Trekking in the Annapurna region

What to expect

Surya introduced me to this trek in March 2025, and from the beginning, we were met with genuine hospitality that felt deeply personal. It felt very different from the more commercialised trekking routes and what stood out right away was how warm and welcoming the local people were - many of whom Surya knows personally and greeted us like old friends. The food was another highlight: rich, full of regional flavour, and made with fresh, local ingredients. As we moved through forests bursting with blossoming rhododendron, the landscape came alive with colour and fragrance. After the first few days, Annapurna South came into near-constant view, a towering presence that felt as if we were walking right beside it. The trek itself was both rewarding and physically demanding, with daily climbs and descents that left us happily exhausted and ready to sleep soundly each night. 

Why trek with us

Deep Knowledge & First-Hand Experience
I have spent over 100 trekking days in the Himalaya, exploring all major multi-day routes in Nepal including Annapurna, Manaslu, Everest, Langtang, Tsum Valley, and more. I am also completing a Master’s in South Asian Studies at the University of Bonn, where I focuse on religious city planning and Himalayan art. This allows me to enrich our treks with cultural and architectural insights beyond the typical route.

Trusted Local Partnership
On my first Nepal trip in 2019, I met Surya—a local guide with over 30 years of experience. We guided our first group together in 2024 and share values of community support and fair treatment of staff. We ensure above-average pay, full insurance, proper equipment, and accommodations that treat porters with the same dignity as guests. Our guests often remark on how respectfully our entire team is treated and how seamlessly porters are integrated into the group.

Your Well-Being Comes First
Through my many solo treks, I have learned the importance of proper acclimatisation. Besides, I have completed training with the German Mountain Leader Association for safety above 3,000 m and previously attended a one-month mountaineering course in India. My top priority is that you feel well—not just symptom-free. We take a slow, careful pace and work with two guides, so if anyone needs to rest or descend, you're never alone. Someone will always stay with you and ensure you receive the support or care you need.

Support Every Step of the Way
Trekking in the Himalayas and traveling to Nepal can feel overwhelming. That is why I support you not just on the trail, but also during preparation. I am happy to answer all your questions—whether by phone, email, or message—and no concern is too small. Many of my guests stay in close contact before the trip, and I welcome that.

Empowering Women in Nepal
One of the goals of Shanti Treks is to support young women in Nepal in entering the male-dominated trekking industry. We partner with Akasha Academy, a German NGO based in Kathmandu, which offers a 10-month empowerment program for young women. We aim to sponsor participants to complete the official trekking guide license. As part of their internship, they join our trek to gain practical experience, improve their English, and learn cross-cultural communication. In return, they share powerful, personal insights into what it means to grow up as a woman in Nepal.

Physical requirements

The trek is quite different from the hut tours in the Alps. While we only hike on non-technical hiking trails, the difficulty of the tour lies in the length of the trek and the higher altitude. Please also read the section on altitude sickness in the Health section. We hike almost continuously over 3000 meters and sleep at up to 3600 meters, which means it can be quite cold at night and in the early morning and evening hours. The bedrooms can have temperatures around 0 °C at night. Food at such altitudes is generally sufficient, but not as rich in minerals and nutrients as in the valley. In general, you should have done multi-day treks in the mountains before, have solid basic fitness and (be able to) prepare your body for the tour. You should have no severe health problems or known problems with altitude, hike consistently and steadily at your own pace, and be hardy against the cold. In addition, your physical condition should not suffer easily due to simple accommodation and food.

Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that you are fit enough and able to participate in this trip. If you have never hiked with me before or are unsure whether you meet the physical and technical requirements or whether you have the right equipment, I’d be very happy to speak over the phone with you about the trip in advance.

Service included

• Organised trip by a registered travel company
• Organized trekking by two guides, a qualified UIMLA Mountain Leader and a local guide
• An info-package after sign-up with general information about Nepal, and details on things to prepare, such as flight booking, visa requirements, vaccinations, a packing list etc.
• An info-package three months before the tour with more practical info about your stay in Nepal
• Online info-event a month before departure including getting to know the group
• Unlimited individual travel advice over the phone before departure, i.e. on flight booking, visa requirements, vaccinations or if you wish to extend your trip
• A group of max. 10 guests, no minimum number of guests
• 4 hotel nights including breakfast in Kathmandu in double or twin rooms
• 2 hotel nights including breakfast in Pokhara in double or twin rooms
• All accommodation, three meals a day, and unlimited tea during the whole trek
• All trekking permits for the Annapurna region
• Luggage transport on the trek by porters (max. 10 kg)
• Airport transfer to the hotel on the day of your arrival and departure
• All group transport in Kathmandu, to and in Pokhara
• Transport by jeeps from the hotel to the start and from the end of the hike back

Extra costs on tour

• Travel to Kathmandu
• Visa (approx. 50 €)
• Hot showers, Wi-Fi or phone battery charging fees on the trek if applicable (approx. 2-5 € each)
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu (approx. 5 € to 20 €)
• Tips for the local guide, drivers and porters

Additional costs may vary and are for guidance only.

