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Annapurna 7 Passes Trekking

Abhishek Subedi August 9, 2020

The Annapurna 7 passes trek is a fairly challenging trail that takes trekkers through some of the most remote and breath-taking landscape in Annapurna region Nepal. Annapurna Region is known as the Goddess of Harvests. It includes the first and largest conservation area in Nepal. Annapurna Seven Passes Trek has recently come up as an astonishing alternative to the trekkers who want to trek longer in the peaceful wilderness of the mountains. This is a great opportunity to take on a new route while it’s still raw and untrammeled, with a mixture of camping, home-stays and tea-houses along the way. This adventure is perfect for the trekkers who have a longer time and desire to be in the Mountains. 

Annapurna 7 Passes Trekking

With three passes at over 4600 meters and four at over 5000 meters it will be a real test that takes you past Kuchurmo pass, Yarcha pass, Meta pass, Phu pass, Nar pass, Kangla pass, and the famous Thorong la pass. The Annapurna 7 Passes trek is a long fairly challenging circuit trek that takes you along the part of Annapurna Circuit, the remote villages of Naar and Phu and the new route which is where you will hardly meet any trekkers along the way. You can do this trek throughout the year and experience various flora and fauna in addition to the overwhelming view of the mountains. It is an impressive and fresh region in Nepal.

Day 1 Drive to Tal

An early morning breakfast and we drive to Besisahar. We drive early to avoid the paved road from Kathmandu until Besisahar. We stop over for lunch at Besisahar where we change our vehicle and use the Jeep from here until Tal as the roads are off route. Moreover, we stop over shortly at the checkpoint in Khudigoan. Crossing several iron bridges and a tunnel made by Chinese government building a 50MW hydropower. We arrive at Chyamje where we will stop for a quick tea and enjoy the waterfall and continue driving through the bumpy road to Tal which is a beautiful village situated at the bank of Marshyangdi River. The Gurung village with around 300 people has comfortable lodges where we spend the overnight after the long drive from Kathmandu.

Day 2 Trek to Tilje

After breakfast, we start our walk through the village and continue by the side of the Marshyangdi River flowing through the valley. 2 hrs. of walking brings us to Khotro (2200m) from where we start uphill towards Nache (2200m) for around 2.5 hrs. Nache is a village situated on a top of hill with around only 40 households and few homestay. We have our lunch here in Nache and continue our trek with a short descend to a long suspension bridge of 130m long. One of highlights of the day is this suspension bridge from where the village of Bagarchap, Dharapani and Timang along the Marshyangdi corridor is visible from the high suspension bridge. 

Trek to Tilje

We continue our trek along the pine forest where we can visit a small Monastery and continue walking to meet a motor road and cross a small suspension bridge to arrive at Tilje. Tilje is another small village that is used for the Manaslu trek route for overnights. 

Day 3 Trek to Tachai

We start our walk today through the village today and cross a small bailey bridge and continue walking for another 20 minutes. A shot detour brings us to a stalagmite cave. A small cave that is interesting to visit where llamas are believed to have meditated. After the short detour we continue walking through the pine forest and corn fields to arrive at a suspension bridge. A short walk of 10 minutes brings us to a resting spot. We continued walking through the forest for another 1 hr to arrive at Tachai, a small Gurung village resting at the top of a hill. The village has around 28 home stays where we will stay overnight. The village also has a hot spring water flowing 20 minutes’ walk from the village. 

Day 4 Trek to Shongle 

We start our walk today with a beautiful view of surrounding villages of Ghelinchok and as we head up we look back to see the beautiful Tachai where we spent an overnight. Our walk today will be strenuous as we ascend uphill from the village itself for about two and half hours. We arrived at the saddle of Chonga Dada (3282m). Animal sightings such as Himalayan Griffon and Monkeys will be possible. After resting for some time, we descend through the pine forest to meet the Chonga River. 

We continue our path by the river upstream with gradual uphill and cross the river through a small wooden bridge. We continue our walk for about an hour and have our first lunch prepared by our kitchen staff by the side of the river.As we gain altitude, we continue our walk through the pine and rhododendron forest to arrive at an open space for Shongle Kharka where we spend our first overnight in tent.

Day 5 Trek to Kuchumro Phedi

A fresh morning with giant hills on both sides, we have our breakfast prepared by our kitchen crew and start our trek as our staff pack up the tents. 45 minutes of walk and we will meet a small shepherd hut. We continued our climb towards Kuchumro Phedi at an altitude of 4525m where we spent our camp for the big climb the next day. 

