Machapuchare guarding the entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary
12-day adventure

The Annapurna Sanctuary

Nepal
  • Kandoo Trekking
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Code: NPAS

12 days
Moderate
Emissions 282 kg/pers.
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Annapurna Sanctuary Route Map

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Our team in Nepal have been guiding Kandoo travelers through the iconic Himalaya since 2012. Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes and Annapurna Circuit are always the most popular but we also provide peak climbs and lesser known trekking routes on request. Our trips are expertly run by Pimba Tensing, a highly experienced guide who has summitted Everest twice! He and his team of guides, cooks and drivers run an incredibly efficient, encouraging and...
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Kandoo's view

With over 12 years of experience helping our adventurers to reach the high passes and peaks of the Himalayas, you are in safe hands with our experienced Nepali team. The welfare of our local staff is a priority for us which is why we work closely with our guides and crew to ensure they are well equipped to give you the trip of a lifetime. As with all our adventures, when you trek in the Himalayas with us, your trip is fully carbon offset as standard.

One of the best shorter treks we operate, the Annapurna Sanctuary trek is a great challenge if you do not have sufficient time available for the acclimatisation required on one of our longer treks.

The trek begins at the trailhead at Nayapul, an hour's drive from Pokhara. You begin with an ascent of Poon Hill which has amazing views of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range. From here, the trek follows the river gorge, crossing and re-crossing suspension bridges before reaching Machhapuchhre and Annapurna Base Camps. This section of the Annapurna range forms an amphitheatre containing Annapurna I, Fang, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. The only entrance to the Sanctuary is a narrow pass between Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. The peak of Machhapuchhre is thought to be the dwelling place of the Hindu god Shiva and so the sanctuary was not entered by outsiders until 1956. After our adventure, there is the opportunity to relax on the shores of Lake Pokhara before flying back to Kathmandu.

Trip highlights

  • Trek into the heart of the Annapurna Range
  • Climb Poon Hill for stunning views
  • Comfortable teahouse accommodation
  • Trip fully carbon offset as standard

Experiences

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Itinerary

  • Day 1

    ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU

    All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kathmandu International Airport (KTM). From Kathmandu Airport we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night you will meet your local Kandoo representative and have a full pre-trek briefing.

    • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Day 2

    FLY TO POKHARA – DRIVE TO NAYAPUL – TREK TO TIKHEDHUNGA

    We will take a morning flight to Pokhara, with magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and many others. We will then drive for one hour to Nayapul where we start our trek. We follow the south bank of the river, passing through sub-tropical valley forests and crossing the Modi Khola on a high suspension bridge. We continue to ascend on this trail until we reach the village of Tikhedhunga where we will spend the night.

    • Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
    • Ascent: 461 m
    • Descent: 221 m
    • Max. altitude: 1540 m
    • Accomodation: Teahouse
    • Meals included: Breakfast
  • Day 3

    TREK TO GHOREPANI

    We leave the small village of Thikedhungga, crossing the small suspension bridge across the deep gorge to start your steep ascent up to Ulleri. Fortunately there are steps all the way which makes this tough climb slightly easier. After Ulleri, the trail continues winding its way through the rhododendron forests, passing beautiful waterfalls and we climb up, and down a little, enjoying the views of Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) peeking out high above the lush green hillsides. Eventually we reach the village of Ghorepani and are rewarded with breath-taking views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range.

    • Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
    • Ascent: 1240 m
    • Max. altitude: 2780 m
    • Accomodation: Teahouse
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Annapurna Sanctuary Route Map See the map

Details

Trip information

Difficulty

The Annapurna Sanctuary trek is considered moderate. It is one of the easier treks in the Annapurna region, but still requires a good level of fitness as you will be trekking roughly 5-6 hours a day with a maximum ascent of 1240m. Altitude is not a huge issue on this trek as the high point is just over 4100m and you will have made a very gradual ascent to this elevation. It is therefore ideal for people who want to trek the region without reaching any dizzying heights! In recent years, maintenance to the route means that the majority of this trek is now on stepped paths, so for those with dodgy knees and hips, you will definitely want to bring your walking poles. That said, anyone with a good level of fitness and some ascent training beforehand will easily manage this trek. 

