Annapurna Base Camp Trek 15 Day : The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is a luscious mix of remarkable mountain vistas, traditional mountain village life and thick rhododendron and bamboo forest ecosystems. Starting in the quaint lakeside town of Pokhara, the trail heads to Tikkhedunga and Ghorepani and continues through lush forests and farmland to narrow gorges overlooked by the mighty Hiunchuli and Machapuchru. (Fishtail Mountain.) The trail takes you to the heart of the Gurung and Magar cultures and their traditional way of life. It introduces you to a vast variety of birds and wildlife whilst offering you the most magnificent views of the snow capped mountains of the Annapurna Range. Our destination is ABC where we will be encapsulated by a mountainous wonderland, being surrounded by the icy peaks of some of the word’s highest and most beautiful mountains. A trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill will also offer you stupendous mountain views. There are challenging days to meet our 4130 meter elevation goal, from rocky trails to the ascent of 3300 stone steps to Ulleri, all will be worth the effort as you accompany these majestic mountains to ABC over an array of different and exciting landscapes. Descending from ABC, you get the opportunity to bathe in the natural hot spring at Jhinu before returning to Pokhara to regale us with your adventures and achievements in the Annapurna Himalayas. Itinerary (Detailed Itinerary): Country: Nepal Activities: Trekking & Walking Trip Duration: 15 days Price: US$ 995 Trekking Area: Annapurna Group size: Maximum 8 people Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu. (1345 meters.) A Mosaic Adventure representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in nearby Thamel. Day 2: Trip arrangements, meeting with staff and sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. You will meet your trekking guide, discuss the trekking program and coordinate any last-minute arrangements. After/before staff meeting, our professional tour guide will take you to visit some historical, religious and cultural sites of Kathmandu including Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Swyambhunath and Patan Durbar Square. Day 3: Drive to Pokhara. (850m.) We catch an early morning bus to Pokhara, a lakeside town offering splendid views of the Annapurna Himalayas. Day 4: Hike to Tikhedunga. (1540m/4 hours.) After breakfast, we take an early morning 1-hour drive to Nayapul. We then begin our trek, following the River Bhurungdi Khola. We pass low land rice fields and orange groves along an easy trail with a gentle incline to our first teahouse where we will spend the night. Day 5: Tikhedunga to Ghorepani. (2810m/6.5 hours.) Leaving Tikhedunga, we begin our journey with a steep climb to Ulleri ascending a steep stone staircase consisting of 3300 steps, a difficult challenge that rewards us with excellent views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), Gandharba Chuli and Annapurana II and III. Ghorepani is reached by passing through a huge, dense rhododendron and oak tree forest, home to Longur monkeys and musk deer. Overnight in teahouse. Day 6: Hike up to Poon Hill (3210m/1.5 hours) and trek to Tadhapani. (2700m/6 hours.) An early morning climb before breakfast takes us to the top of Poon Hill for spectacular, panoramic sunrise views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulageri mountain range. After breakfast we head out for an uphill trek trough the jungle to Durali before a slight descent to Tadhapani. We will be accompanied by monkeys for much of our journey today. Overnight in teahouse. Day 7: Tadapani to Chomrong. (2170/5 hours.) From Tadhapani, we make a steep descent through a dense, dark forest to the beautiful village of Chomrong. We trek past farmland and local, traditional Gurung villages offering marvelous views of Annapurna South and the sacred Mount Machhapuchhre before reaching our teahouse for the night. Day 08: Chomrong to Dovan. (2580m/5 hours.) A lot of “up and down” today. We descend for 1 hour to the Chomrong Khola River and cross its waters on a suspension bridge. We then ascend for the next 2 hours to Sinuwa. Bamboo grows wild in this area and there are many beautiful rhododendron and walnut trees along the trail. After lunch we pass through an area named after all the bamboo before reaching Dovan and our teahouse for the night. Day 9: Dovan to Machhapuchhre Base Camp. (3700m/6 hours.) A Gradual ascent following the banks of the river Modi Khola brings us through a sacred valley. No meat or fish is allowed in this area to comply with Buddhist and Hindu beliefs. We continue to pass bamboo trees and if we are lucky, we may see Lophorous birds, the national bird of Nepal. We continue the ascent to base camp and our teahouse for the night. Day 10: Annapurna base camp. (4110 meters/4 hours.) After we leave Machhapuchhre Base Camp, we leave all vegetation and trees behind, we enter a desert wilderness known as the Annapurna Sanctuary, an area of pristine natural beauty, surrounded by the glorious Annapurna Himalayas and glistening Annapurna glacier. Overnight in teahouse. Day 11: Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo. (2340m/6 hours.) We give you an early wake up call today so you can enjoy the wondrous sunrise views of the Annapurna Sanctuary. We then we begin our descent, following the Modi Khola River to Bamboo. Overnight in teahouse. Day 12: Bamboo to Jhinu. (1780m/5.5 hours.) We start the day with an uphill trek to Sinewa and then descend to meet the Chomrong Khola River. Another ascent to Chomrong before the final descent of the day to Jhinu. Here, you can visit the natural hot springs to bathe in the relaxing warm waters. Day 13: Trek to Nayapul (1070m/ 6 hours) and then drive to Pokhara. Our last day of trekking, an easy ascent to the banks of the Modi Khola River and on to Nayapul. We then take a private car for a one and a half hour drive back to Pokhara. Overnight in hotel. Day 14: Flight back to Kathmandu. A late morning flight back to the capital and the time is yours to spend relaxing in Kathmandu. Day 15: Departure. A member of the Mosaic Adventure Team will transfer you back to the airport for your flight home. Cost Include(s) 01. Domestic Airport picks up & drops by private vehicle. 02. Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara 03. Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu with entrance fee 04. All your standard Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek. 05. Teahouse accommodation during the trek. 06. English speaking guide during the trek and required number of Porters (1 for 2 people basis) to carry your luggage during the trek; their food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipments etc. 07. Pokhara - Kathmandu flight ticket 08. Annapurna conservation area fee. 09. Trekker’s information management system(TIMS) card fees. 10. Jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag to use during the trek. 11. Travel & Rescue arrangements. 12. All our government taxes and official expenses. Cost Exclude(s) 01. Lunch and dinner during your stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara. 02. Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, sweets, snacks etc., 03. All beverages and bar bills. 04. Travel Insurance (Essential). 05. Personal trekking equipment except stated above. 06. Tips for guide, porter and driver 07. Any loss arising due to unforeseen circumstances that is beyon Mosaic Adventure control Frequently Asked Question(s) How fit do I have to be? The Annapurna Base Camp trek is considered to be a moderate trekking route in Nepal. It has some long days and steep inclines. You do not require any previous trekking or mountaineering experience. It is not required that you have any technical experience, only that you be in good physical condition and are able to walk for four to six hours per day over hilly terrain with a light bag pack. If you are not an experienced trekker or do not exercise regularly, we recommend that you embark on a training program well in advance of commencing this trip. You will be given plenty of time to rest throughout the trek and the pace will be slow to help you acclimatize safely to the increasing elevation. What is the level of accommodation like? In Kathmandu and Pokhara, your hotel accommodation will usually include an attached bathroom and have facilities such as air conditioning, reception and dining services. The level of accommodation is generally Nepalese 3 star and is comfortable and clean. If you require an upgrade of accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara, there are many 4 star and 5 star options at an extra cost. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require an upgrade. Once you start your trek, you will be staying in “Teahouses.” Accommodation is limited, especially the higher you get, so your room may vary from a private single/double room to a bed in a dormitory. Bed mattresses are usually firm, not sprung mattresses that you may be used to at home. The accommodation is very basic and there will usually be shared shower and toilet facilities. There is a communal dining hall in all teahouses offering limited meal choices. Although basic, the teahouses are clean and are a welcome, friendly and warm resting place after a day trekking. Is enough drinking water available? How many liters of water shall we carry in our daypack? We ask that all our customers bring water purification tablets and a water bottle with them. (They can be bought in Kathmandu/Pokhara if forgotten.) Mosaic supports responsible tourism so we do not encourage trekkers to buy bottled water when in the Himalayan region, although it is be available, there is no proper disposal system for plastic bottles and we would like to keep our mountains clean and trash free. There will be plenty of water available along the way to fill your bottles and most brands of purification tablets take just 30 minutes before you can drink your water. We recommend that you drink a minimum of 3 to 4 liters of water per day whilst on your trek. Where can I keep my luggage? Any luggage that you will not require during your trek can be kept securely in the hotel in Kathmandu or in the storeroom of our office. Do I need to take walking poles? Walking poles are not essential but can be useful especially on the way down. Poles help you balance on the way down and take the strain off of your legs (quad muscles) on some of the steep climbs. You can buy or hire poles in Kathmandu and they easily collapse so you can attach them to your back pack when they are not needed. Can I buy any equipment in Kathmandu before the start of the trip? There are plenty of trekking shops in Kathmandu selling equipment inexpensively compared to the prices you would normally pay at home, although, the quality of these products cannot always be guaranteed. If you do not want to take the risk, we recommend you buy major items such as trekking shoes, before you arrive in Nepal. It is also recommended you buy