Mar 31 - Apr 7, 2024 | Change

Annapurna Sanctuary via Short Modi Khola Start trek (8 days)
Annapurna Region, Nepal

Rating: |

Highlights: Annapurna Base Camp and Ghandruk

Difficulty: challenging
Annapurna Sanctuary
Starting at $353 usd
For 1 person -Guide & Permits
Includes guide and all required permits & entry fees
$31.04 /day per person for guide
+ $30 per person for guide's insurance
+ $26 per person for vat tax
+ $48 per person for permits

Teahouse lodging, food, & transportation paid separately.

Sherpana prices are based on group size. We refund you the difference if more people join your trek.
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Included Services
  • Permits ACAP and TIMS Card
  • Guide Guide's wages, food, lodging, and insurance
  • VAT Tax 13% Nepal Government Tax
Optional Services (Porter)
  • Porter Each porter may carry no more than 20 kg (44 lb). One porter is usually enough for 2 people's gear. Government required insurance covers the porter in case of an accident while on the trip.
    $20 per day per porter

    + $30 per porter for porter's insurance
    + $2.21 per day per porter for vat tax (porter)

This trip has optional side trips. Would you like to see the options?

For those with limited time, the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek offers a journey of shifting landscapes; from the lush middle hills to the cauldron of ice and rock at Annapurna Base Camp, referred to as the Annapurna Sanctuary for the high mountain walls that surround it. The trail passes through a steep narrow valley with Machapuchare (Fish Tail Mountain)] towering above the valley. The view at Annapurna Base Camp is awe-inspiring as you stare up at the whiteface of Annapurna I surrounded by snowclad peaks in every direction. This trek is most comfortably done in 9 days but for those with even more limited time it is possible to do this trek in as few as 7 days. Add the Short Modi Kola Start option to reduce the trekking by a day. Add the 'Annapurna Base Camp Day Visit' option to reduce the trek by another day. This is least desirable since the best weather is often early in the morning.

Side trip via Short Modi Khola Start: The shortest way but a less scenic way to Chomrong that follows the Modi Khola (river) bypassing Ghandruk. If you need to reduce the itinerary by a day this is a possible option. Taking a taxi to the road head will also save time instead of taking the public bus.

Weather Conditions in March

change start

March is the start of the ‘Spring Season’ when temperatures begin to rise from their winter lows. By the end of March, temperatures are significantly warmer at lower elevations and hot air from the valleys tend to create clouds in the mountains during the afternoons. Mornings are generally clear, with the clearest weather coming just after sunrise. At high altitudes, while generally warmer than the previous months snow is still possible, and heavy snow storms in March are not unheard of. Mornings and nights are still cold.

At a glance
On average there are 4 days with precipitation in March. The highest point on the trek is Annapurna Base Camp at 4130 m. During March, expect high temperatures of around 8.6°C (47°F) and lows down to -8.4°C (17°F) at Annapurna Base Camp.

Annapurna Sanctuary via Short Modi Khola Start Trek
(Elevation Profile)

Available Side Trips

Add side trips by clicking '' in the itinerary below.

Extra rest days and overnights can be added once the itinerary is created. However any side trips must be added in this step before the itinerary is created.

Sun Mar 31 (day 1)

Pokhara (827 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 28.4°C (83°F) and lows of about 11.4°C (53°F) in March.

Pokhara
Public bus from Pokhara to Siwai (Not Included)

Estimated cost: $5.00
Travel time: about 4 hours
Please pay the fare for your guide & porter (if you have hired one)

Private vehicle from Pokhara to Siwai (Not Included)

Estimated cost: $60.00
Travel time: about 2 hours

Siwai (1500 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 24.4°C (76°F) and lows of about 7.4°C (45°F) in March.

New Bridge (1340 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 25.4°C (78°F) and lows of about 8.4°C (47°F) in March.

Jhinu Danda (1780 m)

About 3-4 hours from Siwai
Expect typical high termperatures of about 22.7°C (73°F) and lows of about 5.7°C (42°F) in March.

Mon Apr 1 (day 2)

Chomrong (2210 m)

About 2-3 hours from Jhinu Danda
Expect typical high termperatures of about 23.1°C (74°F) and lows of about 7.1°C (45°F) in April.

Chomrong

Sinuwa (2340 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 22.4°C (72°F) and lows of about 6.4°C (44°F) in April.

Bamboo (2310 m)

About 5 hours from Chomrong
Expect typical high termperatures of about 22.5°C (73°F) and lows of about 6.5°C (44°F) in April.

Bamboo
Tue Apr 2 (day 3)

Dobhan (Dovan) (2500 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 21.4°C (71°F) and lows of about 5.4°C (42°F) in April.

Himalayan Hotel (2840 m)

About 3-4 hours from Bamboo
Expect typical high termperatures of about 19.4°C (67°F) and lows of about 3.4°C (38°F) in April.

Himalayan Hotel
Wed Apr 3 (day 4)

Deurali, ABC Trek (3200 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 17.2°C (63°F) and lows of about 1.2°C (34°F) in April.

Machapuchare Base Camp (3700 m)

About 3-4 hours from Himalayan Hotel
Expect typical high termperatures of about 14.2°C (58°F) and lows of about -1.8°C (29°F) in April.

Machapuchare Base Camp

Highlights: Annapurna Base Camp
Difficulty: challenging
For those with limited time you can do a day hike to Annapurna Base Camp and no stay overnight. This shortens the trek but requires a long day of trekking and does not allow for viewing both sunset and sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp.

