Annapurna Panorama Trek

Detail Itinerary

Day 01Arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu/ Pick up from the airport and transfer to the HotelThe trek/tour guide or/and our airport representative holding AUTHENTIC ADVENTURES sign-board and group name-list will greet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and transfer you to the Hotel on our private vehicle which takes about 20 minutes from the airport. After refreshments, s/he will take you to our office based in downtown Thamel for some welcome drinks, paper works and introduction with the crew. The leader/guide will brief about the trip/ trek.

Day 02Fly or Drive to Pokhara (885m/ 2900ft) 25 minutes flight/ 6-7 hours driveAfter breakfast, we take a nice and scenic drive to Pokhara, naturally beautiful lake city. Upon arriving in Pokhara, we check in to a nice hotel near by the lake and take some refreshments. Then we take nice stroll into the colorful streets of Lakeside and along the lake.

Day 03Drive to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga (1480m/4850ft) 1.5 hours drive and 4-5 hours trekAfter an early breakfast, we drive to Nayapul (42 km) on our private vehicle which takes about one and a half hour. We begin our trek at Nayapul after a scenic drive through the beautiful countryside. In about half an hour’s walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, we reach Birethanti (1015m/3330ft), a large riverside village with many shops, restaurants, lodges and a art gallery. The trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. The trail passes through little settlements, Tea-houses, waterfalls and a school. The trail climbs gradually up the side of the valley to Hile at 1495m/4900ft. After a short trek, we reach Tikhedhunga. The trek today is fairly short and easy as it’s the first day of the trek, just a preamble to the Annapurna region.

Day 04Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2860/9380ft) 5-6 hoursWe start the day with a steep climb to Ulleri, a large Magar village at 2070m/6790ft. Then we ascend gradually through the oak and rhododendron forest to Banthanti at 2250m/7380ft. The trek goes through the fine forest crossing a little creek to Nangethanti at 2460m/8070ft. About an hour’s trek will get us to Ghorepani. Ghorepani in Nepali means ‘horse-water’. In the recent past, it’s an important campsite for traders before it became a popular trekking route. It’s an interesting place with many mountain lodges, internet café. Book shop, groceries, a police check-post and a bakery.

Day 05Hike to Poon Hill (3210m/10530ft) for sunrise then trek to Tadapani (2710m/8890ft) 6-7 hoursTo catch the mesmerizing sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill (3210m/10529ft), one of the most popular trekking destinations of the Annapurna region. Poon Hill is a brilliant mountain range spectacle; this vantage point provides an unobstructed view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas. The snowy peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. We spend about an hour enjoying the breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain range and taking pictures. There is a little tea shop serving tea, coffee and hot chocolates. Then we descend down to Ghorepani and take our breakfast. After breakfast, we head east and climb a nearby ridge through pine and rhododendron forests, to Deurali (2960m/9710ft). We descend through rhododendron forests, spectacular waterfalls to Banthanti. We descend to cross a river on a wooden bridge, then we got a steep climb to Tadapani.

Day 06Tadapani to Ghandruk (1950m/6396ft) 3-4 hoursFrom Tadapani, the trail descends through the dense forest to Ghandruk. Today, we trek through beautiful forest of rhododendron, which blooms in red and pink during the spring season. Passing through a few Tea-houses and waterfalls, we reach the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. After lunch, we enjoy the afternoon exploring the traditional village and lifestyle of the locals and the Gurung Cultural Museum.

Day 07Ghandruk to Nayapul (1000m/3280ft) 4-5 hours trek then drive back to Pokhara (885m/2900ft) 1.5 hourFrom Ghandruk village, the trek descends on stone steps to Syauli Bazaar and then it’s a gradual easy hike to Birethanti. We step onto a staircase paved with stone slabs, curving in and out of the village and then into terraced farms. It keeps on going down almost without any breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. From Birethanti, a half-an-hour's walk takes us to Naya Pul. Our short trek comes to an end at Nayapul. We then drive back to Pokhara. Upon reaching Pokhara, we can have a leasure afternoon or stroll around the lake side and go for a boating on Fewa lake.

