Photo: John Bird Springtime in the Annapurnas, Nepal Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09570A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 13 Leader: Aurora Roberts
The Trip  Photo: John Bird Nepal's Kathmandu Valley is a vast storehouse of Hindu and Buddhist art, with more shrines and temples per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Kathmandu also contains an amazing mixture of ethnic groups. We will get a chance to meet Sherpas, Newaries, Thakalis, Chhetris, Tibetans, Rais, Gurungs, and Tamangs, among others. Within Kathmandu Valley there are three major cities: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. On this trip we will have time to explore both Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. You will see Durbar Square and the Temple of the Living Goddess in Kathmandu; the five-storied Nyatapola Temple and its exquisite wood carvings, such as the Peacock Window, in medieval Bhaktapur; the Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath) on a hill overlooking Kathmandu; Bodhnath, containing one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world; and Pashupatinath Temple on the river Bagmati, complete with burning ghats for Hindu cremations. This trek is non-technical and suitable for anyone in good shape who likes to hike. This is not a backpack trip--porters will be carrying our gear.
 Photo: John Bird We will spend two nights at the Potala Guest House in the Chhetrapatti district of Kathmandu at the start of the trip. This will allow us time for sightseeing around Kathmandu while our agent in Nepal obtains our trekking permits. Our trekking journey begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. We'll be flying over the terraced foothills of the Himalayas. If the weather and clouds cooperate, we will have spectacular views of the Himalayas, including Himalchule (25,801 feet) and Manaslu (26,760 feet). We will be trekking along the southern slopes of the Annapurna Himal, which offers dramatic close-up views of some of the highest and most beautiful mountains in the world. Every day, and almost every guest lodge, will offer us views of either the Annapurna range or the Dhaulagiri range. From Pokhara (2,300 feet) our route takes us to Phedi, where we'll begin our trek to Dhampus and spend our first night on the trail. Our route on this trek will take us through many Gurung villages, with their typical slate-roof houses and complicated networks of terraces. The Gurung are one of the ethnic groups recruited by the British for their famous Gurkha regiments. All of the Gurung villages we will visit are located on ridge tops with close-up views of the Annapurnas. We are likely to see eagles and vultures circling the rooftops of these villages as they gain altitude in the afternoon thermals. Very little is level in Nepal and on many days we will end up almost no higher than we started-having climbed, then descended, several thousand feet. Some of our descents and ascents will be done on the famous "Gurung Staircases," the largest of which covers a 3,000-foot elevation change. From Dhampus we'll hike up the east side of the Modi Khola valley. The Modi Khola River drains much of the southwestern flank of the Annapurna range, including the entire Annapurna Sanctuary Basin. After spending the second evening of our trek in Landrung, we'll cross the Modi Khola River and hike up to Chomrong. Chomrong is at the entrance to the steep valley leading up to the Annapurna Sanctuary and has magnificent views of Machhapuchhare. We plan to have a layover day at Chomrong with an optional hike toward the Annapurna Sanctuary. The next two days of trekking will take us down into and up out of numerous river/stream canyons. We'll hike up through rhododendron forests with trees up to 60 feet tall. These rhododendron forests grow between 6,500 and 11,000 feet and, from a distance, appear to be a red/pink strip around the higher foothills. As we approach Ghorepani we will enjoy magnificent views of Annapurna South and Dhaulagiri.  Photo: John Bird Ghorepani is high on a ridge above the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Separating the Annapurna and the Khaulagiri ranges, the Kali Gandaki is one of the deepest canyons on the earth. We'll spend a day in Ghorepani, with an optional sunrise hike up to nearby Poon Hill, which features unbelievable views of the Himalayan peaks to the west, north, and east. If it's a typical, clear morning and you're into photography, you'll shoot lots of film atop Poon Hill. Ghorepani is a lovely little village where we can rest, relax, read, and write. From Ghorepani we'll return to Pokhara by hiking two days through numerous little Nepalese villages. We'll get glimpses of the Annapurna peaks as we hike along the trail and through another rhododendron forest. We'll reach Pokhara on the afternoon of our second day and spend the next day there sightseeing, shopping, and relaxing. Pokhara is a delightful lakeside town with great views of the Himalayas. We return to Kathmandu the next day for our last night. This will allow time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We will have a farewell dinner with our Sherpa staff, followed by our departure the next day. At this point you will have a choice of making a one- or two-night stopover in Bangkok before returning home. Our travel agent can arrange this for you. Getting There You are welcome to make your own travel plans to and from Nepal, or you may prefer to join a group flight from Los Angeles (not included in trip price). The leader will send more detailed information on group flight arrangements to registered participants. In past years, the group has stopped over in Bangkok, Thailand, on the flights to and from the United States.
We will be eating at guest lodges along the way. The guest lodges have multiplied over the past decade and we will typically be no more than an hour or two from the next cluster of lodges. The menus offered at each individual lodge tend to be similar. They typically include five or more types of soup, rice, vegetables, egg dishes, chicken, and/or meat dishes. An assortment of soft drinks and tea is universally available. One of our Sirdars will go ahead each day to arrange our accommodations for the night and ensure that we get the best available. Many of the guest lodges are operated by the families of former Gurkha soldiers that served with the British Army and are familiar with Western food preferences and hygiene. We will not routinely ask for hot water for washing as this wastes too much fuel. We will observe the conservation code adopted by the Annapurna Conservation Action Program (ACAP). The code calls for travelers to conserve firewood, respect villagers and their traditions, stop pollution, and encourage Nepali pride. Bottled water produces a waste problem and the U.S. Embassy has warned that
bottled water cannot be presumed safe in Nepal. The leader will furnish each
trip member with iodine for use in treating water.
You should be in good physical shape for this trip and feel comfortable hiking seven to nine miles per day on-trail while carrying a 10-pound daypack. In general this is a moderate trek but with several long days that may feel strenuous to those not accustomed to climbing steep hills. While the trip has been designed to gradually acclimate you to the altitude, we will be staying several nights at nearly 10,000 feet. On some days altitude gains and losses of up to 3,000 feet can be expected. There will be one or two rest days on the trek. Good conditioning is essential to your enjoyment of the trek. You will be able to walk by yourself or in small groups.
Participants will need boots, day packs, sleeping bags, and a "basics" first-aid kit. You may want to bring a camera. Your personal gear will be carried by porters and should be packed in a duffel bag, not a suitcase or backpack. The porters will each carry three participants duffel bags, and since their load is limited to 30 kilograms total your duffel cannot exceed 22 pounds. Daytime temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s at the lower elevations and in the 40s to 50s at our highest elevations. Temperatures at night will be in the 40s to 50s except at the higher elevations where below-freezing temperatures might occur during the night, although the temperature rapidly climbs once the sun comes up. During the afternoon we may experience short, spectacular thunderstorms, sometimes with hail.
It is recommended that you acquaint yourself with the history, religions, and culture of the Himalayan countries in order to enjoy the country and its people to the fullest. Some of these books may be out of print and only available in libraries, and some may be only available in Kathmandu.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Aurora Roberts is an avid hiker who enjoys walking and exploring the outdoors. As she started noticing the destruction of forests and pollution of the environment, she saw the need to preserve them, which naturally led her to join the Sierra Club. Aurora became an Outings leader after participating in national and international outings. She leads international trips to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland as well as National Outings in the Sierra Mountains. She spends a lot of her time reading, preparing gourmet meals and walking her dog. Her attention to detail, patience, and flexibility will ensure that you have a wonderful experience.