Annapurna base camp

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Annapurna base camp
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Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek
21 Days around the most beautiful mountain range in the world!

There is no question that the amazing Annapurna Mountains of the Himalayas are no doubt the most beautiful of all mountain ranges in the Himalayas, and probably the world. Those who think this is just hype come back affirming that this is no exaggeration. From the lofty snowcapped peaks to the friendly Gurung villages you will pass through, you will come away enchanted by the magic of this special place.

The scenery of the 21 day Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek will never be boring. The wide range of scenery that comes with the varied elevations keeps the trek always exciting. There are ancient villages to explore with unique and interesting temples. There are beautiful, terraced farms in the lower elevations. Visit a Buddhist monastery with its burning butter lamps casting eerie shadows on the walls covered with colorful paintings of spiritual creatures. Walk along the Kali Gandaki River which features the world’s deepest canyon. Climb to the top of Thorong La Pass (elev. 5,415 m/17,766 ft.) for an enchanting view of the Annapurnas in a 360° panoramic view.

With the Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek, it’s all here in just three incredible weeks. There is nothing quite like the Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek that will deeply touch your heart and mind.

Come to Nepal and experience the Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek. It is the experience of a lifetime as you discover the immense beauty of the Himalayas. Summit International Travels & Tours can make this trek a reality. Come now to Nepal and experience what the amazing Annapurna mountains have to offer!

 

Short itinerary:

DAY 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu(elev. 1350 m/4,429 m)

DAY 2 – SIGHTSEEING IN THE MAGICAL KATHMANDU VALLEY

DAY 3 – DRIVE TO JAGAT (elev. 1200 m/3,937 ft.)

DAY 4 – TREK TO DHARAPANI (elev. 1860 m/6,102 ft.)

DAY 5 – TREK TO CHAME (elev. 2670 m/8,760 ft.)

DAY 6 – TREK TO PISANG (elev. 3200 m/10,499 ft.)

DAY 7 – TREK TO MANANG (elev. 3540 m/11,614 ft.)

DAY 8 – ACCLIMATIZATION DAY

DAY 9 – TREK TO THARE GOMPA (elev. 4070 m/13,353 ft.)

DAY 10 – TREK TO TILICHO BASE CAMP (TBC) (elev. 4150 /13,615 ft.)

DAY 11 – TREK TO TILICHO LAKE (elev. 4920 m/16,142 ft.)

DAY 12 – TREK TO THARE GOMPA (elev. 4,070 m/13,353 ft.)

DAY 13 – TREK TO YAK KHARKA (elev. 4018 m/13,182 ft.)

DAY 14 – TREK TO THORONG PHEDI (elev. 4450 m/14,600 ft.)

DAY 15 – TREK TO MUKTINATH (elev. 3800 m/12,467 ft.) VIA THORONG LA PASS

DAY 16 – TREK TO KAGBENI (elev. 2800 m/9,186 ft.)

DAY 17 TREK TO JOMSOM (elev. 2710 m/8,891 ft.)

DAY 18 – FLY TO POKHARA

DAY 19 – DRIVE TO KATHMANDU

DAY 20 – LEISURE DAY IN THE CITY

DAY 21 – DEPARTURE

Trip itinerary:

DAY 1 - Arrival in Kathmandu(elev. 1350 m/4,429 m)
Your plane circles over the fabled city of Kathmandu. You look down to see a valley bigger than the country of Singapore below you, ringed with the green mountains that protect it. Immediately to the north are the stunning snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas. The plane circles Tribhuvan International Airport before touching down. You deplane, pass through passport control, grab your luggage and exit the airport. There on a large sign is your name. It’s your personal representative of Summit International Travels & Tours who has come with a private car to take you to your hotel to relax for the night. It’s been a long flight, and tonight you’ll want to rest as you prepare yourself for the excitement of the journey ahead.

DAY 2 – SIGHTSEEING IN THE MAGICAL KATHMANDU VALLEY
You rise refreshed. There is something about the mountain air that is invigorating as you rise ready to conquer the day. After breakfast, your guide will pick you up in a private vehicle and take you to see four of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are seven in the Valley, but it is impossible to see all of them in one day. It will be hard to choose the four, which range from ancient villages, incredible temples and holy sites to palaces of the kings from bygone eras. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali food and dance. Summit International Travels & Tours does the welcome dinner the second night because we know you are tired from your long flight. Tonight you’re refreshed and ready to enjoy the program before you.

DAY 3 – DRIVE TO JAGAT (elev. 1200 m/3,937 ft.)
We rise early in order to travel by private car to the village of Jagat. It’s around an 8 - 9 hour drive as we clear the Kathmandu Valley. We make our way through the Trisuli River Valley and then westward to the village of Jagat. This village is a pretty place with a great guest house we will spend the night. Enjoy great views of Peak 29 and Mt. Manaslu, the latter being the 8th highest mountain in the world. It is one of only 14 mountains in the world over 8000 meters.

