Nepal: Alternative Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
Example Itinerary
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Overview
Trek through the Annapurna Range away from the crowds on this unique routing developed especially to provide a wilderness experience with breath-taking scenery and an insight into the villages and rural lives of the region. The journey begins in Kathmandu, from here you will travel overland to Pokhara passing through villages and stopping to explore Newari Bandipur. In the company of experienced guides and porters, your trek then takes you into the breath-taking scenery to Khopra Danda culminating ...
Trek through the Annapurna Range away from the crowds on this unique routing developed especially to provide a wilderness experience with breath-taking scenery and an insight into the villages and rural lives of the region. The journey begins in Kathmandu, from here you will travel overland to Pokhara passing through villages and stopping to explore Newari Bandipur. In the company of experienced guides and porters, your trek then takes you into the breath-taking scenery to Khopra Danda culminating in a visit to Khayer Lake. With the majestic Himalayan peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Tukche, Niligiri, and Machhapuchhare as a permanent backdrop, you’ll pass through small villages and traverse undulating hills, negotiating your way through forests filled with tree orchids and rhododendrons as your trail takes you on towards the Gurung village of Ghandruk. Returning to Pokhara before flying back to Kathmandu you will then have the chance to explore the capital’s historic centre.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Kathmandu: Arrival
Arriving in Kathmandu you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2 Kathmandu – Pokhara: Travel Overland Through Bandipur
Leaving Kathmandu this morning you will drive through the Nepali countryside to Pokhara, following the route of the River Trisula before making a stop at the Newari town of Bandipur. Once a busy stop off on the trade routes, the bazaar still bustles with activity and there are a number of 19th century mansions lining the main street. As your journey continues you will divert from the main highway along a scenic route past Begnas Lake and a number of smaller villages before arriving in Pokhara, the total 210km journey will take around 8-10 hours.
Day 3 Pokhara - Birethanti – Deopur – Langdi: Through Local Villages
Leave Pokhara early this morning for the 55km; 2 hour drive to the busy town of Birenthanti. Have a wander around the bazaar and stock up on some snacks before setting off on your hike. You will start by skirting the main trail to Poon Hill before climbing through villages, forests and terraced fields that lead the way downhill to the village of Kusma. It is approximately 3.5 hours to Deopur where you will break for lunch before continuing along the trail through villages inhabited by Pun Magars, an ethnic group known for serving in the Nepali army. As you continue you will be introduced to Nepali life seeing school children, men and women at work, temples and of course the beautiful landscapes you pass through. The camp tonight is at Langdi.
Trekking distance 24km; approximately 6 hours; ascent 215m
Day 4 Langdi – Lespar: Hills & Waterfalls
Today takes you along a series of hills, with their soft, undulating contours covered with rhododendron and evergreen forests. You will pass by one of the region’s waterfalls which after the monsoon is in full flow and a sight to be seen. The area is rich in birdlife and many of the birds should be visible for spotting or making their presence known with their calls and song.
Trekking distance 24km; approximately 7 hours; ascent 1190m; descent 615m
Day 5 Lespar – Nagi: Pun Heritage Village
After an early start and breakfast you will find yourselves hiking through forests of rhododendrons and evergreens, through the trees you will catch glimpses of the magnificent peaks of Dhaulagiri, Tukche, Niligiri, and Machhapuchhare. Reaching the overnight stop of Nagi (2090m) early you will have a chance to explore this interesting village. The villagers have constructed a school, put in electricity so students can study after dark, built a campsite for trekkers, started animal husbandry projects and constructed a library. The villagers are also proud of their Pun heritage and you may have the chance to see some of the traditional dances.
Trekking distance 24km; approximately 6 hours; ascent 320m; descent 90m
Day 6 Nagi – Swanta: Chitre & Swanta Villages
This morning the trail takes you north towards Swanta and the climb begins. Have lunch in the small village of Chitre, the last contact with trekking civilisation for a while as your path takes you in a more remote direction away from the main trails. From here you will climb steadily throughout the afternoon on the way to the village of Swanta at 2200m. The campsite for tonight will be next to the river or a little higher close to the school and tea house.
Trekking distance 24km; approximately 6 hours; ascent 870m; descent 940m
Day 7 Swanta – Chistibang: Dhaurali Views
This morning’s trail leaves from behind the school and takes you through an area of farmland, fields and villages. As you walk the snow-capped peaks appear to be getting closer and in the afternoon you follow a ridge which provides views of Dhaurali, the world’s seventh highest peak. A descent from the ridge and a river crossing lead you to the campsite at Chistibang (3000m).
