Himalayas Annapurna Base Camp

Flight to Nepal

Meeting with the group and the guide at the check-in counter at O’Hare Airport terminal in Chicago. Passport and baggage check. Departure to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Arrival in Kathmandu.

Passport and customs clearance, transfer to the hotel, and time to relax. In the afternoon, there will be a city tour, including a visit to the vibrant Thamel district. In the evening, there will be an informational and preparatory meeting for the trekking adventure. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

KATHMANDU – POKHARA (822 M)

Today we start early as we have a long but incredibly exciting journey to Pokhara ahead of us. Leaving the valley, we will enjoy the stunning scenery, as the drive itself is an exhilarating experience. Along the way, we will make several stops, and after about 7 hours of driving (approximately 200 km), we will reach the town. After checking into the hotel, we’ll have some refreshments and reconnect with nature.

We’ll embark on a one-hour boat ride on Phewa Lake, admiring views of various mountains reflecting in the lake, a small island, and the Hindu temple Tal Barahi. It is believed that the Barahi temple was built in ancient times, featuring traditional pagoda-style architecture mostly made of wood, brick, and stone. While exploring Phewa Lake, it’s essential to see this extraordinary temple on the island.

Optional excursion: For those interested, there’s the possibility of rafting on the Trishuli River. Cost is approximately 60 USD per person. Please register before entry.

NAYAPUL – TIKHEDHUNG (1540 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 5 hours

Our trekking expedition begins on this day, right after breakfast in Pokhara. First, we’ll take about an hour-long bus ride to Nayapul, where our trek will commence. Ahoy adventure! Today, our trail will lead us along the riverbank to our destination, Tikhedhunga. Along the way, you can see several small waterfalls, and the entire route of this day will pose no problem; it’s a warm-up day. Overnight stay in a guesthouse.

TIKHEDHUNG – GHOREPANI (2860 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours

On this day, we embark on a journey to the remarkable village of Ghorepani. The trail mostly ascends, but it’s not too strenuous yet. Lush green forests, waterfalls, and streams will accompany us along the way. We’ll also encounter several remarkable bridges to cross and an incredible section of stairs.

Upon reaching the fork in the road, we’ll head towards paved paths to reach Ghorepani, which translates to “water for horses.” It used to be a mandatory resting stop for caravans. Ghorepani is a beautiful village surrounded by Himalayan peaks from all sides. Upon arrival, a delicious meal awaits us, followed by a long rest, as the next day promises an early wake-up call and an exciting journey!

GHOREPANI – POONHILL (3210 M) – TADAPANI (2710 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 7 hours

We will wake up at dawn to reach Poon Hill, a mountain station offering a view of the Annapurna Massif (8091 m) and the Dhaulagiri mountain range (8167 m). From here, we will admire the magnificent panoramic view and greet the first rays of the rising sun over the Annapurna mountain range. The view is truly spectacular as the sun kisses the snow-capped peaks, turning the mountain from white to golden.

After taking hundreds of photos, we will return to Ghorepani, passing through beautiful pine forests and rhododendron forests. After breakfast, we head towards Tadapani. The trek will take around 6-7 hours, eventually reaching our destination for the day, the village of Tadapani, where you can still admire the incredible views of Annapurna and nearby peaks. The sunset from here is phenomenal! Dinner and rest.

TADAPANI – CHHOMRONG (2340 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours

On today’s journey, our trail will mostly lead us downhill through rhododendron and oak forests. Along the way, we’ll stop at traditional tea houses. After about 6 hours of trekking, we will reach the Gurung village of Chhomrong. This will be our last stop of the day, and the rest of the day will be for relaxation. From here, we can admire views of the southern part of Annapurna and the Fishtail mountain, as well as the remarkable Machhapuchhare, which remains unconquered to this day.

CHHOMRONG – DOBAN (2600 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours

Continuing our descent towards the Chhomrong River, we will encounter more rugged stone steps leading us further. We will face a long uphill climb towards Sinuwa (2340 m), followed by more paved steps downhill to Doban. On this day, we will once again traverse a beautiful trail through bamboo and rhododendron forests. If we’re lucky, we may also encounter langur monkeys, which are native to this part of Asia. We will spend another night of the expedition in Doban.