DAY 4 – TREK TO DHARAPANI (elev. 1860 m/6,102 ft.)
It’s our first day of trekking and we find ourselves going uphill. We turn back to look at the village of Jagat which looks so nice from above. The trail ascends through forests of rhododendrons which come into amazing blooms during the months of March and April. The trail passes several waterfalls around Tal Village where we lunch. Our destination is the village of Dharapani where we find good lodging. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.

DAY 5 – TREK TO CHAME (elev. 2670 m/8,760 ft.)
The day starts out after breakfast as we make our way upwards once again. We will find wonderful villages to pass through as the local people greet us. We can probably even enjoy a cup of tea with the villagers who are happy to see you. Of special interest is the white-washed Buddhist monastery at Bagarchhap. We will have outstanding views of Mt. Manaslu, rising to an elevation of 8,163 m (26,781 ft.) Called “Spirit Mountain” by the local people, the Tibetans who have lived here for centuries call it a God. It is a massive mountain with a wonderful snowcapped summit. We continue to climb upwards to reach the village of Chame where we will spend the night. Trekking time is around 5 – 6 hours.

 DAY 6 – TREK TO PISANG (elev. 3200 m/10,499 ft.)
The journey to Pisang is a challenge as we have a number of fast moving mountain streams to cross. We will cross these rivers on suspension bridges high above the rivers below. The trail turns steep in places. No doubt the trail will challenge us, but the views of the mountains along the way will make the effort worth it. We can see the peaks of Annapuran II, Annapurnq IV as well as Pisang Peak. Our destination is the village of Pisang where we will find a newly constructed Buddhist Monastery. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours to reach our guest house for the night.

DAY 7 – TREK TO MANANG (elev. 3540 m/11,614 ft.)
The trail today is very scenic as we make our way to the Gurung village of Manang. This Gurung community  is a beautiful village nestled in the shadow of the Annapurna Mountains. We pass by Mringchho Lake which reflects the beautiful snowcapped peaks. We arrive excited to be in Manang where we will spend two nights. Trekking time is around 6 – 7 hours.

DAY 8 – ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
The Annapurna Pokhara Circuit Trek is a high elevation trek. Once we cross the 3000 meter mark, it is necessary to take a day to allow our bodies to acclimatize. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a serious concern, and the best way to avoid it is simply to take a day to allow our bodies to adjust to the higher elevations.

We won’t sit around and do nothing today. It’s a day of short hikes to places like Gangapurna Lake where we will have wonderful views of Tilicho, Pisang, Chulo and Thorong Peaks. We can also explore Cave Gompa to get an impressive view of the Annapurnas. There is also a lot to explore in Manang. It features the unique culture of the Gurung people.

DAY 9 – TREK TO THARE GOMPA (elev. 4070 m/13,353 ft.)
After breakfast we’re back on the trail as we discover a new village and tour the Buddhist monastery at Khangsar village.  It’s a shorter day of trekking, about 4 – 5 hours. We reach Thare Gompa, which has another interesting monastery.

DAY 10 – TREK TO TILICHO BASE CAMP (TBC) (elev. 4150 /13,615 ft.)
One of the popular climbing peaks in the Annapurna region is Mt. Tilicho, and we make our way to Tilicho Base Camp. There are superb views along the way. We are well past the tree line, so there is no vegetation to block our amazing views of the snowcapped peaks. Watch for blue sheep along the way grazing. These animals are the favorite food of the snow leopard. While it’s doubtful that we will see the snow leopard on our trek, there is no doubt they will probably see us! They are shy creatures with beautiful fur and gorgeous blue eyes. We will spend two nights at a nice guest house at TBC. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.

DAY 11 – TREK TO TILICHO LAKE (elev. 4920 m/16,142 ft.)
Tilicho Lake is the highest lake in the world. Sitting at an elevation of 4,920 ft, it is glacial fed with incredible blue waters that reflect the snowcapped peaks that surround it. We leave our backpacks at our guest house at Tilicho Base Camp, lightening our load as we travel to and from this awesome alpine lake. We will no doubt see plenty of wildlife up here. There are no villages for quite some distance as we are well above the farms and human habitation. Trekking time today is around 3 – 4 hours.

DAY 12 – TREK TO THARE GOMPA (elev. 4,070 m/13,353 ft.)
We return by a different route to Thare Gompa, crossing by a large landslide area. It will take us around 4 – 5 hours to reach our destination where we will enjoy lunch and dinner before going to bed for the night

DAY 13 – TREK TO YAK KHARKA (elev. 4018 m/13,182 ft.)
Yak Kharka brings us back to the classic Annapurna Circuit Trail. We took a side trip to see Tilicho Lake, of which you no doubt found well worth the effort. We trek for around 4 – 5 hours, enjoying the alpine vistas that surround this beautiful trail. We find our night’s lodging at Yak Kharka.

