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Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
Highlights
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Moderate
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13 N/14 D
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All around the year
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Hotel at Kathmandu & Tea house accommodation during trek
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Private Vehicle
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Trek
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1 Arrival at Kathmandu: 1400m altitude: 30 minutes drive to Hotel
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Day 2 Kathmandu - Pokhara: 900m altitude, 210 km & approx. 6 hrs drive (B)
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Day 3 Drive to Nayapol: 1 & ½ hrs and trek to Hiley: (1495 m). approx. 4 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 4 Trek Hiley - Ghorepani (2775m): approx. 6 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 5 Excursion to Poonhill (3210m): approx. 3hrs & trek to Tadapani: approx. 4-5 hours walk (B, L, D)
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Day 6 Trek Tadapani - Chhomorong (2100m): approx. 4-5 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 7 Trek Chhomorong - Dovan (2580m): approx. 5 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 8 Trek Dovan - Deurali (3250m): approx. 4-5 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 9 Trek Deurali - Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) via Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700m): 5- 6 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 10 Trek ABC - Dovan: approx. 6 hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 11 Trek Dovan - Jinuwa (1650m): approx. 6hrs walk (B, L, D)
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Day 12 Trek Jinuwa- Nayapol: approx. 6 hrs walk & Drive to Pokhara: 1 & ½ hr (B, L)
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Day 13 Drive Pokhara- Kathmandu: 6-7 hrs: Evening farewell dinner with cultural show (B, D)
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Day 14 Departure (B)
Includes
1. Transport in private vehicle with a/c
Airport transfers
Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu in private car
Pokhara - Nayapool- Pokhara in private car
2. Accommodations:
Kathmandu (2Ns)
Pokhara (2Ns)
Tea House Accommodation during trekking (9Ns)
3. Meals:
All breakfasts
Lunch: all lunches during trekking
Dinner: all dinners during trekking and one typical Nepali Dinner with live cultural show
4. Trekking Package:
Tea House Accommodations, English Speaking License Holder Guide and all his expenses, all meals during trekking, hot water provided during meal time only
5. Guide:
Representative from Aarya Village Travel for arrival & departure assistance
An English speaking licensed holder trekking guide
6. Taxes and Permits:
All the applicable services charges, government taxes, ACAP, TIMs card
Excludes
1. International Airfare, Nepal VISA Fees ($30 per person), Excess baggage charge in Domestic flight, Travel Insurance
2. Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary
3. Cost for Porter: who can carry maximum 20 kg of luggage
4. Meals not listed in the itinerary
5. Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc
6. Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional activities, etc
7. Payment Transfer Charge
8. Hotels check out as per the hotel rules.
9. Any extra expenses incurred from flight cancellation or delay, sudden price escalations in hotels, transport, flight or any other items, any form of rescue
Detail Itinerary
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu you will be met by one of our representatives and then transferred to your hotel. As you enjoy your welcome drinks you will be briefed about your program. The rest of your day shall be at your leisure.
Your journey on the second day begins with a drive to Pokhara right after breakfast which may take approximately 6 hours of drive. Located 210 km west of Kathmandu, this beautiful lakeside city is a prime tourism destination in Nepal offering with spellbinding and hypnotic natural beauty, stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks and of course, with all the modern day amenities. The drive on the way itself is going to be an amazingly unique experience as you travel besides the mighty river with some strong current almost throughout your journey with scenic greenery on both sides of the road along with human settlements thick and thin at different places.
Towards the evening you shall enjoy walking along the bank of Phewa Lake, admiring the stunning reflection of the Fish Tail Peak on the blue Phewa Lake water.
Right after breakfast, the guide escorts and drive you to Nayapool 45km west of Pokhara and 1 & ½ hours' of drive from Pokhara in private vehicle and that's where you start your trek to Hiley.
We reach Birethani (at 1065m above sea level) after walking for 15 minutes along the banks of the Modi River (Khola). Birethani is a large village consisting of shops and tea-houses. We pass through the village and continue on the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. From here it's a steep ascent to Hiley at 1495m.
On this day your journey begins after breakfast as usual. The hike starts off easy from Hiley to Tikledhunga at 1525 m, from Tikledhunga it's a steep climb up to Ulleri, a modest Magar village at 2070m. Now ascending gently, through pine, oak and rhododendron forests we head to Banthanti at 2250m and onward to Nangethanti at 2460m. From here it's an hour's walk to Ghorepani at 2775m. Ghorepani used to be a rest stop where ancient traders found water (pani in Nepali) for their horses (ghora in Nepali), thus leading to the nomenclature Ghorepani.
Overnight at Guest house
This morning, we will get up early in the morning, and go for hiking to Poon Hill from where you shall observe a superb view of sunrise with its golden rays on the Himalayan panorama, including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fishtail etc. Having spent some quality time at Poonhill, we will come back to Ghorepani, have a hot breakfast and continue walking towards Deurali and onto Tadapani situated at 2600m height
When you wake up early in the morning you shall witness astonishingly beautiful sunrise from Tadapani. After we have a locally prepared pure organic breakfast we start our day's trek towards Chhomorong walking past through Chaile and Gunjung. As you travel ahead, from Tadapani to Kimsung Khola, you descend alongside the Kimsung River followed by a steep ascent to Gunjung school and walking past the school, you shall reach Gunjung village where you shall have the day's lunch. From Gunjung village you then walk on a straight up route until you reach Chhomorong at 2100m height.
