ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY (BASE CAMP)

This popular trek ascends through cultivated fields and beautiful forests of oak, magnolia and rhododendron passing through fascinating traditional Gurung, Magar and Thakali villages before arriving at the ridge top of Ghorepani. The trek will be even more interesting during springtime as the whole forest along the trail turns into a riot of colors with the reds, pinks, yellow, lavender and whites of rhododendron flowers. We ascend Poon Hill (3,210 m) before daybreak for a spectacular mountain panorama at sunrise over Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna 1, Hiunchuli, Annapurna South and the fluted peak of Machhapuchhare, known as fishtail because of the distinctive fish tail-like shape of its summit.

We enter the Modi Khola valley and, as we gain height, the valley narrows to a steep sided gorge until we pass through the “gates” of the Sanctuary to emerge into its heart, a beautiful natural amphitheatre surrounded by gigantic snow-capped mountains. The enormous south face of Annapurna I dominates the skyline and there are spectacular views of Machhapuchhare. All around us is an array of ice-bound peaks, snowfields, glaciers, great rock buttresses and ice flutings. Having visited the Annapurna Base Camp, we return to Pokhara via the village of Dhampus.