Optional

A Week of Culture and Wildlife
Extend your holiday by another week ahead of the trek and join us for a multi-day wildlife safari and more sightseeing in Nepal. You find all information and the option to book here.

Accommodation

In Kathmandu we sleep in a nice hotel with a beautiful and peaceful garden, surrounded by a lively neighbourhood where a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops are located. Here we can prepare perfectly for our trek and end our time together after our return.

On the tour we sleep in teahouses run by locals from the region. There is usually a room where cooking takes place with an adjoining dining room that is heated and where people spend the day and evening. The bedrooms are usually twins and sometimes multi-bedrooms in the same or adjacent buildings. These rooms are generally not heated and are equipped with simple wooden beds including a mattress, a pillow and a blanket. Washrooms provide cold running water and there are usually Asian style toilets (directly in the ground). Some accommodations offer (warm) showers at an additional cost. The higher you go, the simpler the accommodation becomes. Besides hot showers, you often have to pay extra for Wi-Fi, if available, and charging power devices.

Food

The cuisine in the teahouses is surprisingly diverse, from traditional Dāl bhāt, fried rice and delicious soups to pizza and pasta. Porridge and muesli are also very popular alongside the typical bread with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Vegetables and fruits become less available above 3500 meters and must be treated before drinking.

Travel

Kathmandu has an international airport, and you can join up with other guests to travel to Kathmandu together. The tour price includes an airport transfer on the day of your arrival and departure. I am happy to give you an overview of the best airlines and flight routes to reach Kathmandu and reveal some valuable travel hacks. 

To enter the country, you need a passport (which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your trip) and a visa, which you can get with most nationalities upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. Further information can be found on the Nepalese immigration authority website.

Health and Safety

On the trek we hike up to an altitude of 4600 meters and sleep up to 3600 meters. Although we take a lot of time to acclimatize, some people may experience problems with the altitude, which at worst may lead to descending early from the trek. You can find further information about altitude sickness on the website of the UK’s national health service (NHS).

There are no special vaccination regulations for Nepal. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are traveling from an infected area. I provide further information on vaccines after your booking but generally recommend speaking to a medical professional well in advance of the trek.

You find more information about health on the NHS fit for travel website and about travel and safety on the UK foreign office's website.

Programme

Day 1 – Arrival
We meet at the hotel in Kathmandu, where we also sleep the last two nights of our trip, so we can leave additional luggage at the hotel during the trek. There will be an informal walking tour to the sightseeing highlights of Kathmandu in the morning for those arriving early. In the late afternoon, Surya, our local trekking guide, and I will give a detailed tour briefing in the hotel’s garden and discuss the packing list. After that there is the opportunity to get together for chats. In the evening we have a joined dinner. If you arrive late that day, we can have an individual tour briefing in the next day’s morning also.

Day 2 – Visit Akasha Academy
We drive to the outskirts of Kathmandu to visit the Akasha Academy, where the girls that are interested in becoming mountain leaders are attending their one-year traineeship. They will show us their project and its beautiful premisses, we have lunch at their artisan bakery, and they will take us for a gentle hike in the surrounding hills.

Day 3 – Drive to Pokhara
After breakfast we take an early bus to Pokhara, which takes approximately 6-8 hours. The afternoon is free to explore the cute little town, and we meet up for dinner by Phewar lake.

Day 4 – Drive to Beni
7 km, ↑ 800 m, 3.5 hrs walking time (not including breaks)
We begin early, traveling by private jeeps to a small Himalayan town - the starting point of our trek (approx. 3 hours). From there, we hike uphill and stop for lunch at the former regional king’s residence. In the afternoon, we continue to Bas Kharka (1525m), where we settle into a cozy teahouse nestled in the middle of an orange orchard.

Note: The estimated walking time does not include breaks. If not otherwise stated, we usually start hiking around 8 am and get to our accommodation between 3 pm and 4 pm each day.

Day 5 – Nagi (2300 m)
7 km, ↑ 1100 m, ↓ 450 m, 4.5 hrs walking
We continue our trek through beautiful forest trails of Rhododendron, which will be fully blossoming at this time of the year, and terraced hillsides to reach Nagi, one of the largest Pun Magar settlements in the region. This vibrant village is the heart of the community-based eco-lodge trek and a great place to learn about sustainable village life and immerse yourself in Pun Magar culture.

Day 6 – Mohare Danda (3300m)
9 km, ↑ 1100 m, 5 hrs walking
Today’s trek leads us through serene forests filled with oaks and bamboo, where we can spot a variety of wild orchids blooming along the trail. As we ascend to Mohare Danda, the landscape opens up to reveal one of the most stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas, stretching across the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. The sunset from this high ridge is a breathtaking experience, and the sunrise the next morning is equally unforgettable. We spend the night at a peaceful eco-lodge perched on the hilltop.

