Day 01 Welcome to Kathmandu
A Himalayan Holidays’ representative will meet and welcome you at Kathmandu Airport and transfer you to your hotel. after a welcome drink and check-in at the hotel a pre-trek briefing will be held. The rest of the day is yours to explore the local area.

Day 02 Kathmandu Sightseeing
After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel to begin an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Your English-speaking guide will escort you to Durbar Square, the historic centre of the city and home to the living goddess Kumari. Then on to Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, situated high on a hill top this stupa is one of the most recognized images of the Kathmandu Valley and affords magnificent views of the city and valley below. From here we travel to Pashupatinath the site of the most important Hindu temple in Nepal and located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we will see holy men known as Sadhus performing their religious rituals and you may witness funeral pyres burning on the river side ghats.

Day 03 Kathmandu - Pokhara
Today we take an interesting drive to Pokhara by tourist bus. Nestled on the Phewa Lake  Pokhara is a thriving township where you can spend your time doing any last minute purchases for your trek at one of the many equipment shops or enjoy a drink at one of the lakeside restaurants. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and is the perfect starting point for our trek.

The Trek
(for more information see overview of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek” at the end of these trip notes)

Day 04 Pokhara - Birethanti - Ulleri 2070m (Approx 4 hours walking)
Drive to Birethanti (1140m) from Pokhara. Walk through the lush, green Modi river valley, past waterfalls with plunge pools that invite you to swim. Ascend the steep stone staircase to the Magar village of Ulleri (2070m,) where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the valley below and the peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. o/n at lodge

Day 05 Ulleri – Ghorepani/Deurali  2900m (Approx 4 hours walking)
A gentle climb through pasture and cultivated fields. As the trail climbs higher, you walk up beside a cascading river through refreshingly cool oak and rhododendron forest to Ghorepani where we take the track a little further onto Deurali our resting place for the night and a perfect kick off point for those wishing to walk up to Poon Hill in the morning o/n at lodge

Day 06 Deurali - Tadapani 2540M (Approx 6 hours walking)
For early risers, a 1 hour climb to Poon Hill at 3210m offers you an awesome 360 deg view of all the Annapurna Range. Your guide will point out the peaks of Annapurna South (7272m) Annapurna I (8091m) Hiunchuli (6441m) and you will have imposing views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri(8157m) and the Dhaulagiri Range to the West. From the Deurali pass the trail continues along a plateau before descending steeply through dense moss-covered forest rich with birdlife, to Tadapani (2540m) for beautiful sunset views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. o/n at lodge

Day 07 Tadapani - Chhomrung 2040m (Approx 5 hours walking)
The trail drops down from Tadapani, through dense rhododendron forest. From Ghandrung there are good views of the upper Modi valley. The route starts the long ascent high above the west bank of the Modi Khola, and continues up to the village of Chhomrung (2040m.) Towering above the village is the mighty peak of Annapurna South, with the Machhapuchhare (the Fishtail) facing it across the valley. o/n at lodge

Day 08 Chhomrung – Doban 2505m (Approx 4- 5 hours walking)
We walk through the forest to Kuldi Ghar, before the route goes steeply down a bank of rock and then levels out, running through riverside bamboo thickets along the base of the gorge. Then the track winds steeply up through deep bamboo and rhododendron forest to the village of Doban. o/n at lodge

Day 09 Doban – Rest Acclimatization Day
Depending on how the group is traveling, weather conditions etc, the rest day may be taken at any point on the trek. If not required, you simply arrive back at Pokhara 1 day earlier which will give your further opportunity for sightseeing, relaxing etc. Should you choose to stay at Doban, short acclimatization walks will be taken during the day. o/n at lodge

Day 10 Doban to Machhapuchhare Base camp (Approx 5 hours walking)
The track remains on the west bank of the Modi, now flowing through a more open valley, and eventually emerges into the Sanctuary. Straight ahead is the high lateral moraine of the South Annapurna glacier and the Modi follows a deep cliff to the right. This is the site of Machhapuchhare base camp (3480m) from which can be seen a spectacular panorama of mountains. o/n at lodge 

Day 11 Visit Annapurna Base Camp 4130m – Doban 2505m (Approx 6-7 hours walking)
An early morning start for our one and a half to two hour climb to reach Annapurna Base Camp by sunrise. The sun rising over the 360 degree panorama of snow capped mountain is an experience you will never forget. After many photos of happy trekkers have been taken, we enjoy a hot well earned breakfast at one of the lodges at Annapurna Base Camp before retracing our steps down to Doban where we spend the night. o/n at lodge