Food & drink

At Kandoo we do not include all meals during your trip and instead, we allow you to choose whatever you like from the menu. Maintaining a good appetite at altitude is essential for a safe and enjoyable trek. Over the years, we have found that giving every traveller the option to choose their meals, rather than providing a restricted inclusive menu, is a much better way of ensuring everyone stays strong and healthy during their trip. This also means you pay a lower cost for your trek and have control over your own food budget (typically this will save you hundreds compared to an all-inclusive option).

The teahouses in the Annapurna region these days all offer a wide range of options from local Dhal Bhat (rice and lentil soup) to pasta, pizza and even chicken burgers and yak steaks. The menu will always feature something that takes your fancy regardless of your dietary requirements or preferences. We recommend a budget of £30 to £35 ($40 to $45) per day for meals and drinks. For examples of menus visit our Nepal Trekking Guide.


One word of advice, place your meal order as soon as you can upon arriving at the lodge as it is strictly ‘first ordered, first served’, and the best lodges are quite busy at meal times.

Accommodation

Trekking in Nepal is more popular than ever. As a result, the standard of accommodation available on most of the trek routes has improved dramatically. Where there were once simple peasant huts, large hostels have been built featuring running water, indoor toilets (some en-suite) and electricity. However, while internet access, charging facilities and hot water are available, you will need to pay to use them - if you plan on using the internet and showering every day, then you should budget around $10 per day.

However, in the Annapurna region, development is still ongoing, and as you get higher into the mountains the lodges become more basic. Furnishing is generally fairly spartan, and most rooms feature little more than a bench bed and a thin mattress, so your sleeping kit will probably see some early use. Showers are not always available and it tends to be just the communal areas that are heated.

Kandoo has a list of lodges that we prefer to work with, all of which are regularly inspected to ensure the best quality rooms available. Even at the worst, they are clean and well-kept. When the route is busy, we send a porter ahead to hire rooms for the night, as they cannot be reserved in advance. We will do all we can to ensure these rooms are on a twin share basis, however on occasion, when the route is busy, it may be the case that you will have to share with up to three others in a room. This is a rarity and you will always share with others of the same gender. 

Transport

The general standard of driving throughout Nepal is poor and badly regulated. Roads in Kathmandu are very congested, many drivers are not properly licensed and vehicles are poorly maintained. During the monsoon season (June to September) many roads outside the Kathmandu valley are prone to landslides and may become impassable.


We insist on using a high standard of vehicle and driver for all of our transfers. In Nepal it is not a legal requirement to have seatbelts fitted in the back of vehicles, and while we try to use vehicles that do have rear seatbelts fitted, this cannot always be guaranteed. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the vehicle or the standard of driving, please speak to the driver or our local office immediately.

Luggage

The internal flights operate a strict maximum limit of 10kg for your main equipment bag and 5kg for your day sack. Your bag will be weighed before you leave the hotel to start the trek and if it is overweight you will have to leave items behind. Your baggage will also be weighed by the airport staff so it is important that you do not exceed these limits. You will be given 2 litres of water on arrival in Pokhara to fill your bottles for your first day’s trekking, so you do not need to carry water from Kathmandu.


Duffel bags

You will be provided with a large duffel bag at the pre-trek briefing that will be yours to use for the duration of your trek. Your equipment will then need to be transferred into this bag. If you are travelling with a duffel bag then it is up to you which bag you choose to use for the trek, if you are travelling with a suitcase then this will need to be left at the pre-trek hotel and collected upon your return as our porters need the bags they carry to be flexible. 


The porters can carry up to 15kg in the main equipment bag, so there is scope for your bag to be slightly heavier while you are on the trek. You can move items from your daysack to your main bag when you reach Pokhara. All items must be packed in your main bag. They should not be attached to the outside, as we are not responsible if items fall off when the bags are being carried on the trek.

How do I get there?

There are several ways to get to Nepal from Europe and the USA all of which involve an international flight to Tribhuvan International Airport which is the main airport in Kathmandu. There are a lot of flights that fly to Kathmandu through the Middle East. Qatar, Gulf and Air Emirates offer daily flights from Europe and the US to Kathmandu, with a stopover at their central hubs. You must be careful though, as some of these layovers are very long indeed. Check the schedules carefully, and consider using Qatar. They seem to have the shortest layovers (at Doha) by a substantial margin. The other alternative is to fly via Delhi, with BA, Air India or Jet and then catch a shorter flight up to Kathmandu. Again be careful of long layovers and be warned - some of the reviews for Air India are less than glowing!

