Short Annapurna Base Camp Trekking - 9 Days

One of our team will greet you at the airport for the transfer to your Hotel where there is time to relax. Your guide will meet everyone in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at a convenient time depending on arrival times. For those that wish, there is the chance to go out together as a group for dinner afterwards something we like to do with new guests. There are no other activities planned for today. Depending on your arrival schedule you will have time to get around the bustling bazaar, the hotels we use are normally situated in the lively Thamel area. There is a feast of outdoor gear, souvenir shops, great bookshops and a huge variety of restaurants, it's a great place to wander through and get your bearings.

Soon after breakfast at our hotel we leave the capital today for the drive to Pokhara. The drive will take us much of the day around six hours, through beautiful landscapes of green hills along fast flowing rivers with busy market towns dotted along the route. As we near Pokhara, the landscape changes and the Annapurna range comes in to view. On arrival at our lakeside hotel there is time to relax. The afternoon is free to get around, perhaps some boating or just chilling out in a restaurant around the lake.

Our first day commences with a two and a half hour road trip towards the Annapurna Massif, the spectacular views help to make up for the potholed road we need to encounter on the way. Journey over and Boots well laced we begin with the climb to Chhomrung. First a gradual climb to and through the hot springs settlement of Jhinudanda which we ignore for now. There is then a steep climb for around two to three hours to Chomrong, the village has its own unique setting, spread over a hillside with some stunning views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre. Probably we will have lunch here and continue to Sinuwa for an overnight.

We leave Chomrong on a the trail that eventually snakes up through Rhododendron and Bamboo forest, over semi arid rocky terrain and past cascading waterfalls as it pierces deep into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary. We begin today with a descent to cross the Chhomrong Khola River by suspension bridge, all the way with some excellent views of Machhapuchhre with its distinctive 'fishtail' profile and Annapurna South. We continue to climb quite steeply, along a trail that leads us through oak and rhododendron forests until we reach a very welcome teahouse on top of the ridge at Sinuwa (2350m). From here the ascent to Kuldighar (2470m) is more gradual, continuing through lush forest to our lunch stop at the Bamboo Hotel (2340m). After lunch we continue our ascent towards Dovan, beyond which lies the unofficial gateway into the Sanctuary, walking through wet bamboo forest. The track continues up past the so-called 'weeping wall' and the shrine of the 'God of the Jungle' to the Himalaya Hotel (2840m).

Today we climb further to pass between the mounts of Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli–Known as the 'Gates' into the Sanctuary. Climbing over rocky moraine we arrive at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3720m). Perched in the shadows of Annapurna South and the beautiful shape of Machhapuchhre one of Nepal's holy mountains (machha, fish' and puchhre, 'tail'), this is an awe-inspiring setting in which to end our day's trekking, the mountain landscapes providing us with a sight to raise the spirits of even the most tired amongst us.

Having taken in the stunning beauty of our setting, we begin our descent today heading for Bamboo (2340m), passing through the thick bamboo forest and crossing a number of rocky avalanche chutes to reach our destination.

The day starts with a descent through lush rhododendron forest full of wildlife and birdlife with a cacophony of birdsong to accompany us - mostly black-capped Sibia, we trek down to cross the Chhomrong Khola and climb up to Chhomrong village (2060m) where we take a short break. We descend all the way to Jhinu Danda then drive back to Pokhara where a hot shower and one of the town's many bakeries await us.

After breakfast we transfer to the Kathmandu valley by tourist bus which takes more or less 7 to 8 hrs.

Transfer to the international airport