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 themselves
Activity Areas
Point-to-Point
Walking & Trekking
Region & Country & City
Asia: Annapurna, Nepal, Pokhara, The Himalaya
Included in the Price
— All breakfasts, morning bed-tea on trek and welcome drink at each overnight lodge
— All accommodation
— All transport and listed activities, including trekking permit and national park fees
— Tour leader throughout, plus local staff (staff to client ratio of 1:4 on trek)
— Arrival and departure transfers
— Kitbag to keep
Not Included In The Price
— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request, Kathmandu and Pokhara only)
— Visas or vaccinations
— Sleeping bag and down jacket (can be hired in advance)
Accommodation Information
— Accommodation: 4 Classic nights (hotels), 10 Simple nights (teahouses/mountain lodges)
— 11 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
— Travel by private bus and two internal flights
— Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader and local staff. Minimum age: 16
Map
Itinerary
Day 1 Adventure begins in Kathmandu
Begin your adventure at the Royal Singi Hotel in Kathmandu, the start point for many of our Himalayan treks over the years.
Around 6pm, bid namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead during a full trek briefing.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Nepalese welcome by arranging an optional group dinner (which is included for all in 2026).
Want to explore Kathmandu further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Fly to Pokhara; drive to Birethanthi; optional afternoon walk
This morning, we 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 take a bus transfer (approximately two hours) from Pokhara Airport to Birethanthi, at the confluence of the Modi and Burungdi rivers, where we stay overnight. If there is time this afternoon, the tour leader takes you on an optional warm up hike to Tomijung, a pretty Gurung village.
Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 3 Trek through Tirkhedunga and Ulleri to Banthanti
We start our trek by following the Burungdi upstream. After a lunch stop in Tirkhedunga (renowned for its variety of local beer called chang), we climb up on a steep, stone staircase (approximately three hours) through neatly terraced hillsides to Ulleri. Continuing through Ulleri, we climb a little further to our lodge at Banthanti.
Accommodation: Teahouse (sleeping altitude: 7,185ft/2,190m)
Day 4 Ascend through rhododendron forests to Upper Ghorepani
Continue our ascent through rhododendron forest, following trails, crossing suspension bridges and tackling more steps up as we head up to Ghorepani. 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 Siprong Khola and climb up into the Modi River valley to Chhomrong
We have an easier day today. The trail descends steeply through the forest to the Siprong Khola, a tributary of the Modi River. A steep ascent then brings us to Gurjung, where we have an early light lunch break. The trail then ascends further 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. After a welcome tea break, 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 longer 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; drive 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 Majestic Lakefront (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 Majestic Lakefront (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 Adventure ends in Kathmandu
You’ve trekked through magnificent landscapes, explored the Annapurna Sanctuary and stayed at basecamp; but today, the tour comes to an end, so it’s time to start your return journey home.
Alternatively, swap mountain trails for animals tracks by joining our add-on safari tour in Chitwan. Speak to your sales representative to book.
