Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Basic details for the day: On the second day, the transition from lakeside comfort of Pokhara to the mountainous terrain of the Annapurna foothills starts with a scenic two-hour drive (40 km) to Nayapul (3,500 ft elevation) and ending in Sauli Bazar (4,000 ft elevation), where you will leave the vehicle for the 5 km trek to the famous village of Ghandruk. This portion of your trek will take about five hours and will consist of ten vertical stone staircases, numerous terraced fields, and a total vertical ascent to the village of 2,600 ft. You will be provided a meal for each leg of the trek: breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the mountain teahouses you will stay in.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: The journey to Ghandruk (6,600 ft.), via Sauli Bazar (4,000 ft.) provides an excellent example of the famous stone staircases throughout the Himalayas. The route covers a relatively short distance of only 5 km, although the vertical rise from the starting point to Ghandruk is over 3,900 ft. and the terrain presents numerous challenges associated with uneven ground. The trail winds up through agricultural terraces basking in sunlight followed by sections of shade from trees, calling for a consistent rhythm to maintain a steady pace over uneven ground. The trail continues to be broad and well-maintained until it reaches the high-altitude plateau of Ghandruk where it levels out more.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: When you have trekked higher, the view of the horizon will show you the huge southern face of Annapurna South and the holy, unknown peak of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Along with the white rocks capped with snow, there are colourful green paddy fields (rice) and millet fields either side of the pathway creating a surprising difference from the white rocks of the snow capped mountains.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: The Gurung settlement of Ghandruk, Nepal has a storied past related to the Gorkha soldier tradition and is best known for its distinctive ogive-style stone houses (which have tin roofs) used for building. A visit to the Gurung Museum offers trekkers a chance to learn more about the community's history through exhibits of traditional clothing, tools, and historical objects. The daily life found in Ghandruk is also stunning - women work hard weaving traditional clothing and farmers care for animals on the steep terraces surrounding the village. 

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: While rich in history, Ghandruk is located at extremely high altitudes there's an easy trek of 2,600 ft (700m) from the valley floor to the top of Ghandruk's staircase in one afternoon. For trekkers, trekking at this high altitude, maintaining a steady and slow pace is critical to avoiding altitude-related complications such as depression/anxiety, dizziness and shortness of breath due to rapid ascent. Also, taking deep, regular breaths to ensure maximum oxygen enters your body is extremely beneficial as well. It's also critical that you drink 3 - 4 litres of water per day as it helps prepare you for the even higher altitudes and thinner air that you will encounter later in your trek and will keep you well-hydrated through hard physical exercise and help maintain muscular performance.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: Vertical ascent up the mountain is the concern as we are trekking approximately 2,000 meters (over 6,600 feet) in elevation over a very short (5 kilometers) distance from the riverbed to Ghandruk. It was found that shorter, frequent breather breaks, lasting approximately 2 minutes each, were much more advantageous for maintaining energy than longer, less frequent breaks. Being able to arrive at the lodge porch just as the sun was setting and seeing the peaks change from white to beautiful gold made every stone step along the way worthwhile.

Camp Information & Logistics: Tonight’s lodging will be a typical Ghandruk teahouse, offering twin-sharing (or double) rooms with basic but comfortable wooden furnishings. These teahouses are the centre of the trekking experience as they contain communal dining rooms where trekkers gather around a central stove to eat. Most teahouses in Ghandruk are outfitted with solar-powered hot showers and chargers. Your guide will assist you with your check-in and will arrange for dinner times, thus presenting an excellent opportunity to get to know other trekkers, share trail experiences and develop a sense of community with other trekkers.

Practical tips for trekkers: To have a successful and comfortable trek, it is important to make sure you take care of all logistical arrangements before you start your trek. Make sure you are filled with water from Sauli Bazar before you start your long, steep ascent because clean drinking water is hard to find once you begin your ascent. I suggest using trekking poles today; they give you extra support and help to reduce the strain on your knees when using the thousands of steps made out of rock along the length of the mountain. Don't forget about the sun at altitude; even if it feels cool because of the wind, you will still need to use high SPF sunscreen and wear a hat with a wide brim to help protect you from the intense UV rays.

