Day 1: Arrival: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (1 300m/4 260ft).

After completing passport, immigration and visa requirements, we will meet you outside the terminal building (look for your name board) and transfer you to your hotel: afternoon free. Evening: a welcome dinner, introduction to your guide and a briefing on the trek with a check on necessities. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: In the City Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing OR A Day at Leisure.

Take a day tour to five of the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the famed “monkey temple”; the city’s historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan’s Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, the world’s largest stupa.

A car and driver will take you to each site-entrance and wait for you. (Entry tickets and lunch are not included.)

Day 3: Kathmandu – Pokhara (880m/2 900ft), 6-7 hrs Drive.

After breakfast, drive to Pokhara along the PrithviRaimarg which offers fascinating glimpses of rural Nepal as you pass through Middle Hill scenery and along major rivers such as the TrisuliNadi, which rises in Tibet north east of Kathmandu. The route passes through the lower Gorkha region (beneath Manaslu), south of the epicentre of the first of the recent earthquakes.

Transfer to your hotel. An afternoon City Tour includes: Devi’s waterfall and Shiva’s Cave. Enjoy an evening cruise on tranquil Lake Phewa before dinner. Overnight in Pokhara.

Day 4: Pokhara – Nayapul (1 070m) – Hile (1 510m/4952 ft), 1 hrs 15 min drive, 2½-3 hr trek.

From your hotel, we drive north through farmland and forest to the trail head at Nayapul. Trek to the prosperous riverside village of Birethanti (1 000m) at the meeting point of the Modi and BhurungdiKholas. Then follow the BhurungdiKhola to Sudame (1 340m) before climbing regularly up the side of the valley, to Hile (1 510m). Overnight in Hile.

Day 5: Hile – Ghorepani (2 870m/9 420ft), 5-6 hrs.

The day begins with a long and step and steep climb on rock staircases to the village of Ulleri (2 080m) – and an amazing landscape with marvellous views of Annapurna South (7 219m) and Hiunchuli (6 441m). The ascent continues through lush and ancient rhododendron and oak forests for several hours, with rest breaks, to the large village of Ghorepani. From here there are nice views of Dhaulagiri I 8 172m and the Annapurna Himal. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Day 6: Ghorepani – Poon hill (3 210m/10 530ft) – Tadapani (2 630m/8 630ft), 6-7 hrs.

An early, ¾ hr, steep trek leads to Poon Hill’s grassy knoll. This landmark viewpoint offers unobstructed vistas of the high Himalaya from Dhaulagiri I (8 172m) and Upper Dolpo in the west, across the Annapurnas (Annapurna I, 8 019m), to Machhapuchhare (6 997m, Fish Tail) and east to Manaslu (8 156m). Behind: an ocean of Sal forests stretch to lowland India.

After breakfast, the eastward path to Tadapani crosses many ridges through thick rhododendron and pine forest with uphill and downhill sections and magnificent views of the snow peaks to the north from high ground. Overnight in Tadapani.

Day 7: Tadapani – Chhomrong (2 210m/7 250ft), 4 – 5 hrs.

The trek north east from the village deciding through forest and farmland to reach the suspension bridge over KimrongKhola Valley. This deeply incised gorge carries melt water from the Annapurna South ice fields to the Ganges. To take a Lunch in Gurjung After lunch, the trail Zigzeg through stands of oak and rhododendron forest, around the hillsides to the wealthy agricultural village of Chhomrong: and closer views of the huge peaks above.Overnight in Chhomrong.

Day 8: Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2 840m/9 320ft), 6-7 hrs.

Descend the broad staircase to the ChhomrongKhola (1 900m), then ascend to charming Sinuwa (2 340m). The trail then enters the upper ModiKhola Valley through dense forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. It rises then drops to the village of Bamboo (2 310m) on the river bank: for lunch. Continue up through uninhabited forest to Dobhan (2 500m), before crossing avalanche chutes towards the small village of Himalaya Hotel. Overnight in Himalaya Hotel.

Day 9: Himalaya Hotel – Machhapuchhare BC (3 700m/12 140ft) – Annapurna BC (4 130m/13 550ft), 6-7 hrs.

With increasing altitude, forest gives way to alpine scrub and grasses. Explore the cave at Hinku (3 100m) before crossing a ravine and avalanche tracks to Deorali (3 140m). The geology of the canyon’s side walls is fascinating. Views into the sacred Sanctuary gradually appear as the trail approaches a ridge and rises to MBC, for lunch.

A further two hours, slow, walk up grassy slopes leads to the ABC hotels built on Annapurna South’s glacial moraine: some 4 000m/13 100ft beneath the peaks that crown the surrounding ice walls. Overnight in Base Camp.

Day 10: Annapurna BC – Bamboo (2 310m/7 580ft), 5-6 hrs.

Before dawn walk to the rim of the glacier for unforgettable views and photos. The ring of peaks, clockwise from Hiunchuli, include Annapurna South, the vast ice wall topped by Annapurna I (8 097m/26 566ft) and SinguChuli( fluted peak) Tent Peak ( TharpuChuli ) towering above you round, to Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Machhapuchhare. Listen to the glacier grinding below you, in its U-shaped valley.

After breakfast, retrace your steps to Deurali for Lunch and then continue the descent for more comfortable night. Overnight in Bamboo.

Day 11: Bamboo – JhinuDanda (1 750m/5 740ft), 4-5 hrs.

Climb back to Kuldi and on to flower bedecked Sinuwa before descending to the ChhomrongKhola and the stairs back to Chhomrong. Close by is Taglung: plunge left, down the narrow side trail to the attractive village of JhinuDanda below. After lunch, descend to the river for a plunge in the hot springs on its banks. Overnight in JhinuDanda.

Day 12: JhinuDanda – Landruk (1 620m/5 320ft) – Pothana (1 990m/6 530ft), 6-7 hrs.

Head south, close to the river, to New bridge ; cross to the east bank and HimalPani. Continue south to Landruk (1 620m): and good views of Hiunchuli, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. The trail continues through scattered trees and flowering shrub to Tolka (1 790m), after which it ascends gradually, for ~2 hrs, to the ridge village Deorali (2 150m). Excellent views of Phewa Lake and Pokhara are possible from here and the last beautiful views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and the right side of the range. The trail then downhill along a red-earth path ( that is lethal when wet) to Pothana. Overnight in Pothana.

Day 13: Pothana – DhampusPhedi (1 130/3 710ft) – Pokhara (880m/2 900ft), 2-3 hrs, 25 min drive.

The last day offers an easy walk down a point to the large farming rural village of Dhampus (1 700m). It then steep descends through scattered villages and rice paddies to DhampusPhedi on the Pokhara – Baglung highway. A short drive will return you to your hotel in Pokhara. Afternoon free: consider a visit the Mountain Museum. Overnight in Pokhara.

Day 14: Pokhara – Kathmandu (1 300m/4 260ft), 25 min flight.

After breakfast drive to the nearby airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. Transfer to your Hotel. Rest of day free.

Day 15: Final Departure.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to your next destination.