Compare Annapurna Sanctuary Trek by Exodus Travels vs 6 Day Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Journey by Travel2italy
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 2,700 | Check price |
| Price Per Day | $ 180 | Check price |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | N/A |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | N/A | |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | Breakfast is included throughout the trip. The breakfasts on trek are fixed set menus, usually porridge or muesli with either toast, chapatti or pancake, plus an egg or omelette and a cup of tea/coffee. You may also be able to supplement your included breakfast with additional items on the teahouse menu should you wish. Items not included should be ordered and paid for separately. Please note, some more remote teahouses/lodges are unable to provide an extensive menu due to irregular delivery schedules and during periods of bad weather or a high volume of trekkers, there may be a more limited menu choice. Also, the higher altitude the more expenses the menus and extras generally are. We do not include lunch and dinner on trek allowing you to choose what you want to eat. Lunch will be taken at a teahouse en route – sometimes one of your guides will go ahead with the group’s order to make it more expedient. Dinner will be in the same teahouse that you sleep at (this is custom in Nepal as teahouses base their room rate on it). The menus in the lodges are almost identical to one another but offer a varied choice, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat to pizza and apple pie. Dhal bhat is the staple diet in Nepal and comes in many different forms but generally comprises curried lentils and meat or vegetables, rice, and a pickle/chutney. Another popular snack is momos, a type of Nepalese dumpling, fried or steamed and filled with meat or vegetables. Meat is available in the teahouses but we advise against eating it on trek. The meat has often been carried in the heat from lower altitudes for several days before reaching the lodges and can cause stomach upsets or illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money – we recommend using hand sanitiser. If you have a gluten-free diet, we strongly recommend you bring extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek as there will be little variety available to you, particularly for breakfast. Even many of the soups are from powder/packets and contain gluten. If you buy imported food and drink on trek you will spend more than the suggested amount. Drinking water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 100floz to 135floz (three litres to four litres) per person per day. However, we strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the trekking areas of Nepal. A few villages along the Annapurna Sanctuary route have safe drinking water stations selling UV-treated water for about 50 rupees (US$0.40) per litre but these are not always open. The teahouses also sell boiled water for approximately 150-300 rupees (US$1.15-US$2.30) per litre (the price increases the higher you trek) which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double up as a hot-water bottle. Alternatively, all teahouses provide free cold water. Although this should not be drunk untreated, we recommend you bring a reusable bottle/water bladder/Camelpak (ideally two) and use an effective form of water treatment. There are a wide range of products available including Steripens or purification tablets, which are the quickest and easiest options to use on trek – we recommend talking to an outdoor retailer for the latest advice as technologies are improving all the time. Make sure to check the product’s performance in cold/freezing conditions and consider battery life (lithium batteries are best in cold conditions). Exodus has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates more than 99.99 percent of all microbiological contaminants from any non-saltwater source – visit Water-to-Go for more information. Exodus customers can claim 15 percent off their first order and, better still, 15 percent of the purchase value will be donated to the Exodus Travels Foundation. These bottles filter the water as you drink through the spout may not be the most efficient while on the go on a trek. Please note, if the water freezes it will clog up the filter. In this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. | N/A |
| Description |
Discover the Annapurna range, a vast Himalayan massif where several peaks top 7,000m (22,965ft). It’s home to a natural amphitheatre known as the Annapurna Sanctuary, formed by mountain giants including Annapurna 1, Glacier Dome, Gangapurna, Fang and Machhapuchhare. Our trek starts through forested hills before arriving into the Sanctuary, where we enjoy panoramic views of the colossal Annapurna peaks. We have a day to explore this breath-taking mountain arena before returning to Pokhara via a different route. Why trek with Exodus? One of the highest staff-to-traveller ratios on the trek with one staff member to every four travellers More than 30 years’ experience organising treks in Nepal A carefully designed itinerary to minimise long road journeys and maximise comfort and ascent rates on the trails Exodus annually commissions independent air-safety audits on domestic carriers in Nepal and only use those approved as part of the audit Experienced English-speaking local leaders who are qualified in first aid and trained to recognise and deal with altitude sickness All staff (leaders, guides and porters) are fully insured and paid a fair wage Staff carry oxygen, a first-aid kit, and self-assessment acute mountain sickness cards, used to monitor every traveller at altitude Speak to Exodus office staff who have done the trek themselvesThis classic trek in the Annapurna is one of the best for acclimatisation in Nepal |