Basic details for the day: It is deceptive to consider this trek to be a straight 10 km uphill from Ghandruk at 6,600 ft to Chhomrong at 7,200 ft with an overall total elevation gain of only 600 ft. however, in fact, over this distance, there are two main terrain features: one goes steadily downhill to reach the Kimrong Khola River then comes straight back uphill at a 45-degree angle for the rest of your trek journey. This will take around 7 hours to complete, traverse a series of ridge lines, cross multiple suspension bridges, and will also mark the last point of no return on your way to the Upper Sanctuary. 

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: Today's terrain consists of rollercoaster - like terrain that can be very physically demanding. After you begin your trek in Ghandruk, you will first go uphill until you start to go back down the steep (and often very dusty) descent through the forest covering the trail until you get to the Kimrong Khola River. After crossing over the Kimrong Khola River, via an awesome suspension bridge, it will be time for the true test: a long, vertical uphill, up medieval-length steps made of random stones for the rest of your journey to the village of Taulung and eventually, Chhomrong. For the majority of the trekking, you will be trekking through shaded and non-shaded sections of Rhododendron Forests and exposed ridgeline sections before arriving in Chhomrong, however you will be required to have good upper body and leg strength for the last 350m of uphill activity.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: The landscape changes from terraced fields at Ghandruk to thicker and more ancient forests. At the top of the Chhomrong ridge, you will have an incredible and very close-up view of Annapurna South and Hichuli. The most recognisable site is the Holy Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) changing form as you approach its base.The village of Chhomrong sits on a hillside and offers you a bird's-eye view of the deep valley that you will enter tomorrow.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: Chhomrong is the last major permanent settlement on the route to Base Camp. As one of the main hubs in the mountains, it is home to a mix of both Gurung and Magar communities. The village features high-altitude bakeries (among the best in the Himalayas) and a stone-paved main street running down the centre of the village. Despite its remote location, the village has a lively atmosphere with mule trains and local families providing accommodation to trekkers for many years.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: You will experience exhausting physical stress as a result of down and up type terrain since you begin your journey at 7,200 feet above sea level; however, if you maintain a consistent rhythm with your breathing while trekking steeply upward after crossing the river, you will remain safe. Despite being in a relatively cool forest area, you can still become dehydrated due to the humidity; therefore, drink consistently throughout this 7-hour trek to decrease the possibility of cramping muscles and help your body gradually adjust to fatigue.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: For us, Day 3 finally gave us a real understanding of what is meant by Nepali flat. It was daunting to descend all the way to the river only to have to ascend back to Chhomrong; however, just as they have been in past days, the bakeries in Chhomrong provided tremendous motivation. We enjoyed fresh apple pie at 7,000 feet while sitting and watching the clouds throughout the day swirl around Machhapuchhre. As it is a long day of trekking to get to Chhomrong, we recommend that you depart as early in the morning as possible to avoid trek in the extreme afternoon heat.

Camp Information & Logistics: Chhomrong is a major stop on the trek and the teahouses have some of the best accommodations available. Most teahouses have large dining rooms with amazing views from the windows of the surrounding landscape. Lodging is generally comfortable (twin share), and many teahouses still provide a way to take showers with either a gas heated shower or solar shower at the teahouse. When trekking you must have your guide sign the logbooks at the local check post that is located at the top of the village, this is a mandatory stop for all trekkers. 

Practical tips for trekkers: To make your trek more efficient and to keep yourself well hydrated, you will use many teahouses along the way (especially at Kimrong and Taulung) for both drinking water and food breaks. You should learn how to conserve energy so that you are able to maximize your strength on the steepest portion of the trek which is the two hour ascent into Chhomrong at the end of the day. Finally, you will always want to stop and enjoy the local bakery items, as this is the last time you will be able to enjoy hot food items such as coffee and pastries before you go into the wilderness.

