Nepal Annapurna Trek
Overview
Beginner-Friendly Annapurna Trek: Village Trails, Mountain Views & Nepali Culture
Your adventure begins with the discovery of the majestic Annapurna range, whose highest peak rises to 8,091 meters. The route offers some of the most magnificent panoramas in the region, crowned by an unforgettable sunrise from the hills near Sarangkot, where the snow-capped summits glow with the first light of day.
Beyond the mountains, this trip offers a rich cultural immersion. Explore the Kathmandu Valley and its remarkable heritage sites—temples, palaces, stupas, and medieval squares, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage treasures. Stay in carefully selected, charming accommodations that add comfort and authenticity to your stay.
To conclude your journey, join a warm Nepali family for a hands-on cooking class, learning to prepare traditional dishes for a memorable final experience.
Itinerary
Expand AllWelcome to Kathmandu, Nepal’s vibrant capital, nestled in a fertile valley at 1,300 meters. With its ancient stupas, pagodas reaching toward the sky, and the lively streets of Thamel filled with colors and aromas, the city immediately immerses you in Himalayan culture. Kathmandu is a legendary gateway for trekkers and mountaineers. Depending on your arrival time, check into your hotel, explore the nearby streets, and meet your guide for a trek briefing.
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: None
Depart early to avoid Kathmandu’s morning traffic. The long drive is filled with lush landscapes, village scenes, and terraced hillsides. At Phedi, meet your trekking team before beginning a gentle ascent to the ridge offering your first spectacular Himalayan panorama—your dream of standing before the Himalayas begins here.
Tip: Break the journey with a stop in Bandipur, a charming Newar village with superb mountain views.
- Elevation gain: +300 m
- Walking: 2 hrs
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transfer: 7 hrs by road
Enjoy breakfast with views of the Annapurnas before walking through small villages en route to Dhampus. The trail winds through rhododendron forests and terraced fields inhabited by Gurung, Bahun, and Chhetri communities. Continue to Pothana, home to a vibrant Tibetan community.
- Elevation gain: +425 m / Loss: –210 m
- Walking: 5 hrs
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin with sunrise views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. The path continues through villages and rhododendron forests to a small pass at 2,100 m, then descends toward Bichok and across a suspension bridge over a tributary of the Modi Khola. A final steady climb brings you to Tolka and onward to Landrung, a Gurung village offering magnificent views of Annapurna South (7,219 m).
- Elevation gain: +220 m / Loss: –590 m
- Walking: 5 hrs
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Follow the Modi Khola valley across rice terraces and pastures before crossing the river via a suspension bridge. A steep climb leads to Jhinu Danda, a peaceful village known for its natural hot springs—perfect for relaxing after the trek.
- Elevation gain: +500 m / Loss: –300 m
- Walking: 3–4 hrs
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Descend toward the Modi Khola and climb to Gandrung, the largest Gurung village and home of the famed Gurkha soldiers. This marks the end of your mini-trek. Continue by road to a tranquil village near Sarangkot, perched above Pokhara and famed for its sweeping Himalayan and lake views.
- Elevation gain: +170 m
- Walking: 1 hrs
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transfer: 2–3 hrs by road
Begin early to enjoy sunrise over the Annapurnas. Walk along a scenic trail overlooking Phewa Lake and the Himalayan range before descending to Pokhara by cable car. After lunch, visit the Mountain Museum, then fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to Patan.
- Elevation gain: +330 m /Loss: –275 m
- Walking: 3 hrs
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transfer: 35-min flight + 1-hr drive
Explore Patan, an ancient royal city filled with monasteries, temples, and remarkable Newar architecture. Continue to Pashupatinath, the most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal, where rituals and cremations unfold along the riverside. Then visit the iconic stupa of Bodhnath before driving to Namo Buddha.
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Transfer: 2 hrs
Visit Namo Buddha Monastery during morning prayers—a serene moment with prayer flags fluttering against Himalayan peaks. Walk through forests and traditional villages to Balthali, where a jeep transfers you to Bhaktapur. Enjoy a free afternoon.
- Elevation gain: +250 m
- Walking: 3 hrs
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transfer: 1 hrs
Discover Bhaktapur’s beautifully preserved medieval architecture, rich with wood carvings and temples. Continue to Changu Narayan, one of Nepal’s oldest temples. In the evening, join your hosts for a hands-on Nepali cooking class, preparing momos and dal bhat for a memorable cultural experience.
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to Kathmandu Airport for your international flight.
Note: All walking times, distances, and elevations are approximate and may change based on weather, trail conditions, or local circumstances.
- Meals: Breakfast
Note:
If you have a private group and prefer a personalized experience, we can organize a custom trip tailored to your requirements and group size, running it any day you choose.
Plan a Private TripIncluded & Excluded
Included Points
Excluded Points
Trip Information
Nepal Annapurna Trek details
Your guide, from your arrival in Kathmandu until your departure, is responsible for the success of your trip and oversees your team. Do not hesitate to ask him questions, respect his position as the team leader, and above all follow his advice! Often, your guide is the only English-speaking member of the team. In the mountains and, especially when during high-altitude travels, your guide is responsible for the safety of the group. The instructions he gives and the remarks he makes to all participants must be carefully followed. The interest and safety of the trekking group must be preserved, even when it may be to the detriment of an individual member of the group.