5 nights Cairns; Pacific Hotel Cairns. Unique 6 course dining experience under the canopy of the Australian rainforest. Full day excursion to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef where you can swim, snorkel or enjoy a semi-submersible boat ride to enjoy the expansive array of tropical fish and colorful corals. Guided small group experience into the heart of the rainforest with indigenous guides who can demonstrate traditional plant uses & bush food sources as well as telling ancient stories of the native people to the land. Round trip transfers between airport and hotel |
Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu
The adventure begins in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. There are free arrival transfers available for any flight, provided you have supplied your sales representative with your flight details in advance and have requested one. Your local leader will meet you at the hotel (a time is provided on arrival) for the full trek briefing this evening. Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Fly to Pokhara and on to Naya Pul; short walk to Birethanthi
Late morning we head to the airport and fly west to Pokhara, the 20-minute flight offers views of the Himalaya range to the north (on a clear day). Pokhara is set in a beautiful valley overlooked by the Annapurnas and the fishtail-shaped Machhapuchhare, one of the most distinctive of the Himalayan peaks. We transfer from Pokhara to Naya Pul and then have a 30-minute (1.2mi/2km) walk to Birethanthi, a village at the confluence of the Modi and Burungdi rivers, where we stay overnight. Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 3 Climb to lower Banthanti
We start our trek by following the Burungdi upstream. After a lunchstop in Tirkhedunga (renowned for its variety of local beer called chang), we climb up steep, stone staircases (approximately three hours) through neatly terraced hillsides to the top of Ulleri. Continuing through Ulleri we stop tonight at lower Banthanti. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 7,350ft/2,240m)
Day 4 Ascend through rhododendron forests to Upper Ghorepani
The trail winds onwards and enters rhododendron forest, which is ablaze with colour in spring. Trains of mules provide vibrant, noisy interludes to the continuous ascent today (there are many stone staircases). Finally, we emerge from the forests at Ghorepani and suddenly a splendid mountain vista appears before us – Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhare, Lamjung and other Himalayan giants. We continue up through Ghorepani to our lodge in Upper Ghorepani (9,515ft/2,900m), usually arriving by lunchtime. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 9,515ft/2,900m)
Day 5 Optional early morning ascent of Poon Hill for incredible views of the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare and Dhaulagiri at sunrise. After breakfast, we head through rhododendron forests to Chuili
This morning there is an optional ascent of Poon Hill (10,530ft/3,210m, about an hour's walk uphill) to see the spectacular sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range. As the sun emerges from behind the mountains, the sky glows red and pink. We head east after breakfast, following a ridge to cross a pass at 10,335ft (3,150m). We cut through more forest and past teahouses and then the descent becomes steeper as we take stone steps through jungle to a few lodges in a clearing called Banthanti at 9,055ft (2,760m), where we have lunch. Descending further to a small stream, we cross a bridge and climb back up to 8,825ft (2,690m) at Tadapani where we have a superb view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. From here, we descend for a short while to our lodge at Chuili, where we have great views of the mountains from the lovely garden. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 7,515ft/2,290m)
Day 6 Descend to the Kyumnu river and climb up into the Modi River valley to Chhomrong
The trail descends steeply through the forest to the Kyumnu river, a tributary of the Modi River. A steep ascent then brings us to Chhomrong (7,285ft/2,220m) another Gurung village and the last permanent settlement in the valley. Beyond here we see yersas, the summer shelters used by herdsmen. From Chhomrong, we have good views again of Annapurna South and from this point onwards the twin-peaks of Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) that give the mountain its name. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 7,285ft/2,220m)
Day 7 Trek up the Modi River valley towards the Annapurna Sanctuary; overnight in Dobhan
