Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

The trek far exceeded expectations and a few days rest and relaxation at the end was the icing on the cake. The variety of scenery enroute, the great team of guides and porters and the camaraderie between the group made for an all round wonderful experience . The standard of food and accommodation tho basic was surprisingly good and the pace of trekking and breaks was spot on for everyone . We were extremely well led and looked after and learned so much about this wonderful land and its people.

This was a wonderful trip, very well organised and made even better because we had such a fantastic group and such magnificent scenery with great weather – my expectations were exceeded! Anish and his team of guides and porters were brilliant all the way through, always helpful and cheerful. Early morning tea was always a pleasure to be greeted by smiling faces. The teahouses were better than expected – basic twin rooms but always Wi-Fi and electric for charging, sometimes a hot shower. We shared quad rooms in MBC and ABC. The food was delicious, lots of choice and the guides did a great job taking our orders for every meal.

This was a wonderful trip, very well organised and made even better because we had such a fantastic group and such magnificent scenery with great weather – my expectations were exceeded! Anish and his team of guides and porters were brilliant all the way through, always helpful and cheerful. Early morning tea was always a pleasure to be greeted by smiling faces. The teahouses were better than expected – basic twin rooms but always Wi-Fi and electric for charging, sometimes a hot shower. We shared quad rooms in MBC and ABC. The food was delicious, lots of choice and the guides did a great job taking our orders for every meal.

The trek itself was superb. The trail had varied landscapes and spectacular views of the Himalayas. Breaks for tea and lunch were generous, and the quality and diversity of the food exceeded my expectations. Accommodation was never uncomfortable. Our porters and guides were excellent.

Amazing trip that exceeded my expectations. Breathtaking views, great company

Excellent trip, well organised and executed, very good guides and porters. We felt very well looked after. Lead guide and 3 assistant guides, 6 porters for 11 clients. Great close-up views of Himalayas. Accommodation very basic but actually better than expected. Twin rooms on 7 nights, quad rooms on 3 nights. Very basic ‘bathrooms’. There were always showers available even if the water wasn’t always hot. Washing facilities not always in same building as bedrooms. Hut food much better and more varied than expected (porridge / muesli with hot milk / eggs any style with toast or local bread, tea / coffee). Food very cheap (400-600 NRs), imported bottled / canned drinks comparatively expensive (beer 600-900, soft drinks 300). Expected tips are more than trip notes suggest. Very gentle pace with long lunch stops (1-1.5 hrs) and 1 or 2 drink stops each day. Plenty of toilet opportunities (huts). Lots of long ascents and descents on stone steps but no problem even as someone who totally bust an ACL 8 months earlier! With a high ratio of guides to clients and lots of rest stops, everyone doesn’t have to walk at the same pace.

This is a brilliant trip. Everything was well organized. The assistant guides, Hari & Pan, set a steady comfortable pace for the trek – no-one got AMS. The path is very well maintained - there are a lot of steps. We passed through lots of hamlets so plenty of opportunity for drink / loo stops. The teahouses whilst basic were more comfortable than I expected – the beds were comfortable, we had twin rooms for 7 nights & 4 bed shared rooms for 3 nights, showers were available. The food in the teahouses is very good – breakfast was muesli or porridge or omelette/toast – lunch & dinner menu similar throughout including egg/veg fried noodles or rice, veg curry, omelette, chips, pizza, momos, fried potatoes. The teahouses definitely exceeded our expectations. The trek wasn’t difficult, but fitness and some experience of trekking required. We had a great group, I’m sure everyone enjoyed the trip. Our Guides Phurba, Sungum, Hari & Pan were very efficient and our porters were hard working and cheerful.

Wonderful trip, enjoyable from start to finish. We enjoyed the company of our group and the professional attention of our guide, Phurba Sherpa, and his team. The trek was graded well and although it was challenging at times it was also very enjoyable. Would recommend this trip to anyone reasonably fit. The pace of the walking is based on the group and no-one feels pressured to keep up. Exodus has a very good reputation in Nepal for treating their staff well and contributing to the community favourably.

