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Annapurna Gay Hiking is a great trek designed for the LGBTIQ Community. This trek is a showcase of cultural and physical diversities. High and beautiful mountain peaks such as Annapurna 1, Gangapurna and Machhapuchre encircle the Annapurna Sanctuary. The lodge-based trek is through terraced hillsides, picturesque villages and dense rhododendron forests with the magnificent Himalaya on the backdrop.
The trek is through forested hillsides to Ghorepani. Ascend next to Poon Hill for a magnificent panoramic sunrise view of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri. It passes below Mount Machhapuchhare before reaching the Annapurna Sanctuary. This trek offers an opportunity to explore the magnificent place before returning to Pokhara via Landrung and Dhampus.
Check out the Nomadic Boys, Stefan and Sebastien's experience "Gay travel in Annapurna Nepal".
Joining Arrangements & Transfers
All Clients travelling to Kathmandu will be met at the airport by a TTG representative who will arrange the transfer to the group hotel. Please look our logo at the arrival gate.
Accommodation
While in Kathmandu the group will stay in a mentioned hotel or hotels with similar categories as on itinerary. We choose hotels not to far from the main downtown. Most of our hotels will be in central Thamel so that you can shop, eat and go anywhere easily. Whilst on trek we spend in lodges/tea houses. The Nepalese trekking lodges also known as & tea-houses's; are simple, friendly and atmospheric. As they are far from the nearest road is it not surprising that they are simple establishments as everything must be carried up by porters or animals. Most of these lodges have heated dining areas which are often attractively decorated. Bedrooms tend to be quite basic and are unheated with wooden beds and foam mattress. You will need a sleeping bag. The lodges have shared washing and toilet facilities. Some lodges have solar powered showers (charged at $3 - $5 per shower) and battery charging facilities (also charged at a rate per hour). Staying at the lodges is a great way to meet fellow hikers and the locals. Most accommodation is arranged on a twin sharing basis and if you are travelling by yourself you will room with another single traveller of the same sex. Please note, however, that at several of the places we stay above Chhomrong, there is a limited choice of accommodation and all the lodges have only multi-bedded rooms. Where this is the case, the group will be split amongst the available rooms and this could be unsegregated male/female. Hotel nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. One the trek only sharing rooms.
Solo Travellers
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and we do not charge a single supplement. We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the entire trip. If you prefer to have your own single room then you have to pay single supplement, however the single room is only possible in Kathmandu not on the trek.
Food
Typical meals provided in the lodges will include some Nepali dishes and some international cuisine from pizza and chips. However as a responsible tour operator we encourage you to eat local food whenever possible because this will help the local economic and these local foods are always fresh. We order meals in advance and your trip leader will suggest you what is safe and good to eat there. Breakfast will usually be porridge, eggs, bread, lunch will be a simple meal with a like noodle, rice, and dinner will be 2 courses consisting of soup, main meal. All drinks & beverages and Deserts are extra. In Kathmandu breakfast is included if you have booked the hotel with us. If you are vegetarian is great if not we still recommend you to stay vegetarian especially during the trek.
A Typical Day
Shortly after first light you should wake and start packing your kitbag and making preparations for the day. Coming down to the dining room we will be served breakfast from the lodge kitchen before setting off on the day’s trek. We will generally reach our lunch stop by mid-day after around 3 or 4 hours of trekking. Lunch is taken at tea houses along the route. This is normally a leisurely affair and is a great time for relaxing, reading and sitting in the sun. Our porters usually catch up with the group during lunch and then are well on their way to the evening’s stop by the time we set off again. It is usual for the afternoon’s walk to be shorter than the morning session. On arrival at the lodge the trek leader will organise everyone’s room. After checking in to your room you may wish to relax with a beer on the terrace of your lodge before taking dinner. Dinner is taken in the dining room which normally has some form of heating. This is a great time of day for reliving the events of the trek so far and for general socialising. By 9.00pm most trekkers will have retired to bed and by 10.pm the whole lodge will be asleep.
Group Leader & Support Staff
The group will be led by an experienced English-speaking local leader, and on trek will have the services of porters to carry luggage.
Spending Money
Approximately US$400-600 (or equivalent Australian dollars, Euros etc.) changed into local currency, should be sufficient for miscellaneous personal expenses including tips for guide/porters, drinks for all trips & meals in the city. It is not necessary to obtain local currency (Nepali rupees) prior to departure.
Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange in Nepal. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of cash, since you will exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival in Kathmandu. If you prefer not to carry all of your spending money in cash, it is possible to withdraw money (rupees only) from ATMs in Kathmandu using your debit or credit card. During the trek it is possible to buy snacks, chocolate, tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer on most days. Please be aware that since everything has to be carried up, these items become more expensive as you gain altitude.