DOBAN – MACHHAPUCHHRE BASE CAMP (3700 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours

After an early breakfast, we’ll immerse ourselves in the moist and chilly bamboo forest, gradually ascending steep sections. Only upon reaching the Himalayan Hotel (2840 m) does the forest open up, and we are once again in the sun with stunning views of the glacial river below. But that’s not the end for today! We still have a steep climb ahead through a much drier forest until we reach Hinku Cave (3100 m). From here, we’ll see the trail descending closer to the river, and we’ll begin the ascent to Deorali (3140 m), where we’ll stop for lunch.

From Deurali, we’ll head towards the riverbank and follow a narrow path until we reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700 m). From here, there’s a spectacular view of the surrounding peaks. Overnight stay in a guesthouse.

MACHHAPUCHHRE BASE CAMP (3700 m) – ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP (4130 m)

Walking Time: Approximately 3 hours

After about 2 hours of trekking, we will reach Annapurna Base Camp, where a magnificent view of Mount Fishtail and Mt Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, and Annapurna South unfolds before us.

You can admire the incredible, practically vertical southern wall of Annapurna. The Annapurna mountain range stretches for about 50 kilometers. The summit was first conquered in 1950, marking the first ascent of an 8,000-meter peak by humans. Our compatriots also made the first winter ascent. This is also one of the most dangerous mountains in the entire Himalayas.

The views are breathtaking, so we will take a longer break not only for photos but also to absorb the nature with all our senses. After all, we have just reached the foot of the 10th highest mountain in the world! Free time in the afternoon for a short walk and immersion in the surrounding scenery. Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.

ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP – BAMBOO (2310 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 6 hours

We are facing a slow descent. We move away from the Annapurna summit and descend towards the Modi Khola River in Bamboo, lowering our altitude by nearly 2000 meters. The area is not as densely forested, so we may encounter cold winds. It will be a several-hour trek until we reach the village of Bamboo for our overnight stay. The name of the village comes from the incredibly dense bamboo forest in the area.

BAMBOO – JHINU DANDA (1780 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 5 hours

We start the day by trekking towards Chhomrong and passing through Kalgidhar. The trail descends towards Jhinu Danda, where there is also a hot spring by the riverbank, which is an incredible spot. It’s a real treat on our journey! We’ll end the day in Jhinu Danda.

JHINU DANDA – SIWAI – POKHARA (830 M)

Walking Time: Approximately 3 hours

After breakfast, we trek towards the town of Siwai. This will be the final trek of our trekking expedition. After about 3 hours of walking, we reach Siwai from where we will drive (approximately 2 hours) back to Pokhara, where we recently began our adventure in the Himalayas. We will spend the evening by Lake Pokhara, enjoying the nightlife and a well-deserved rest. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

POKHARA – KATHMANDU

Before our flight to Kathmandu, we will visit several important places in Pokhara. Among the main attractions are Davis Falls and the Gupteshwor Cave, which is almost 3 km long and holds incredible value for Hindus.

We will also visit the International Mountain Museum with its stunning collection of artifacts, photographs of the Himalayas, and the history of the residents and the greatest climbers along with their most famous expeditions.

After lunch, we will head to the airport in Pokhara, from where we will fly back to Kathmandu. From the plane, you can admire the captivating scenery. After about 20 minutes of flight, we will arrive in Kathmandu and then proceed to the hotel for overnight stay.

KATHMANDU

After breakfast, we will explore Kathmandu, visiting its most important sites, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will visit Durbar Square, the heart of old Kathmandu. The main elements of this palace square are art, architecture, craftsmanship, and designs displayed in pillars, buildings, and temples. The square was beautifully crafted by ancient artists. Since then, the place has been restored, but the originality of this place still remains. We will also get acquainted with the extraordinary world of Buddhism and Hinduism, experiencing the religious syncretism so characteristic of this Himalayan country. After exploring the city, we will head to the airport for our flight towards Chicago.

• Return.

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