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Annapurna & Chulu East |
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This
trek offers challenging and adventurous
trekking around Annapurna peaks with an
ascent of a technically straightforward
peak, Chulu East at 6200 meter. The summit
of Chulu East provides the most breathtaking
views of Annapurnas II, III and IV,
Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Dhaulagiri,
Tilicho Peak and Manaslu. We start the trek
from Besi Sahar after a 6-7 hrs drive from
Kathmandu. The trail ascends gradually along
the Marshyangdi river valley and eventually
leads to the village of Pisang where we
leave the main trail and head up the Chulu
East base camp. Fully physically fit and
acclimatized, we then attempt Chulu east.
Following an ascent, we rejoin the main
trail and head towards Kali Gandaki valley
crossing a high Thorung La pass at 5416
meter.
Thereafter, we make final descent to Jomsom
and take a flight to Kathmandu via Pokhara.
The trek provides a great range of
landscapes and cultures as we progress from
terraced rice fields of Besi Sahar to lush
green foothills through alpine forests and
barren arid region of the Manang Valley.
Along the trekking trail as we walk past
fascinating villages, we witness varied
cultural settings and ethnic diversity. Most
of the climbing will involve walking roped
together, including a glacier crossing. Any
physically fit individual can undertake this
trip anytime in March to May and September
to November. |
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Facts of The Trip |
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Trip Length : 24 days
Grade : Strenuous - Peak
climbing
Start in : Kathmandu
Ends in : Kathmandu
Group Size : Maximum 12
Accommodation : Hotel &
Camping
Transportation : 4WD Land
cruiser, 1 flight transfer
Maximum Altitude : 6200m
Price Includes :
• Full board camping trek,
• English speaking local expert
guide, porters
• National Park Fees, Peak permit,
• 3 nights’ accommodation at 3 star
hotel in Kathmandu on double room
sharing with breakfast.
• All guided sightseeing tour in
Kathmandu and entry fees.
• Airport transfers and escort
• Equipment clothing for porter &
staffs, Local climbing Sherpas,
• Insurance for all staff & porters,
Rope, Ices crow, Snow bar and Gammov
bag (altitude
chamber).
Price Excludes :
• International flight & departure
tax
• Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu.
• Personal climbing gears &
clothing, (available on hire).
• Tips, any expenses of personal
nature, client's insurance |
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Itinerary of Annapurna
Ascent of Chulu East in Detail |
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Day 01 :
Arrival in Kathmandu
Flying to Kathmandu along the northern border of
Nepal on a clear day is in itself an exciting and
memorable experience as exotic panoramic view of
snow-capped Annapurna mountain range peaks sprawls
before you. The Nepali support team will meet you at
the airport and escort you to your hotel. |
Day 02 :
Sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, being a historical and cultural heart of
Nepal, is a popular destination for tourists,
trekkers and adventure seekers. The city presents a
wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and
Western influence in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur
are its two major neighboring cities which bear
immense historical, cultural and religious
significance. There will be a half day guided tour
to the famous & biggest Hindu shrine PASUPATHINATH,
the largest Buddhist stupa in town BOUDHANATH, the
15th century palace of 55 windows and SOYAMBHUNATH.
In the evening, a trip orientation meeting will be
organized. |
Day 03 :
Drive to Besi Sahar [820m]
We drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway to
Dumre and then follow the rough road by the
Marsyangdi River to Besi Sahar for 6 hours. |
Day 04 :
Trek to Khudi [790m]
We turn to the right treading along the canal on the
outskirts of the village. Then the trail descends
the narrow path to the Pam Khola. After crossing a
stream, we climb to the village of Denauti. The
village has striking red-walled houses. Thereon, we
descend to the banks of the Marsyangdi Khola and the
trail further meanders through rice paddies and
subtropical forests. Eventually, after walking for 3
hours, we enter Gurung village of Khudi. We select a
superb location for camping. |
Day 05 :
Trek to Bahundanda [1310m]
As we walk away from Khudi northwards up the
Marsyangdi Valley, en route you get to savor
leisurely sightseeing of nursery and amazing
tapestry of Annapurna mountain ranges. The trail
winds through a suspension bridge and then follows
terraced rice fields offering breathtaking view of
Manaslu and cascading waterfall. Further ascending
we spot several shops and teahouses at Ngadi
village. On leaving Ngadi after brief rest, we
skirts through our challenging trails to Bahundanda.