Guidance on Tipping
Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ for good service. Tips do not form part of the wages of your guides, porters and trek crew but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. Normally the tips are given at the end of the trek and this is best done as a group rather than from individuals. Most groups will give the tips with a bit of ceremony (or sometimes a party) on the last evening, to mark the end of the trip. The level of tipping should be determined by the group as a whole with everyone contributing an equal amount that all are comfortable with. As a rough guide, we recommend about 10% of your trip. At the end of a trek many people also like to donate various items of their equipment to the porters and trek staff who work so hard to make the trip a success. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks (clean of course) are always warmly received by the porters. Technical clothing and equipment such as head-torches and trekking poles are highly prized by the Shepa crews. If you think you would like to donate equipment at the end of your trip, your local trip leader will make arrangements for a fair distribution among the trek crew.
Baggage Allowance
Your baggage on trek will be carried by porters. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking should be no more than 12kg. It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Domestic flight from Pokhara has 20KG of baggage allowance so it is not a problem at all.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 4200m metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatize successfully. When we plan an itinerary we consider this very carefully and plan our holiday so spend many nights before getting to high point.
Here you can find further information about Altitude Sickness.
Equipment List
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag while trekking should be no more than 12 kgs for the porter.
You must bring the following items:
The following items are optional:
Find more details about Equipment Checklist.
Notes
The Nepalese are still traditional and conservative in the way they dress. Therefore to avoid embarrassment on both sides we recommend that you respect this and do not wear revealing clothing or sleeveless tops while visiting Nepal. Shorts are acceptable, but they should reach to just above the knee and be modest and for women it is preferable to wear trousers or a long skirt.
Passport & Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. All nationalities require a visa. The visa fee is $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, $125 for 90 days and is obtainable on arrival. Payment must be made in cash and USD, GBP or Euros are accepted. Please bring small change. Bring 4 passport size photos for different permits.
Trekking Permits – what do we need from you?
We need your passport copy to make the necessary permit and arrangement. Please make sure we have this one month ahead of your trip.
Health & Vaccinations
You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however, if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up.
Know more about how you can stay healthy in Nepal: Staying Healthy in Nepal.
Currency
The unit of currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee. We can change this money in Kathmandu which has better rate than hotels and Airports. Guides will show you the place after arrival.
Electricity Supply & Plug
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at Plugs and Socket.
Preparing For Your Trip
It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Regular hiking in hill country is the best training but jogging, squash and swimming are also good for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina. Note that you will encounter a lot of steps on the trail while ascending and you might wish to tailor your exercise to take this into account. Whatever your preparation you should make time to spend at least a few days prior to your trip making long walks in hilly country. It is also a good idea to do some reading about the country and the culture of the local people before you embark on an adventure holiday.
Climate
October to November and March to May are the best times for trekking in Nepal. These months either side of the summer monsoon season are neither too hot in the foothills nor too cold in the higher elevations and they offer the best conditions for trekking. Pre-monsoon is the best time to see the colourful blooms of the rhododendron at lower elevations. The post-monsoon months usually offer the clearest skies and the most settled weather. At either of these periods you will encounter a wide range of daytime temperatures during your trip from approximately 25ºC in Kathmandu to approximately 14ºC at 3000 metres, and approximately -1ºC at Annapurna Base Camp. The ‘real feel’ temperature in the middle of the day will be much warmer than this but at night in the rarefied air the temperatures plummet and you can expect to experience overnight temperatures below freezing anywhere above 3000 metres. In the Annapurna Base Camp, the night time temperatures may reach –5ºC or exceptionally, below this. Extended periods of rain or snow are very unlikely outside of the monsoon period but short-lived storms can and do occur.
Books
Maps
Annapurna Base Camp. 1:50,000. Nepal Maps
A good scale map with contour interval at 40 metres. This is the definitive map for the Annapurna Base Camp.
Not to forget?!
Please do not forget to come with a positive attitude, flexibility, a sense of humor and appetite of adventure and discovery.
What Lonely Planet said about us: “Long-established trekking company with a breadth of experience and an easy-to-find location.”
What Rough Guide said about us: "A very reliable, super friendly agency offering top-notch service.”
What Stefan Loose said about us: “Ein Absolut verlässlicher, superfreundlisher veranstalter mit erstlkassigem Service.”
What Petit Futé said about us: “une agence engagée avec une belle expertise du terrain.”
The Following dates and prices are LAND ONLY itinerary joining in Kathmandu. Please make your own flight arrangements. If you need some help to arrange an international flight, we can suggest you some agents who are specialized on ticketing.
