Day 01
Depart UK

Day 02 – None
Arrive Kathmandu
Meet our representative at the airport and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Day 03 – B
Kathmandu
Today you will explore the old city of Kathmandu with a guided walking tour to Durbar Square via the tourist centre Thamel. Durbar Square is listed as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site. It is a cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets dating back to the 12th and 18th centuries.

You will visit the Temple of the Living Goddess, Hanuman Dhoka, the ancient royal residential quarter and the Mahadeva and Parvati Temples.

Later you will drive to Swayambhunath, situated on the top of a hill west of Kathmandu. The temple is colloquially known as the ‘monkey temple’ because of the large tribe of roving monkeys who guard it.

Day 04 – B
Kathmandu|Pokhara
Transfer to Kathmandu Airport for the 30 minutes flight to Pokhara. It is a sensational flight, with the peaks of the Himalayan Range clearly visible through the right-hand window as we travel westwards. Particularly prominent are Manaslu and the Annapurna range as we approach the landing strip at Pokhara. In the afternoon you will receive a trek briefing and have free time for trek preparations.

Day 05 – B L D
Pokhara | Phedi | Dhampus [1700m]
From Pokhara drive to Phedi and begin the trek with a couple of hours’ walking. The path will lead uphill for most of the time, on a long flight of stone steps to the village of Dhampus. The mountain views from here are lovely, but are just a taste of what is still to come.

Day 06 – B L D
Dhampus | Landrung [1550m]
Beyond Dhampus you get your first clear views of the mountains ahead, as you ascend through the forest on a trail which is often made up of steep stone steps. Passing through Pothana, you climb to a small pass, at a place called Deorali (which means ‘pass’). At this point you are high up on the east side of the Modi Khola, the river which flows out of the Annapurna Sanctuary.

You descend all the way down to the river, passing through the picturesque Gurung settlement of Landrung, which offers spectacular views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. After crossing a suspension bridge, you camp on the west side of the river.

Day 07 – B L D
Landrung | Chomrong [2040m]
Your route now climbs quite steeply, high above the river, through bamboo forest and isolated farmsteads. The teahouses at Jhinu provide a welcome opportunity to stop for a drink and have a rest on this long, hot climb. Ascending further along a treeless ridge you come to Taglung and just a short distance beyond this is Chomrong. From this Gurung village, there is a tremendous view of Annapurna South, as well as impressive views of Machhapuchhre.

Day 08 – B L D
Chomrong | Himalaya Hotel [2680m]
After dropping down to the Chomrong Khola on steep stone steps, the trail climbs again, initially through terraced fields and then through a forest of bamboo and rhododendron.

Today’s walk is always either up or down on steep paths which are often paved. Sometimes there are views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre ahead, but often the forest is too thick to allow more than a tantalizing glimpse.

After reaching the village of Khuldigar, you descend a stone staircase to a section of exceptionally thick bamboo forest which leads to the settlement known as “Bamboo Lodge”. From here, you climb steeply through bamboo and rhododendron forest, following the trail high above the river to day’s end at Himalaya Hotel.

Day 09 – B L D
Himalaya Hotel | Machhapuchhre Base Camp [3600m]
Climbing steeply, you soon reach a fire-blackened overhang which has been walled-in to make a small lodge. This place is known as Hinku Cave. The trail rises continually now, as you near the entry to the Sanctuary. Passing the lodges at Deorali and Bagar, you arrive at the level and grassy moraine platform known as Machhapuchhre Base Camp.

Day 10 – B L D
Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Rest day for acclimatization

Day 11 – B L D
Machhapuchhre Base Camp | Annapurna Base Camp (3900m)
Another short day today, and a fairly gentle ascent through tranquil meadows brings you to Annapurna South Base Camp. Increasingly impressive views reward you for your efforts as you climb the last steep section before reaching the base camp area. From here there are fantastic views of the south face of Annapurna 1.

Day 12 – B L D
Annapurna Base Camp | Tent Peak High Camp (altitude depends on where you camp)
Tent Peak is technically straightforward all the way up to the summit, making the summit’s breathtaking 360 degree view of the surrounding Annapurna massif accessible even for novice climbers. Tent Peak is the third most climbed trekking peak in Nepal after Mera Peak and then Island Peak in Khumbu region.

Day 13 – B L D
Ascent of Tent Peak (5600m)

Day 14 – B L D
Spare Day

Day 15 – B L D
Tent Peak High Camp | Himalaya Hotel (2680m)
Today you retrace your steps as far as Himalaya Hotel.

Day 16 – B L D
Himalaya Hotel | Tadapani (2650m)
You take a beautiful, alternative route back to Pokhara, via Ghorepani. You follow the trail above potato and wheat fields before descending to the village of Khumnu above the Khumnu Khola. After crossing the river, the trail leads steeply uphill to Melanche before continuing through rhododendron forests to Tadapani, where you camp. There are excellent views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare from here.

Day 17 – B L D
Tadapani | Ghorepani (2775m)
You trek gently up and down for an hour or so to Banthanti. The trail then steepens, as you climb through rhododendron forest to Deorali, a small pass, before dropping down to the lodges at Ghorepani.  At this point you are on the main Annapurna Circuit route and there are likely to be lots of travellers passing through this ridge-top settlement in both directions. Ghorepani literally means “horse water” and was a popular stopping place for the mule trains which plied the route from Pokhara to Jomsom and beyond. The impressive peak which can be seen across the broad valley of the Kali Gandaki to the northwest is Dhaulagiri.

Day 18 – B L
Ghorepani | Pokhara
Trek to the Road head and drive to Pokhara then check in to your hotel.

Day 19 – B
Pokhara | Kathmandu
Transfer to the airport and fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu transfer to your hotel.

Day 20 – B D
Kathmandu
Day free for leisure activities. Farewell dinner with the cultural program in evening.

Day 21 – B
Depart Nepal | Arrive UK
Drive to the airport, your guide will help you and bid you farewell.