Grade
‘Moderate
- Challenging’. This tour covers a range of walking conditions. A
reasonable level of walking fitness is required to cope with the
steep ascents and descents e.g. the Chommrong
staircase!! There are some muddy sections through forests
and over tree roots. At a height of 4095m, altitude might pose a
problem for some people, although our well graded program normally
manages to avoid this!
Climate
Weather
in the world’s highest mountain range is never totally predictable
but we would expect clear and settled conditions. In the early
stages the days will be warm, around 70 F (20 C). As altitude is
gained, though the days will still be pleasantly warm, it will be
chilly early morning and night time temperatures down to freezing
point can be expected. In the Sanctuary you can expect snow at any
time of year and certainly overnight it will normally be below
freezing.
Included
All
ground transport as specified in the itinerary, bed and breakfast
accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara, 1 evening meal in Kathmandu, half day excursion of Kathmandu, all food and accommodation on trek, services of Nepali
guide, trek crew and porters, tents, cooking
equipment, and trek permits. Kathmandu airport transfers, free use
of trek pack which includes duvet jacket, sleeping mat, sleeping bag,
thermal bag liner, long rain poncho, duffel bag and
t-shirt.
Not Included
International
flights (unless you have requested them). Passport, visa, insurance, immunization fees,
meals other than breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara (budget £20 per meal
without drinks). Airport taxes, tipping.
Flights
We
will on request source International flights from London Heathrow
to Kathmandu via
Delhi with Jet airways, or via Doha with Qatar Airlines. Note that
these fly out of London on the day before the first advertised day
of the tour (Day 1 of itinerary).
Flight
routing exemple;
Outbound:
Depart LHR 20.50 arrive
DEL 10.40
Depart
DEL 12.40 arrive KTM
14.40
Inbound:
Depart KTM 09.00 arrive
DEL 10.35
Depart DEL 13.40
arrive LHR 17.40 (same day)
The Trekking Day
A
typical day begins just after 7 a.m. After breakfast we begin our
walking in the pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m.
This mid-day break usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking
for three hours or so in the afternoon, we will aim to arrive at the
tea house around 4 p.m. You will have an hour or so to relax and
reflect before the day is rounded off with an evening meal.
Health Matters
Vaccinations for Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Diptheria and Meningitis
are also suggested. Some Drs. might recommend the Rabies Vaccine as this
may be carried by monkeys and dogs. If you are visiting The Chitwan
National Park or the ‘Terai’
you should take anti malarials but you won’t need these if you
are just going
to the Annapurnas.
A
medical kit will accompany the trek. We do, however, recommend that
each person carry a small personal first aid kit. A suggested list
of contents will be sent to all members, as well as more general
information on health matters.
Documents
A
visa is required for Nepal and you must have a valid passport. Visas
for Nepal when applying directly with the Nepal Embassy will cost
£35 for a single entry. Alternatively you could use the postal visa
service of www.travcour.com
but there is an additional fee of £35 + £7 postage and packing.
Trekking documents are required, but these are organised by us in
Kathmandu. You can purchase visas on arrival into
Kathmandu but we would not recommend this option as the queues are
long and the situation on this can change at any time.
Books & Maps
For
information on the sights of the Kathmandu valley, its history and
culture, we suggest ‘Rough Guides’
& ’ Lonely Planet travel guides’.
A good general guidebook (although without so many hints) is
the Insight Guides series Nepal.
There are many books on Trekking
in Nepal. Perhaps the most well known are those by Stephen
Bezruchka, or Stan Armitage. A
usefully realistic account of what happens on trek is found in Mike
Harding's Footloose in the Himalayas.
There
are accounts of the most important great expeditions such as John
Hunt The Ascent of Everest. Reinhold Messner The Crystal Horizon.
Note: That a good company for
sourcing outdoor / trekking books is ‘Cordee’: www.cordee.co.uk
Another
company: ‘Cicerone Press,’ www.cicerone.co.uk
publish their own trekking guides to areas of the
Himalaya, recommended is:
Annapurna: A Trekker's Guide by Kev Reynolds
ISBN 1852843977 Price: £15.00
A
trekking map is normally issued to you at your trek briefing in
Kathmandu, if not these are readily available in town, although they
are somewhat lacking in detail!
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Outline Itinerary
The
following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and is subject to
variation as a result of local conditions, weather, government
restrictions or other reasons beyond the control of Sherpa Expeditions.
We
reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) any trek at any time if
this is necessary.
1000m
= 3281ft. 1km = .62 miles.
Day
1: Arrive Kathmandu and
transfer to the 4* hotel. Evening Pre-Trek Briefing.
Day
2: Half-day excursion visiting Kathmandu with its many temples and
pagodas, afternoon free.
Day
3: By road to Pokhara
915m, 7 hours. Overnight hotel.
Day
4: Drive to Nayapul 1030m, 1 hours. Trek to
Thike Dhunga. 1210m, 4 hours. Overnight lodge.
Days
5-6: Trek to
Tadapani ( 2286m). The trek is via Poon
Hill (3200m), for an early morning magnificent sunrise vista of the
western Himalayas. On the steep track up, the huge bulks of Annapurna
South and Hiunchuli soar above. Thick stands of bamboo amid rhododendron,
oak and hemlock line the track and the rainforest is one of the most
beautiful in Nepal.
Day
7-8 : Trek to Sinuwa (2689m).
Then trek to Deurali (3080m), passing a rock overhang known as Hinco Cave.
Hinco Cave is a landmark on the way up the Annapurna Sanctuary
gorge.
Day
9 : We are now above the tree line, and soon enter the Sanctuary. The
sudden 360 degree view of white, glistening mountains over 7000m high, is
breathtaking. We ascend along the moraine ridge with good views of the
Sanctuary to Annapurna Base Camp (4 hours, 4095m). The route of
Bonnington’s famous ascent is clearly visible on the enormous wall of
rock and ice. There will be plenty of time to explore. Overnight
lodge.
Day
10/13: Trek back out from the Annapurna Sanctuary via Chommrung,
Ghandrung, Nayapul and bus to Pokhara.
En
route visit of the Annapurna Area Conservation Project and descend
the Modi Khola valley past Syaule Bazaar and the lively bazaar of
Birethanti.
On
day 13 overnight in Pokhara and a comfortable 2* hotel by Phewa Lake,
915m.
Day
14: Flight back to Kathmandu 1330m, 30 mins. Overnight at the 4*
hotel.
Day
15: You will be
transferred to the International airport for your flight home.
General Information
Special
Dietary Requirements: It is important for you to tell us if you
have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday so that we
can inform everyone in Nepal.
Insurance:
All clients must have appropriate cover for the activities
included for the duration of our trip.
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