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee whether you are booking for this year or the next, we have undertaken to guarantee that all of our Land Only prices will not change once you have booked your holiday.
DATE WITH FESTIVAL & EVENTS - recommended If you are planning your holiday and want to have once in a life time experience then chose the date that combined with events or festivals. It will enhance an experience of life time in your holiday.
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You can Book
Guarantee Departure
Limited Seat
Closed Tour
| Trip End Date | Single Supplement | Price | |||
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Sunday 21 April 2024 | Monday 06 May 2024 | US$ 500 | US$ 2199 |
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You can also use this tour as a base for a tailor-made itinerary. Like your personal architect creating your one-of- a-kind home, our Travel Specialists will execute the trip of a lifetime. It's all up to you - logistics, pace, budget, dates, performances, visits, explorations, meals and lodging are hammered out down to the finest customized detail. Please fill in our tailor-made request form.
If you do not want to join a group then you can also make this a private trip with your friends and family one at your own schedule. Considering this, Trekking Team Group organizes private journeys as well. Please choose your own departure date.
Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu. Traditional welcome by our airport representative. Your guide briefs about your further programme. Typical Nepali dinner served in the evening.
Your day will begin with breakfast at your hotel. You will be taken for sightseeing of Kathmandu valley. You will explore color and contrast of the vibrant city also get chance to participate in different kind of activities from which you can know more about the culture and arts of Kathmandu Valley. You will be guided to the famous Buddhist Swayambunath Temple in Kathmandu. This Temple attracts Buddhists and tourists from around the world. The view of Kathmandu valley from the top of the temple is stunning. Then you will be taken to Visit pashupatinath Temple. Pashupatinath is the most important temple dedicated to god Shiva. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism. On the same day you will be taken to visit Boudhanath Stupa. Boudhanath Stupa (or Bodnath Stupa) is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu.
Today you will drive approximately 1.5 hour to Nayapul, the starting point of the trek, on a private vehicle. Trek to Tikhedhunga on nice dirt road alongside beautiful stream. The beginning of the trek gives you glimpses of the Himalayan peaks but rest of the day you will enjoy the beauty of green mountain surroundings and local villages. You will spend the night at a guest house.
Today’s trek is bit challenging as you have to conquer 3300 stone steps. The trail crosses a suspension bridge across a stream. You climb through the steep stone steps to Ulleri, a settlement of Magar community. You will now gradually climb through meadows, cultivated fields and rhododendron forest. If you are a keen on bird-watching, here you can explore different kinds of redstarts, varieties of kingfishers, dippers and forktails in the area. You further trek to Nangethanti and finally reach Ghorepani. From Ghorepani you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Hiuchuli and Tarke Kang. Overnight in Ghorepani lodge.
Wake up early today and trek about 400m uphill to Poon Hill which takes about 45 minutes. You enjoy mesmerizing sunrise over the Annapurna range. Watch the mountain peaks turn from soft pink to shimmering gold as the sun climbs higher in the clear blue sky. Of 14 mountain peaks above 8000 meters in the world, eight are in Nepal. Two among them can be seen from this spot if the sky is clear. Back to the hotel for breakfast and trek to Tadapani. Stay overnight at a lodge there.
The trail descends through forest with the chirping of birds. After walking down about 45 minutes the trail goes very steep downhill through the terraced field to Kimrung Khola, cross the suspension bridge and walk to Gurjung. Then the trail ascends for 45 minutes and walk straight to reach Chhomrung at an altitude of 2170m. It takes 4-5 hours from Tadapani to Chhumrung. Stay overnight at lodge.
The trail descends 310 meters through thousands of stone steps, cross Chhomrung stream and climbs up to Sinuwa at the height of 2340 meters. It is easy walk through rhododendron festooned with orchids and ferns. Climb down through steep stone steps to bamboo where you take lunch. You walk throughout the cool forest for about an hour and reach Dovan at an altitude of 2630 meters. Stay overnight at lodge.
You have a peaceful jungle walk to Himalaya from Dovan. It is believed that mountains are sacred and holy. Annapurna in Nepali means plenty of food. Annapurna is a Goddess of Harvests. She is taken as kitchen-goddess who feeds human beings. Her popular shrine is located in Kashi, on the banks of the river Ganga, in India. (It is not clear where you finally reach, which place?) Stay overnight at lodge.
