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Day 1 Kathmandu - Pokhara (800m)
By road to Pokhara.
Day 2 Pokhara - Tikhedungha (1540m)
By taxi or bus to Naya Pul, with fairly easy start to trek.
Day 3 Tikhedungha - Ghorepani (2800m)
A strenuous day up a long stone staircase, rewarded by the opportunity for stupendous views at the top.
Day 4 Ghorepani (2800m)
If the weather is good, we will make a pre-dawn start and visit Poon Hill (3193m) for the sunrise views of the spectacular panorama of Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Glacier Dome.
Day 5 Ghorepani - Tadapani (2700m)
After breakfast we divert from the main trail and go east. The Poon Hill views are repeated at the top of the first hill out of Ghorepani, then we descend a deep, interesting gorge before going back up a ridge after lunch.
Day 6 Tadapani - Chomrong (2200m)
A short, easy walk to the night stop at Chomrong, a Gurung village which is the highest permanent settlement in the valley.
Day 7 Chomrong - Dovan (2500m)
The trail crosses the River Modi Khola and continues high on the west bank. It climbs steadily through forests of bamboo and rhododendron to Dovan.
Day 8 Dovan - Deorali (3000m)
Carrying on up through the forests, the trail eventually crosses a number of old avalanche chutes and finally leaves the steep, narrow part of the valley at Deorali, our next night stop.
Day 9 Deorali - Macchapuchare Base Camp (3480m)
The trail now becomes less steep, although it continues to cross avalanche debris as it climbs. It now enters the Sanctuary, recrosses the river and then arrives at a meteorology project. From here a few minutes walk brings us to the Base Camp.
Day 10 MBC - Annapurna Base Camp (3900m) - MBC (3480m)
An early start enables us to reach ABC in about two hours and obtain fine views of the surrounding peaks on the way. It is possible here to spot Himalayan tahr, weasels and pika, a small rodent common in mountainous areas. After the ascent, we return to MBC for the second night.
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Annapurna South
and the Annapurna Sanctuary
on New Year’s Day 2001
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Day 11 MBC - Himalaya Hotel (3000m)
We start by retracing the route of our ascent.
Day 12 Himalaya Hotel - Chhomrong (2200m)
We continue on down the ascent path back to Chhomrong.
Day 13 Chomrong - Ghandruk (1940m)
We continue to retrace our steps for a short distance before descending through a fertile area with prosperous-looking houses.Then the trail drops steeply to Khumnu before climbing back up again. Then comes a final gentle descent into the very attractive village of Ghandruk. This is the second largest Gurung village in Nepal and is the site of a large Gurung arts and crafts centre and museum. The women’s guild of the village entertain us in the hotel with an evening of folk music and dancing.
Day 14 Ghandruk - Naya Pool - Pokhara
We continue the descent to the Modi Khola then follow the level path to Birethanti and Naya Pool where we take taxis for the 40 km drive back to Pokhara. Kingfishers and monkeys are often seen along the riverside on the lower stretch.
Day 15 Pokhara
A free day in the attractive lakeside area of the main city in central Nepal. Early morning provides a spectacular panorama of the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare and Manaslu.
Day 16 Return to Kathmandu
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