DAY 14 – TREK TO THORONG PHEDI (elev. 4450 m/14,600 ft.)
We wake up in the wonderful alpine air. The early mornings are nippy up here, but the morning sun warms the surroundings. We have breakfast and its back on the trail. It’s great views of the mountains all along the way. We cross the Kali Gandaki River over a wooden bridge. Along the way to Thorong Phedi, we spot many awesome waterfalls that we stop to admire. It’s 4 – 5 hours of trekking. Get some rest tonight as we have a big day ahead of us.

DAY 15 – TREK TO MUKTINATH (elev. 3800 m/12,467 ft.) VIA THORONG LA PASS
This will be the most challenging as well as the most scenic of days as we make our way after breakfast up to Thorong La Pass. This is the highest elevation on our trek at 5,416 m (17,769 ft.) Your body will scream in protest at the steepness of the climb, but once you reach the top, you will quickly forget what you have endured! The massive snowcapped peaks are in every direction. You see not only the peaks of the Annapurnas, but also Mt. Manaslu and other mountain ranges! It is so incredibly beautiful and surreal. You will stand gazing at the mountains in wonder. Some people are so in awe they actually forget to take pictures until reminded by their guide. It’s just that incredible. Words simply cannot describe the sensation of the views. From the top you can actually see three of the 14 highest peaks in the world.

Finally, you pull yourself away from the scenery and make your way down the mountain trail to reach the sacred village of Muktinath. This village is home to one of the most sacred temples in all of the Himalayas. For centuries, a blue flame has burned inside the temple, fed from deep in the earth. There are 108 water taps that pour forth incredibly cold water. Hindus and Buddhists alike consider this place so sacred, they make pilgrimages here. Even followers of the ancient Bön religion worship here with its sacred flame and cold waters that pour forth. We will spend the night at Muktinath. Trekking time is 7 – 8 hours.

DAY 16 – TREK TO KAGBENI (elev. 2800 m/9,186 ft.)
Today we will visit the sacred temple of Muktinath as we light a butter lamp and behold the sacred blue flame. We finally leave and make our way downhill to the village of Kagbeni. Here we enjoy passing through forests now that we’ve crossed below the tree line. Don’t worry, there are still many scenic overlooks of the Annapurnas. We reach Kagbeni after trekking for 4 – 5 hours.

DAY 17 TREK TO JOMSOM (elev. 2710 m/8,891 ft.)
Jomsom is the gateway to the Annapurna region. It is well known for producing some the finest apple crop of the Himalayas. Jomsom has a long history, known by traders who passed on the way to Tibet where they returned with black salt and gold as they returned to India. We trek today around 4 – 5 hours where we will stay in a good hotel in the village. Today is our last day of trekking.

DAY 18 – FLY TO POKHARA
Today we rise and fly to the city of Pokhara. It’s just a 45 minute by flight to Pokhara. We arrive and check into our hotel. We drop our luggage and spend the rest of the day sightseeing. There is so much to see and do at the lakeside city of Pokhara. There are world class museums, underground temples, Davi Falls with its disappearing waters and finally the Buddhist World Peace Pagoda that offers an incredible view of the city, the lake and the mighty Annapurnas beyond.  We enjoy the day seeing the city, then its dinner at our hotel with a wide menu choice.

DAY 19 – DRIVE TO KATHMANDU
It’s time to travel back to Kathmandu, and we journey back following along the Marsyangdi River until it meets the Trisuli at Mugling. From here, its back through the valley and over the pass to reach our hotel back in Nepal’s capital. Travel time is 7 – 8 hours.

DAY 20 – LEISURE DAY IN THE CITY
Today is a good day just to relax after your amazing Annapurna Pokhara Circuit Trek. It’s your day. Do some more sightseeing, go shopping or relax at your hotel’s roof garden reading a book in the Himalayan sunshine. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your guide and porters and staff of Summit International Travels & Tours.

DAY 21 – DEPARTURE
The Annapurna/Pokhara Circuit Trek comes to a close today as you prepare to leave for the airport and journey to your next destination. Before leaving, be sure to talk with your friends at Summit International Travels & Tours about a return trip to Nepal and the magical Himalayas. You can choose a trek to places like Everest, go to remote areas like Tsum Valley, or even take a jungle safari to look for tigers and rare Indian One-Horned Rhinos. It’s all here in Nepal. So find out all there is to see and do. Once you’ve been here, you will understand why people return again and again. The Himalayas beckon you back. So follow the call, and return to the land of the majestic Himalayas.

 

 

Service includes:-

  • Airport pick up and transfer to hotel.
  • All program as mentioned in itinerary
  • Overland transportation
  • Trekking guide both way flight ticket
  • Insurance for Nepalese staff. ( Trekking guide,  and porters)
  • Guide and porter fares and taxes.Government Tax and office service charge.
  • Airport drop

Service Excludes:-

  • Lunch & Dinner during Kathmandu stay
  • International flight ticket
  • Nepal entry visa fee
  • Purely personal nature expenses
  • Tipping /Tips(Tipping is Expected).

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