Day 08Fly or Drive back to Kathmandu (1335m/4380ft) 25 minutes flight /6-7 hours driveToday, we drive back to Kathmandu. On the way, we get enjoyable sights of the river gorges, mountains, rustic settlements and terraces. After reaching the hotel in Kathmandu, you can have a leisure evening on your own. If you are interested in extending the trip, the suggested tours are Chitwan National Park, White water rafting & kayaking and paragliding.

Day 09Kathmandu valley sightseeing/ UNESCO World Heritage SitesToday, we will visit three spots in Kathmandu valley of historical, cultural and religious importance which are also the UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Sites. We first visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, and observe old palaces, beautiful temples and have a quick glimpse of the Living Goddess “Kumari.” After exploring the historical, religious and cultural center on Kathmandu we will take short drive of about 20 minutes to the Swoyambhunath Stupa, which is popularly known as the Monkey’s Temple as many hundreds of monkeys hang around the temple and amuse the visitors. Monkey’s Temple is situated atop a hill which is believed to have self-existed and its hill top location provides great view down the city and also the Himalayas in a clear day. Then, we drive to another ancient town of Patan and explore its people and their art, culture, tradition and lifestyle. Observing beautifully decorated age old temples and monasteries, we may also have a chance to have a personal audience with the Patan Kumari (Living Goddess). Patan is famous for its temples, fine arts, metal works, stone & wood carvings. We can witness local artists working on their workshops. Patan used to be separate kingdom from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur and different kings ruled this ancient city until the 17th century. There has been little damages at the above sites by the recent earthquake but still beautiful and definitely worth a visit. The renovation is going on most of these sites. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Day 10Drop to the airport for farewell and departure or extend the trip with other activitiesYour adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A representative from Authentic Adventures will drive you to the airport approximately 3 hours before your outbound flight. On your way home you'll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
However, If you have more time in Nepal and are interested in extending the trip with us, there are many options such as trekking to other regions, jungle safari, river rafting, sightseeing tour, mountain biking, adrenaline activities etc.

Photos of Annapurna Panorama Trek

Useful Info

Accommodations
You will be accommodated in a 2-4 star hotel in Kathmandu & Pokhara and mountain lodge/tea-houses during the trek. All accommodations are on twin-sharing basis. Single supplement will be served on request and will cost an additional US$ 175. Authentic Adventures will arrange rooms with attached washrooms when possible; however, mountail lodges/teahouses in some places only have shared washing and toilet facilities. Also note that single rooms are readily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation but it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations during peak trekking season.

Meals
During our trek, we can enjoy authentic Nepalese food as well the more common international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian etc.). Breakfast and dinner will be served in the lodge/teahouse where we spend the night whereas lunch will be served on the way around mid-day. All meals will be provided during trekking while only breakfast will be provided in Kathmandu. However, there will be fabolous welcome and farewell dinners for the group before and after the trek.

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements
Annapurna Panorama Trek is a moderate trek suitable for passionate walkers who have the ability to walk at least 4 to 6 hours a day with a light rucksack. Walking in higher altitude is more physically demanding than walking in the lower altitudes; however, we only trek up to 3210m/10530ft. If we are in good health with average physical fitness, have a positive attitude and strong determination, we can accomplish the trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly is good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung and blood diseases should inform Authentic Adventures before booking the trek. We also recommend that you consult your doctor before the trip.

Best Months to Travel
Spring (March, April & May) and Autumn (October, November & December) are the best months for this trip. Although this trip can be done throughout the year. However, during winter, the cold temperature might not be suitable for everyone and during monsoon, the trails are a bit wet and the views are not always clear.

Safely Request
Your satisfaction and safety is of paramount concern while traveling with us. Please note that your leader/guide has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the original itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we are exposed to weather conditions, health condition of the crew, unexpected natural disasters etc. The leader/guide will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.

Domestic Flights

The Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu flights are running throughout the day. If you feel like avoiding the long drive to & from Pokhara, you are recommended to take the flights. The flights are only 25 minutes and offers amazing mountain views. 

Any Additional Information
Our website contains as much information as possible about this trip. However, if you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for it please contact us by phone or email. If you want to talk to us directly feel free to call us at: 00977 98511 11907 and/or 00977 98066 00888 or email us on [email protected]. You can also video chat with us on Skype. Our Skype id is bhuwan.stha