Thu Apr 4 (day 5)

Annapurna Base Camp (4130 m)

About 2 hours from Machapuchre Base Camp
Expect typical high termperatures of about 11.6°C (53°F) and lows of about -4.4°C (24°F) in April.

Annapurna Base Camp
Fri Apr 5 (day 6)

Deurali, ABC Trek (3200 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 17.2°C (63°F) and lows of about 1.2°C (34°F) in April.

Himalayan Hotel (2840 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 19.4°C (67°F) and lows of about 3.4°C (38°F) in April.

Himalayan Hotel

Dobhan (Dovan) (2500 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 21.4°C (71°F) and lows of about 5.4°C (42°F) in April.

Bamboo (2310 m)

About 7-8 hours from Annapurna Base Camp
Expect typical high termperatures of about 22.5°C (73°F) and lows of about 6.5°C (44°F) in April.

Bamboo
Sat Apr 6 (day 7)

Sinuwa (2340 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 22.4°C (72°F) and lows of about 6.4°C (44°F) in April.

Chomrong (2210 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 23.1°C (74°F) and lows of about 7.1°C (45°F) in April.

Chomrong

Jhinu Danda (1780 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 25.7°C (78°F) and lows of about 9.7°C (49°F) in April.

Ghandruk (2000 m)

About 7-9 hours from Bamboo
Expect typical high termperatures of about 24.4°C (76°F) and lows of about 8.4°C (47°F) in April.

Ghandruk

Highlights: Ghandruk, Khopra Danda, Muldai, and Poon Hill
Difficulty: moderate
This route climbs up the Khopra Ridge from Ghandruk for magnificent panoramas of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and other Himalayan peaks. Enroute you'll climb to the panoramic view point at Muldai before reaking Khopra Danda. An overnight at Khopra Danda (3640 m, 11,942 ft) lets you wake to this spectacular view just outside your room, at what must be one of the best lodge locations in the region. Finally you'll finish up via the classic view point at Poon Hill. Images from via Khopra Ridge & Poon Hill Side Trek

Rating: | 5 reviews
Highlights: Ghandruk and Poon Hill
Difficulty: moderate
A moderate hike in the Annapurna region for those who want a taste of trekking without the high altitude. While relatively easy by Nepal standards, this trek still packs a punch, with some steep climbs and awesome views, including the famed Himalayan panorama from atop Poon Hill. Images from via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) Side Trek

Sun Apr 7 (day 8)

Birethanti (1025 m)

About 3 hours from Ghandruk
Expect typical high termperatures of about 30.3°C (87°F) and lows of about 14.3°C (58°F) in April.

Naya Pul (1000 m)

About 45 minutes from Birethani
Expect typical high termperatures of about 30.4°C (87°F) and lows of about 14.4°C (58°F) in April.

Public bus from Naya Pul to Pokhara (Not Included)

Estimated cost: $2.00
Travel time: about 2 hours
Please pay the fare for your guide & porter (if you have hired one)

Pokhara (827 m)

Expect typical high termperatures of about 31.4°C (89°F) and lows of about 15.4°C (60°F) in April.

Pokhara
you can add extra rest days after the itinerary is created

by Paloma (Spain) on Dec 7, 2019

Annapurna Sanctuary led by Diku Sherpa

About the accommodation: Generally comfortable considering the circumstances. Places are quite clean but blankets aren't always as clean as you would expect. Bring an extra warm sleeping bag, I'll do it next time!

by Carlos daniel (México) on Jul 19, 2019

Annapurna Sanctuary led by Ang Tsering Sherpa

by Chong fah (malaysia) on Nov 11, 2018

Annapurna Sanctuary via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) led by Ang Tsering Sherpa

by Susan (usa) on Jun 5, 2018

Annapurna Sanctuary led by Nima T Sherpa

A fantastic trek, with a lot of variety of scenery, from green villages to high white Himalayan peaks. Good guest houses all the way up, and a chance to vary the return route to stop at new villages on the return. Nima guided us easily through all of this, even as some of us got a bit tired and grouchy in the mornings! He was very good at phoning ahead to get accommodation, or letting us know that we'd have to share rooms if places were very full. He helped us plan dinner times around the big groups that were sometimes at the guest houses when we were. He made sure our small group of 6 didn't feel forgotten or "lost" in the confusion!

by Christopher (USA) on May 22, 2018

Annapurna Sanctuary led by Nima T Sherpa

Truly a marvelous trek. Recommend spacing it out differently than the default (go fast at the start and then take a night at MBC and then another at ABC, if you have the time, for acclimatization) but the trails are great, the accommodations very good, and the views are phenomenal! While I wouldn't call it easy, going with a first-time trekker (not even a particularly experienced hiker or backpacker) was no problem.

by Israel (Germany) on Jul 28, 2019

Mardi Himal led by Pema Futi Sherpa

by Brian (Australia) on Mar 28, 2019

Annapurna Sanctuary via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) led by Ang Tsering Sherpa

The side trip to Poon Hill was beautiful although the view at Khopra was more dramatic and far less crowded. If we did the Khopra trek again, I probably would not go to Poon Hill as well.

by Chris (Australia) on Dec 26, 2018

Ghandruk Loop via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) led by Mingma Nuru Sherpa

by Michael (United Kingdom) on Dec 8, 2018

Ghandruk Loop Australian Camp Out and Back and via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) led by Samikshya Chaudhary

The final ascent from Ghorepani to Poon Hill is not as difficult as some other parts of the trek, and is certainly worth doing for the spectacular views of the sunrise over the Annapurna range from the top.

by Chong fah (malaysia) on Nov 11, 2018

Annapurna Sanctuary via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) led by Ang Tsering Sherpa