Annapurna North Base Camp Trek

We depart after breakfast to Pokhara, the loveliest lakeside town of Nepal. Drive on the Prithvi Highway is along Trishuli River’s serpentine course through green hills, farm fields, and villages’ settlements. Be prepared to spot waterfalls along the way and glimpses of the cable car ride up to the famous Manakamana Temple where devotees make offerings for wishes to be fulfilled.

Note: If you want to enjoy rafting then you can do that in Trishuli river which will take you around 2 to 3 hours which will be on the way.

Arriving in Pokhara is a “wow” experience – the Annapurna range and the ideal triangle of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) mountain suddenly loom before you! The afternoon is free for your leisure – wander around serene Phewa Lake, see the island temple of Tal Barahi, or wander through the shops and cafes of the vibrant Lakeside strip. Dinner tonight comes with views over the lake and then a restful night for tomorrow’s trek.

Trishuli River Rafting with Bold Himalaya $65 /person

Our morning drive to Beni is along the beautiful Kali Gandaki River, the deepest gorge in the world! See rural life – farmers plowing irrigated fields, children going to school in neat uniforms, and colorful trucks carrying goods to remote villages. Beni is a thriving market town where the Modi and Kali Gandaki rivers meet – the perfect home base for our trek.

We left the cars and walked from Beni. The road rises gradually along rice and millet fields where the farmers welcome you as you pass by. You pass by slate-roofed stone houses with marigold flowers on doorways. Gurung and Magar villagers, always hospitable, invite travelers to a tea. As we climb higher, we reach pine and bamboo forests where red-faced monkeys look down occasionally from among the trees. Chhotepa village welcomes us with rural beauty and our first mountain sunset views. We have dinner tonight under the stars as we begin our real adventure!

We hike today through some of Nepal’s most beautiful forests! The morning trail is through ancient oaks draped with moss and orchids. In spring, pink and red rhododendron flowers create a natural roof above. Listen to the distinctive call of the Himalayan Danphe (Nepal’s lovely national bird) and look for the spots of deer and red pandas that live in these forests. We’ll stop in a sunny clearing for lunch with our first views of the snowcapped Dhaulagiri range.

As we climb higher in the afternoon, dense forests gradually give way to alpine meadows scattered with tiny wildflowers and herbs. We’ll pass through small village of Khopra, with few families that live there, tending rough mountain goats and potatoes. Their stone houses sit perfectly placed to capture sun and avoid avalanche paths. From Sandhikharka, this evening’s camp, the vista unfolds dramatically – Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Nilgiri stand above us like giants. The fresh mountain air brings the stars within our reach as we sip hot soup and dinner around the campfire.

Today is our most exciting day that begins with the sun painting the mountains gold! After a full breakfast, we hike on a high ridge trail where Himalayan griffon vultures soar on thermals below us. The landscape changes entirely – the forests disappear, and rocky moraines, alpine scrub, and glacial scenery replace them. We will soon see a sacred Shiva temple and lovely Panchakunda Lake (also known as Narchyang Lake). This blue-colored lake is holy to Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, and has been spared tourist development. You might get a glimpse of Himalayan blue sheep grazing daintily at the shores of the lake – these nimble creatures are perfectly adapted to the harsh terrain.

The final climb to North Annapurna Base Camp crosses boulder fields and ancient glacial moraines where hardy edelweiss flowers somehow find a foothold. And at our 4,190m camp, before us looms the grandeur of north face of Annapurna I (8,091m), a rock and ice cliff of as steep an angle as has ever been climbed in the world. The panoramic views include North Nilgiri (7,061m), Nilgiri Central (6,940m), Nilgiri South (6,839m), Tilicho Peak (7,134m), Bharha Chuli (7,647m), and Khangsar Kang (Roc Noir, 7,485m). In contrast to the south-side base camp which is crowded with people, we will probably have this breathtaking view all to ourselves! We are camping in a bowl-shaped basin with these 360-degree views of the mountains. High-altitude dinner tonight tastes especially delicious after our achievement!

Wake up early to witness nature’s most spectacular light show! When the first light hits Annapurna’s summit, the snow turns pink, then gold, gradually illuminating the vast glacier below. After breakfast, we go to the hidden Ice Lake just 20 minutes from camp – a secluded pool few trekkers have the chance to see, surrounded by prayer flags planted by Sherpa guides. The brave can wet their fingers in the icy water said to bring good fortune. Our guide will point out the route followed by the initial 1950 French Expedition to summit Annapurna I for the very first time, and improve your own understanding of this special place.

