before being transported back to Pokhara for an overnight stay.

Day 13: Sight-seeing tour in Pokhara: consists of visiting various sacred places as well as Fewa Lake and an extensive city tour.

Day 14: Return Drive to Kathmandu

This is sample Itinerary and can change to meet the changes in the field conditions

Dates and Price

Price: US$599 ONLY for Global Crossroad Volunteer
Dates: To be determined by country coordinator (Most likely at the end or middle of the volunteer program)

What’s Included

• Teahouse/Guesthouse accommodations while on the trek
• Sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
• Ground/Domestic transportation
• guides and porters
• entrance fees and permits
• baggage storage

What’s Not Included

• meals (estimated budget $5-$15 per day)
• optional tips to leader and Sherpa staff
• excess baggage charges
• items of a personal consumption (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)
• group gear and equipment
• sleeping pads and bags