If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.

Travelling Responsibly

Here at Kandoo, we like to support our guests to make their travel more sustainable. As of 2025, we are offsetting the carbon on all of our trips from arrival in destination to dropping you back off at the airport. As we don't include flight travel in our trips these aren't included in our offsetting calculations, so we are providing you with the calculator below for you to do this yourselves. 

Budget & change

The Nepali Rupee is a closed currency so you will not be able to buy this before you arrive. If travelling from the UK or the US, it is advisable to travel with your home currency and exchange this in Kathmandu. It is very important that bills be new (less than 10 years old), crisp and untorn. We recommend changing currency in Kathmandu rather than at the airport as you will get a much better exchange rate. There are exchange kiosks less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel and your guide will be happy to assist you in finding these should you need them to.  Alternatively all the hotels in Kathmandu will change small amounts of money for you.

We recommend that you take local currency on the actual trek with you, as the teahouses prefer local currency. You will also get a more favourable exchange rate in Kathmandu than in the mountains. If you are relying on a credit or debit card for emergency funds, make sure you tell your card issuer that you will be using it abroad, or you may find that it won't work when you really need it.


In Kathmandu a meal for two at a mid range restaurant will cost ~$20. A taxi will generally start on a base rate of $0.45 and then charge $0.4 for every km. Or you can ride the bus which will be around $0.15 for a 5km journey. Souvenirs in Kathmandu are generally on the cheaper side too. 

Whilst on the trek, we recommend that you budget £30 - £35 ($40 to $45) per day for meals and drinks. 

You may also want to be prepared to pay for the cost of a helicopter which can fly in bad weather (around US$300-500 per person), in the case of your flight to or from Pokhara being postponed due to bad weather conditions.  

Our recommended guidance for spending budget in Nepal would be between $500-800 (depending on the length of the trip and your meal preferences) on top of your tips, to give you ample money for souvenirs and treats. 

Tips

We realise that tipping may not be a common practice in all countries but for Nepal it is a standard practice that all operators support. The decision on how much to tip should be determined by how well the team served you while you were on the trek. Tips are always discretionary and if you are not happy with the service you have received you do not have to pay tips. Tips can be made in US dollars or Nepali Rupees. It is very important that US bills be new (less than 10 years old), crisp and untorn.

 

We are members of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal and the Nepal Mountaineering Association, and follow their guidelines when recommending tip levels for guides and porters. We would suggest you budget $175 per trekker for your tip contribution on this route. The group tip can be given to your porters and guides during your celebratory meal in Pokhara on the final night of your trek. You will then say goodbye to your porters the following morning. 

Formalities & health

Passport

Please double check that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond the date of arrival in Nepal. We recommend that you take a photocopy of your passport and keep it separate from the original, and this will be useful if the original is lost while you are travelling. You must carry your passport on the trek with you, as it is required for internal flights.

Visa

Most visitors to Nepal (including nationals from the UK, Europe, USA and Australia) require a tourist visa to enter Nepal. To secure a visa you will need to present proof that you have a return ticket, and proof that you have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in Nepal. Visa can be obtained online at: https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/. Visas are valid for 6 months from the date of issue, so do not send off your application too early.
The other option is to queue and pay for a visa on arrival at Kathmandu Tribhubhan International Airport. This will need to be paid for in cash. We highly recommend securing a visa before departure as this will ensure you have no problems passing immigration, as well as speed up the process of clearing immigration. You will need at least one blank visa page in your passport. Certain nationalities not mentioned above must apply for a visa in advance, so check with your local Nepalese Embassy or online at: https://www.immigration.gov.np/page/visa-on-arrival.

For most of our trips, you may be ok with a 15 day tourist visa which costs USD30 (around GBP25). However, if you are adding any extra days in Kathmandu you would then require a 30 day tourist visa which USD50 (around GBP40). Visas can be extended once you are in Nepal, but overstaying your visa is taken very seriously, and can result in your being detained or not allowed to leave without paying a fine. In Kathmandu airport they will assume you are paying in your home country currency so make sure you have the amount you need for your visa, or to extend your visa, in cash in your home currency. For smaller currencies, USD will be the best replacement.

