Overview
Ghorepani Poonhill and Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a seventeen day itinerary pack in which you get to hike daily till you get to two destinations of wonder, the Ghorepani Poonhills and the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), both of which fall in the Annapurna trekking region.
As understood, the daily hikes of are done in the trekking in Annapurna Region known its various trekking routes the world over among trekking enthusiasts. In this particular trek, you first hike daily to reach Poonhills from where you get a magnificent view of the sunrise over a number of ranges and mountain peaks such as the Annapurna peaks, Dhaulagiri peak, Nilgiri, Himchuli and Machhapuchhure Peaks then taking a refreshing bath in the hot springs of Tadapani. Getting to your first destination of Ghorepani Poonhill, takes you through villages and over rivers and streams with them gushing below you. You also pass through a thick forest of pine, oak and rhododendron on the way, all the while, you are given the strength to carry on with the sight of the snow-capped mountain peaks. These forests are forever letting out their secrets of the wildlife unique to the region.
Once this half of the trek is completed, we head to ABC, where the terrain turns from the evergreen lush forest to the more rugged form as we go higher and higher till we get to ABC, it is here like at Everest Base Camp, that those willing to try summiting the 8000 plus gigantic massif come to train. Though Everest is higher, it is said the Mount Annapurna is more difficult to climb. Far less people have done so, in comparison to Everest. The trek in this half takes you through some low laying pass and some glaciers emitting from the bowls of the Annapurna basin. And before you know it all, your seventeen day hike seems to magically end with just the vivid memories of your adventure to Ghorepani Poonhill and Annapurna Base Camp, wishing you could do it all over again.
There is much one would gain from taking this trek, besides it being done in the famed Annapurna trekking region and that it is an eco-friendly trek away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. In the trek, you hike to Poonhill from where you get a four dimensional view of the lush vegetation to the South and the snow-capped peaks of a number of Mountains to the North. If you are there, before dawn, the sunrise over them will simply mesmerize you with the scintillating glow of golden sparkles seeming to come from some childhood bedtime fairy tales story. In addition to this vegetation around Poonhill take on a like not be seen elsewhere. After this, the early morning chills are taken away from the bones with a dip in the hot springs of Tadapani. The trek to this section is just as thrilling with the forest, the villages and the terraced farms that you pass through daily bringing back into the passage of time with the snow-capped mountain ranges in the background. After the lusher part of the trek is completed of the Annapurna Region, it is to the more rugged part of what it has to offer but beautiful in the more isolated way. The mountain ranges now closer still, allowing them to give you a look at the glaciers they stem out to create the fast flowing rivers and gorges and the lush life further below. Finally to taken in ABC, the place where mountaineers train to try their luck at the peak of Mount Annapurna. Then it is back from where it all started.
Is this a difficult trek?
Like all the treks in Nepal, they are done in the Himalayan region, like any mountainous region in the world, you would need to ascend and descend. In any of the itinerary trekking destination, there are bound to be both ascends and descends of different gradients. The trails are so made out to give the minimum amount of climbs, unless when necessary. When getting to any Base Camp of the Higher Himalayan areas, you are given ample rest on the way and when it is deemed necessary, a day’s rest would naturally be there to get acclimatized. As a whole, the trip is some days easy, moderate and a bit difficult. Most trekkers in fact would love the terrain of the Himalayan region to trek in. If you have the heart for the outdoors, then this is a moderately tough trek, but in the end result, you come out a better physically rejuvenated personality, ready to take on any challenge thrown at you.
Outline Trekking Itinerary for Ghorepani Poonhill and Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation
Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara (25 min flight/5 hour drive)
Day 4: Pokhara to Nayapul (1 hr drive) and hike to Ulleri (1940 m) (Approx 4 – 5 hour hike)
Day 5: Ulleri to Ghorepani (2800 m) (5 – 6 hour hike)
Day 6: Early Morning Excursion to Poonhill (3210m) and hike to Tadapani (2590 m) (6 – 7 hrs hike)
Day 7: Tadapani to Chhomrong (2170m) (5 hr hike)
Day 8: Chhomrong to Dovan (2580 m) (5 – 6 hr hike)
Day 9: Dovan to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3700m) (7 hr hike)
Day 10: MBC to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) (7 hr hike)
Day 11: ABC to Bamboo (2310m) (7 hr hike)
Day 12: Bamboo to Jhinu (1760m) (5 – 6 hr hike)
Day 13: Jhinu to Landruk (1565m) (3 hr hike)
Day 14: Landruk to Dhampus (1650m) (5 hr hike)
Day 15: Dhampus to Phedi (1 hr hike) and Drive to Pokhara (30 min)
Day 16: Pokhara to Kathmandu
Day 17: Transfer to airport for your onward destination
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy sightseeing tour to various historical/natural/cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu
- Enjoy terrific Pokhara - Kathmandu - Pokhara journey known for mind-blowing sceneries
- Explore around Pokhara, the most beautiful lake city of the country, also known for providing superb mountain views
- Enjoy views of Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre (Fishtail), Dhaulagiri, Himalchuli etc.
- Enjoy the magnificent view of sunrise from the Poon Hill, and sunset from Tadapani
- Catch panoramic view of Mt. Annapurna range along with other adjacent mountains.
- Explore Annapurna Base Camp which provides the eye-popping view of Mt. Annapurna
- Pass through gushing rivers, green countryside, alpine meadows, valleys, glaciers etc.
- Witness variety of floras and faunas
- Get along with ethnic people and their culture
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