Bahundanda literally means "Brahmin hill" and as the
name suggests Bahundanda is hugely dominant by
Brahmins. There we conclude our trekking journey of
the day. |
Day 06 :
Trek to Jagat [1343m]
A steep trail descends from Bahundanda through rice
terraces before crossing a stream at the bottom of a
small waterfall. It then climbs again and traverses
the hillside high above the river before reaching
the village of Hani Gaon. Ahead, the Marsyangdi
valley forms a steep V-shape, and we follow the
winding mountain path down through Syange and along
the river for some distance. The trail then climbs
steeply and the path is cut into the
sheer cliff-face some 200-300m above the riverbed.
Eventually we descend to the stone village of Jagat,
situated on a shelf which juts into the precipitous
Marsyangdi valley. We camp in the fields beyond the
village. |
Day 07 :
Trek to Dharapani [1946m]
The trail from Jagat descends until it almost
reaches the river and then continues through a lush
forest. Further ascent leads to sharp-edged cliff
facing the river bank. En route, Chyamje comes into
picture amid glorious picturesque landscape of
waterfall and towering Annapurna mountain ranges.
After crossing a suspension bridge, we climb steeply
towards the slippery and physically challenging path
to Sattale. On treading along a succession of
rock-strewn trail, we descend to a grassy riverbank
which leads to Tal where we find hotels and
teahouses attired with warmth and hospitality. But
as we walk away from Tal, path becomes rugged and
winding. Then we approach steep forested village of
Karte. Meandering along the waterfall-clad cliff, we
finally reach Dharapani after crossing a suspension
bridge. We camp at Dharapani for the night. |
Day 08 :
Trek to Chame [2685m]
We skirt through a narrow field from the village,
the Dudh Khola, which originates from the south face
of Manaslu and then Marsyangdi veers to the left. On
proceeding along the sinuous trails, we accumulate
glorious Annapurna trekking experience. Annapurna II
becomes visible as we arrive at Bagarchhap, a Bhote
village with prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.
As we continue ascending through forests of pine and
oak, we pass through Dhanakyu before coming to a
thundering waterfall. Further on, the Marsyangdi
Khola enters a gorge and the trails follows
rock-strewn path. We can pause for a while to bask
in the splendor of picturesque Manaslu. When the
steep incline ends, we follow a path amid
magnificent rhododendrons of Ratamron and then
continue on a gently rising path, crossing a stream
before entering a pine forest. We then enter
pristine hamlet of Kotho from where we can capture
the most enchanting view of Annapurna II. Treading
further, the route reaches a large white gate with a
corrupted iron roof which is an entrance to Chame.
Chame is the administrative headquarters for the
Manang district. There are electricity, wireless
station, school, shops, health post, post office,
police check post, hotels, lodges and bank in Chame.
Hot springs are the major attraction of this place. |
Day 09 :
Trek to Pisang [3200m]
After basking in the splendor of glowing Lamjung
Himal [6893m] against the early morning sun, we head
for Pisang. En route, we cross a large suspension
bridge along mystic Marsyangdi and approach houses
and lodges on the northern side of the river.
Trekking trail routes through barley field leading
to Teleku at 2775 meters. As we leave undulating
mountain passes, we enter fascinating apple orchard
and near a bridge at 2840 meters. On crossing the
bridge, a pristine hamlet of Bratang appears.
History has it that Bratang used to be a Khampa
settlement. Stone memorial of a Japanese climber has
been built at this locale. When leaving forested
village, the valley changes from a V-shape to a
gentle U-shape sprawling before us the majestic
vistas of Annapurna mountain range. Further on, we
continue our steep rock-strewn trails to the south
side and cross a long suspension bridge at 3040
meters. At this vantage point on the bridge, we get
to view Paungda Danda rock rising more than 1500
meters from the river. On our route we get to
capture splendid views of Annapurna II on the East
and Pisang Peak on the north-east. We further cross
a bridge and enter lower village of Pisang. |
Day 10 :
Trek to Julu [3500m]
Leaving the main trail above the village of Pisang,
we ascend Chegaji Khola Valley towards Chulu East
Base Camp. A gentle ascent through scattered
chortens, scrub juniper and stunted pines takes us
to the small hamlet of Julu, sitting on the west
bank of the river. We chose an appropriate campsite
showcasing enchanting views of majestic Himalayan
peaks. |
Day 11 :
Rest day at Julu
On this day, we utilize it to our maximum benefits.
We take a proper rest to rejuvenate our adventure
spirit and build up good health. After relaxation,
we can even explore village of Julu and get more
insight into its cultural setting. We can also enjoy
the splendid natural vistas. |
Day 12 :
Trek to Yak Kharka
As we walk away from Julu, the trail crosses Cheggi
Khola and ascends gradually up the west bank. Soon
after trekking for more than an hour, the trail
faces a valley and then we encounter a stone hut
surrounded by apple trees. We are now bestowed with
a stunning view up the side valley that reaches up
towards Chulu West. As the valley ends, 500ft cliff
stands on the way displaying spectacular sight of
waterfalls cascading down the cliff. The trail
further steepens and winds through a small meadow.