We then descend to Sandhikharka. Coming downhill, you’re likely to notice things you hadn’t seen coming up – marmots whistling from outcrops of rock, the minute purple saxifrage flowers blooming like miracles in crevices in the rocks, and possibly even snow leopard tracks. The descent is easier on your lungs but watch your step on the loose scree sections. Coming back to Sandhikharka feels like returning to civilization, and you’ll appreciate the slightly more substantial air and warmer weather as we dine and watch sunset alpenglow on the peaks we have just ascended.

Today, we are leaving behind the high alpine country and descending into one of rich vegetation and cascading water. The trail drops steeply through fir and birch forests where you’ll hear the constant soundtrack of songbirds. We’ll cross several small streams on log bridges festooned with prayer flags, each offering great photo opportunities. By mid-morning, we reach the ancient pilgrim site of Rupse Cave, where Hindu sadhus occasionally meditate for months at a time, living on minimal food in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.

After a lunch break at the site of the stunning 100-foot Rupse Waterfall, we continue along the village of Upper Narchyang with working water-powered flour mill. The stone stairs carry us across buckwheat and barley terraced fields to Lower Narchyang, a big village of over 200 ancient stone-built houses. Lower Narchyang boasts renowned silversmiths that produce beautiful jewelry using ancient methods. Some of the people here have members working with Gurkha units abroad, contributing foreign culture to this remote village. This evening, we are likely to have some traditional dance of Magars performed with extraordinary footwork and handiwork that illustrates mountain life, romance, and fighting.

Our final day of trekking sees us coming down through more and more tropical scenery as banana groves and bamboo forests replace pine forests. The trail is along the roars of the Kali Gandaki River, the suspension bridges that we walk over dancing under our feet. We’ll pass through the village of Dana, famous for its orange groves and honey production. If we’re fortunate, we might catch sight of locals extracting honey using ancient rope techniques from cliff-face beehives – a tradition that has been passed down through generations over centuries.

By midday, we reach Tatopani, Nepali for “hot water” – and aptly so, as it turns out! The natural hot springs are the perfect remedy for tired trail muscles. Soak in the stone-paved pools where mineral-filled water bubbles up at a nicely rounded 105°F, loosening any tension as you share stories with foreign fellow travelers. After lunch at a local apple orchard restaurant, we’ll use our private car for the return drive to Pokhara. Back by early evening, the indulgence of a hot shower and soft bed at our lakeside hotel is well earned! Tonight, perhaps toast with a cold beer and dinner at one of Pokhara’s good restaurants while sunset hues Machhapuchhre peak pink.

After a leisurely breakfast overlooking Phewa Lake, we begin our drive back to Kathmandu. The road goes the same way, but you’ll notice things differently coming back – perhaps farmers bringing in harvests that were just going into the ground when you passed them in the morning, or different mountain scenery as clouds shift and change. For the adventure-seekers, we can arrange an optional 2-3 hours whitewater rafting trip on the Trishuli River (extra cost) – a great way to extend the drive with Class II-III rapids that are perfect for beginners.

Back in Kathmandu in the evening, you’ll be able to do a little souvenir shopping in Thamel – perhaps pick up some local tea, paper handicrafts, or pashmina scarves. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner at a traditional Newari restaurant with live folk music and dancing. It’s the perfect opportunity to share photos, swap contact details with new friends, and celebrate the end of this amazing trek that few foreigners have ever completed!

Trishuli River Rafting

Trishuli River Rafting with Bold Himalaya $65 /person

Enjoy one last breakfast before we take you to the airport and bid you farewell for your home. With the Himalayas visible from Nepal, chances are strong that you’ll have one last farewell look from them as you fly off into the sky. Several trekkers have remained on their maps and scheduled another Nepal trek in the airport on departure!

Want more? Bold Himalaya can book an add-on to your break with minimal hassle – maybe, for example, a jungle safari at Chitwan National Park to spot rhinos and tigers, a fly-by day out to Everest land for some more mountains magic, or a religious pilgrimage to Lumbini, the Buddha’s birthplace. Just say what you’d like, and we’ll sort it out!