Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Our tour starts today in Kathmandu, the busy, colourful and chaotic capital city of Nepal. Our tour leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 5 pm. For those that wish, there is the chance to enjoy a group dinner afterwards. There are no other activities planned for today. If you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will leave any essential information and details of the best time to catch up with them at the hotel reception. If you'd like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). You should allow at least 45 minutes to reach our hotel in central Kathmandu as traffic congestion in the city can be bad. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, if you'd like to get a head start on exploring, our hotel is located a short walk from the lively Thamel area. Home to a multitude of outdoor gear, souvenir shops, great bookshops and a huge variety of restaurants, it's a fun place to wander.

After breakfast this morning, our tour leader will hold a briefing to fill us in on what to expect over the next few days. They'll let us know what to expect on a day-to-day basis and also make sure everyone is properly equipped for the trek. After our briefing, we'll head out on a walking tour to discover Kathmandu. Along the way, we'll visit the bazaar and the Durbar Square area, the centre of old Kathmandu. Much of the day-to-day life of Kathmandu takes place in the bazaar: a fascinating mixture of people selling fruit, vegetables and spices, devotees visiting their favourite gods at temples and small shrines dotted along the sides of alleyways, rickshaw wallahs honking their horns and the ever-present sacred cow wandering amongst it all.

Leaving the capital today, we'll drive to Pokhara. The drive will take us much of the day but there is plenty to see as the landscape changes and the Annapurna range comes into view.

Today, we'll leave Pokhara and drive via Nayapul to Kiwl village where we begin our trek. Today's walk follows a stone pathway, and for the majority of the route we'll be climbing roughly hewn steps - it can be tough on the knees so bring walking poles. Our base for tonight is the small settlement of Ghandruk. Today's 4.5 kilometre/2.7-mile walk is expected to take around three hours with a total ascent of 920 metres/3,000 feet and a descent of 280 metres/920 feet.

Today, we'll start with an ascent before dropping down to cross the Kimrong Khola by bridge, before making a short ascent to Taulung. We'll then begin the long, steep ascent to join the main trail to Chhomrong. The high point above the main valley is a favourite place for soaring vultures, griffons and lammergeiers, providing us with some awesome vistas as we begin the descent to Chommrong (2,060 metres/6,800 feet), the last major settlement before the Sanctuary and an attractive place for us to end the day amidst its alpine lodges and scenic views. Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 810 metres/2,700 feet and a descent of 670 metres/2,200 feet.

Descending to cross the Chhomrong Khola River by a suspension bridge, we'll enjoy some excellent views of Machhapuchhre today (now exhibiting its distinctive 'fishtail' profile) and Annapurna South. We'll continue to climb steeply, negotiating a trail that leads us through oak and rhododendron forests until we reach a teahouse on top of the ridge at Sinuwa (2,350 metres/7,710 feet). The ascent to Kuldigarth (2,470 metres/8,100 feet) is then more gradual, continuing through more lush forest to our lunch stop at the Bamboo Hotel (2,340 metres/7,678 feet). This afternoon, we'll continue our ascent towards Dovan, beyond which lies the unofficial gateway into the Sanctuary, walking through a wet bamboo forest to reach our accommodation later this afternoon. Today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent of 1,060 metres/3,500 feet and a descent of 620 metres/2,000 feet.

This morning, the track continues up past the so-called 'weeping wall' and the shrine of the 'God of the Jungle', to the Himalaya Hotel (2,840 metres/9,300 feet). Passing several spectacular waterfalls which cascade down the opposite side of the Modi Khola, we'll climb through bamboo forest to reach Hinku Cave at 3,100 metres/10,200 feet. We'll ascend further until we reach the small settlement of Deurali where we'll spend the night. Today's 5 kilometre/3 mile walk is expected to take around three and a half hours with a total ascent of 760 metres/2,500 feet and a descent of 80 metres/260 feet.

Today we climb further to pass between Machhapuchhre and Huinchuli - the 'Gates' into the Sanctuary. Climbing over the rocky moraine we arrive at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,720 metres/12,200 feet). Overshadowed by Annapurna South and the beautiful shape of Machhapuchhre (machha, fish' and puchhre, 'tail'), one of Nepal's holy mountains, this is a quite awe-inspiring setting in which to end our day's trekking, the mountain landscapes providing us with a sight to raise the spirits of even the most tired amongst us. Today's 5-kilometre/3 mile walk is expected to take around three and a half hours with a total ascent of 540 metres/1,800 feet and a descent of 40 metres/150 feet.

We'll spend today enjoying the views within the very heart of the sanctuary. Having made a 'crack of dawn' start to get the best of the day, we'll follow part of the route taken by British mountaineer Chris Bonnington on the 1970 Annapurna South Face expedition. Following west along a moraine to the north of Hiunchuli, we'll reach several stone buildings at 4,130 metres/13,600 feet and then ascend to a spectacular viewpoint. Here, we'll have amazing views of the peaks encircling us including close-up views of the south face of Annapurna I which towers over the Sanctuary and also of Annapurna South glacier. We'll have time to enjoy this special mountain panorama, to sit amongst the edelweiss and watch the ice carving its way from the glacier, before descending back to Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Today's 5 kilometre/3 mile walk is expected to take around three and a half hours with a total ascent of 430 metres/1,400 feet and a descent of 430 metres/1,400 feet.

We'll begin our descent today as we head for Bamboo (2,340 metres/7,700 feet), passing through the bamboo forest and crossing several rocky avalanche chutes. Approximately six hours of walking. Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 140 metres/500 feet and a descent of 1,550 metres/5,000 feet.

Descending through a rhododendron forest full of noisy birds - mostly black-capped Sibia, we'll cross the Chhomrong Khola and climb up to Chhomrong village (2,060 metres/6,800 feet) where we'll take a rest break. We'll then climb for a short while before descending to Jhinnu Danda, our home for the night. Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 690 metres/2,200 feet and a descent of 1,230 metres/4,000 feet. There is also an optional walk to a hot spring today, which will approximately take 45 minutes.

Our final day in the mountains sees us making a short trek to Samrung from where we'll take local jeeps to Nayapul, a journey of around two hours. A bus will meet us there for the two-and-a-half-hour journey back to Pokhara where a hot shower and perhaps a well-earned cold beer await us. Today's 3-kilometre/2-mile walk is expected to take around two hours with a total ascent of 90 metres/300 feet and a descent of 180 metres/600 feet.

Pokhara is smaller and more relaxed than Kathmandu and is beautifully situated on the banks of Phewa Tal (lake). Only foothills separate the town from the high mountains and there are superb views of the snowcapped Annapurna range, including Machhapuchhre - the famous 'Fishtail' mountain. Our day here is free to relax after the trek. There is the option to take a small boat across the lake and walk to the Japanese Peace Pagoda or simply relax in one of the lakeside cafe gardens after exploring the many souvenir shops.

Today we'll drive back to Kathmandu. The drive takes around ten hours and we'll be rewarded with views of the Himalayas along the way.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kathmandu. There are no activities planned for today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).