Day 6 Trek to Namakyu via Kuchumro Pass and Yarcha Pass

We gear up for a long walk today, mostly going uphill until we cross the Yarcha Pass. We start our day with a view of Manasalu towards the east and Lamjung and Annapurna towards the west. A walk of about 2.5 kilometers brings us to the top with 3 hrs of walk. We are rewarded with amazing views of Manasalu and Lamjung range as we make a pass of Kuchumro. The snowy pass requires proper equipment like gaiters, crampons.

Once we pass the Kuchumro pass (54900m), we walk down about 30 minutes to start uphill to cross the Yarcha pass (4860m). As we cross Yarcha pass, we are rewarded by the views of Kangaru Himal (6941m) and Annapurna II. We continue walking downhill to arrive at Namakyu (4595m) where we spend our overnight after a long walk. We will camp by the river side directly facing the Lamjung Himal and view of Kangaru Himal. 

Day 7 Trek to Meta via Meta Pass

Wake up early for the early morning views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II and Gangapurna towards the south west and Kangaru Himal facing top towards the north. The clear sky with the views of mountains makes it a perfect ambience to start your day. After breakfast, we walk for about 10 minutes uphill and then descend for another 15 minutes to cross a small glacial river. We cross the river for gradual uphill facing Annapurna II the whole time and keep Kangaru Himal at the back. As we ascend for 2 hrs. We are greeted by the views of Pisang peak standing majestically above the Pisang monastery from where we take gradual walks all the time facing Pisang peak directly in front of us. We arrive at the Meta pass (4800m).

Pack lunch is recommended today as there is shortage of water before the pass. After lunch at Meta pass, we start to descend towards Meta. It’s a long downhill from Meta pass to Meta with almost 4 hrs. We arrive at a river with a small bridge from where we start to ascend for another 1 hr to reach Meta – a small village with few houses. 

Day 8 Trek to Phu

Today is a moderate but long walk. We get the early morning sunrise view of Lamjung Himal on the south and Pisang peak towards the west. After breakfast we start with a gradual easy walk with a view of Pisang monastery on the other side of the hill. We came across a Khampa settlement at Jhunum after 1.5 hrs. This Khampa settlement is now used as a winter stay by villagers of Nar. We continue our walk from here to cross a glacial river and continue walking to arrive at another Khampa settlement at Chyakhu. (Recommend reading: Buddha’s warrior for more info on Khampa war). We walk further with gradual uphill and then descend to arrive at a small bailey bridge to cross the river from where we start ascending for about 20 minutes to arrive at Kyang. 

Another Khampa settlement at the valley between huge rugged stone mountains. We will have our lunch here and after lunch we continue our trek to arrive at an interesting trail facing the river and made from cliff carved trail. We continue on this trail with Phu River on the left side for another 3 hrs to meet a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and continue walking. During the monsoon, if the river is high we continue walking on the same side instead of crossing the bridge. As we approach the final descent for the Phu, we arrive at a big canyon from where a straight uphill of 15 minutes brings us to the gate of Phu village and another 30 minutes’ walk brings us to a suspension bridge and we are official in Phu village. 

Day 9 Trek to Loang via Phu Pass

An early morning walk to the Tashi Lakhang Monastery, an important Buddhist religion site. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the monastery and then return back for breakfast. We are served with the views of Himlung Himal and Kangaru Himal. We start our trek through the village of Phu and start climbing walking through the scree field to gain about 1000m above the Phu village. Continuing walking will bring us to the viewpoint from where the Himlung, Bhrikuti and Kangaru Himal are visible quite prominently. The Phu pass is another 1 hour of moderate walk. We crossed the Phu pass and started our descent to arrive at the base of the hill to cross a small wooden bridge and start descending for another 1 hour to arrive at our camp for today at Loang. Pack lunch is recommended today due to shortage of water along the way. 

Day 10 Trek to Chekchu via Nar Pass

Wake up in the morning to the views of Himlung and Kangaru Himal. We start our trek ascending towards the Nar pass. The view of Himlung and Kangaru Himal stays with us along our way till Nar pass (5400m) which takes about 3 hours of walk. As we approach the pass, the scree fields make it rather challenging to reach the pass. However, when we reach the top, we are greeted with 360 degree views of the mountains including Bhrikuti, Himlung, Kangaru towards the east and Chulu and Annapurna range towards the south west. After taking enough photographs and enjoying the views, we descend from here to lose about 1400m through the sacred field to arrive at Checkchu where we camp for the night. 

