The 'Annapurna Sanctuary trek' takes you to a secret bowl in the heart of the Annapurna range, surrounded by a stunning panoramic view of the towering peaks, ten of which are over 6,000 m. One of the most famous Annapurna treks, this trek takes you as far as the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,095 m. We enter the sanctuary after a magnificent and varied trek through the foothills of the Himalayas, passing through small villages, mixed forests, and terraced farmland. En-route, we enjoy great mountain views at sunrise from Poon Hill and end up relaxing in the lakeside town of Pokhara and exploring the Newari hilltop town of Bandipur. Starting in Kathmandu with a guided tour of this bustling city, taking in tiny markets, corner temples and the famous Durbar Square. You have a scenic journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara, where your trek begins from nearby Naya Pul. Staying in lodges throughout the day, you will meet and talk to other trekkers and guides every night, discuss the places you've visited and the route ahead, and make a contribution to the local economy. Starting in the foothills, immediately north of Pokhara, you start your trek to Ghorepani, where you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise view of the Annapurna range from Poon Hill. From Ghorepani, you cross many valleys and then go up the beautiful Modi Khola Valley. A dominant characteristic of this trek is the Deep Rhododendron forests, with sprinklings of a wide variety of orchids and bamboo forests full of pussy monkeys. Walking to the middle of the Annapurna Himal, you can visit the Machhapuchhare Base Camp, followed by the Annapurna Base Camp itself. When you reach the Annapurna Sanctuary (a mountain ringed amphitheatre of enormous proportions), you will be rewarded with breath-taking views of 10 snow-capped peaks above 6,000 m. The summits include: Fang, Glacier Dome, Homunculi, Annapurna, Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Annapurna 3 and Machhapuchhare. All of these, combined with the impressive background of the south face of Annapurna 1 (8,090 m), make this trek a truly unique and unforgettable experience. After some time exploring the Sanctuary, take a few days to walk back to Pokhara and stop along the way at the hot springs near Jhinnadunda. You have a free day in Pokhara, which we leave to give you time to relax in this peaceful lakeside town, and to allow for any delay in the trek itself. From Pokhara you drive back to Kathmandu via Bandipur and have a little free time to do some last-minute shopping or a little more sightseeing around the city and the surrounding valley. This itinerary can be both shortened and extended in all kinds of different ways if you have more or less time for your trek. Options are also available to explore the ancient areas of Patan & Bhaktapur outside Kathmandu, take a mountain flight to Everest, or extend the trip to try some white-water rafting or visit one of Nepal's wildlife sanctuaries.