Imagine walking on one of the ancient pilgrimage routes of Hindus and Buddhists, encompassed by majestic mountain views, pink blooming Rhododendron, evergreen bamboo forest, traditional villages of Magar and Gurung, and serene landscapes. This is none other than Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.
World-famous trekking trails teleport you to a different world of nature where you are doomed to falsely accuse it of “Utopia”. Annapurna Sanctuary trek lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. As you enter into it, you will be enchanted by its beauty. The warm hospitality of the Gurung and Magar people will melt your heart. The natural beauty it holds is unimaginable.
Finally, Jim and I got a chance to explore this world-famous trekking trail with the help of Zeewan from North Nepal Trek in March. Our joy had no bound to explore Annapurna Sanctuary Trek; the confluence of spirituality, mountains, and culture.
We had a smooth ride to Pathcichaur. The real trek started when we dropped our backpacks and trekking gears off the car. Narrow and flat but easy trail until Pathi Kola. From Pati Khola to Kyang trail is straight uphill. It is an old stone-paved trail often used by villagers. From Kyang to Lespar, the trail is flat and easy. The weather was warm and clear.
The village looked beautiful. Lespar is inhabited by the Magar community. The majority of people are farmers. They grow rice, millet, and potatoes. The Vegetable garden was full of varieties of vegetables. Guess what? Every household uses organic fertilizers. They have cattle like buffalo and goats. The winter season at Lesper is also famous for sweet oranges. Unfortunately, you can have those only in the winter season.
After energizing our bodies with local breakfast, we walked to Mohare Dada. Zeewan told us it would take us 6 to 7 hours to reach today's destinations. Jim was nodding his head with a slightly unpleasant, “Alright!” Zeewan would cheer him on. We were not in a hurry. We drank Tea “Chiya”. Rested. Walked. Drank tea. Rested. Walked. There are a few teashops along the way.
The trail was full of random surprises. But remember, it’s the randomness that brings excitement to our mundane life. We passed through the dense Pine forest, walked past the wide green pastures in Jaljala, and sometimes uphill. We saw a few Buddhist and Hindu temples.
We were thrilled to view beautiful snow-capped mountains from Mourey Dada. We could see Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and the southern faces of Manaslu Peak as well. It was the best decision to stay in the Mourey Dada.
All thanks to Zeewan. Our evening day ended with a magical sunset. Watching the sunset down the hill, filling the shades of orange all over the sky was nothing but pure magic. Tears of joy were rolling down from the eye of Jim. It was a truly magical moment.
After a good night's sleep we witness the early sunrise. After soaking in the sunrise and having our light breakfast and tea we walked towards our next destination, Ghorepani. It took us 3 hours to reach. The walk to Ghorepani was as thrilling as the walk to Mohare Hill but with fewer surprises. The trail was not difficult to walk. We reached Poon Hill walking past the dense pinked colored Rhododendron forest.
We rested at Poon Hill for half an hour. Why not? The Poon Hill was covered with pink color by the bloom of Rhododendron flowers. You can witness this beauty only in the Spring season. It is also a popular short trekking destination in Pokhara. Since it is the viewpoint, we had an amazing glimpse of mountain peaks.
We were not in a hurry as we had less distance to cover on this day. We walked slowly observing everything on the way. En route, Zeewan shared his travel stories and experiences. It was inspirational to hear him.
Finally, we reached Ghorepani at noon. We had a slow walk but a lot of observation during the walk. We had time to praise the beauty of the blooming Rhododendron. We learned about different villages. We learned about the culture and traditions of the Magar and Gurung communities. We also saw the villages of Magdi, another neighboring district of Pokhara.
Normal walk of 6 hours. En route through a dense forest of Rhododendron and Pine trees. The route is quite normal and good until Durali. We walked through ridges of the hills. The route from Deurali to Ghorepani was a bit narrower and downhill as compared to other previous routes. People do not normally walk this old route. It was a very safe path to walk through. We reached Ghorepani passing the Mudle Viewpoint.
Mudle Viewpoint is a huge pasture land. This place is best for witnessing sunrise and sunset. Since we were quite early for sunset, we decided to come for the sunrise for sure.
Zeewan was explaining about the forest and the possibility of wildlife. He said we could see the Deers if we got lucky. What a coincidence, we saw the pack of deer running. It was a jaw-dropping moment for us.
Reaching Dobato, we rested in a teahouse. We were quite exhausted by the walk so went for a quick sleep after eating a delicious dinner. And of course, we had to wake up early for the sunrise as well. Mind you, you will get the best organic vegetables and food on the trial of Annapurna Sanctuary.
We had the chance to view the magical sunrise from Mulde Viewpoint. Relished light breakfast and tea. If it’s not the best way to start the day, I don’t know if there's any. On our 5th day of trek to Annapurna Sanctuary, our destination was Chhomorong Village.
Chhomorong is a Gurung village. Rich with Gurung culture and Buddhist spiritual values, Chhomorng is truly a piece of heaven on the way to Annapurna Base Camp. Also a famous night stop on the way to ABC trek. Trekkers who love to indulge in nature, will surely won’t mind being confined in Chhomorong.
We walked almost 7 hours downhill passing through Tada Pani and Chuiley. This can be quite difficult to walk down the hill, so make sure you have trekking poles. Trees were getting new buds. Lucious ferns all over the forest. The chirping of the birds. It was quite a beautiful sight. Jim loved the forest. He would often stop, stare, and take pictures.