Basic details for the day: The distance from Chhomrong to Bamboo (7,200 to 7,700 ft) is 10 km but because of the large amount of elevation changes, the trek seems much longer than it actually is. The trek begins with a very steep descent of 2,500 stone steps down to the river, followed by an uphill trek to Sinuwa and then through a forest to Bamboo. Each day includes breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a secure overnight stay in a teahouse located deep in the river canyon.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: Today you will experience the first big challenge of your entire trek - 2,500+  from Chhomrong down to the Chhomrong Khola. Upon crossing a suspension bridge, you will complete a steep, tough trek to Lower Sinuwa and then enter into the beautiful forested area of Upper Sinuwa. After this point, the terrain becomes a damp and ornate stone path through thickly carpeted rhododendron, oak and bamboo forests. Because of high humidity in the canyon, the path will be quite slippery, therefore you need to be cautious about your foot placement when you enter again into a shaded village called Bamboo.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: As you move away from Chhomrong's ridges, the valley begins to become narrower, creating almost a canyon appearance as it does so. The beautiful sights of both Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre can still be appreciated as you trek to Sinuwa, but as you descend towards Bamboo, all that changes into dense lush jungles from which there will be plenty of cascading waterfalls flowing down off of the high cliffs and you will pass through thickets of bamboo that are so dense in places that they can block out the sun, providing prehistoric feel to the trail.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: Beyond Chhomrong, the trail enters what is considered sacred ground of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Local custom dictates that no beef, pork, and in some places, poultry should be consumed within the mountain deities' domains; there will be an obvious change from larger villages to smaller, cluster-type settlements (like Bamboo and Dovan) that are strictly there to cater for the trekkers that use the area. An atmosphere of tranquillity will also start to emerge as you approach the Abode of the Gods.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: Currently there is much concern about how your knees will hold up when making the huge descent from Chhomrong and so it is important to go slowly in order to prevent the tissue surrounding your knee joints from becoming inflamed. Although there will only be a total elevation change of 500 feet, because of all the vegetation in the forest it’s possible that you could produce much sweat and lose significant amounts of salt due to the humidity present in the forests and you need to continue replenishing these fluids and possibly adding electrolytes back into the fluids that you take with you. Be very careful about where you trek on your way from Chhomrong to Sinuwa as the combination of slippery moss and wet stone steps make these sections of the trail some of the most common places that trekkers slip and fall.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: Everyone is always focused on the ascent but I truly remember the long descending stairway from Chhomrong more than anything else with memories of my knees. My favourite part of descending down was trekking through the forest after leaving Sinuwa. It felt like I was entering a world from Jurassic Park. My advice: put on your knee braces before leaving Chhomrong, and don’t forget to look back down on the village behind you when you reach Sinuwa, it’s amazing.

Camp Information & Logistics: You will be spending tonight at a Bamboo Teahouse. The Bamboo Teahouse is situated in a damp, cool environment, and surrounded by two bamboo forests. Lodges are considered less developed than those at Ghandruk or Chhomrong, therefore the rooms are smaller and the lodging may have a communal bathroom as opposed to a private one. Since Bamboo is set in a deep valley, daylight is present for a shorter period of time than in Ghandruk or Chhomrong, which makes it relatively cold by the time your guide will have you dine at the communal dining hall in Bamboo.

Practical tips for trekkers: You'll want to keep things simple in order to avoid complications on your trek. Use the many teahouses located along the way for rest stops, filling your water bottles, and drinking tea if you wish while trekking. Preserve your knees by using shorter strides on the Chhomrong steps and lean heavily on your trekking poles for balance. In order to stay dry, keep your rain gear and dry clothes at the top of your backpack easily accessible. The humidity from the forest in Bamboo is much greater than at the top of the ridge lines.

