TREK FACT FILE - Lumle to Dhampus, 60km, height gain 3,000m (approx), 12 days - 6 days on trek. Grade 1A.
TREK PROFILE: The Annapurna Panorama Trek is also known as Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. This about a week long lodge trek in the Annapurna Foothills culminating in the ascent of the Poon Hill viewpoint near Ghorepani.
This trek offers you a superb excursion into the Nepal foothills and includes accommodation in comfortable family run tea house lodges along the way. Enjoy trekking in the spectacular mountain scenery as you hike through charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurnas with the picturesque fluted peak of Machapuchare (Fish Tail Peak) dominating the skyline.
At the climax of this trek you will climb Poon Hill at dawn to enjoy one of the most spectacular mountain scapes on Earth. As the sun touches the snowcapped summits of Himalayan giants, such as Dhaulagiri 8,167m and Annapurna 8,091m, a maze of other peaks will slowly begin to appear like magic before our eyes.
THE TRAIL: The trek starts near Pokhara at around 1,000m and hits a high point of 3,193m. You will be hiking along along well established trails for about 4-7 hours per day carrying a day pack.
Your itinerary will include a brief description of our trip and an outline of your stays and meals provided. We normally only provide a breakfast at all of our city stop over locations as it gives you the opportunity to vary your cuisine by not being tied to hotel menu for your lunchtime or evening meal. We can provide full board trips on requests in particular if any person has any special dietary needs.
H=Hotel, Lo=Lodge, B/L/D=Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Day 1: KATHMANDU - ARRIVAL DAY (H/D). You will be met at Tribhuwan international airport, Kathmandu and conveyed to your hotel. You will have an evening briefing about your trip and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 2: KATHMANDU - CITY TOUR, ACCLIMATISATION AND EQUIPMENT CHECK (H/B).
After breakfast we will have a full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu valley. This will involve a visit to Boudhanath, one of the largest Stupa's in the world and the historic and beautiful city of nearby Bhaktapur.
Day 03: KATHMANDU TO POKHARA (H/B).
After breakfast you will drive to the domestic airport and fly* to Pokhara, where on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and relax for the afternoon.
Day 04: POKHARA TO TIRKHEDHUNGA. 1,000m to 1,540m. 4-5 hrs (Lo/B/L/D).
We drive for two hours to the village of Lumle where we meet our trekking crews before we begin our trek. Then we will walk through meadows and terraced rice fields for about an hour before the trail crosses a big bridge by the confluence of Bhurungdi Khola and the Modi River. Here lies a large village bazaar named Birethanti. For the next three hours or so we will we continue the walk on the gentle but steadily climbing trail to the village of Hille (1,540m) and shortly after (15 mins) we get to the lovely hill village of Tirkhedhunga for our night stop.
Day 05: TIRKHEDHUNGA TO GHOREPANI. 1,540m to 2,750m. 5-6 hrs (Lo/B/L/D).
Today the walk takes us up more than 3,000 stone steps to the breath taking views from Ulleri. From here you can have good views of Annapurna South and Himchuli. After this hard climb you will find the trail eases off and after an hour it reaches Banthanti where just a few tourist lodges are situated. You soon enter a forest of beautiful rhododendrons, which is really spectacular in March and April. After about two more hours of gradual ascent the trail reaches Ghorepani.
Day 06: EXCURSION TO POON HILL. 3 hrs. TREK FROM GHOREPANI TO TADAPANI. 2,750m to 3,103m to 2,590m. Additional 4 hrs (Lo/B/L/D).
After waking up at 5am you will carry out your pre dawn assault on Poon Hill. During your one hour hike to the top you will witness breathtaking views as a wide Himalayan vista opens up before you that includes Dhaulagiri 8,167m (the world's seventh highest peak) and Manaslu 8156m (the world's eighth highest peak) with the mighty Annapurna range stretched in between them. You will return to Ghorepani for breakfast before you start the undulating* four hour walk to Tadapani.
*Anything less than ten minutes up and ten minutes down in Nepal is flat so do expect undulating to mean anything from 15-30 minutes of uphill!
Day 07: TADAPANI TO CHOMRONG. 2,590m to 2,170m. 5hrs (Lo/B/L/D).
We now leave Tadapani for the interesting hike to the main Ghandrung to Chomrong route. You will hike a series of undulating trails and small paths leading to the villages of Chiule and Klisigo before you get to your overnight stay at Chomrong.
Day 08: CHOMRONG TO POTHANA. 2,170m to 1,900m. 5 hrs (Lo/B/L/D).
Leaving Chomrong we follow the undulating path to Pothana crossing over several suspension bridges in the process. There is a stiff 550m climb on this day but you will be a veteran Himalayan hiker by now and this will not present you with any undue difficulty. On the way you should be able to see Dhaulagiri and towards the end of the day the path descends gently to Pothana.
Day 09: POTHANA TO DHAMPUS TO POKHARA. 1,900m to 1,650m. 2 hrs (H/B/L).
From Pothana we trek about for two hours through more beautiful landscape to reach Dhampus where we take the two hour drive back Pokhara.
Day 10: POKHARA TO KATHMANDU (H/B).
You will have a free morning in Pokhara and you can make good use of the city's ample shops and cafes. If you are still feeling energetic go for a boat ride on beautiful Phewa lake. In the afternoon we will fly* back to Kathmandu where we will transfer back to our hotel and then visit Patan square, which is famous for its temples, arts and crafts. In the afternoon we take the short flight back to KathmanduDay 11: KATHMANDU - FREE DAY (H/B/D).
You will have a totally free day today for sight seeing or shopping (try the famous Thamel area of town). In the evening we will then have a farewell dinner before your departure tomorrow.
Optional: Morning Everest scenic flight for £125 for one hour or a river rafting trip of one day at a cost of £30 or £40 with private transport.
Day 12: KATHMANDU - DEPARTURE DAY (B).
You will be taken to the airport for your flight home.
Flight* If clients want to use a bus to and from Kathmandu and their trek area then this is an option but not from any flight from Jomsom to Pokhara due to time constraints. There will be an approximate £60 saving for each flight and this money will be refunded less the cost of any bus fare (see our dates and prices section). Should any flight not take place due to weather then this will necessitate a bus journey and again your flight monies will be refunded less the cost of any bus fare.
On our trips we include transport to and from the airport on arrival and departure, all transportation or travel in country including any internal domestic flights, all hotel and trekking lodge accommodation, a dedicated AB leader and all in country guides and porters, any park, mountain fees or permits and any sightseeing/tourist entry fees. Breakfasts at all hotel stays will be provided but lunches and dinners will only be provided where indicated. All meals will be provided during the duration of any trek or climb.
All booked activities and the use of any group equipment such as tents, cooking equipment are included but any additional activities booked with our in country providers will be subject to an additional surcharge.
NB: See our essential information page for a complete breakdown of what is and what is not included in your trip.
Hotel = 6 nights, Trekking lodge = 5 nights, (11 nights total).
Breakfasts = 11, Lunches = 6, Packed Lunches = 0, Dinners = 7 (24 meals out of a possible 32).