dossier
Annapurna Sanctuary
Grade
‘Moderate -Challenging’ This tour covers arange of walking conditions. A reasonable level of walking fitness is requiredto cope with the steep ascents and descents e.g. the Chommrong stair case!! There are some muddy sectionsthrough forests and over tree roots. At a height of 4050m, altitude might posea problem for some people, although our well-graded program normally manages toavoid this!
Climate
Weather in the world’s highest mountainrange is never totally predictable but we would expect clear and settledconditions. In the early stages the days will be warm, around 70 F/20 C. Asaltitude is gained, though the days will still be pleasantly warm, it will bechilly early morning and nighttime temperatures down to freezing point can beexpected. In the Sanctuary you can expect snow at any time of year andcertainly overnight it will normally be below freezing.
Included
All ground transport as specified in the itinerary,bed and breakfast accommodation in Kathmandu, half day excursion of Kathmanduand valley, all food and accommodation on trek, services of leader,English-speaking guide, trek crew and porters, tents, cooking equipment, andtrek permits. Kathmandu airport transfers, free use of trek pack which includesduvet jacket, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, thermal bag liner, air pillow, longrain poncho, duffel bag and t-shirt.
Not Included: International airfare to/from Kathmandu, Passport, visa, insurance, immunization fees, meals otherthan breakfast in Kathmandu (budget US$40 per meal without drinks). Airporttaxes
The Trekking Day
A typical day begins just after 6 a.m. with an earlymorning mug of tea served through the tent flap. After a hot breakfast, duringwhich the camp will be struck and the porters loaded, we begin our walking inthe pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m. or so. This middaybreak usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking for three hours or so inthe afternoon, we will aim to pitch camp around 4 p.m. You will have an hour orso to relax and reflect before the day is rounded off with a hot three-coursemeal. However, there may be the opportunity of visiting a nearby village tohave contact with the local people.
Health Matters
Get your vaccinations for Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Diptheria and Meningitis arealso suggested. Some Drs. We recommend Rabies Vaccine as this may be carries byMonkeys and dogs. If you are visiting The Chitwan National Park or the ‘Terai’ you should take anti-malaria. Butyou won’t need these if you are just going to Annapurnas.
A medical kit will accompany the trek. We do,however, recommend that each person carry a small personal first aid kit. Asuggested list of contents will be sent to all members, as well as more generalinformation on health matters.
Documents
A visa is required for Nepal and you must have a validpassport. Consult with the local NepalEmbassy for details. You can purchase visas on arrival into Kathmandu but wewould not recommend this option as the queues are long and the situation onthis 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 goodgeneral guidebook (although without so many hints) is the Insight Guides seriesNepal. There are many books on Trekkingin Nepal. Perhaps the most well known are those by Stephen Bezruchka, or StanArmitage. A usefully realistic accountof what happens on trek is found in Mike Harding's Footloose in the Himalayas.
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ITINERARY |
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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 four star Hotel ShangriLa. 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. (Note that we drive out to Pokhara and return at the end of the tour by plane to Kathmandu, the brochure is incorrect, we do not fly out to Pokhara). There is then a walk to the village of Dhamphus Phedi where we spend our first night on the Damphus ridge, with its spectacular sunset views of Machapuchare the Annapurnas. 1500m, 2 hours. Day 4: We walk along less trekked trails via quaint villages, stands of acacia, fig, bamboo and banana in the lower areas and as we get higher conifers and rhododendrons. We camp at Langdrung. 5 hours, 2010m. Days 5 & 6: We cross over a forested ridge and descend into the Modi Khola valley. We camp at Nayasangu and then make a steep ascent through Kyumrung village passing terraces and scattered small settlements before descending to our campsite at Chommrong (6,401ft), the last permanent settlement up the valley. Day 5: Trek to Nayasangu. 6 hours, 1314m. Day 6: Trek to Chommrong. 5 hours, 1951m. Day 7: From Chomrong we descend to cross the Chomro Khola and then ascend to rejoin the Modi Khola valley. We continue to climb more gradually to reach our lunch stop at Kuldi Ghar (7,798ft). In the afternoon we ascend through bamboo forest to our campsite in a clearing (8,550ft) near Doban. 4 hours. 2286m. Day 8: We ascend through forest to a clearing where a teahouse, the Himalaya Lodge (9,425ft) is sited. Continue upwards, sometimes quite steeply and eventually reach a rock overhang known as Hinko Cave (10,300ft) from where we reach Deurali, (10,600ft) our overnight camp stop, in about 1 hour. 5 hours, 3080m. Day 9: We are now above the tree line 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 Base camp (11,673ft). We have our lunch here and also make camp. The afternoon is free to explore the surrounding area. 7 hours, 3720m. Day 10: 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. 5 hours, 4050m. Day 11: Optional walks in the Sanctuary, or use as a rest day. Days 12/14: We retreat down the great gorge of the Modhi Khola to Ghandrung, with stops on the way at 'Bamboo Lodge' and 'Hot Spring'. Day 12: Trek to Bamboo. 4 hours, 2377m. Day 13: Trek to Hot Spring. 4 hours, 1820m. Day 14: Trek to Ghandrung. 6 hours. 1951m. Day 15: After an optional visit to the Annapurna Area Conservation Project we walk down the Modi Khola valley past Shauli Bazaar and the lively bazaar of Birenthanti to Nayapul (1030m, 6 hours) for our bus back to Pokhara where we camp by Phewa Lake. 4 hours, 915m. Day 16: Flight back to Kathmandu. Overnight at the 5 * hotel. 8 hours, 1330m. Day 17: At leisure in Kathmandu either sightseeing or shopping in Kathmandu. Day 18: You will be transferred to the International airport for your flight home. Each day may vary from this schedule as walking times differ with every group, some taking longer and others takes less, plus trails and lodge conditions need to be taken into account. The guide in charge of your trek will alter the schedule if necessary. |
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