your shoes well in advance of your trek so you can “break them in” and avoid blisters during your trip. Can I recharge my iPod, batteries, cameras etc… while on the mountain? Yes, you can, in the teahouses. Please remember that plugs might be different than at home so don’t forget to bring adapters with you or buy them in Kathmandu before the trip. You may need to pay for the use of the electricity to recharge your electrical items in some teahouses, usually at a cost of $2-3 US per hour. Is it recommended to get Nepalese visa in advance or at the airport? Most people can obtain a visa on entry to Nepal. There are some countries where a visa will need to be obtained prior to traveling (you can find a list of these countries at immi.gov.np) If you want to avoid the sometimes-lengthy queues at the airport, you can obtain a visa from the Nepali embassy in you home country before you travel. Please visit the appropriate websites in your country for details. If you want to obtain a visa on arrival, you will need to fill in a landing card, (most airlines provide these before landing in Kathmandu, if not, they will be available in the airport) pay a fee (cost differs depending on your length of stay) and provide a passport photo so don’t forget to bring one in your hand luggage to present to the immigration officers. Visa fees are as follows: US Dollars 25 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15 days multiple entry visa. US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa. US Dollars 100 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 90 days multiple entry visa. (information from the department of immigration, Nepal) We would advise you to bring US dollars to pay for your visa, most major currencies are usually accepted also. Although there is a currency exchange in the airport (if they will not accept your currency), you may not get the best exchange rate; therefore it is always a safe bet to bring US dollars. Can we take showers during the trek? Showers are available at the teahouses. They will usually be shared bathrooms in most teahouses, especially the higher up you go. You will have to pay for a hot water shower per person. The higher you are, the colder it gets and you may find that you do not want to shower as often so you can wait just a few days until your descent. How much money per day do you think I will need? What currency should I take? Local currency in Nepal is rupees. We recommend you bring US dollars with you to Nepal and exchange them here as this is easily done and is a widely accepted currency. Although you may get a lesser rate on traveler’s cheques, we suggest you carry a mixture of both depending on your needs. The amount of money you will need on a daily basis depends on your spending habits. A guide would be $10 per day for extra drinks and bar bill during your trek and $20 per day to cover lunch/dinner whilst in Kathmandu. What do I have to carry with me on trek? You will need to carry a reasonable sized daypack, big enough to carry personal items, water, camera, snacks, sunscreen, hat, a fleece jacket and gloves for higher altitudes. The porters will carry the bigger packs with your clothes etc…. They will carry packs up to 20kg. (10kg per person) How do I get from the airport to my Hotel? We will arrange a pickup service free of charge at anytime of the day or night to transfer you from the airport to your hotel. You will be met by a Mosaic representative on arrival. If you have booked a trip with us but have arranged to arrive in Kathmandu earlier and do your own thing until the trip starts, we will still pick you up at the airport, you just need to let us know your arrival date and time so we can come and meet you. Kindly look for signage showing the Mosaic Adventure logo or your name. Please note; We recommend that you deal with your own bags at the airport and carry them yourselves. There are people who will offer to carry your bags and will expect payment. You are not obliged to pay these people and it is not advisable to get out your wallet in front of them. Just tell them No, thank you! if someone approaches you and walk away. What if I get sick while on trek? It depends on the nature of the sickness. Usually, if you become sick, you will descend to a lower altitude with the help and support of the guide and porters. If you are seriously ill, we will arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation service. Our guide will take immediate action according to the situation. Please ensure you arrange travel insurance that covers you for an evacuation service and trekking at high altitudes. *Altitude sickness can affect everyone whilst trekking including young and healthy people and is a genuine concern in higher altitudes. If you feel dizzy, suffer palpitations or severe headaches, return immediately to a lower altitude. Do not take altitude sickness lightly. It can be fatal! Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness before your trek. Do not ignore even the mildest of symptoms, inform your guide immediately. Our guides carry basic medicine and first aid equipment including simple painkillers, altitude sickness tablets, bandages, balm for muscle ache and medication to treat diarrhea and vomiting. Honest Tours & Travels pvt ltd. Khushibu, Naya Bazar, Kathmandu Nepal Telephone no: 00977 014360669 Branch Office Pokhara Lakeside -06 Mobile No:- 977-9851140110,9806668140,9846117867 honesttoursntravels Email: [email protected]
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 08:08:46 +0000