Day 11 Trek to Nar Village

After breakfast, we start to descend for about 1 hour until we reach a suspension bridge from where we start to ascend towards the Nar village for another 2 hrs to reach the top. From here we continue for another 20 minutes to arrive at a small valley surrounded by big hills with a cave formed on the top of it. A steep uphill here for another 3 hrs will bring us to the beautiful Nar village.

Trek to Nar Village
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Day 12 Trek to Kangla Phedi

An easy day today, we can visit the Nar Village and the surrounding after breakfast. We will leave Nar village after lunch, taking an easy walk from Nar through the Pisang valley with Pisang peak on the left side and other snow capped mountains on the right. We arrive at the Kang La Phedi (4530m) after 3 hrs. of walk and camp here for our final pass the next day.

Day 13 Trek to Ngawal via Kangla Pass

We start to ascend early morning today towards the Kang La pass in order to reach early for a great view of the Pisang peak and Chulu Far East peak before heading down to Ngawal. Moreover, we start our walk crossing a small glacial stream. We ascend gradually to the top ridge of Kang La for 3 hrs. The top of Kang La offers amazing views of Annapurna, Chulu range, Lamjung Himal .We descend from the Kang La pass through the scree field with a wide valley and amazing view of the landscape. 

Day 14 Trek to Manang

Continuing on the south side of the river, the trail includes a long climb over a ridge which passes through Upper Pisang via Ngawal as it guarantees outstanding views of Mt. Annapurna, Pisang Peak. On the way, we pass through pine forests, villages such as Braga and farming terraces. As we walk near Manang, the climate becomes more cold and dry. 

Day 15 Trek to Letdar

We continue our trail that ascends towards the Thorong La pass as we climb steadily through Tenki and leaving Marshyangdi Valley. As we continue along the Jarsang Khola Valley. we arrive at Letdar that lies at the elevation of 4250m. 

Day 16 Trek to Thorong Phedi

After an early breakfast at Letdar you continue with your trek for the day. From Letdar the trail continues to climb along the east bank of the Jarsang Khola, then descends and crosses a stream on a wooden bridge at 4310m. You will have to make a short ascent on a good trail to a tea shop, then  follow a narrow trail across a high, unstable scree slope and then descend to Thorung Phedi. 

Day 17 Trek to Muktinath

People for hundreds of years the path, though often steep, is well defined and easy to follow. It will take us almost 4 hours from Thorung Phedi to reach the pass. The views from the trail and from the pass itself, are outstanding high Himalayan scenes. You will then have to start descending down the barren Kali Gandaki Valley, which is far below to the west. The descent is steep and rough. Eventually the moraines yield to grassy slopes and the final descent walk to Muktinath is a pleasant walk along the upper part of the Jhong Valley. You will be crossing the meadows, drop into a deep ravine at the start of the Jhong Khola , climb out and follow a wide trail into Muktinath.

Day 18 Trek to Jomsom

Muktinath is one of the most important sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindu as well as Buddhists pilgrims. Travellers begin their day with a visit to Muktinath temple. From here you can appreciate the wonderful perspectives on Dhaulagiri.  There are water gushes which channel into the stream running over the sanctuary. There is additionally a Buddhist Monastery close by.  From here a path slides through the town of Jharkot where you can investigate the Jharkot religious community; this is both a Tibetan homegrown clinical focus and an old post. The hike proceeded back to Jomsom . The perspectives on the Kali Gandaki valley and Kagbeni town en route are genuinely overpowering. We pass by Ekle Bhatti and lastly show up at Jomsom.  

Trek to Jomsom

Day 19 Jomsom to Pokhara

The travellers will take a flight back to Pokhara.  The remaining afternoon can be spent exploring the beautiful landscapes, lakes and hills of the city. You can also roam around the market area of the Pokhara in the night and get yourself immersed in the limelight of the city.

Day 20 Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

It is time to bid farewell to the Pokhara valley and take a bus ride back to the Kathmandu valley. You can enjoy the beautiful landscapes, river valleys and clear sky through the window of the bus before reaching the city. 

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