Trekking distance 16km; approximately 6 hours; ascent 715m
Day 8 Chistibang – Khopra Danda: Gaze Across the Annapurnas
A shorter day’s trekking today brings you along the back side of the ridge to the top from where there are dazzling views across the entire Annapurna Range to one side and the rolling grassy hills and rhododendron forests stretching behind. Even from the tent the views are spectacular and you won’t want to close the doors. Setting up camp early allows for time to wander and explore the area, this is the final camp below the tree line.
Trekking distance 13km; approximately 4-5 hours; ascent 865m
Day 9 Khopra Danda – Khayer Lake: High Altitude Camp
Today is a trek highlight as you hike up to Khayer Lake (4270m) and camp at high altitude in the bowl by the lake. The path is quite narrow and due to the altitude the hike can take a while, this is not a problem though as the constant views of the mountains before you capture your attention. On arrival at the camp there is time to explore the rocks and waterfalls in the area.
Trekking distance 13km; approximately 4-5 hours; ascent395m
Day 10 Khayer Lake: Shiva Shrine
A rest day today allows you to take it easy and enjoy the views or head out on a hike to a shrine dedicated to Shiva, commemorating Shiva’s swallowing of demon poison in order to keep the world’s water pure. Due to the religious sanctity of the lake it is necessary to leave all leather items back at the camp. The walk itself takes you along a narrow path on the edge of the mountain, across the tundra dotted with wild flowers and then around the lake. After a picnic lunch you return to camp to relax for the rest of the day.
Trekking distance 9.5km; approximately 4 hours; ascent and descent 600m
Day 11 Khayer Lake – Khopra Danda: Ridge Descent
Today you begin heading back downhill and after a few hours trekking you return to the ridge with the spectacular views at Khopra Danda, again with the snow-capped mountains on one side and the rolling hills on the other.
Trekking distance 16km; approximately 5 hours; descent 585m
Day 12 Khopra Danda – Dobate: Through Fields & Forests
Continuing the descent today you hike through fields and forests, across rolling grass covered hills to Dobate. A drier and often arid area, at certain times of year water can be scarce here. At night the sky is full of twinkling stars and the soft snow on the peaks of the mountains still glistens against the black night sky.
Trekking distance 16km; approximately 5 hours; descent 310m
Day 13 Dobate – Ghandruk: Gurung Village
As the sun comes up against the peaks they change in colour with the gentle hues of the morning. Continuing the descent the trail eventually meets the main trail and leads to Ghandruk, one of the bigger Gurung villages in the area. Here you can make a stop at the Annapurna Conservation Area Office to learn about the different conservation projects in the area, there are many success stories and the models have been used internationally. Enjoy a walk through the town this afternoon, Ghandruk was once a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha regiment and today the village women still maintain a tradition for weaving beautifully made Nepalese rugs.
Trekking distance 29km; approximately 7 hours; altitude decrease 1400m
Day 14 Ghandruk – Kimche – Pokhara – Kathmandu: City Tour
An hour’s walk this morning brings you to Kimche where it is time to climb back into a vehicle and rejoin the world. Driving on to Pokhara you will then board the flight to Kathmandu. This afternoon you will head out with a guide to explore Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, an area of temples and palaces, as well as making a stop at Swayambunath, one of the city’s huge stupas.
Day 15 Kathmandu: Departure
You will be taken to the airport for your international flight home.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu
Dwarika’s Hotel is a stunning 5* star traditional Newari-style property that oozes charm. Located in Kathmandu the hotel is within easy reach of the spectacular Boudhanath stupa and the Pashupatinath temple complex. The property itself features a mix of woodwork and artefacts salvaged from temple and house restorations. Dwarika’s 86 spacious and luxurious rooms and suites are decorated in Newari style and the hotel pool and grounds are a tranquil haven and a perfect place to relax. A Himalayan spa is also on site and offers a range of wonderful treatments for guests to enjoy at their own leisure. The hotel’s restaurants and bar each offer a variety of culinary experiences for you to choose from.
Hotel Barahi Pokhara, Pokhara
Part of the well-respected Bahari Hospitality & Leisure group, Hotel Bahari Pokhara offers luxury and tranquility in the heart of Pokhara. Located in the heart of Lakeside, the hotel was named after the island temple of Barahi located in the nearby Phewa Lake. Guests can choose from four different rooms categories, with the higher category rooms offering more space and amenities but overall all room types are well-appointed with tasteful and elegant decor. The hotel's facilities are extensive, with delicious cuisine being served up in Pokhara Flavor, relaxing treatments available in their tranquil spa, and a wonderful outdoor swimming pool to enjoy during the day and evenings.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
MEALS
TRANSPORT
ENTRANCE FEES
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
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Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.
24-HOUR SUPPORT
Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.Meet the expert, Shalmali
Shalmali is our Indian Subcontinent expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Shalmali by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
OTHER ITINERARIES IN NEPAL
Check out our group tours in Nepal
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Nepal. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
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