Originally booked on the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, as the first trek of the new season this got changed due to danger of avalanches on the original route, so we were rescheduled to walk the Khopra Ridge. This proved an excellent alternative. Considering the time of year the weather was kind to us, all except the early morning trek up Poon Hill, not much to see in a snow storm, but that only added to the adventure. The walking was tough, the terrain unrelenting, the snow drifts in parts deep, but the views stunning. Reading the trip notes was invaluable to adjust our "western expectations" to local conditions. The accommodation although basic was just what was needed and very welcome at the end of a long days walk. It was a constant amazement considering where we were trekking, as to how well feed we were, the food was wholesome, well cooked and in large proportions. A real battle to burn it off the next day. As a small group, 5 clients and 5 staff we managed to crack on, to get the walks done easily within the expected times, this may not be so with a larger group. Being a smaller group we also had more room in the tea houses. The fact we all got on well and had a good group leader and support staff made this a very enjoyable trip. Really glad to have done this, and walked in the Himalayas at last. Would recommend.

This was our first trek and we we struck gold - the scenery and people of Nepal are beautiful. They have left a lasting impression and a return trip is a must. The porters and guides looked after us - lugging our gear and organising food and accommodation, pointing out wildlife and keeping us safe - always smiling, they created a real family feel to the group. I miss the early morning wake up call of a cheerful Namaste with a cup of tea and a stunning sunrise.

This was an amazing trip with Poon hill sunrise and Annapurna base camp sunrise , both of which we were spoilt on clear skies and lovely weather, The guides and porters were all amazing, trying to communicate with their broken english, our main guide Milan was fantastic , with his knowledge of mountains and other areas in nepal. I would highly recommend this trip, just be sure that you love steps and that you love mountains and breathtaking views!!

1st time in the Himalayas and what an introduction. Expectations were high but easily exceeded, both by the scenery and the people (guides, porters and fellow travelers). The trek was challenging but hugely enjoyable, helped greatly by the brilliant weather that allowed us the best views of the stunning mountains and valleys. Our guide, "Milan" and his team of assistants and porters were phenomenal, making everything run smoothly for us pampered western travelers. It was humbling to see how they and the local people cope with what seem harsh conditions compared to those many of us take for granted at home. Overall, an excellent trip that I would not hesitate in recommending to others.

From the moment we met our guide, he talked about us becoming a family for the next fortnight as he wanted us all to stick together. This we did and it really made our trip special. He, our porters and two assistant guides looked after us every step of the way. The high mountains were tantalisingly shy for the first few days, but then gradually showed themselves to us. Simply stunning.

Nepal has always been a place I have wanted to visit, especially due to the fact it hosts some of the tallest mountains in the world. I chose the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek because I wasn't sure my reaction to the high altitude of Everest Base Camp and also it was different. I lucked out with my trip for many reasons: small group (5 trekkers, 2 guides, 3 porters), good weather (sunny and clear mornings, no rain while walking), great guides (Ram and Maila took great care of us and made sure we all made it up to ABC and back with no incidents). During our trek we saw many other groups, specifically on the first few days and it surprised me that their "guides" did not keep the group together or seem to be properly pacing. The Exodus guides made sure we took smart breaks and typically had one person leading, the other at the back so as to not leave people behind or spread the group out too much. For me, waking up each morning getting closer and closer to ABC, seeing the sunrise gleaming off the white snowy peaks of the Annapurna range, those are images that are forever engrained on my memory (and camera). This trek has lots of stone steps, and although I consider myself physically fit, it is demanding. However, the payoff is seeing the beauty of Nepal and being removed from modern amenities like cars and other conveniences. I found the food in the tea houses good value for the money, especially Dal Bhat, which is almost an 'all you can eat' meal. Overall the trip is a great way to see the Himalayas and experience a bit of Nepalese culture.

