Location
Annapurna Gurung Trail
5.0
Are you craving an adventure beyond the beaten path? Leave the crowds and uncover the hidden treasures of the Annapurna Gurung Trail. It’s not just an ordinary Himalayan trek; it’s a unique opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views, explore rich heritage, and indulge in the local village.
Annapurna Gurung Trail
8 Days
Hiking
Hotel/Lodge
All included
Min 2 Pax.
Winter, Spring, and Autumn
1990m.
The Gurung Trail offers unforgettable views of the massive mountains in the Annapurna range. It provides a peaceful escape from the bustling city life, allowing you to appreciate the tranquility of nature. You will trek from Kathmandu to Seti Valley, Ghachok Plateau, and beyond.
Wander through charming villages and rhododendron forests, soaking in the breathtaking views of the Annapurna and neighboring Himalayas. Throughout the trek, you will stay in picturesque lodges nestled in charming villages, immersing yourself in the warm hospitality of the local Gurung community.
Starting your journey from Pokhara, you will first head into the Seti Valley, which has stunning scenery surrounding the foot of the towering Mardi. In this area, you can bask under the warm sun that kisses green thick rice and wheat fields on the plateaus. You will also find fields of brilliant and striking yellow mustard flowers among those.
Along the way, you will come across traditional stone houses that are delicately modeled out of lime and intricately painted woodwork. The combination of all these elements creates the look of a welcoming place. During your adventure, try to pause and admire the overwhelming sight of the majestic Annapurna glows in the background.
Another amazing part of the villages of the Gurung people is the great hospitality the ladies of the village show by organizing to host people who hike. You will be able to interact with the culture of Gurung natives and will be welcomed by kind hosts to enjoy the cozy rooms prepared for you. You will have a chance to enjoy the fragrance and taste of dhal bhat, one of the traditional Nepali meals made with love and served with a smile.
During the journey, you’ll get a chance to visit the unusual tea plantations at the foot of the Annapurna range, so your route will be still even more impressive. When you arrive at the tiny tea manufacturing facility bypass, admire the procedure of producing the tea during that time and perhaps get to sip some brewed local tea.
The first day of your trek to the Annapurna Gurung trail begins from Kathmandu followed by a bus ride to Pokhara. You will travel on the local bus. Following that, you will make a 2-hour hike to the Seti Valley, trekking through the trail to the natural hot springs.
Finally, the hiking comes to an end at a charismatic Gurung village which is surrounded by beautiful terraced rice fields. You will be accommodated in a local home, enjoying a wonderful meal shared with a family who will provide you with a memorable experience of their warm hospitality.
On the next day, after the crossing of the Seti River, you will continue on the right bank. The path is easy and takes you along the pleasant Gurung villages until you reach a big open space between the Seti and the Lasti rivers. The houses in this area have been painted ochre and white, with accents of blue, pink, and red wooden work visible all over.
Moreover, the fields are often rotated between growing wheat, corn, and barley, based on the season. This multicultural area is enriched with the presence of Brahmins, Chettris, Newars, and Dalits, each of them bringing in their diverse cultures and traditions.
Through your journey, you will come across local inhabitants conducting their everyday activities. You might be able to see some men carrying their oxen and wooden plows to the fields, Similarly, some women wearing colorful blouses as they go to cut grass, and schoolchildren returning home from school.
Additionally, you will stay in an eco-lodge, whose functional design is based on ancient traditional village houses. During your stay, you can enjoy healthy foods that are just cooked by the lodge’s vegetable garden. Overall, the trek time is estimated at four hours with a gain of 150 meters in elevation and a loss of 50 meters in descent.
While you walk through the wonderful area, you will see the sun rising over the snow-clad Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and IV peaks. As you venture through, you’ll find a plateau full of diverse fields, colored with yellow, beige, and green, dotted with vein purple flowers. In the fields, you’ll find women working while some lumberjacks striding towards the nearby forest with their long-handled saws.
Along the walk, you may admire the banyan trees and take a picnic break under their shade. And finally, after your picnic, you can trek along the wheat fields to the Mardi River through the glacial valley. After passing the suspension bridge, the trail starts to become steep, climbing on terraced fields.
