Annapurna Base Camp New Year

Anapurna
Annapurna south (Photo: Jenny Gurung)

Annapurna Sanctuary New Year Trek – Gurung style

What better way to welcome the new year! With the dizzying heights of the world’s highest mountains serving as the back-drop while you raise your toast, this will definitely be a very different new year – one with great memories. The locals will join us in the celebrations and show us how the Gurungs sing and dance. After the celebrations, we will descend to Jhinu to immerse into a natural hot-spring.

The trek is through several Gurung villages to the Annapurna Sanctuary – a natural amphitheatre surrounded by some of the most spectacular Himalayan peaks. You will navigate up the infamous Gurung staircases along the Modi Khola. The Gurung people are one of the sixty ethnic groups in Nepal and are the predominant group recruited in the famous Gurkha regiment of the British and Indian army.

The trek is rated mildly strenuous but is moderately paced. No technical climbing is involved and you do not have to be an experienced hiker to participate. But it is important that you come with an open mind and be very patient.

Trip format: Lodge trek – sleep and eat in local family owned lodges. You must provide your own sleeping bag and personal clothing.

Itinerary

21 December - Kathmandu (4,400 ft/1,250m)

Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to Hotel. Rest of day free. Welcome dinner at a Nepali Home. (Dinner)

22 December - Kathmandu (4,400 ft/1,250m)

Visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Here, you'll probably witness a Hindu cremation along the banks of the Bagmati River.

Then drive to Bhaktapur, the City of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square. Bhaktapur is a medieval city in the Kathmandu valley and is least disturbed by modern life. Here, you can absorb the architectural splendor of the five-storied Nyatapola temple, or the sculptural delight of the Peacock Window. (Breakfast and Lunch)

23 December - Kathmandu to Syauli (4,000 ft/1,220m)

Transfer to the domestic terminal at Kathmandu airport. Fly to Pokhara (approx 30 minutes). After arriving at Pokhara (2,640ft/800m), transfer by road (private vehicle) to the starting point of the trek at Naya Pul. Trek through terraced rice fields to Syauli. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

24 December - Syauli to Ghandrung (6,400 ft/1,950m)

Steadily ascend to Ghandrung. Trek to the large Gurung village of Ghandrung. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Anapurna
Never-ending Gurung staircases (Photo: Jenny Gurung)
25 December - Ghandrung to Chomrong (6,900 ft/2,090m)

Trek through terraced fields to Kimrong Danda (7,425ft/2250m). Descend steeply through forest, to the Kimrong Khola. After lunch ascend steeplyto another Gurung village of Chomrong. Chomrong is the highest permanent settlement in the valley, although there are tea-houses beyond this point. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

26 December - Chomrong to Bamboo (7,600 ft/2,310m)


Leaving behind permanent settlements,follow the Modi Khola        valley towards the Annapurna Sanctuary.  Overnight Lodge. (All  meals)

 27 December - Bamboo to Himalaya (9,375 ft/2,840m)

Enter rhododendron and oak forest and continue to ascend  gradually. The trail continues through stands of bamboo, and beyond avalanche chutes and a few landslides to Himalaya Hotel. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

28 December - Himalaya to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (12,200 ft/3,700m)

Today, you will find yourself above tree-line. The mountain views from here are marvelous: Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8,091 , Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m), and

Machhapuchare are all visible from here. Spend your afternoon enjoying the spectacular scenery of these peaks. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

29 December - Machhapuchare Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp (13,625 ft/4,130m)

It is approximately 2 hours hike to Annapurna Base Camp – a collection of four hotels on a hillock. The views of the south face of Annapurna is fabulous from ABC. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

30 December - Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (7,600 ft/2,310m)

Today is all downhill. After lunch en route, you re-enter the bamboo forest. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

31 December - Annapurna Base Camp to Chomrong (6,900 ft/2,090m)

Continue down through the forest. Tonight we will be joined by local men and women for song and dance and libations. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

01 January - Chomrong to Jhinu

Today is a short day of about 2 hours to Jhinu. We start out late and arrive Jhinu for lunch in time to take a dip in the Jhinu hot-springs. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

02 January - Jhinu to Pothana (9,100 ft/2,775m)

Trek through the forest on the Ghorepani ridge to reach Ghorepani, a magar village which is now mostly a collection of lodges. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

03 January - Pothana to Pokhara (6,800 ft/1,250m)

Descend to Phedi. Drive back to Pokhara. Overnight at Shangrila Village Resort. (Breakfast and Lunch)

04 January - Pokhara to Kathmandu

Mid-afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. Day free in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening. (Breakfast and Dinner)

05 January - Final Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. (Breakfast)

Price includes:

Price does not include:

TO BOOK THIS TRIP:

A completed reservation form must be either faxed to us or scanned and emailed as an attachment.

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com
Fax: 977 – 1- 4412647

You must also send us a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person. The deposit must be wired. (Sorry, we will begin accepting credit cards from 2009 only). We will refund up to $30 to cover your wire expenses. Wire details will be provided. The balance of the amount must be paid on arrival, either in traveler’s checks or cash.

Download reservation form here »

TREK RATING:

This trek is rated mildly strenuous and is moderately paced. The trek involves daily hiking of between 5-6 hours on average but the entire trek involves lots of up and down. Highest altitude reached is near 14,000 ft. While the trek requires good physical fitness and involves walking through rocky terrain and landslides, no technical climbing experience is required nor do you have to be a very experienced hiker.

TRIP LEADER:

After completing his graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, Jwalant returns to what he loves most – Nepal and the Himalayas. A certified climbing guide and a Wilderness First Responder (NOLS), Jwalant has led numerous treks and climbs in Nepal and Tibet and some in the Pacific Northwest in the US. Born and raised in Kathmandu, he enjoys giving people a taste of his country and culture. In his spare time, he enjoys rock-climbing, watching movies and trying out different cuisine.

REFERENCES:

Crystal Mountain organizes treks and tours in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tiber for hundreds of satisfied travelers each year. Feel free to ask us for a list of references who can tell you about their experience with us.

PRE AND POST TRIP EXTENSIONS:

Arriving early or leaving late? Nepal (and the region) has a lot to offer besides your main trip to Everest. Depending on the extra days you have and your budget, we would be glad to match you up with one of the following activities:

Contact us for more details.

QUESTIONS:

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Phone
Land Line: + 977 1 4416813
Mobile: + 977 97410-33916

Or if you would rather have us call you at a time convenient for you, please email us your phone number and time that works best for you.