Day 12 Doban - Chomrong 2040m (Approx 4- 5 hours walking)
The trail passes the small village of Khuldi Bikas, before continuing through rhododendron and bamboo fields and returning to the Alpine-style village of Chhomrung. o/n at lodge

Day 13 Chomrong - Ghandrung 1940m (Approx 3 hours walking)
After a fairly short walk today, we again return to Ghandrung, where we have more time to explore this village, and you may like to visit the information centre of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (A.C.A.P.) and see a video on how conservation and tourism are handled in this area, or how local handicraft is encouraged. There is also a small museum and for those interested, a kindergarten/ child care centre where you are welcome to visit. o/n at lodge

Day 14  Ghandrung – Pokhara (Approx 5 hours walking)
Today is our last day on the trek, and as we make our way back to Birenthanti, the sound of the donkey bells fade and the sounds of traffic become clearer as we near the road which takes us back to Pokhara. This is usually the time to farewell your trekking crew and many people like to treat their porters to a farewell dinner in one of the many restaurants in Pokhara, which will seem like a teeming metropolis after the serenity of the hill trails. o/n at hotel

Day 15 Pokhara – Day at leisure
Today you are free to spend the day as you wish, further sightseeing at Devi Falls, the Tibetan Refugee Centre or the World Peace Monument can be organized, you can hire a canoe to visit the Varahi Temple on a small island in Phew Ta lake, or relax with a beer or a coffee while overlooking the lake. o/n at hotel

Day 16 Pokhara to Kathmandu
Today you will be transferred by tourist bus to Kathmandu o/n at hotel

Day 17 Kathmandu
Transfer from your hotel to airport for international departure

Overview of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The following morning you begin your trek in the Annapurna region north of Pokhara. You will climb gradually along the ridges that are the foothills of the Annapurnas. Passing through many villages you will have ample time to take photographs and chat with the local people.

There are many different ethnic groups along the trail, the Gurungs, Magar and Chetrie people the predominant being the Gurungs, better known as Gurkhas, soldiers in the British Army.

Along the trail the scenery is magnificent, and we will see Himalayan giants such as Dhaulagiri (8167m), Lamjung, Annapurna II, and Machapuchare (6993m). The terrain varies from sub-tropical valleys with banana trees and rice paddies to high ridges clad in thick rhododendron forest. In January and February these may well be covered in snow, while during March and April they will be a blaze of red rhododendron flowers.

Altitude
Altitude on this trek varies from 915m at Pokhara to 4130m at Annapurna Base Camp, and the majority of people do not experience any major symptoms of “Altitude Sickness” at these levels. However if you are feeling unwell due to the altitude, you may discuss with your guide, the option of staying and resting in comfortable accommodation at a lower point of altitude eg. Chomrong as your companions will retrace their steps via Chomrong after reaching Annapurna Base Camp.

Accommodation on the trek
Accommodation will be simple twin or triple share rooms in lodges, and toilets and showers will be of varying standards.

Food
Mostly rice, pasta, potato dishes, soups and pizzas for lunch or dinner. Delicious pancakes, porridge, toast and eggs are the main breakfast fare, while tea, coffee and hot chocolate are always available. You will probably be pleasantly surprised at the variety of food at the lodges.

Physical Fitness
There are a lot of steep ascents and descents on the trek and a good level of fitness is required, as some days you may be required to walk up to 6 hours, please note that the estimated walking time each day will vary according to the fitness of the group and the weather conditions.

Not Included :
International Airfare
Visas
Airport Departure taxes/Excess baggage charges
Meals, tea, coffee, soft/hard drinks.
Items of personal nature,  tips etc
Travel Insurance (this is a mandatory condition of booking)
Medical evacuation in case of emergency
Personal spending money

Meals Code: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner

Cancellation Fees
If cancellation in writing is received by Himalayan Holidays more than 45 days prior to departure, the non-refundable deposit will be retained (maximum 10% of total land price) plus any air cancellation fees that may apply.

If cancellation is received within 45 days of departure, the following per person cancellation fees will apply:
15 - 45 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
7 - 14 days prior to departure: 35% of total price
less than 7 days prior to departure: 50% of total price (except for the total cost of government fees)
On departure day or later: 100% of total price.

The penalties for cancellation are designed to safeguard the company, which will have to make certain payments in advance of the trip departure, and are adopted in a similar form throughout the travel industry.