Trek to Annapurna Base camp: 16 days
Yoga and Massage trek with hot springs
Photos Gallery of Eric Lon: ABC
Presentation of the easy trek to ABC: 4130 meters.
This is the Trek Number One for the beginners who want to see the high mountains with minimum trekking efforts. There are many stairs well maintained which make the walk easier than any other trek. The trek to Annapurna Base Camp is a moderated trek easier than the Annapurnas circuit.
It starts at Nayapul, a 40 km drive by taxi from Pokhara, and within a week it takes you to the Base Camp, ABC, 4130m close to Mt. Annapurna South, 7219 meters, one of the most magnificent peaks in the world, and close to Machapuchhre, 6997 meters.
The trail takes you through fascinating traditional villages of Nepal's ethnic communities. The Gurung, Magar, and Thakali will greet you very warmly: enjoy their tasty local food.
We will stop at the "hot springs" of Jhinu danda where you can relax and enjoy the river scenery while bathing.
Eric Lon, masseur and physiotherapist will teach daily yoga and massage techniques to make this trek easier.
Highlights -
easy trek for any trekkers, recommanded to the beginners in the Himalayas.- resting 2 days at two famous "hot springs" and at ABC lodges: 4130 meters.
- benefit from the experience of Eric Lon and get yoga classes every day and massage teaching for a good acclimatization process.
Trip facts
Trip duration: 16 days
Trip grade: easy trek but with many stairs up and down
Activity: Yoga / Massage / Trekking and Cultural excursions
Starts in: Kathmandu, go through Pokhara
Ends in: Kathmandu
Accommodation: hotel Kathmandu, Pokhara, lodges during the trek
Transportation: tourist bus and taxi
Maximum altitude: 4130 meters at ABC
Dates: April 22 to May 8 2010
For another trip in Autumn, please contact us to organize a trek to your dates ericlon@hotmail.fr and:info@lacompagniedesguidesdekatmandou.com
Outline itinerary
Day 01 - Arrival at Kathmandu: Welcome, Namaste
Day 02 - Sightseeng in Kathmandu
Day 03 - Bus to Pokahara, 200 km, trek to World Peace Pagoda: 1100 m.
Day 04 - Taxi to Nayapul and trek to Kiumi: 1320 m.
Day 05 - Trek to the hot springs: Jhinu: 1650 m.
Day 06 - Resting half day at Jhinu and trek to Sinuwa: 2360 m.
Day 07 - Trek to Himalaya hotel: 2920 m.
Day 08 - Trek to Macchapuchare base camp: 3700 m.
Day 09 - Trek to Annapurna Base Camp: 4130 m.
Day 10 - Exploration around ABC: 4130
Day 11 - Trek down to Bamboo lodge: 2310 m..
Day 12 - Trek down to the hot springs: Jhinu, 1650 m.
Day 13 - Trek to Syauli Bazar: 1220 m.
Day 14 - Trek to Nayapul: 1070 m.and drive 40 km to Pokhara
Day 15 - Bus to Kathmandu: 200 km.
Day 16 - Depart from Kathmandu: Namaste, see you again
Price per person, on double room occupancy, for 3 to 4 pax: 999 Euros, all included.
Discount for the comitee members and for two people travelling together
The price includes:
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and accommodation in the lodges during the trek
Transportation Kathmandu, Pokhara, trek start and end.
1 English speaking local expert guide, 1 porter for 2 pax carrying your bag
Masseur physiotherapist proposing yoga session every day and foot massage classes
National Park fees
4 nights accommodation at hotel in Kathmandu on double sharing with breakfast
2 nights accommodation at hotel in Pokhara on double sharing with breakfast
All guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and entry fees.
Airport transfers and escort
Insurance of the guide and porters
The price excludes:
International flight & departure tax
Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Personal gears & clothing (available on hire)
Tips to the guide and porters, any expenses of personal nature, client's insurance.
Private massage sessions are not included in the price. Please discuss with Eric for additional service
Detailed itinerary to ABC
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu: Welcome, NamasteIt is a panoramic thrill flying into Kathmandu on a clear day. The view of the snow-capped peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic. This is the beginning a whole chain of memorable experiences that will stay with you for a long time. A representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. You will be briefed about your daily activities.
Day 2: Sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal and it has been a popular destination for tourists since Nepal opened its doors to visitors. The city presents a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence. Patan bears immense historical, cultural and religious significance. There will be a half day guided tour to the famous and biggest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal Boudhanath, and to Swoyambhunath, the "monkeys temple".
Day 3: Bus to Pokhara & trek to World Peace Pagoda: 1100 meters.
Tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara with nice panorama of Trisuli river and rice fields terrasses... It is a drive from 7 am to 2 pm. As we arrive at Pokhara, you will be mesmerized by the irresistible visual trheat of the Annapurnas mountain range. At Pokhara a taxi will take you to a quiet hotel close to Phewa lake.
You can rest at the hotel or you can trek one hour to the top of the highest hill above Pokhara to reach the World Peace Pagaoda. This big Japanese stupa looks like Shanti stupa at Leh, Ladakh, India. There is a gorgeous panoramic view.
Relax with sunset yoga at the hotel terasse, looking at the Annapurnas and the sharp Machapucchre , "Fish Tail", crowned with snow
Day 4: Taxi to Nayapul and trek to Kiumi: 1320 meters.
Enjoy the rising sun on the Himalayas when doing a sunrise yoga session on the terrasse hotel, to awake your energy. After your breakfast a taxi drive, 40 km long, will drop us through the greenish hills to Nayapul: 1070 meters. This is the classical start of ABC trek. Cross small villages and look at the lower terasses fields. There is no technical difficulty on the way: take it easy because trekking with Eric Lon is not racing.
