ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY LODGE TREK – NEPAL

TREK TO ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP & THE HEART OF NEPAL’S BEAUTIFUL ANNAPURNA RANGE

• The mighty peaks of the Annapurna Range
• Experience traditional Hindu culture
• Hiking through picturesque farming villages
• Travel through the spectacular Annapurna Sanctuary
• Visit Annapurna Base Camp (13,500 feet)
  

Barely 25 miles north of Pokhara, and concealed within the folds of two great southward projecting ridges of the Annapurna Massif, sits the secret mountain fortress of the Annapurna Sanctuary. So narrow is the gateway to this most spectacular high mountain amphitheater, at the head of the Modi Khola and squeezed between the peaks of Hiunchuli and Macchapuchare, that it was not until 1956 that any outsider penetrated its defenses. More recently, the Annapurna Sanctuary has become a popular trekking destination, and with good reason – It is easily accessible from Pokhara and offers tremendous potential for scenic walks and for alpine exploration, in a splendid high Himalayan setting. The ring of mountains which form the rim of the Annapurna Sanctuary includes no fewer than eight of over 7000 meters, including Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna 1 (8091 meters), Gangapurna, Annapurna 3 and Annapurna 5. The ring is completed by the peerless Macchapuchare, only 23 feet / 7 meters below the magical 7000 meters.

The walk in to the Sanctuary provides a taste of the great variety of landscape types which serve to make Nepal such a special trekking destination. Starting out at Phedi, we encounter sub-tropical heat, pretty villages and neatly terraced rice fields. Gaining height gradually, we enjoy several days of pleasant ridge walking with a mix of abundant forest and scattered areas of farmed land. Finally, beyond the last of the bamboo and rhododendron woodland, the valley narrows at the entrance to the world of ice and snow that is the Annapurna Sanctuary. Throughout the approach, there are always outstanding panoramas of the high peaks to the north and the contrast of the rice-fields and villages with the snow peaks above, making for very picturesque trekking indeed. We have allowed a day for exploration above our base camp in the Sanctuary. To increase the appeal of this excellent trekking itinerary, we take an alternative route to the Sanctuary, turning westwards to follow a high ridge which leads to Ghorepani and a viewpoint overlooking the great rift of the Kali Gandaki Valley, the deepest gorge in the world. From Poon Hill above Ghorepani the dawn views of Dhaulagiri and nearby Tukuche Peak are legendary.

The Annapurna Sanctuary Lodge Trek is part of our Himalayan Classic Trek Series. Our Classic Treks are led by an experienced, English-speaking Nepali guide and porter support crew. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed day to day Trip Itinerary.