Original trekking itinerary was changed and notice was given just several days before we began the trek. We did not trek to Annapurna Base Camp due to snow, avalanche danger, and damaged structures. An alternative was provided that included climbing Punhill and also Khopra in Ridge. For me it was a physically challenging trip, partially due to my age. I felt I did well in spite of my replaced knees. I was offered encouragement at times which helped. The weather was not the best as a pre-monsoon weather pattern prevailed particularly during the latter part of the trek. This trip for me was primarily a time to bond with my son, Kevin, and I think we did a good job at that. Food was somewhat bland, but new dishes allowed us to get a real taste of what Nepalese eat. Ten years ago, I did the Everest Trek to base camp and Kala Patar. I would say this trip was every bit as physically challenging even though we did not achieve high elevations. The scenery did not include as much high alpine, but this trip traversed through rhododenron forests that were in full bloom.

The trip was made by a combination of two excellent guides, a wonderful hard working team of porters and a cheerful experienced Sherpa. They all work incredibly hard in their respective roles and simply made the holiday. Always encouraging, helpful and cheerful. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Easily the best guides of all my many Exodus trips, they were devoted to their role. It is incredible how the porters manage to carry such loads. Tourism is a major economic force for Nepal and without them tourism would cease in its current form. They are the unsung heroes and must be supported including financially as it is a dying skill, sad for Nepal and for those of us who loved our trip.

The Annapurna Sanctuary trek was well organized and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It can be physically challenging at times (e.g. climb 3000 stairs in one go at the end of a walking day), but completely doable without many difficulties.

Annapurna Sanctuary is 14 days of an excellent trek, which is very well organised, with excellent and attentive guides. It is great scenery, with such majestic and magnificent Mountains. You stay in sustainable, if frugal, Tea Houses offering great sustenance, which is all part of the fun experience.

Annapurna Sanctuary is 14 days of an excellent trek, which is very well organised, with excellent and attentive guides. It is great scenery, with such majestic and magnificent Mountains. You stay in sustainable, if frugal, Tea Houses offering great sustenance, which is all part of the fun experience.

This is the third trek I've done in Nepal, the fourth in the Himalayas. I enjoyed the trek, found it easier than Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit and Ladakh- the Markha Valley. Yes, the numerous stone 'staircases' were a bit tough at the time, but very do-able and we were not rushed but had plenty of stops to catch breath and drink water. The tea-houses were OK (I always find the basic level of accommodation, especially the toilets & showers, also the rooms a tougher personal challenge than the actual walking) - the food they offered was OK (I didn't get sick!!), if a bit repetitive. The scenery was beautiful - big mountain landscapes, valleys with rippling streams and waterfalls, small villages and families farming their terraces using water buffalos and wooden ploughs. Always, the high snowy peaks were in the background. Add to that the colourful rhododendron forests and tiny bamboo bridges. When we first arrived at the Annapurna Sanctuary, I was a bit disappointed as there was no snow on the ground....and muttered to my friend 'Oh no, just a load of old rocks!!', but then, as we arrived at ABC, it started snowing heavily...and snowed and snowed all afternoon. The next morning, we trekked back across the flattish section between ABC and MBC and it was stunning - a perfect 'winter wonderland' and everything i'd hoped for. This trek reached a lower altitude than I had experienced on my previous Himalayan treks and I was fortunate not to experience any symptoms of altitude sickness at all (whereas I did have some (manageable) symptoms on the previous ones. Sunrise at Poon Hill was also a delight. I'd experienced this once before when on the Annapurna Circuit, but, unfortunately, on that occasion, although we climbed the hill, there was no view to be had - it was all obscured by clound. However, on this occasion, Mother Nature decided to reward my persistence and we were greeted by beautiful views of the mountains.