In this journey, you will see the scenery changing, the croplands of wheat and corn replacing with tea plantations that blanket the rolling hills. The local community has taken the initiative to develop an organic tea known as “Annapurna Traditional Tea.” The farm is very peaceful, and you get an amazing view of the mountains. The tea camp has an arrangement for your stay in a Gurung House that remains traditional.
You’ll get to enjoy the beautiful landscape and captivating tea culture of the area. Tea harvesting is available year-round, and it would be great to visit the processing factory to see the whole process. Furthermore, you can join your hosts in cooking dhal bhat ( lentil rice), a traditional dish made with vegetables and spices. The route will be approximately 5 hours long and will cover an elevation of 600m up and 300m down.
The morning began with our breakfast on the terrace facing Machhapuchhre, a protected summit only for Gurungs. It is believed that the summit of Machapuchare has never been reached by climbers. We said goodbye to our hosts and followed the trail along the terraces that pleasantly built the hill.
Finally, we stopped for a short picnic and continued the route along the stream, which had some obstacles along the way. Further on, the trail started to be a little steeper as we walked to a forest. We got to Pothana on the Annapurna Sanctuary trail and our stop was the terrace of a lodge where we got a cold drink or tea. After a short stroll in the Rhododendron forest, we reach Australian Camp which provides one of the best views of the snowy Himalayas. We spent the night in a lodge after trekking for 6 hours.
The next morning, we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Machhapuchhare and the Annapurna. We had breakfast then took the Sanctuary trail and the ridges until the hillside trail. The journey led us to the big Gurung village of Landrung, where we wrapped up the day in a lodge.
Landrung, the village where we were staying was a pleasant place to spend our time and get to know the local community. We trekked for over 6 hours, the hike taking us up 200 meters and then down 540 meters. Despite the challenge, the magnificent views and the opportunity to connect with the village life in Landrung made it a rewarding experience.
The expedition from Landrung to Gandrung comprises a seamlessly descending journey that ends at a suspension bridge, that spans the Modi river. Next, you will pass the stone stairs to reach Gandrung, the largest Gurung village in the whole country. There you can stay in the lodge overnight. It takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes to complete this trekking and the elevations of up is 780 meters and down is 400 meters.
To get from Gandrung to Pokhara, walk down slightly and then take a local vehicle from Nayapul. Once you are done sightseeing, you can return to Pokhara either by flight to the destination or by road.
Upon reaching your destination, you can choose to stay at the Karuna Hotel or similar accommodation. It will take approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes from Gandrung to Pokhara with a height gain of 50 meters and a drop of 920 meters.
On the last day of the trek, to travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you can take a bus. Alternatively, you also have the option to request a private vehicle or a flight.
While the Annapurna Circuit is popular for its natural beauty, for those who seek a more unique experience, extensions are available with interesting options. Take time to explore the stunning Himalayas with these variations when on the trekking trip. Glacier Safari Tours (GST) will be able to offer you additional service packages, therefore, guaranteeing a smooth and consistent experience.
One option is to continue on the classic Annapurna Balcony trail to Ghorepani for stunning views of snow-capped peaks and lush valleys.
In case, you prefer the more secretive kind of experience, do not forget to visit Khopre Danda, an out-of-the-way place. This loop leads to less visited places providing opportunities to break away from crowds and reach the tranquility of grasslands, passing through the picturesque corridor of valleys and a fresh view of the region.
Glacier Safari Trek offers three package categories to suit your preferences and budget: Eco, Comfort & Deluxe. Each category provides the visitors with a distinct experience, where the level of amenities and services is different.
This is the best option for those adventurers on a budget who value the actual adventure experience rather than a luxurious stay.
The Comfort package is a much more pleasant trip, both physically and mentally, to the passengers. In addition to the trek itself, it includes:
For those who want to relieve their tired bodies from the tough trails, the deluxe package offers, consequently, the best luxuries. This package includes everything in the Comfort package, plus:
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