Basic details for the day: The trek from Bamboo (7,700 ft) to Deurali (10,600 ft) continues to be an even trek with a total distance of about 9 km. The trek will take 5 to 6 hours to complete; during that time, you will ascend nearly 3,000 ft in elevation. You will follow the Modi Khola river up through the communities of Dovan and Himalaya before you arrive at Deurali – your high altitude entrance into the Annapurna region. There will be breakfast, lunch, and dinner with lodging in a teahouse in high altitude.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: Today’s trail is composed of damp forest trails and rocky sections of exposed glacial terrain. From Bamboo, you will trek through thick bamboo and rhododendron forests until you arrive at Dovan, where the topography starts to change to a very steep gorge. As you proceed past Himalaya, the forest starts to thin out, the trail becomes more rocky with a steeper incline. Also, at the end of the trail you will encounter the Hinku Cave, which is a large overhanging rock that historically provided shelter for porters. On the last leg of the trek into Deurali, you will ascend on rocks with steps that have been cut into the rock; portions will be quite slippery as there may be small amounts of water coming from snowmelt as well as from glacial melt.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: As you go up through the Modi Khola you will see some breathtakingly large water falls that tumble off of the near-vertical cliff bands that dominate the gorge. The major change as you go up in elevation is the changing of the vegetation zones; you go from a dense green forest to a sub-alpine zone (the tree zone) where trees turn into bushes and hardy wildflowers. Above you, the faces of the Machhapuchhre and Annapurna III mountains are beginning to appear larger and more intimidating as they are closing in on your trail because the valley has become narrower.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: In this higher elevation, the influence of local spiritual beliefs is much stronger than at lower elevations. This area is called the Abode of the Gods and you will often find small shrines located customarily at waterfalls or otherwise where man has altered the natural environment and/or at stone faces. The location and size of the teahouses in the Himalayas are planned around the trekking route as a strategic use of resources; therefore they are much smaller than those teahouses located in the villages. Additionally, the staff at these teahouses are highly skilled at working at high altitudes, creating a collective energy in their common areas that is understated and focused as they all prepare for their respective final ascend to Base Camp.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: You will be at 10,000 ft (3000 m) elevation today, which is the threshold altitude for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). A slow, steady pace is essential for you to maintain your energy level for the entire day even if you feel good. The section of trail between Himalaya and Deurali has a known avalanche risk; therefore, please listen to your guides and proceed through this area in a timely manner. Drink at least 4 liters of water today, and do not go higher in altitude if you experience any lasting headache or nausea.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: The trek between Bamboo and Deurali felt like it was a completely different environment. After we passed the Himalaya, the air was definitely crisp. The moment we passed under Hinku Cave I felt like I was somewhere surreal, but the most memorable part of the trek was all the waterfalls. On the last step of the rocky ascent to Deurali, we found that taking shorter steps allowed us to breathe much more easily while gaining our altitude. Be conscious of the temperature when you arrive at Deurali, it is very cold, so wear your fleece as soon as you stop.

Camp Information & Logistics: You will be sleeping in a Deurali guest lodge at 10,600 ft. tonight. These lodges are not luxurious but functional; the accommodations are basic twin share rooms and typically only have solar power available for electricity. This will likely be the last place that you can have a very cold shower before Base Camp, although most trekkers choose to wash up with a wet wipe to avoid catching a chill. The dining room will be the social area and the main source of heat in the evening will be the central stove located in the middle of the dining room.                                                                                                          

Practical tips for trekkers: As you ascend to Base Camp, consider these three tips to maximize your safety and comfort while doing so. Refilling your water at Dovan or Himalaya will help keep your costs down, as the cost of hot water increases with elevation. A warm jacket or heavy fleece at the top of your pack will keep you warm once the sun sets and the temperature drops quickly in the deep canyon when the sun drops below the high rock walls surrounding it. Lastly, you will need to be aware of avalanche conditions by following your guide’s directions on the safe routes for this section given its susceptibility to weather variations and seasonal hazards.

Basic details for the day: The distance from Deurali (10,600 feet) to Annapurna Base Camp (13,550 feet) via Machhapuchhre Base Camp (12,200 feet), will be a 7-kilometer trek that takes roughly 7 hours due to the thinning air. This day will be your most visually beautiful day of all. It will add approximately 3,000 feet of elevation as you will be moving from the river canyon into an open Sanctuary basin state. You will also eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the highest point of your entire trek.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: Following the Modi Khola Riverbed from Deurali will begin your trek. You'll have a gradual trek through a narrow, rocky gorge until you reach the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC). It's at this point that the valley opens up - the forest will completely disappear and be replaced with alpine brush and glacial moraine. The final trek from MBC to ABC will be a gentle uphill that starts at around 14,000 feet above sea level and ends with a gentle uphill over an expansive, flat, open plateau. The terrain will consist of gravels and rocks and will depend upon the particular season for the amount of snow/ice on the ground. You will experience the sensation of your weight increasing by each footstep at high altitude and your trekking will be slow paced in a rhythm.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: The Himalaya Region has some of the most breathtaking scenery to see during this day's trek, beginning in MBC where you will stand at the base of the Fishtail mountain with a nearly direct line of sight up to its two summits that are both incredibly detailed. After you complete the 2-hour trek to reach ABC, you will find out that you are standing inside a Sanctuary of the world's tallest peaks, which is made up of the surrounding 360-degree amphitheatre that contains Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hichuli, and Khansar Kang; there are also vertical rock and ice walls that stand thousands of feet tall above the Base Camp below.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: The higher you ascend, the more revered the mountains become. Machhapuchhre is one mountain amongst many to never technically be summited, due to local religious customs that do not allow the mountain to be trekked. At ABC you also have found the only settlement in the area, which is made up of a handful of functional lodges built with durable materials designed for extreme weather. The culture at ABC is of collective triumph; each day you will see trekkers from every corner of the globe gathered at the dining tables sharing a silent and humble respect for the majestic peaks in front of them through the walls of one of the many lodges.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: You're way past 12,000 ft and at the greatest risk of AMS. Therefore, you must trek at a very slow pace, and be very careful with each step you take. Continuously check in with your system for signs of HACE and HAPE (shortness of breath while at rest, or a continuous cough with phlegm) and make sure that you keep yourself hydrated by drinking 4 litres of water during the course of the day. When the sun goes down, temperatures at ABC will drop below freezing so put on your warm gear as soon as you arrive.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: The trek from MBC to ABC was one of the most physically challenging yet most beautiful two hours of my life. I took many breaks to breathe after ten steps of trekking, but I was motivated to keep going because I could see Annapurna I straight ahead as I kept trekking. When I finally reached the ABC sign I felt like I had just won an Olympic medal. The top of ABC was so quiet, except for the sounds of avalanches far away from me, I'll never forget that moment.

