Trekking
Annapurna region The Annapurna region offers great Himalayan views without the logistical complications of the Everest region. All routes are accessed by road so there are no issues with flight delays. The treks are also generally less strenuous and at a lower altitude than the Everest region meaning mountain sickness is also less of an issue. Easier accessibility means shorter and cheaper treks are available in this region for people with less time or fitness concerns making the Annapurna region the more popular area for trekking.
Annapurna Circuit trek - 14 - 25 days Completely circumnavigate the Annapurna massif during this high altitude trek. Fantastic mountain views combined with pilgrimage areas of important religious significance. Rest your weary body in natural hot springs that are found in various locations on the trek. There are several options for completing this trek depending on your time allowance and personal endurance capabilities. Seasons - Mid September to December, then February to May. 
Day 1. 7 hours. Easy You will be transported from Pokhara to Betsi Sahar to begin your trekking and. You begin by descending to the Balung Khola River and crossing it over a bamboo bridge. Trek through sub tropical forests and rice terraces and past a Danish Vocational school to Khundi. Kundi has a spectuacular view of the Himalchuli & Ngadi Chuli peaks to admire as well as a forest nursery you can explore. You will then trek up the Marsyangdi Valley and cross the Marsyangdi Khola river on a suspension bridge in the rural settlement of Bhulbule where you will have your permit stamped. As you leave Bhulbule you trek along the river banks and past a magnificent waterfall surrounded by lush tropical vegitation. Langur monkeys populate the area as you pass through small rural settlements and paddy fields with views of Manaslu I and II. You will pass through the quaint village of Ngadi and then cross a suspension bridge over Ngaoli Khola river to a Tibetan settlement. The trail then climbs through scrub forests and small rural villages to Bahundanda. Day 2. 6 hours. Easy You will descend through rice fields and cross a stream over a log bridge at the foot of a waterfall, and here you have the option of visiting a hot spring nearby.You will trek on a ridge high above a river, then climb over it to the quaint village of Kanigaon, and on to Ghermu Phant which is opposite another huge waterfall. You will cross a large suspension bridge and make a steep climb over a landslide to Shree Chaur where there are also hot springs you may visit if you wish. The trail then climbs fairly high through forests of rhododendron and pine trees on a path carved into the cliff face. You will then descend past a small waterfall to Jagat - a small Tibetan stone village with a medival atmosphere, also with a small hot spring just a short walk from the village. From here the trail descends and crosses a landslide before a long climb through forests and a waterfall to Chamje were you will spend the evening. Day 3. 7 Hours. Moderate. Leaving Chamje, you will cross a suspension bridge and follow a river embankment as the trail climbs past fields, rhododendrons and bamboo high above the river and through the Bhuddist settlement of Tal, situated in a dramatic setting at the foot of a waterfall. The settlement also has a Buddhist chorten. You will trek past crop fields, cross a log bridge and continue along a river bed. You will climb past two more waterfalls following a path that has been blasted out of the rocks. Crossing a few suspension bridges you will pass through villages with Tibetan influences - each village marked with a chorten at either entrance. You will continue into the afternoon trekking through forests of blue pine, spruce, hemlock, maple and oak to Bagarchhap which has architecture typical to Tibet. Day 4. 6 hours. Moderate This mornings trek climbs through forests to the Syal Khola river, which means 'river of jackals’ and continue through this Buddhist region passing a mani wall and large prayer wheel and also an apple orchard. You will cross a stream on a wooden bridge, and then the trail levels off before reaching a majestic waterfall. Continuing on, you will traverse a rocky ledge and climb over a ridge beforedescending to the small settlement of Temang Besi. Here some houses have beehives under their eaves. The trail continues uphill through a forest of Walnut trees and you will climb over several ridges and past an apple orchard to Kotho, who’s entrance is marked with a Buddhist Chorten. Moving onwards, you then trek through a meadow surrounded by large spruce and pine trees and from here walk to Chamje which boasts views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV. Chamje is the administrative centre for the Manang district and there are well stocked shops and two small hot springs and it is here where you will spend the night. Day 5. 5 hours. Easy Leaving Chamje, you cross a bridge and trek through an older part of Chamje. You will pass Buddhist mani walls and make a long trek through forests and a huge apple orchard. You will pass through the abandoned Khampa settlement and trek alongside the Marsyangdi river on a trail blasted out of rock. There are great views of the extraordinary Paungda Danda rock face - a slab of rock raising over 1,500 meters from the river - and also Annapurna II, Pisang peaks, Himalchuli and Ngadichuli. Continuing on, you cross suspension bridge and make gentle climb through forests of blue pine before descending to Pisang which has two mills powered by wooden canals. Day 6. 5 hours. Easy This morning you cross a stream and pass a memorial commemorating the lives of a party of German climbers who died climbing Pisang Peak. The trail then makes a long climb over a forested ridge, at the top of which is a splendid view of the Manang valley. You will then make a short descent to the valley valley floor past grazing pastures and an airstrip. You will pass many Buddhist monuments and reach the astonishing Sabje valley which has Annapurna II and IV at its head. There is a mountaineering school you may like to visit, before crossing the Marsyangdi river on a wooden bridge and trekking past farming pastures to the Tibetan style village of Bryaga. Here you can visit a Buddhist gompa which has a a nice setting over-looking the village. The gompa also contains relics which are over 500 years old. From here it is a short walk past Buddhist monuments to Manang. |
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This day is sheduled as a rest day to allow your body to acclimatize to the high altitudes. You may like to explore the atmospheric town of Manang, a maze of stone built houses, mani walls and chortens. There are well stocked shops if you would like to purchase high altitude equipment. Walking helps to aid the acclimatizing process, and there are a few options of short treks you may like to take, to Gangapurna Lake and Chongkar viewpoint.