Vaccinations

The standard vaccinations required are diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A, but you should always consult your doctor or travel clinic for the most up to date advice.

Insurance

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses. For the Annapurna and Everest Regions, we recommend cover up to 6000m of altitude. If you are climbing Mera Peak or Island Peak you will need cover for trekking up to 7000m of altitude.

Please take a copy of your insurance policy to the pre-trek briefing, as the guide will need to collect your insurance details. We also ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf.

Health

Malaria

There is no risk of malaria in Kathmandu and or on the majority of Himalayan treks that we operate, due to the altitude. However, there is a risk of malaria in areas of Nepal below 1,500m, particularly in the Terai district, the lowland region of Nepal adjacent to the Indian border. This region includes Chitwan National Park, so if you are planning a safari extension to your trek, you need to plan anti-malarial medication for this part of your trip. In addition to taking medication, we would recommend you take every precaution to prevent mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved trousers and shirts at dusk and dawn when the mosquitos are active, and by using a DEET based mosquito repellent.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, also called Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), hypobaropathy and soroche, is an illness caused by exposure to low air pressure, especially low partial pressure of oxygen, which many trekkers experience at high altitudes. AMS is caused by exerting yourself at high altitudes, especially if you have not been properly acclimatised. It is most common at altitudes above 2400 metres. Your route into the Annapurna Sanctuary has been designed to aid your acclimatisation wherever possible, but the following will also help your body adjust:

Slow and steady. You need to keep your respiration rate low enough to maintain a normal conversation. If you are panting or breathing hard, you must slow down. There is no pressure on you to keep up with other members of your group.

Drink much more water than you think you need. Proper hydration helps acclimatisation dramatically. You need to drink at least three litres each day.

Diamox

There has been a lot of research on Diamox that shows is that it has been reasonably well proven to be helpful in avoiding AMS by speeding up the acclimatisation process. In the UK it is a prescription drug which must be prescribed by a doctor, but some doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. The concern is that by taking Diamox, people believe that they are immune from AMS and can ignore the symptoms. In reality, although Diamox can help prevent the symptoms, should symptoms still develop it means that you are not acclimatising and you have to take notice. Diamox is taken before you start trekking to prevent altitude sickness, not once you are on the trek and symptoms have developed.

Dehydration

You can easily become dehydrated at high altitudes. The lower air pressure forces you to breathe more quickly and deeply, and you lose a lot of water through your lungs. You will also be exerting yourself, and sweating, and may even suffer from diarrhoea. As a result, you will have to drink much more water than you normally would so you should drink at least 3 litres of fluids every day while trekking. Even when you do not feel thirsty you have to drink this amount as a minimum, preferably more. Stay on the look-out for signs of dehydration in yourself and your fellow trekkers. The most common symptoms include thirst, dry lips, nose or mouth, headache and feeling fatigued or lethargic.

Equipment & clothing

Equipment supplied by Kandoo Adventures

We recommend that wherever possible you use your own gear for your trek as this is the best way to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. We recognise though that the cost of some items is very high and this may not be possible.

Duffel bags

You will be provided with a large duffel bag at the pre-trek briefing that will be yours to use for the duration of your trek. Your equipment will then need to be transferred into this bag. If you are travelling with a duffel bag then it is up to you which bag you choose to use for the trek, if you are travelling with a suitcase then this will need to be left at the pre-trek hotel and collected upon your return as our porters need the bags they carry to be flexible. 


We do not have other gear available for rental but there are many places offering gear for rental in Kathmandu and we can recommend a number of places for you. The quality of rental gear is very variable and it is your responsibility to check carefully the condition of any item you rent. We accept no responsibility for the quality of equipment hired. An indication of the likely rental costs is below.


  • Four Season Sleeping Bag - $2 per day
  • Down Jacket - $2 per day
  • Trekking Poles - $1 per day


Most of the rental shops close around 8pm, so if you are arriving on a late flight the day before the trek starts there will not be an opportunity for you to visit a rental store. If you are planning on renting equipment, you need to make sure you have allowed sufficient time at the beginning of your trip.


