Following sightseeing in Kathmandu, we fly to Pokhara, and then a short bus trip takes us to the start of our journey at Naya Pul. We commence trekking along the Modi Khola River, ascending through terraced hillsides and glimpsing the village and farming life of the primarily Hindu inhabitants of the area. We visit Ghandruk and Chomrong, the last permanent settlement in the valley.

In the Annapurna foothills, our path is a mixture of steep ups and downs, since there are several rivers to cross as we make our way along the valley towards Deurali and the Annapurna Sanctuary. We travel through forested terrain, hugging the base of Hiunchuli on our left, with magnificent Machapuchre presenting its elegant fishtail shape ahead of us on our right. In April/May, the rhododendrons will be in full bloom - gorgeous splashes of red and pink against the blue and white backdrop.

After Deurali, our ascent becomes steadier as we traverse a path on the eastern bank of the river, the old path on the west having been rendered unusable by an avalanche in 1995. Machapuchre Base Camp at 3700m provides us with a beautiful spot to launch an early morning walk to Annapurna Base Camp at 4130m. Here you truly feel embraced by the quiet majesty and awesome scale of the mountains. The soaring peaks of Annapurna South (7237m), Huinchuli, Annapurna I (8091m), Singu Chuli, Tarke Kang, Gangapurna, Annapurna III (7555m) and Machapuchre (6993m) offer a sensational panorama of almost 360 degrees with an eerie, unforgettable atmosphere.

On our descent, we retrace our steps as far as Chomrong, then divert to the hot springs at Jhinu. A soak in the warm baths with the sound of the river tumbling by is highly recommended for refreshing and re-invigorating tired bodies! The last section of track, through Pothana and Dhampus, provide views of the Dhaulagiri Himal. We finish the trek at Phedi, taking vehicle transport back to Pokhara for a day of relaxation and exploration beside Lake Phewa, before flying back to Kathmandu.