Camp Information & Logistics: When visiting Annapurna Base Camp, the teahouse accommodations make this an incredible experience, but keep in mind that the facilities are very basic: rooms are small, generally unheated and usually have two twin beds; shower facilities are not available since the pipes often freeze overnight. The only warm place to spend time is in the dining room, where you will likely spend your evenings huddled around a stove.

Practical tips for trekkers: If you're trekking to ABC, be sure to take advantage of the many teahouses along the way to MBC (or any other teahouses) for refills on drinking water and to rest long before making your final push. It is important to keep yourself protected from the sun while you’re at that high of an altitude, as the sun's UV rays are incredibly strong at this altitude of 13,000 ft. Snow blindness or severe burns can occur in just a few minutes. Lastly, when trekking, always carry your heavy down jacket, wool hat, and gloves in your day pack, as the wind chill factor in the open sanctuary is frigid even during the day.

Basic details for the day: Today's trek from Annapurna Base Camp (13,550 ft) back to Bamboo (7,700 ft) will require a long 13 km. Although most of the trek is downhill, because of the significant amount of 5,850 ft loss of elevation, this will be one of the most strenuous days for your knees. Expect to be on the trail about 9 hours following the same path as before through the Sanctuary, trekking past MBC and Deurali before entering back into the forest area. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included in your meals.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: This trek will also include a complete reversal of the trekking terrain over the previous three days. Today, you will begin on the smooth, wide, and rocky glacial basin of the Sanctuary and trek back down into the narrow and humid river gorge. You will begin your trek from the ABC plateau with an easy slope and progress to the steep, rocky drops through the gorge of Deurali. As you continue to descend, the subalpine shrubby vegetation will change to an extensive forest of rhododendron and oak trees. The steps you trekked on Days 4 and 5 are now going to be a descending challenge and therefore require being careful to stabilize your knees when stepping on the uneven, often wet, large stone steps, leading you into Bamboo.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: As the day starts at ABC with a beautiful sunrise changing the surrounding 8,000-metre peaks from pale blue to deep orange, you will also be able to see the second time around at the view you had missed on your way up due to lack of breath. Views of the Modi Khola valley from above are impressive, and as you enter back into the tree line, you will notice that the air is full of enrichment again, with warmth. The waterfalls around Deurali and reentering the lush green bamboo groves contrast with the stark white environment of Base Camp.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: As you descend, you will likely meet uphill trekkers with many questions and excitement. This is an excellent opportunity to share the friendliness of the trail. As you pass the high-altitude villages of Dovan and Himalaya, you will see the forest life return to active from high-altitude, with birds singing and the movement of monkeys (langurs) returning as you leave the quiet sacredness of the heights of the sanctuary.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: At present, the greatest potential for injury is from stress to the knee and fatigue from using your muscles. Trekking down almost 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) is hard on the knee and thigh muscles, and you may feel the urge to run; however, running downhill leads to tripping and/or twisting your ankle. Trekking sticks are also extremely important when trekking downhill to absorb the impact on your knees and because of the fast movement of the arms. Although you can no longer get altitude sickness after you begin your descent, you may start to have reverse altitude symptoms, i.e., feeling slightly dizzy or light-headed as your body adjusts to a greater density of oxygen (more air).