All rental equipment is included in your overall trekking bag weight, so make sure you have allowed for this when packing your bag at home. A sleeping bag will weigh around 2kg.

Clothing to bring

HEADGEAR
  • Warm beanie style hat – knitted or fleece
  • Buff - Essential to prevent the cold air reaching your lungs and causing "Khumbu cough"
  • Sun hat – preferably wide-brimmed for protection
  • Sunglasses – high UV protection
  • Headlamp (plus extra batteries)

UPPER BODY

  • Thermal or fleece base layer (x2)
  • Long sleeve shirt/tshirt – light or medium weight, moisture wicking (x3)
  • Short sleeved shirt/tshirt – lightweight, moisture wicking (x2)
  • Fleece or soft shell jacket (x2)
  • Insulated jacket – down or primaloft
  • Lightweight water/windproof hard shell outer jacket
  • Gloves – lightweight, fleece or quick drying fabric
  • Gloves or mittens – heavyweight, insulated, preferably water resistant

LEGS

  • Leggings – thermal or fleece base layer (x1)
  • Trekking trousers – light or medium weight (x2) – convertible trousers work well
  • Waterproof hard shell trousers – ski pants work fine (x1)
  • Gaiters

FEET
  • Trekking boots – mid weight with good ankle support
  • Training shoe or similar – to wear around the teahouses
  • Micro-spikes – may be required in snowy conditions
  • Mid-weight trekking socks (x5 pairs)
  • Breathable, high-wicking liner socks (x3 pairs)
  • Thermal trekking socks for upper reaches of your trek (x1 pair)

Equipment to bring

  • Small Rucksack or Daypack (30-40 litres) to carry water and personal items
  • Main equipment bag– max weight when full should be 15kg. This weight restriction includes your sleeping bag. Your duffle will be carried by a porter
  • Sleeping bag (4 season or -10 Deg C) and compression sack
  • Trekking poles
  • Water bottle or hydration bag – must be able to carry 1.5-2L of water

OTHER ACCESSORIES

  • Sunscreen - high SPF
  • Lipbalm - high SPF - ESSENTIAL in Nepal!!
  • Toiletries, including wet wipes and hand sanitiser – please carry all rubbish back off the trail
  • Toilet paper - you won't find any in the toilets, but it is available to buy at most teahouses
  • Camera and spare batteries
  • Plug adapter, for charging devices in teahouses and hotels
  • Personal medication and first aid kit
  • Personal snacks and energy bars – dried fruit and nuts are also a good source of energy
  • Isotonic drink powder / energy drink powder to mix in with your water. This improves flavour and helps replace electrolytes
  • Microfibre towel for wiping hands and face each day
  • Ear plugs, if you are a light sleeper
  • Pee bottle, useful for late night toilet needs
  • Dry bag (only required if your main duffle bag is not waterproof)
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Dates & prices

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17/02/2025 28/02/2025 £1,249 $1,625
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17/03/2025 28/03/2025 £1,299 $1,685
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31/03/2025 11/04/2025 £1,299 $1,685
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07/04/2025 18/04/2025 £1,299 $1,685
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04/05/2025 15/05/2025 £1,299 $1,685
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12/05/2025 23/05/2025 £1,249 $1,625
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19/05/2025 30/05/2025 £1,249 $1,625
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26/05/2025 06/06/2025 £1,249 $1,625
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Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!

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Price includes

  • Your hotel stay for the nights before and after the trek
  • All airport transfers
  • Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
  • Conservation Area entry and TIMS fees
  • A fully supported trek with a qualified mountain guide
  • All drinking water on the trek
  • Teahouse accommodation on a room only basis
  • Access to emergency oxygen and first aid kit

Price does not include

  • International airfares and visas
  • Tips for your guides and porters
  • Personal items
  • Travel insurance (you must be insured, and specifically for treks up to 4500m)
  • Your personal trekking gear
  • Your personal medicines or prescriptions
  • Meals and drinks on the trek
  • Meals and drinks in Kathmandu (breakfast is included)

Options

  • Additional hotel nights before or after your trek

Extensions

Crocodile in Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park 3-day extension

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  • 3 days
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    £475

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