We will arrive by afternoon in Kiumi, 1320 meters, a quiet place close to the Modhi river which runs down from the Annapurnas. Rest deeper with evening yoga and learn the basics of foot massage from a certified masseur physiotherapist.
Day 05: Trek to the hot springs of Jhinu: 1650 meters.
It is advisable to wake up early in the mountains because the weather is more clear. We are getting used to awake our energy with yoga. By doing this daily it becomes easier and easier. After breakfast we follow a trail ascending gently above the river until the hamlet of New Bridge: 1320 meters. Have a cup of ginger tea provides more energy to reach the next village: Jhinu: 1650 meters. It seems to be composed of family guest houses. A nice trails leads down to the hot springs, close to the river. There are three hot pools. It is the best place to relax after trekking. An evening yoga session at the hotel is perfect before dinner.
Day 06: Rest and trek to Sinuwa: 2360 meters.
Wake up early to enjoy again the hot springs. Put your feet in the cool river and it will dynamise your body. Today we have to ascend a steep hill with many stairs: take your pace to step in harmony with breathing. The yoga techniques taught by Eric Lon from the start of the trek are useful to walk higher and higher.
Eric Lon explains and teach different ways to improve the relaxation and the control of the body.
Chomrong is stretching around 2100 meters. From this village, we have a mesmerizing view of Machhapuchhre: 6997 meters. After lunch, it is advisable to walk slowly on the very long stairs leading to the opposite hill. We are reaching Sinuwa, 2360 meters, which displays a nice panorama the valley, and shows the glaciers where we are going to...
Day 7: Trek to Himalaya Hotel: 2920 meters
Crossing Chomrong Khola, we continue trekking along steep stone steps. On your trail, we bypass rhododendron-covered ridge path, mountainous terrains and forests of bamboos. As you savor inspiring views of the Annapurna mountain ranges and Machhapuchhre, we gather more energy and enthusiasm to explore further. During our five-hour walking, we cross Modi Khola, pass through Khuldigar, Bamboo and Dovan and finally reach Himalaya Hotel where you wrap up your trip for the day.
Morning and evening yoga are recommended to stretch the muscles tired by the stairs and the massage lessons are welcome.
Day 8: Trek to Macchapuchare Base Camp: 3700 m.
We are getting closer to our goal and we enter the famous amphitheater of the Annapurnas. The valley is more rocky and narrower and the trees are smaller as we step amongst the higher mountains, following the river. It is a special day where the trekkers enter the realm of the alpinists, without any technical difficulty because the trail is well maintained. The only difficulty is trekking above 3000 meters.
The yoga breathing techniques are useful to get more energy from the air when there is less oxygen. Trekking with the wise breathing advices of a physiotherapist who is also a yogi makes a difference with the city people who have sometimes breathing problems at this altitude. Acute mountain sickness exists above 3000 meters.
MBC is like a jewel within the Heaven: you are at the Paradise of the trekkers. The lodges offer a gorgeous view of the snow capped mountains: look all around and take photos. Enjoy yoga and massage before diner.
Day 09: Trek to Annapurna base camp: 4130 meters.
Only 2 hours separate us from the Annapurna base camp. You are welcome today to explore the base camp at your own pace reaching the Annapurnas glacier or the short trail to the wall of Annapurna I.
Day 10: Explore ABC: 4130 meters.
Some people are not trekking: they are racing... Eric Lon likes to stay longer at the highest place to enjoy the magic place of ABC from the lodge or to trek around. This is our privilege to be enjoying the high mountain atmosphere, with yoga and massage to feel better.
Day 12: Trek down to Bamboo lodge:2310 meters.
This section seems easy become we are walking down, but it it recommended to be as careful on the way down to avoid knees problems. Trekking with a physiotherapist is different than following the locals or the running trekkers. Yoga is not a competition with oneself or with the others but a wise way to upgrade our capacities.
Day 13: Trek to Jhinu hot springs: 1650 meters.
Before to reach Chomrong we have to trek up long sections with stairs... Then there is the way down to Jhinu. If you are tired, even a stair may look like difficult... During this trek, there is no technical difficulties but some hare trekkers are surprised by their reactions when they walk too fast. Trekking with Eric Lon, 60 years old, is like walking close to a wise tortoise used to come back home safely... If you want to trek fast, look for a racing team instead of following a yogi physiotherapist...
Enjoy a evening hot bath at the hot springs before diner.
Day 14: Trek to Syauni Bazar: 1220 meters.
Wake up your energy with a short trek to the hot springs, and then have a good breakfast before to trek down to the same villages as to go to ABC. Memorize the landscapes and take photos to share your trek with your friends. Have a look to the different photos sets of Eric Lon photo stream on: www.flickr.com.
Day 15: Trek to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara
From Syauli Bazar we have a morning glance to Fish Tail when doing the last yoga session of the trek, before walking to the starting and the ending point of ABC.
We go back to Pokhara by taxi.
Last sunset yoga on the terrasse of Holy Lodge.
Day 16: Bus to Kathmandu
Last sunrise yoga session before breakfast. We drive 200 km to Kathmandu: take photos. In option, you can fly back to kathmandu. Ask for the air fare.
Day 17: Depart from Kathmandu: Namaste, see you again
Our Nepalese support team will take you to the airport for your flight home. (Or stay longer for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, etc. - ask us).
Choose your trek with yoga and massage.
To take your decision before to trek with Eric Lon you should have a look to his set of ABC photos: www.flickr.com
Have a look to the others treks in the Annapurnas: www.yogatrekking.com
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr and: info@lacompagniedesguidesdekatmandou.com
If Eric Lon is trekking far from Internet facilities, he may answer with some delay: be patient. This quality is useful for trekking.
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