Click here to download this dossier in PDF format   Download Dossier
Click here to have this dossier emailed to you in PDF format   Dossier by Email

 Nepal: Annapurna Sanctuary

Tour code: NAS
Revised:
November 2009

The Annapurna Massif forms an almost complete ring of high peaks. The only breach in the wall is that of the Modi Khola canyon to the south. The Sanctuary within is a strange, yet enthralling amphitheatre of ice, snow, glacier and moraine.
Our approach route takes us along the highly cultivated terraced hillsides of rural Nepal through a region populated by Gurungs, a tribe whose manpower contributes greatly to the Gurkha Brigades. Higher up the cultivated areas give way to rhododendron and bamboo forests and eventually to rocky and barren terrain.
Rarely does a Himalayan trek of a moderate aspect offer the opportunity of surrounding oneself with such high peaks in so short a time, and without having to contend with extremes of altitude.

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 4050m, 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, 1 evening meal in Kathmandu, half day excursion of Kathmandu, all food and accommodation on trek, services of Nepali leader, English-speaking Sherpa 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, air pillow, 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 (budget £20 per meal without drinks). Airport taxes, tipping.


Flights

We will on request source International flights from London Heathrow to Kathmandu 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 example:

Outbound  Depart LHR 21.25 - arrive DOH 07.05
                Depart DOH 10.25 – arrive KTM 17.30

Inbound    Depart  KTM  09.00 –arrive DOH 11.50
               Depart  DOH  17.10 – arrive LHR  22.00 (same day)


The Trekking Day

A typical day begins just after 6 a.m. with an early morning mug of tea served through the tent flap. After a hot breakfast, during which the camp will be struck and the porters loaded, we begin our walking in the pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m.. This midday break usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking for three hours or so in the afternoon, we will aim to pitch camp around 4 p.m. You will have an hour or so to relax and reflect before the day is rounded off with a hot three-course meal. However, there may be the opportunity of visiting a nearby village to have contact with the local people.


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 £24 + £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!


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 Damphus 1695m, 2 hours. Trek to Pothana, 1799m 6 hours.

Days 5: Descend to the Modi Khola (river). Cross the river at Nayapul and climb up to a welcome lunch stop at the hot springs. head north on a steep track up to Chommrung. 1952m, 5 hours. Overnight lodge. 

Day 6: From Chommrong we descend to cross the Chomro Khola and enter the narrow gorge of this river. Walk in the heart of the Annapurnas. thick stands of bamboo amid rhododendron, oak and hemlock line the track to Doban 2286m, 6 hours. Overnight lodge.

Day 7:  We ascend through forest to a clearing where a teahouse, the Himalaya Lodge is sited. Continue upwards, sometimes quite steeply and eventually reach a rock overhang known as Hinko Cave from where we reach Deurali, (3080m), 5 hours. Overnight lodge..

Day 8: We are now above the treeline and follow the rock-strewn trail along the west wall of the valley, which has now widened considerably. A large lateral moraine lying roughly east west divides the valley with the river in a deep ravine to the right and the trail to the Sanctuary on the left. The trail continues to ascend to reach the site of the 1957 British Machapuchare BaseCcamp (11,673ft). 3720m, 4 hours. Overnight lodge.

Day 9: We ascend along the moraine ridge with good views of the Sanctuary to make camp at Annapurna Base Camp. 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. 4 hours, 4095m. Overnight lodge.

Day 10/13: Trek back out from the Annapurna Sanctuary via Chommrung, Ghandrung, Nayapul and bus to Pokhara.

En route option 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 3* 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.

 

 

   
Click here to download this dossier in PDF format   Download Dossier
Click here to have this dossier emailed to you in PDF format   Dossier by Email

Sherpa Expeditions, 131a Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0RF, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8577 2717 Fax: +44 (0)20 8572 9788
sales@sherpa-walking-holidays.co.uk

home | inn-to-inn walks | escorted tours | cycle tours | walkers britain | himalayas | tailor-made expeditions