Today is the most important day of the trek as we will be stepping at Annapurna Base Camp. The base camp is inside Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), initiated by Nepal government to protect local flora and fauna. This area is home to many indigenous local inhabitants and dense rhododendron forests. There is a high chance of encountering with various wildlife blue sheep, pika, snow-leopards and Himalayan Thar etc. Similarly, conservation area is the home of various birds like colorful Impheyans, Koklas, blood pheasants etc.The trail towards Annapurna base camp is not very steep, you will be progressing through gentle uphill walk through peaceful meadows with enthralling views of towering himalayan peaks. You get the 360 degree panoramic views of Annapurna Himalayan range from base camp. The best view that you can’t get elsewhere. One will be dumbstruck upon seeing the most beautiful and rewarding views of Annapurna, Machhapuchre and Gangapurna. You will surely miss these moments as you follow the same route to Himalaya Hotel for overnight stay.
Enjoy mountain view sipping hot tea or coffee. After breakfast you trek down to Dovan or Bamboo via MBC, Deurali and Himalaya. We take tea and lunch break on the way. Stay overnight at lodge
Then you will trek to Chhomorang where you can explore Gurung village and know about their culture and tradition.
From Chhomrong you will again trek down to Tolka. Tolka is the Gurung settlement where you can explore their culture and tradition. Can have interaction with the locals there.
After breakfast today you will trek down to Pokhara leaving Tolka behind lthrough the beautiful scenery and exploring Himalayan range. Furthermore walking you will reach beautiful Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara hotel.
Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu, enjoy panoramic mountain views. Spend the rest of the day sightseeing, exploring, shopping or just relaxing in Kathmandu’s numerous cafés and roof-top restaurants before spending the evening celebrating your achievements.
Your final day in Kathmandu is a free day. You do as you like. Many people take the time for shopping others enjoy exploring the cultural sites of the city. Our local guide can advise you on the best shops in the area. Farewells! Our airport representative will travel with you to the airport.
May 09 2017
I enjoyed every minute of our 16-day trip with the Trekking Team Group. Goku and Tika and their team were great company and I'm really looking forward to doing another trek with them in two years. Also a huge thank you to Shreehari for the way he looked after us in Kathmandu - we couldn't have asked for more!
Apr 13 2016
I trekked the Annapurna Base Camp with Trekking Team Group in April 2017 and have nothing but very positive things to say about all those who helped make it possible. I was there with a larger group of 20 people and we all left Nepal with incredibly fond memories of the country, the places we visited, and of the Annapurnas themselves which we trekked through for eight days. The team went above and beyond to make sure that everything was properly prepared and organised, and we felt in safe hands throughout - able to just relax and enjoy everything that had been arranged. I would thoroughly recommend Trekking Team Group and look forward to another trip with them in the future.
Apr 05 2016
These guys were organised; personable ; informative ; incredibly helpful and friendly. Their experience showed through when we were up in the ABC and our accommodation was secured and organised - other groups' guides seemed to not have been as prepared and they were faced with no place to stay for the night.
Highly recommended for a safe enjoyable unforgettable experience.
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This is ADVENTURE travel, and many of the trip destinations in this site are remote areas, within under developed countries, where events are less predictable than is usually the case in. The unexpected is the norm in these areas and, despite painstaking planning and organization, our adventure trips can never be taken for granted like regular trips. Many of the places that we visit do not have the same quality of emergency health and safety services that you are used to in the developed world. Internal flights can be canceled, road transport is generally uncomfortable and unreliable, and hotels often do not approach the standards of the West.
IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS, YOU SHOULD NOT TRAVEL WITH US. This unpredictability also means that the itineraries that we put forward for each of our trips should be seen as statements of intent, rather than as contractual obligations. A variety of factors, including weather, transport difficulties and political instability, might dictate that we change any itinerary. The trip leader will make any changes that are necessary, after consultation with the group. Only rarely will such changes be significant, and we will always do everything within our powers to minimize the effects of the enforced changes. We cannot be held responsible for the results of changes or delays, irrespective of how they are caused.
Trekking Team Group is the major supporter of Ambe Foundation, an apolitical and not-for-profit organisation. We contribute our support for the development of some community schools in remote villages in Nuwakot district. We have been supporting Gramin Devi School and Khumbeshwori School, both community-based educational institutions, through donation, sponsorship and partnership in various projects.
Donation
Trekking Team Group donates one percentage of its total business profits to the foundation on yearly basis. The donated amount supports the ongoing maintenance of Gramin Devi School and Khumbeshwori School in Nuwakot.
Sponsorship
One of the major activities of Ambe Foundation is the children sponsorship programme. It is conducted in full collaboration with Trekking Team Group.
Partnership (Volunteering Program)
The Ambe Volunteer Programme, organised by Ambe Foundation and Trekking Team Group, aims to mobilise teams of experts and interested individuals effectively for education, health and community development in Nuwakot district.
Trekking Team Group
Chaksibari Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu(Opposite to Investment Bank)