Your Nepalese team may consist of several people, each with different responsibilities. They are:
- The Guide Leader (Sirdar) is responsible for and the leader of the whole team and is treated with respect by all. Often, he has earned his position by starting as a porter and rising through the ranks.
- The Assistant Guide is actively helping clients under the leader’s direction and setting up camp.
- The Porter is the load carrier for the trekking group. As Nepal is a mountain country with few roads, porters are employed to carry loads. Compliance with regulations and common courtesy dictates the maximum weight carried and the minimum wage paid.
Porters are provided with gear based on the routes they follow and with insurance for alpine treks.
( from 4 people of the group of trekkers: we will provide 1 Leader Guide, 1 Assistant Guide, and 2 porters ). Nepalese teams depend on the Number of Clients and the area of trekking
Each trekker is allotted the following maximum weights per person: For Lodge (tea house) Accommodations trek:15 kg maximum;
Additionally, the Alpinist Club ensures that insurance is provided for the guide and porters. They are also equipped with specific gear for crossing high-altitude passes.
Accommodations in Kathmandu
In Kathmandu, you will be accommodated in a hotel. We use different hotels depending on availability. The two preferred hotels are:
- Hotel Himalayan Suite: Located in the heart of Thamel, this hotel is ideal for walking the bustling streets of Kathmandu. The spacious rooms all have a bathroom, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. A fully equipped and active dining room is available for all meals, and the breakfast buffet offers a wide choice of foods. The hotel offers currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
- Sampada Garden: Located just 20 minutes on foot from Thamel and Durbar Square, this hotel is convenient for exploring Kathmandu. The rooms have all the comforts for your stay: air conditioning, a bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Breakfasts are served as a generous buffet. The hotel provides currency exchange, laundry services, and luggage storage.
Meal in Kathmandu: Upon arrival in Kathmandu, a welcome dinner is provided on the first evening. Similarly, upon return from the expedition, a farewell meal is provided. In the cities, many small (or large) restaurants allow us to discover the typical local cuisine.
Accommodation and Meals during the Nepal Annapurna Trek
For lodge accommodation: during the Nepal Annapurna Trek, you will stay in the lodge or Tea House with twin shared bedrooms.
Meal in during the trek: for this trek Meals are prepared by the Lodge's cook and served in the dining room.
Here is a typical one-day menu:
- Breakfast: eggs, toast or chapati, or Tibetan bread or pancakes, butter/jam, tea or coffee
- Lunch: a main course, tea or coffee
- Dinner: soup, main course, fruit (fresh or canned), tea or coffee. During the trek, tea or coffee is served with meals. Two cups per person are included. Apart from these included menus, other drinks and foodstuffs will be at your expense.
- Water: We provide water purification tablets. and recommended to bring refilling bottles with purified water. Avoid buying mineral water due to its environmental impact.
Physical level in the Nepal Annapurna Trek
This program is designed for those who exercise regularly, especially in endurance activities. You only need to carry a daypack with essentials. The trek lasts 14 days, with daily hikes of 6 to 7 hours and altitude changes between 400 m and 1,350 m.
Preparation for the Nepal Annapurna Trek
Preparing for the trek requires several months of preparation with 4 to 6-hour walks every weekend for stamina and participating in a sport that requires short periods of high exertion.
Medical check-up before going to the Nepal Annapurna Trek
Being in good health is essential to fully enjoy your Alpinist Club trip. If your last medical visit was more than four years ago, please get another general physical exam and tell your doctor the nature of your trip (climate, altitude, difficulty, etc.). The altitude also has the effect of reviving dental problems or other chronic pain, so getting a dental checkup is also prudent. If you are undertaking a high-altitude expedition, we advise you to consult a mountain medicine specialist.
Acute Mountain Sickness
This trip takes place at high altitudes, so some people may experience altitude-related discomfort like headaches, loss of appetite, and swelling of limbs. Most of these symptoms usually go away within a few days, but sometimes they can develop into a serious illness: pulmonary or cerebral edema. There are no preventive drugs for AMS. Diamox diuretic is often effective for symptomatic relief, but you should first check with your doctor to verify that it is not contraindicated for you. Think about it before you go.
Group size for the Nepal Annapurna Trek
The group is composed of 1 to 10 participants. The number of participants is voluntarily limited to allow a better immersion, to not embarrass our hosts, to develop spaces of freedom and to allow a great flexibility of operation. However, the maximum number can be exceeded in the case where the last person who registers wishes to travel with another or several other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will be identical as a result.
Personal Equipment for Trekking
Personal equipment is not provided, but a complete list will be shared later. We will refine the list with you during the preparation days and up until departure based on your questions.
High-altitude sleeping bags and quality down jackets are costly items you may not use often. We offer these specific items for rent during the trek. You must return the equipment clean and in good condition, with a deposit required.
Safety During The Trek
Safety has always been our top priority at Alpinist. Our team of expert guides is dedicated to leading a fun and successful climb while ensuring safety remains uncompromised. We plan carefully, considering daily weather forecasts and paying diligent attention as we venture into high altitudes. Throughout the journey, we carry comprehensive medical kits, rescue equipment, and reliable radio and satellite communication gear.
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