As soon as we reached Chhomorong, it welcomed us with the aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread. We rested our backpacks on the beautiful lodge with comfortable rooms. Local shops selling handicrafts and woven clothes add vibrant to the village. The view of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna from Chhomorong was majestic.
We were lucky to see the beautiful morning view of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna peaks when the sun had just risen. It was quite a spectacular moment for us. We warmed ourselves with hot tea and coffee. Relished with light breakfast and began our walk to Dovan.
We constantly walked for 5-6 hours to reach Dovan. The trail was quite long. We walked a lot of up and downhill. We crossed a couple of streams that flowed deep down from the hill. The route is well-built with stone steps. And the oldest route to Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. We walked up to Dovan with the beautiful views of mountain peaks.
Trekking to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) from Dovan took us 6 hours. As we ascended to the sanctuary, the trail surprised us with a couple of waterfalls. We crossed small suspension bridges, and the mountain view followed us until the Annapurna Base Camp.
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The forest was densely packed with mixed vegetation however, Malingo (Himalaya calamus asper) was dominant. It’s an evergreen species of Bamboo with 5-6m of height. The forest got less dense as we walked closer to Machhapuchhre Base Camp.
The trail was covered with heavy snow. It was freezing cold. The temperature was around (5 - 6)°C. At night the temperature dropped to (-4 to -5)°C in the MBC. We were well-equipped with cold clothes and sleeping bags. Thanks to the proper guidance from North Trek Nepal.
We were very excited as our destination was very close. After eating breakfast and drinking tea, we walked along the gorge of Modi Khola. The walk was not easy for us because of the snow on the trail. Zeewan was very caring and guided with ease.
After 2 to 3 hours of walking, we finally reached our major destination – Annapurna Base Camp.
The vast grassland of ABC was waiting for us covered in snow. We were thrilled to step on the meadow on the base camp. Snowy Annapurna was standing unwavering and proud. It was an emotional moment for us to stand before the majestic mountain.
Every word falls short of describing those moments. I could see Jim smiling with a bright face. The reflection of snow was not just reflected on my face but also penetrated my whole body and replenished my soul with a bundle of joy.
I bet every trekker on the Annapurna Base Camp felt the exact emotions we had felt. If you want to explore and see the world even from a higher altitude, climb up to the Viewpoint of ABC which is 4560 m above sea level. The scene is even more majestic. But go with the guide, and follow the standard itinerary, or else you might suffer from Altitude Sickness, going too fast up to the base camp.
We reached our lodge, rested our backpacks, and drank hot tea. Sipping the hot tea in the cold while glancing at the view of majestic Annapurna is inexpressible in words.
Nothing excites me more than the scene of sunrise from a proximity to the mountains. It was a magical moment for Me and Jim to witness the scene. We were very emotional. We could not expect a better farewell than this. We started our downhill walk to the Bamboo Village.
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We had to be very careful while walking the trail as usual. Zeewna was kind and caring like always. The scenery is no different while returning from the base camp. After 8 hours of walking, we reached Bamboo Village.
Bamboo Village gave us relief after walking the hour-long from ABC to Bamboo during the Annapurna Sanctuary trek. Cheerful people, scenic beauty, and local culture gave us inner peace and deep sleep for the next walk.
Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Dada is a 5-6 hour walk. We walked through up and downhill walks. Continuous walking for such a long hour is quite hectic. So it’s advised to take a break whenever needed. Passing through Bamboo to Jhinu Dada was a thrilling walk. We were refreshed by the forest of Bamboo and the chirping of birds.
Natural Hot Spring bath (1,780 m). Yes, you can get a relaxing Natural Hot Spring bath a little bit further from the Jhinu Dada. Natural hot water comes from the spring which is a kind of surprise for our human eye. Though we didn't bathe. Maybe on our next trek.
We had started early to reach Pothana after having breakfast and tea from Bamboo. The trail to Pothana was downhill initially. Later it was quite flat and easy to walk us. Along the way, we walked through several villages of Gurung and Magar communities.
It took us 8 hours to reach Pothana. Zeewan elaborated on the culture and tradition of the village. The majority of people work as farmers. Well, the situation now is quite different as people are scattered in the service sector as well.
This was our last day in the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. Zeewan briefed about the whole sanctuary trek. Jim highlighted his best moment during the trek. Of course, he did not like the long and exhausting walk. After eating a delicious dinner at the Pothana, we slept.
After eating breakfast we started our early walk to Phedi, Pokhara. We walked straight downhill from Pothana to Phedi. It took us 2 hours. After Phedi, we drove to Pokhara. Zeewwan had already managed the car the previous day. So, we did not wait long. It was such a great relief to sit in the car and return to Pokhara.
Annapurna Sanctuary trek offers you everything you can seek. Picturesque landscapes, Cultural immersion, Viewpoints for sunrise and sunset, and majestic mountains. Pink blooming Rhododendron forest in the spring or snow-covered trail, Annapurna Sanctuary is a piece of paradise on the earth.
You might be concerned about electricity right? The majority of the lodges have access to electricity. There are solar in Mohare Dada, Dobato, and ABC. Some may provide free wifi and hot showers while some might make you pay.
Annapurna Sanctuary is a spiritual journey for trekkers with well-organized teahouses and lodges. Detox, t. To sum up, Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is the confluence of spirituality, mountains, and culture.
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