Day 8. 5 hours. Moderate. Leaving Manang, you will pass through farmland and past a Buddhist chorten. Over the river Marsyangdi river you will see Gangapurna Lake and the spectacular sight of Gangapurna icefall behind. Away behind it all you will see the grand barrier, a long snowy ridge that stretches west. You will pass through Tengi, and ascend as the views close in behind the valley hills. Continuing to rise, you will come to Gunsang that has great views. Ascending further, you will pass through fields and scant forests as you get great close up views of many mountains. The views then close in again as you advance further, passing through Yak Kharka ( meaning yak pastures) where the Manangis bring their yaks to graze amongst the lovely mountain backdrop. You will then Cross a suspension bridge into Letdar which is your destination for the day.
DAY 9. 3 hours. Easy - moderate. This is a short walk in barren, high altitude hills. The trail ascends initially, but then you descend to cross the Kone Khola river on a wooden bridge. The trail then ascends through the austere hills untill you reach Thorung Phedi. You cannot ascend too high due to the altitude. Besides which you will need to conserve your energy for the following day. 
DAY 10. 8 hours. Hard. You will rise early to begin this long, hard day over the Thorung La pass that will take you to the highest point of your trek and surely test the limits of your endurance. Day 11. 5 hours. Moderate You descent continues as you reach the settlement of Jharkot where you may like to visit the gompa. From here you can also see the ruins of the regions ancient capital - Dzong. You will then descend further through fruit trees and meadows, passing over streams as the Nilgiri range begins to come into view. You will pass through the town of Kagbeni which has an Impressive gompa and a medival atmosphere, and continue through a barren area prolific in ammonite fossils, formed in the Tethys Sea before the Eurasian and Indian land masses collided, creating the Himalayas. Eventually you will come to your days destination of Jomsom. Day 12. 8 hours. Easy You leave Jomsom and cross over a low ridge before crossing the Shyang Khola river over a log bridge to Shyong, which has a large gompa and quaint, traditional style buildings. You descend further down the edge of a valley and come to an area that was the setting of an agricultural project set up in 1966 to introduce new types of produce to the region. There is a lot of food produce grown in this area, and you will able to sample the local fresh fruit, vegetables, almonds, apple cider and fruit perservatives. The are also several types of rakshi (home made wine) available, made from apples, apricots and peaches. You will come to Tukucha which evolved as a trading post for Tibetans and Indians and also boasts beautiful architecture. Here you can visit Tukuche distillery or one of the towns four gompas. Descending further you cross the Thapa Khola river and make several ups and downs and enter Khobang on a trail lines with weeping willows. Khobang is an architecturally equisite town where you can visit the towns gompa or nunnery. The town has narrow alleyways and tunnels connecting houses that are built round enclosed courtyards - a system designed to protect the town from the winds of the Kali GandakI valley. Leaving Khobang you will make the short journey to Larjung, climb over a ridge, cross the Ghatta Khola river and then climb over another ridge of fir, cypress and juniper trees before coming to the beautiful old houses of Dhampu. You will then cross the Kali GandakI river before descending to Kalopani and Lete which boast great 360 degree panoramic views of Annapurna I, Fang, Nilgiris I, II and III, Tukuche peak and Dhaulgiri. Day 13. 8 hours. Easy Leaving Lete, you will trek along a level trail , and then descend slightly into a valley to cross the Lete Khola river over a suspension bridge. You will then climb through forests over a ridge to Ghasa where there is a local reforestation project. You will cross the Kali GandakI river over a suspension bridge and make several steep ups and downs passing through small rural settlements, and you again cross the Kali GandakI river. You then climb over a ridge and reach Rupse Chhahara, which means ‘beautiful waterfall’. A bit further on you come to Dana which boasts some beautifully hand carved buildings, windows and balconies. Continuing your descent along the Cliffside, high above the Kali GandakI you will pass through a small tunnel carved out of the hill and several rocky areas before coming to Tatopani. Tatopani literally means ‘hot water’ in Nepali and here there are natural hot springs here you would surely be longing to indulge in.
From here you have a few options to finish the trek (a ) 14 days total. Descend to Beni. 7 hours. Easy Continue down the valley the next day, following the Kali Gandaki river to Beni and from there you will be transported back to Pokhara.
(b) 17 days total. Via Poon Hill. Climb up to Ghorepani and view the sun rising on the Annapurna massif from the exceptional lookout point of Poon Hill. A great way to get a last look at the journey you have just undertaken. Descend to Naya Pul and be transported back to Pokhara.
(c) 25 days total. Trek to Annapurna base camp. Climb up to Ghorepani and view the sun rising on the Annapurna massif from the exceptional lookout point of Poon Hill,. . From Ghorepani trek to Chhomrong and join the trail for the Annapurna sanctuary trek, trekking on to Annapurna base camp before returning to Naya Pul and being transported back to Pokhara with an extensive knowledge of the Annapurna region!
There are scores of treks to suit all time frames, budgets and fitness levels. Please get in touch to find out more. “"Trekking in the Himalayas is a life-changing experience. There are so many choices of route that you can keep coming back here and never see the same things twice. I trekked to Annapurna Base Camp, also known as the Sanctuary trek due to the proliferation of flora and fauna, and it was utterly breathtaking. We walked for around six hours each day and stayed the night in local guesthouses en route. The villages were incredibly friendly. I never would have attempted this on my own, but Nepal Dreams made it seem so easy. Everything was taken care of so I didn't have to worry about a thing. I had the time of my life, and Nepal Dreams made it all possible." Katie Law - London |