Day 7 – Ghorepani (2874 m)
5 km, ↑ 150 m, ↓ 600 m, 2 hrs walking
We begin the day with a scenic hike toward the famous Poon Hill, a renowned viewpoint offering spectacular vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. In the early morning, the area is bustling with trekkers, all gathered to witness the sunrise. But by late morning, the crowds disappear, leaving the peaceful beauty of the landscape to us. From Poon Hill, we descend gradually through lush trails to reach Ghorepani, a charming village perched on a mountain ridge. The afternoon is free to relax, take in the stunning views, and catch up on some laundry or rest. Overnight at a cozy teahouse in Ghorepani.

Day 8 – Dobato (3350 m)
8 km, ↑ 1100 m, ↓ 500 m, 4.5 hrs walking
While most trekkers head uphill to the crowded Poon Hill viewpoint at sunrise, we continue our route in the opposite direction, gaining an early start toward Dobato. The trail climbs gently through peaceful forests to Deurali Pass (3,090m), where wide views begin to open. We descend briefly to Deurali village for lunch, then leave the busy route behind and head north. The path leads through mystic, dense oak and bamboo forests, often veiled in mist, creating a magical atmosphere. After a steady ascent, we reach the highest point of the day at 3,560 meters. From here, we descend to Dobato with an optional short detour to the Muldai Viewpoint (3,637m)—a hidden gem offering a spectacular 360-degree panorama of over 25 Himalayan peaks, including Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, and Machapuchare.

Day 9 – Khopra Danda (3600 m)
11 km, ↑ 1000 m, ↓ 800 m, 6 hrs walking
We follow a scenic ridge trail from Dobato, ascending gradually through forests and alpine meadows. Lunch is at Dhan Kharka, a remote spot with just two shepherds’ huts. Continuing uphill, we reach Khopra Danda, where Annapurna South feels almost close enough to touch. Surrounded by stunning mountain views, we settle in for the night at the only teahouse on the ridge.

Day 10 – Khayar Lake (4660 m)
16 km, ↑↓ 1200 m, 8 hrs walking
Today offers a choice: Adventure seekers can embark on a challenging full-day hike to Khayar Lake, a sacred alpine lake nestled beneath towering peaks. The trail is long and demanding but rewards with solitude, dramatic scenery, and a deep sense of wilderness. For those preferring a rest day, Khopra Danda is the perfect place to unwind—soak in the views, read, practice yoga and/or meditation, or enjoy the peaceful high-altitude surroundings from the comfort of the teahouse.

Day 11 – Paudwar (2000 m)
10 km, ↑ 150 m, ↓ 1600 m, 4.5 hrs walking
We begin our descent toward the village of Paudwar on a trail that drops steeply at times, winding through alpine meadows, dense forest, and small grazing pastures. We pass through traditional Magar villages and terraced fields, where daily life continues much as it has for generations. By afternoon, we arrive in Swanta, a charming village surrounded by farmland.

Day 12 – Tatopani (1190 m)
14 km, ↑ 400 m, ↓ 1400 m, 5 hrs walking
We continue our steady descent through terraced fields and dense forest. The trail eventually joins the main Ghorepani–Tatopani route, becoming livelier as we approach lower altitudes. Crossing several suspension bridges and passing small hamlets, we follow the river valley down to Tatopani, which means "hot water" in Nepali. This riverside village is famous for its natural hot springs, the perfect place to end our trek and relax and soothe tired muscles after days on the trail.

Day 13 – Drive to Pokhara
After breakfast in Tatopani, we begin our journey back to Pokhara by private vehicle. The drive winds along the Kali Gandaki River, passing through lush valleys, terraced hillsides, and vibrant villages. The road gradually improves as we reach the lower elevations, and by afternoon we arrive in Pokhara.

Day 14 – Drive to Kathmandu
We have an early breakfast in our guesthouse and take a bus back to Kathmandu (6-8 hrs).

Day 15 – Kathmandu
Today, if you are up for it, I take you around some of my favourite spots in Kathmandu to unwind after the trek. This includes delicious local food joints, cozy hangout cafés, and a fantastic 1.5-hour massage at what I genuinely believe is the best spa in town (and I’ve tried plenty!). You’ll also have free time to explore on your own—whether for sightseeing, souvenir shopping, or simply soaking in the city atmosphere. In the evening, we’ll wrap up our adventure together with dinner at the best pizza place in town—a personal tradition of Surya and mine after days in the mountains.

Note: This day also acts as a buffer in case we needed extra time on the trail due to weather or acclimatization. While departures are technically possible today, they come with risk and are not recommended.

Day 16 – Departure
We say goodbye over breakfast, and you can start your travel home or onwards at any time.

Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.