On the way, we come across goat and yak pastures. As
the day progresses, we come close to Yak Khare. At
last, we reach Yak Khare for a leisurely lunch. We
set a camp at a site which overlooks stunning myriad
of snow capped peaks. |
Day 13 :
Trek to Base camp [4200m]
We follow the trail wending through steep pastures
to a convenient hollow where the meadow merges into
rock and scree. Then, there appears the base camp.
Eyeing high above, spectacular views of Annapurna
range stretches as far as our eyes can capture. |
Day 14 :
At Base camp
We take a day off from trekking for complete
acclimatization. This gives us time to prepare and
sort out our trekking gear. |
Days 15 &18 :
Base camp to High camp [5000m] & Chulu East Summit
[6200m]
After well acclimatized, we move up to the high camp
and there we rest atop the terminal moraine of the
Chulu glacier. The trail up to the high camp follows
scree and snow slopes. Resting at the high camp, we
take a plenty of time to relax and prepare equipment
and strategies for the next day. Two days have been
set aside for ascending Chulu East. On the day of
climbing Chulu East, we make an early start across
the undulating glacier as the trail takes snow and
ice slopes. As we continue ascending, several peaks
come en route. Eventually we run out of mountain at
a small snow dome with steep slopes falling away on
all sides. At this point, our high camp diminishes
to toy-town stature and climbing to such an altitude
gives us a feeling of sitting on top of the roof of
the world.
After we scale Chulu East Summit and have our share
of celebrating this glorious victory, we descend
along the steep slopes to the high camp. After
refreshment and rest, we head back to base camp
passes. For those who do not wish to climb Chulu
East, they can simply stroll to Base Camp to enjoy
spectacular views of Annapurnas and indulge in more
exploration around the base camp. |
Day 19 :
Trek to Manang [3511m]
We return to the main trail and head towards Manang.
We continue treading along the cultivated fields and
after a while village of Bryaga accommodating a
splendid monastery appear before us. On trekking
down to Manang, we embrace heavenly vistas of
Annapurna range - Annapurna II, Annapurna III,
Annapurna IV, Gangapurna [7455m] and Tilicho Peak
[7134m]. We camp at the fortified villages of
friendly Manang people for the night. Manang is a
fascinating medieval village of just over 500
flat-roofed houses. |
Day 20 :
Trek to Thorung Phedi [4427m]
We climb gradually to a ridge before descending to
the headwaters of the Marsyangdi and crossing via a
covered wooden bridge amid tremendous views of
Manaslu, the Annapurnas, Tilicho Peak and the Great
Barrier. We head north-west up the Jarsang Khola,
through scrub juniper and alpine grasses to arrive
at Letdar for lunch. From Letdar, we continue on the
east bank of the Jarsang Khola, before crossing on a
covered bridge. The trail climbs on scree slopes
high above the river to Thorung Phedi, a single
stone building set among near vertical cliffs. |
Day 21 :
Trek to Muktinath [3694m] via Thorung la [5416m]
At the very earliest hour in the morning, we cross
Thorung La [5416m]. As the trail progresses further,
it becomes steep though well-defined. After steadily
climbing for 4 hours, the steep trail eases and soon
we encounter chorten and prayer flags along the
mountain pass. We reach to an altitude beneath which
lie a spectacular views of Kali Gandaki valley and
pristine hills of Mustang. Amid the ambience of
Himalayan beauty, we descend to Muktinath. From
Muktinath, we can capture excellent views of
Dhaulagiri. Eventually the moraines give way to
grassy slopes before a pleasant walk along the Jhong
Khola Valley to Muktinath. Muktinath is regarded as
an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. It is very
popular for its shrines and temple. |
Day 22 :
Trek to Jomsom [2713m]
From Muktinath, we advance towards Jomsom. The trail
descends along the spectacular Kali Gandaki valley,
initially through arid country in the same
geographical and climatic zone as Tibet. After
passing through Jharkot and Khingar, villages with
typical Tibetan architecture, we follow the valley
floor most of the way to Jomsom. En route, we are
rewarded with tremendous views of both Dhaulagiri
and Nilgiri. Jomsom is a large town sprawled along
both banks of the Kali Gandaki River. We spend the
final night of our trek in Jomsom. |
Day 23 :
Flight to Kathmandu via Pokhara
We take an early morning flight to Pokhara. It is a
spectacular flight along the Kali Gandaki Gorge and
provides wonderful views of both the Dhaulagiri and
Annapurna ranges. We then catch a flight back to
Kathmandu. |
Day 24 :
Depart Kathmandu
Our The 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, Tibet tours, mountain biking etc). |
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