The classic ten day Annapurna Sanctuary trek is one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal luring intrepid hikers looking to "bag" their first base camp without having to climb to an excessively high altitude.
Whilst Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) itself lies at 4,130 m, the hike into the Sanctuary arrives first at the lower 3,720 m Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC) giving spectacular views of the surrounding mountains without necessarily having to ascend any higher. For those that do, however, the sight that awaits will remain forever etched in their memories.
Annapurna
The Annapurna Sanctuary is a vast awe-inspiring amphitheatre, surrounded by a multitude of snow packed Himalayan peaks. Among them is Annapurna I, the tenth largest mountain in the world at 8,091m, Machapuchare, the beautiful "fish tail" mountain at 6993m, Annapurna South at 7273m and the unclimbed Fang at 7,485m.
Until 1956 when outsiders first entered the area, it was home to only local Gurung shepherds and, until recently, was off limits to the local women. The Sanctuary itself hit the headlines after the successful 1970 expedition led by Chris Bonnington to climb Annapurna South.
Attracting some 10,000 visitors annually, Annapurna is one of the most popular trekking regions in the Himalayas and entry to the 7,629sq km Annapurna Conservation area is strictly controlled by entry permit only. Responsible tourism companies like Explore take care to preserve the natural environment and take good care of staff on all their treks.
The Route into the Sanctuary
The only approach to the Sanctuary is via the Modi Khola valley and a narrow mountain pass called the "Gate" situated between the towering peaks of Machapuchare and Huinchuli. The route initially passes through lush undulating forests of oak, bamboo and rhododendron via several Gurung villages before ascending steeply via the Gate through rocky moraine to reach MBC. Snow can be present in the Sanctuary at any time of the year and the lower levels can be slippery and muddy but the trek is suitable for anyone with reasonable fitness and good willpower.
Highlights of the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
- Stunning mountain scenery at every stage of the trek.
- First views of Machapuchare, the fish tail mountain, which is truly spectacular from any angle.
- Visiting ethnic Gurung villages both poor and prosperous such as Ghandrung made wealthy by the pensions from Gurkas of the British Army.
- Waking up to a hot mug of tea or coffee from a smiling Nepalese tea boy.
- Avoiding leeches in the damp forest areas!
- The early start to ABC pushing stamina to the limit over the 400m height gain.
- Quiet contemplation on reaching the heart of the Sanctuary, surrounded by some of the most beautiful snow capped peaks in the world.
Summary
The Annapurna Sanctuary offers unrivalled mountain vistas whilst climbing to altitude at 4100m. This classic Nepal trek is an obvious choice to experience the best of the stunning Himalayas.
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Keen hikers may also want to read our articles on Trekking Holidays in Ethiopia (Simien Mountains), Responsible Travel when Trekking and Climbing Kilimanjaro
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