The trail from Chhomrong descends first on a stone staircase to cross the Chhomrong River and then climbs steeply on another stone staircase out of this side valley to Sinuwa, where we enter the main Modi River valley. From Sinuwa, the trail descends on stone steps through dense jungle and then undulates to lunch at Bamboo, a cluster of lodges in a clearing surrounded by bamboo thickets. These are cut extensively to make dokos, the carrying baskets used by our porters, and woven mats for floors and roofs. Undulating further through the bamboo forest we reach Dobhan at 8,200ft (2,500m), another small forest clearing with several teahouses. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 8,200ft/2,500m)
Day 8 Continue up the valley to Machhapuchhare Base Camp
It’s a tough day today as we walk above 9,845ft (3,000m). The trail continues up through the forest, passing the lodges at Himalaya Hotel. The trail gets steeper and rockier from here as we climb up past Hinko Cave, where the first expeditions to the basecamp used to spend the night. Crossing a ravine, the trail continues to climb steeply among boulders, leaving the trees behind us. We have lunch at Deurali and from here the valley broadens and the scenery becomes wilder as we approach the gates of the sanctuary. From Deurali, there are two trails. The one on the left side of the valley is the main trail but when there is a lot of snow (especially in spring) it is not used and an alternative trail on the right side of the valley is used. Your leader will decide which to take. Both meet for the last 1hr 30min climb up between the heights of Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (12,140ft/3,700m), where we spend the night. The views are stupendous and the panorama includes Huinchuli, Annapurna 1, Annapurna 3, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhare. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 12,140ft/3,700m)
Day 9 Explore the high alpine wilderness of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Stay at Annapurna Base Camp
In the early morning, we walk for two hours up to Annapurna Base Camp (13,550ft/4,130m), surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of some of the highest mountains in the world. Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna Fang, Annapurna 1 and 3, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhare all encircle us with unbroken soaring ramparts but for the route by which we entered. The sunset and sunrise are truly magnificent in this mountain arena. We spend the day in this special place with a chance to watch sunrise tomorrow. There should be time to make an excursion to the ridge overlooking the basecamp from which Sir Chris Bonington led the ascent of Annapurna's South Face. (Occasionally there is too much snow to stay at Annapurna Base Camp. In this case, we walk back down to Machhapuchhare Base Camp in the late afternoon). Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 13,550ft/4,130m)
Day 10 Descend back down the valley to Bamboo
It’s a long and mostly downhill day as we leave the Sanctuary. We follow the same trail back to Machhapuchhare Base Camp and further down to Deurali. Entering the forest, we descend slowly and carefully on a rocky trail through Himalaya and Dobhan back to the lodge at Bamboo. Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 7,645ft/2,330m)
Day 11 Ascend and descend stone steps to Chhomrong. Descend steeply through terraces to Jhinnudanda
We have a rollercoaster walk today with lots of ups and downs. We start with a climb up to Sinuwa, then we descend to the river and climb back up the stone steps to Chomro. A final steep descent on stone steps brings us to Jhinnudanda. There are nearby hot springs you can visit if you wish; getting there involves descending for 20 minutes or so down to the river, and the climb back up takes a little longer (around 30 minutes). Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 5,610ft/1,710m)
Day 12 Trek to Sinwai; transfer from Naya Pul to Pokhara
The trail today undulates down the Modi River valley. We follow the valley down to the road head at Sinwai. If the road is in good condition, we pick up our transport here (sometimes our vehicle cannot get to here) and drive back to Pokhara. If we have to walk to Birethanthi this will add an additional three hours (6mi/10km). Accommodation: Hotel Dahlia (or similar)
Day 13 Free day in Pokhara
Enjoy a full day to relax in Pokhara. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the lakeshore where you can watch paragliders in flight. You may wish to take a rowing boat across Lake Phewa and walk up to the hilltop World Peace Pagoda for fantastic views of the lake. There are also plenty of shops and a traditional bazaar where you can pick up souvenirs. Alternatively, there are several museums to visit, including the International Mountain Museum and the Gurkha Museum. Accommodation: Hotel Dahlia (or similar)
Day 14 Fly to Kathmandu
We fly to Kathmandu. If the weather plays nicely, we can have good views of the western end of Nepal on this flight. The afternoon is free for sightseeing. You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambhunath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Boudhanath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Day 15 End Kathmandu
The trip ends after breakfast today. Say your goodbyes and begin your return journey home.