Today we head towards Dovan from Chhomorong travelling through Sinuwa and Bamboo. In order to reach there, we have to descend alongside Chhomorong River followed by a steep up ascend till we reach Sinuwa. From there onwards walking pasta dense jungle we reach Bamboo. As scheduled, we have lunch at Bamboo and right after lunch we walk passing another dense jungle until we reach Dovan at 2580m height from the sea level.
On the 8th day of our tour we walk silently passing through the jungle towards Himalaya because there is a temple in between the Jungle and it is so believed that any sort of disturbance or a loud noise is a bad omen and hence, not allowed in the jungle area. While on the way, you shall also encounter many waterfalls during the journey from Dovan to Himalaya. From Himalaya you walk uphill until you reach Hinku- Lake. As you reach there, Deurali is not very far as it takes on only about 40 minutes walking from Hinku- cave to Dovan. Deurali is at the height of 3250m.
On this day we climb gently through a river bed then over a steep trail on the mountain side. The hike from Bagar to Machhapuchhre Base Camp is quite strenuous. From Machhapuchhre base camp we get excellent views of the majestic Machhapuchhre along with Mt. Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Gandharvachuli and Gangapurna which is certainly a rewarding experience. The vegetation disappears on our way to ABC and the path widens as we enter the Annapurna sanctuary.
From here, we get breathtaking views of the near-vertical south face of Annapurna towering above us.
From here you can observe a 360 degree panoramic view, and from the base camp you see the awe-inspiring Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and other peaks. Overnight at Annapurna Base Camp
Early morning ABC sunrises are unlike any other, the sheer beauty of the sun's rays turning the mountains gold is breathtaking. After a typical Nepali breakfast we head back to Dovan walking through MBC- Deurali & Himalaya. If we are able to reach Dovan early, we shall visit Bamboo for sightseeing.
Today we head towards Jinuwa through jungles as we keep walking ahead leaving Bamboo, Sinuwa and Chhomorong behind. After about 45 minutes descent from Chhomorong, we reach Jinuwa Guest House. Here you can indulge in a Hot Spring bath at Jinuwa. You have to walk up a 30mins incline to reach the Hot springs from the guest house at Jinuwa. Jinuwa is situated at the height of 1650 m.
Enjoy the picturesque lush hilly landscapes of western Nepal from Nayapool to Jhinu Danda
We have lunch on the way. Our trek will end at Nayapool where we board our vehicle to Pokhara.
On this day, right after breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu the same way we travelled through initially, which may take us around 6 to7 hours depending on traffic. On reaching the capital city, you may check into the hotel, get yourself refreshed and take a rest for a while after a long day's drive.
In the evening, you will be taken to an authentic Nepali restaurant for Typical Nepali Dinner along with live cultural show performed by different ethnic groups. It may last for 3 hours.
Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight a representative from Aarya Village Travel will transfer you to the airport for onward journey.
FAQs
Yes, the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek refer to the same destination. The Sanctuary is a glacial basin surrounded by peaks including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. Annapurna Base Camp sits at approximately 4,130m. This 14-day itinerary also includes the Ghorepani and Poon Hill sunrise route, making it longer and more varied than the direct trek from Nayapul.
The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is moderate to challenging, with around 4 to 6 hours of walking on many days. The demanding sections include the steep climb to Ghorepani, the ascent from Deurali toward Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp, and the longer return days. Good cardiovascular fitness and strong legs are important for the many stone steps and uphill sections. No technical climbing skills are required, but previous hiking experience is helpful.
The highest point is Annapurna Base Camp at approximately 4,130m. Machhapuchhre Base Camp is around 3,700m, and Poon Hill is approximately 3,210m. Altitude sickness is a genuine risk, particularly during the ascent from Deurali toward the higher camps. The gain in sleeping altitude can be substantial, so consider whether an overnight stay at Machhapuchhre Base Camp would provide a more gradual ascent. Walk slowly, stay hydrated, and tell your guide immediately if you develop a headache, nausea, dizziness, or other symptoms. If symptoms worsen, stop ascending and descend as advised by your guide or a medical professional.
October to November and March to May are generally the best seasons, offering favorable trekking conditions and good mountain views. During winter and early spring, snow and avalanche conditions can affect higher sections, particularly around Deurali and the approach to Machhapuchhre Base Camp. The monsoon season, usually June to September, can bring heavy rain, leeches, landslides, and cloudy mountain views. Check current trail and weather conditions before departure.
You need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Additional registration requirements, including TIMS where applicable, should be confirmed under the current rules before travel. Guide requirements can depend on current regulations and their implementation, so do not assume that independent trekking is permitted without checking the latest official guidance. Aarya Village Travel can help arrange permits and a licensed guide for your trek.
Yes, Poon Hill is a highlight of the trek. Its sunrise viewpoint offers panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), weather permitting. The route continues through rhododendron forests and mountain villages toward the Annapurna Sanctuary, where Annapurna I and the surrounding peaks dominate the landscape. After the trek, you can also visit the natural hot springs near Jhinu Danda. The walk to the springs is downhill from the guesthouse, followed by an uphill return.
