The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, also known as the Annapurna Base Camp trek, is one of the shortest treks in Nepal. This beautiful trek takes you very up close to the Himalayan ranges such as Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre. The Machhapuchhre Base Camp Trek is a newly opened trekking trail in Annapurna Region. Unlike the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, the Machhapuchhre Base Camp trek trail takes you through five major village development committees in the region. The Annapurna Sanctuary trek takes you through beautiful waterfalls, villages and most importantly, the stunning Rhododendron forests.
The Annapurna Sanctuary trek is among the most popular choices for trekking destinations in Nepal because this trek with moderate difficulty is suitable for all kinds of trekkers. You can plan for this trek at any time of the year. However, it is recommended to plan the trek during fall or spring as you can expect clear mornings and evening at this time of the year.
It usually takes 11 to 14 days to complete the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek package. Like many other treks, Pokhara is the Gateways to the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. The trek starts from Nayapul which is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Pokhara. Walking from Nayapul, you’ll reach Phedi where you’ll get introduced to the Gurung village and their culture. From Phedi, the trail goes towards Chhomrong and then to Modi Khola Gorge and finally to the heart of the sanctuary. During the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, you’ll come across several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, magnificent Himalayan ranges and local culture of the people in the villages you pass by.
The Annapurna Sanctuary region has a unique geography which presents a combination of heights and depths. Because the Sanctuary is surrounded by high mountains on all sides, the region receives sunlight for only seven hours a day in Summer. Because of the unique geography, the south-facing slope are covered in dense tropical jungles of rhododendron and bamboo, while the north-facing slopes, in the rain shadow, have a drier colder weather similar to that of the near-by Tibetan Plateau. This trek takes you right into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a high glacial basin located north of Pokhara and known as the ‘Sanctuary’ both because of its natural beauty and its religious significance to local people who believe in the divine presence there of the goddesses, Annapurna and Gangapurna. The entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary is ‘guarded’ by the mountain giants Machhapuchare and Hiunchuli, and you pass between them into a huge ice-clad cirque of some of the highest mountains in the world.
The Annapurna Sanctuary is rich in natural vegetation and wildlife with different species of rhododendron, various species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and more than 450 species of different birds. During the Annapurna Sanctuary trek/Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you can also visit the Natural hot spring of Jhinu Danda for refreshment.
Before starting your Annapurna Sanctuary trek, you need to obtain an individual ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) entry permit. Along with the ACAP permit, you also need to obtain TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card in order to trek to the Annapurna Base Camp. This permit should be carried along during the entire trip as it will be check at various check points along the route. TIMS card can be obtained at the offices of Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara and TAAN Secretariat at Maligaon and TAAN Pokhara Secretariat in Pokhara. However, this permit allows for entrances only to the designated places within the conservation area.
ACAP Permit for SAARC Nationals: Nepali Rupees 200
For other Nationals (other than SAARC countries): Nepali Rupees 3,000 (Approx. US $30).
TIMS permit: Nepali Rupees 1,000 (Approx. US $10).
Some of the popular trekking routes in the Annapurna area include Jhinu Danda trek, Thandapani trek, Ghorepani poon hill, Annapurna round, Jomsom Muktinath trekking, upper mustang trekking, Dhampus trekking, Nar Phu valley trekking and Ghandurk village trekking.
If you are planning for Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, we recommend you to include one of the three best treks in the region i.e. Jhinu Danda Trek or Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. We’ll brief you on why we recommend these treks.
The Jhinu Danda trek begins from Phedi and ends at Nayapul. This beautiful trekking trail takes you through the beautiful landscapes full of beautiful flora and fauna, Gurung and Magar villages, natural hot spring and many more. During this Jhinu Danda trek, you get to view the mesmerizing view of the mountains like Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Hiunchuli, Annapurna 2nd and 3rd and many more. This short trek is suitable for trekkers who don’t have much time. The major attraction of the Jhinu Danda trek is the Jhinu natural hot spring. After a long trek, it’ll feel heavenly to bathe in the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is also a short and easy trek. This trek is also suitable for people who love to trek but don’t have much time to spend in Nepal. Just like the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek starts from Nayapul. This trek takes you through the beautiful villages of Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk. The Poon Hill viewpoint (3210m) presents the best view of the Himalayan range and sunrise. This trek will also provide the best views of the mountains such as Mt. Dhaulagiri ranges, Mt. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Annapurna II, III, IV, Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal, Barasikhar, Nilgiri, Tukuche Peak, Hiunchuli, and Manaslu ranges will view from this trek.
If you are planning for Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, you can contact Everest Trail Walker P. Ltd. This trekking company is owned and managed by a group of trekking guides with experience of more than a decade. The company has been offering various tours and treks plans for groups and individuals in Nepal including the Annapurna sanctuary trek, Machhapuchhre Base Camp Trek, Everest base camp, Annapurna base camp trek, Langtang, Annapurna circuit, Kanchenajunga, Dolpo, as well as other Asian regional destinations like Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, Leh & Ladakh in India.