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: The downhill trek felt as if I had just received a new pair of lungs, but my knees still felt all of those 5,000 plus feet. In addition, while I was so focused on the views of the mountain peaks going up, I forgot I would see so many stunning waterfalls on the way down to Dovan. Final advice - don’t rush your descent. We took a nice long lunch at Dovan to allow our legs some rest; this way our final trek to Bamboo would be less of a challenge.

Camp Information & Logistics: The temperature will be a big change from what you left behind at ABC. You'll find that the lower altitude makes it easier to find an electrical outlet to charge your devices and possibly gives you good water pressure too. Dinner will be arranged by your guide in the dining hall and likely feel much more alive now that your oxygen levels and energy levels are back on track.

Practical tips for trekkers: To make the most of your long trek, use the many teahouses along the way, including MBC, Deurali, and Dovan, to keep hydrated and rest your legs. When trekking downhill, pay attention to protecting your knees by keeping a light step and utilizing your trekking poles like shocks on the steep, rocky parts of the trail. You should also change your layers of clothing frequently; when you start your trek at ABC, you may be wearing your heavy down jacket, but by the time you arrive in the warm, humid forests below Bamboo, you may just need a T-shirt.

Basic details for the day: Bamboo (7,700 ft.) to Jhinu Danda (5,600 ft.) is an 8 km trek that will take approximately 6 hours. You'll experience the most significant day of your retrek to Chhomrong. On this day you will trek down the thousands of stone steps from Day 4, back down to the river, then back up over those same steps again. All meals will be provided for you during this day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner at your natural hot springs by the river.

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: Today's terrain is a true up and down in the Classic Himalayas look. Starting in Bamboo, the forest is moist, as you trek on a wet forest trail until you reach Sinuwa where it would appear to have a combination of both stone-paved pit (flat), steep slopes, and small drops. Following the last descent to the Chhomrong Khola suspension bridge, you will be faced with the most mentally straining part of the day, trekking back into Chhomrong village by using the steep stone steps that you just trekked down. After you reach the top of the ridge, the trail will quickly change from a dusty descent to Jhinu Danda. Jhinu Danda is located on a very narrow ridge, which is above the river valley.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: Upon leaving the deep gorge that is Bamboo (bamboo), the landscape very quickly opens up once again to beautiful expansive lower Annapurna foothills. At the top of sinuwa and chhomrong you can enjoy your last incredible view of the Sanctuary entrance and also the massive Annapurna south and hichuli peaks. The highlight of this day is the change in scenery that is characterised as a tropical one as you transition between areas of rich high altitude forests to lush terraced agriculture and subtropical plant life as you near the riverside.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: Culturally and locally, when passing through chhomrong on your return, you will be going back through one of the larger gurung population centers in this part of the world. You may also have noticed that chhomrong seemed more alive than when you first passed through because now that you have conqured the Base Camp. Finally, you will also find that Jhinu Danda is a very small but very busy rest stop famous for its natural healing Hot Springs located only a short (20-minute) trek down from the village. Typically, it is a tradition for trekkers to soak in the numerous warm water pools after straining their muscles on the higher altitude portions of the trek.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: Today's focus on safety is based on the risk of heat upset due to excessive temperature, humidity, and fatigue due to long exposure to manual labor over the previous two days of physical exertion. At altitudes less than 6,000 feet, the temperature and humidity will increase significantly with each uphill to the Chhomrong Stairs. Constantly being exposed to hot temperatures combined with the difficulties of descending steep stairs (Ex: Chhomrong Stairs) increases the risk of developing heat-related illness. 

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: I had to prepare myself mentally to trek those Chhomrong Stairs a second time, but the motivation of soaking in the hot springs at the end of the day kept me going. We spent the day having lunch in Chhomrong and taking advantage of the good views one last time. Getting into the natural pools in Jhinu with the river flowing only a few feet away was the perfect way to thank our bodies for trekking for a week.

Camp Information & Logistics: This evening you will be spending the night in a Jhinu Danda teahouse. In contrast to the high-altitude teahouse you'll stay on your trek, the teahouses provide more of a relaxed atmosphere. Rooming will be twin-share style, and because you are at a lower altitude than yesterday, it will be warmer when you go to bed tonight. Your trek guide will make arrangements for your visit to the hot springs, and there is a nominal local fee for using the springs. The hot springs are about a 15-20 minute trek down from the teahouses, so remember you will need to make the brief trek back up after soaking in the hot water.

