Annapurna Sanctuary

Duration: About 15 days
Trek days: About 10 days
Max. Altitude: 4095 m

Region: The Annapurna Sanctuary trek begins at the lovely lakeside resort town of Pokhara on the Southern slopes of the Annapurna massif, a lovely area of fir and rhododendron forests, protected by Annapurna conservation Area Project. This riveting trek is consider as one of the most scenic treks in the region, affording the trekker views of Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Ganesh Himal and the Annapurna range.

Regarded as one of the most popular treks, it takes you through charismatic villages, rich oak, pine and rhododendron forests and grants you fabulous views of the giant snow-peaks- Annapurna I (8019m), Annapurna III (7555m), Gangapurna (7454m) and Machhapuchchhre (6999m). The Kaligandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, and Tilicho Lake, the highest lake at 4,919 m, are also located in this area. The trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary traverses a variety of terrain, from lowland villages and rice terraces to glaciers, and offers outstanding high mountain views.

The Annapurna region is that north of Pokhara in Central Nepal, and includes some of the world's highest and most beautiful mountains. These include the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre - the famous fish-tail mountain that dominates the skyline above Pokhara. In addition this area boasts the Kali Gandaki, the world's deepest gorge.

Trek: Annapurna, at 8091m, is the 10th highest mountain in the world and will be forever known as the first 8000m peak to be climbed - by Herzog's French party in 1950. The climb was an epic of Himalayan climbing and has entered mountaineering folklore. The trek begins in Pokhara and leads up through the breathtaking Modi Khola gorge into the vast mountain ringed amphitheatre of the Sanctuary. As trekkers trek through bamboo and rhododendron forests they have superb views of the Annapurna range. They eventually pass between the mountains of Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli which guard the entrance to the Sanctuary, and after 6 days reach their awaited goal, the high glacial basin that is the site of the Annapurna south face base camp.

This is a classic trek which allows access to the high mountains of the Himalaya within a reasonable timeframe and with a maximum altitude of 4000m. Accommodation and food is provided in the local lodges. Transport to and from Pokhara is by air.