Practical tips for trekkers: Make use of the many teahouses along the route to refill your water bottles and take a break during your trekking. Particularly in Sinuwa and Chhomrong. Be conservative with your energy during the ascent to Chhomrong; you will not use all of it to finish the trek. Bring a separate bag with your towel, flip-flops, and clean clothes for the hot springs so you can leave your full pack at the teahouse and only have to carry your small bag to the hot springs.

Basic details for the day: You will have your last first morning of trekking (1 hour/2 km) as you make your way from Jhinu Danda to the Jhinu Bridge. This bridge is the longest feet (in terms of its overall length) out of all the suspension bridges in Nepal and the biggest bridge in the world. After successfully crossing the river gorge, you will meet your transportation for a three-hour (60 km) drive back to Pokhara (2,700 feet). 

Trail Description and Terrain Insights: The trekking portion of the day is relatively short and fairly easy. The overall trail is downhill; it goes from the Jhinu ridge down to the river bed at the Jhinu River. The terrain is a combination of dirt paths and rock steps, with a diverse set of very dense, subtropical plant life and very small groups of homes along the way. The crossing of the Jhinu Suspension Bridge (the biggest steel achievement you will come across on your trek) over the Modi Khola River is a final rush as the bridge ways back and forth beneath your feet and you look down and see the glacial river far below.

Natural and Scenic Highlights: On your way down to the bridge you will see one last look at the magnificent deep valley that you have just spent a week enjoying. The scenery has changed; instead of high peak dramas you will now enjoy lower foot hills that are full of lush and vibrant pastoral beauty. There were many opportunities to see beautiful terraced rice farms as you trekked along the winding roads full of small shopping bazaars with people everywhere; then a gorgeous long distance view of the Annapurna Mountains was waiting for you at the end of the road. Now there is a white wall of snow on the horizon which you will have the delight of saying you have trekked across.

Cultural and Local Touchpoints: Coming off of quiet mountain trails and ambling into bustling roads signifies your reentry into contemporary Nepali life. You will pass through several small trekking villages(Birethanti and Nayapul) and have a chance to experience local commerce in full swing, as well as Gateway locations that are where many other trekking groups begin their trek. Upon reaching Pokhara, the culture changes to the leisurely pace of a lakeside that hosts many trekkers from all over the world celebrating their successful summit at restaurants and cafes.

Safety and Acclimatization Guidelines: You will have minimal trekking but need to be careful about your footing when trekking on the suspension bridge, especially if it is windy. Going down to 3,000 feet in a vehicle provides a sudden increase in oxygen and atmospheric pressure and can be very enjoyable, but make sure to drink lots of water to help your body adjust to the drastic change in altitude very quickly. The re-entry into traffic and noise of the city can also be quite shocking to your senses, and you should plan on having the evening to rest and adjust to the lower elevation.

Experience Notes by our trekkers who completed this trek: Crossing the last bridge was an awesome finish line. It was long, high and made my heart race thinking about how awesome it was to finish my trek. The drive back to Pokhara was bumpy, but as I looked out the car window at the mountain peaks, I realized that I had trekked a very long distance from where we had started. After staying in the mountains for 9 days, taking that first hot shower and sleeping in a real bed felt like heaven.

Camp Information & Logistics: This evening, you'll be moving from mountain lodge style accommodation to a more conventional hotel accommodation in Pokhara, approximately ten minutes from Kathmandu airport. Your new hotel includes your own private room with a private bathroom, dependable hot water to take a long awaited shower and high speed internet to allow for sharing your trek with others. Your trekking guide will take care of making any necessary final arrangements for your luggage and any required equipment checks so you can enjoy your goodbye dinner with your trekking companions.

Practical tips for trekkers: As you approach the finish of your trek, you can stop at one of the teahouses before crossing the lovely suspension bridge to enjoy another cup of mountain tea or to fill your water bottle one last time. As the drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu will take approximately three hours and you are likely to be exposed to air conditioning and road dust in the vehicle, be sure to have some form of outer clothing with you. Finally, ensure that your digital camera is charged prior to getting on the vehicle to take a series of aerial photos from the center of Jhinu Bridge as these pictures will be a fantastic way to finish off your trekking with memories that will last forever.