Tour Overview
Mountain Lodges of Nepal[COMFORT LODGES]:
Snapshot Description: Mountain Lodges of Nepal is an evolution of the former Yeti Mountain Home and Ker & Downey Nepal, this is a collection of 13 family-owned premium lodges offering spectacular treks along the Great Himalaya Trails. It consists of 7 lodges in the Everest region and 6 lodges in Annapurna region. The evolution includes upgrading existing lodges to offer a premium international hospitality experience, adding exquisite new restaurants, building brand new lodges and adding new one-of-a kind mountain experiences.
Location: Mountain Lodges of Nepal – Annapurna Region
SANCTUARY LODGE:MLN Birethanti: 18 Rooms
With stunning views of the sacred Fishtail Mountain in the distance, this stylish lodge at 3,600 feet / 1150 m was hand crafted by local artisans. Drive an hour and 15 minutes to road head called Nayapul.
From where you can either walk for 1 and half to 2 hours along with beautiful Modi River passing quiet villages to reach Sanctuary Lodge, Birethanti or you can hire a 4 x 4 jeep which will get you there in 30 minutes from the road. This lodge has a total of 18 comfortable rooms with a local touch.
GURUNG LODGE:MLN Majgaon: 11 Rooms or MLN Tomijong: 18 Rooms
Tribal-style houses and manicured garden comprise the Gurung lodge on the edge of the Majhgaon. Located at 4.620 feet / 1400 m the views of surrounding valleys are truly incredible and provide excellent photographic opportunities.
One can get there by short 1 hour drive from Pokhara to the road head Lumle form where one can take a leisurely walk for 1 and hour to 2 hours to reach Gurung Lodge, Majhgaon. As the name suggests there are 11 neat rooms all with attached bathrooms depicting a typical Gurung house.
HIMALAYA LODGE. MLN Ghandruk: 17 Rooms
Located at over 6,500 feet / 2000 m, the Himalaya Lodge, in the shadow of the Annapurna overlooks Ghandruk, once a popular recruitment location for the Gurkha soldier regiment.
This lodge is further away closer to the mountains and takes a slightly longer time and more difficult walk than the other lodges. From the Sanctuary lodge of 5 hours walk will get you to Himalaya Lodge. Slightly more difficult but suitable to all ages this 17 rooms property has one of the best Mountain views and numerous sights of villages agricultural terrace fields and numerous wildlife.
LA BEE LODGE:MLN Landruk: 12 Rooms
La Bee lodge is located in Landruk (5379 feet / 1565 m) a typical village of the Gurung community who are also known as the famous Gurkhas.
Landruk affords more glorious views of the Annapurna range and is a recent addition to our lodges with 12 typical locally oriented rooms.
BASANTA LODGEMLN Dhampus: 14 Rooms (Opening in Autumn 2023)
The Basanta Lodge at 4,920 feet / 1525 m in Dhampus offers panoramic views of the Phedi and Mardi Valleys. Nearby activities include nature walks through thick forests of bamboo, conifer and rhododendrons.
Another 3 hours walk form Gurung lodge through pine forest and villages gets you to our Basanta Lodge. This is the smallest lodge with only 8 rooms with panoramic views of the entire Annapurna range.
Mountain Lodge Nepal trek [Comfortable Deluxe Lodges]
General overview
This trek take you into the Modi Khola Valley, which is dominated by the peaks of the Annapurna Massif: in fact, the head of the valley is what is known as the Annapurna Sanctuary, home of Annapurna and Machhupuchhare Base Camps, at about 4,000 metres. The trek you will be undertaking will, however, be at a rather more comfortable altitude, and you will be trekking anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 metres. You may well feel some small effects of altitude, such as slightly shorter breath, but you should not feel any of the adverse effects of altitude sickness (these are usually only encountered at altitudes higher than 3,000 metres).
You will be walking on paths built by the local villagers for their own transport purposes. These quite often take the form of shallow slate steps leading up or down the hills, and can be quite relentless in places; though they are rarely very steep, they seem to go on for quite some time! The views and feeling of satisfaction at the top, however, are well worth the hard work, and you will be able to stop and rest as much as you need to. Most of the walking is through paddy fields, as most of the land is farmed, so there is little protection from the elements, but there are some points where you walk through some pleasantly shaded woods. You will pass through numerous villages, where you will be able to stop for a tea or a Coke and a snack if you wish, and despite the fact that you are a number of hours' walk from any road, you will rarely be far from habitation as the local Gurung people, who live a very traditional life of subsistence farming, have populated these hills quite extensively.
Equipment list
Your guide will give you a briefing in Pokhara the evening before you set off, and this will cover the points below, and any other issues.
You will be given a duffel bag in which to pack your clothes for the trek. The rest of your belongings should be left in Pokhara with the ground agents who are handling your trek. A porter will be carrying your duffel bag, so please ensure you pack as lightly as you can. Each porter carries two people's belongings, and is allowed to carry up to 35kg. Please do not pack more than you need for your trek.
You should carry enough clothes to layer up, as it can be chilly early in the mornings, in the evenings and in the shade, and hot in the sun. Both women and men should wear knee length shorts (knee length skirts for women are ok too) or longer trousers, and T-shirts or long sleeved shirts. A fleece sweatshirt is perfect for cold mornings, as well as a light windproof jacket. Make sure you have warm sleep wear. A light book or some form of reading material can be packed as well.
You will need to carry a day pack yourself; this should hold one water bottle (provided), a thin jumper, sunscreen, camera, sunglasses and a packed lunch if necessary. If you want anything else to hand (e.g. note book, guide book), you should also carry these in your day pack.
Water is boiled and filtered at each of the lodges, and plenty will be carried by your porter in drinking bottles (this minimises the use of disposable plastic bottles). You will carry one bottle in your day pack.
Footwear: As a lot of the walking is uphill and downhill, we would definitely recommend some form of ankle support. However, please bear in mind that you will be wearing your boots for a good few hours each day and therefore they must be well worn-in: blisters can ruin a good trek. Fully waterproof boots are not needed unless you are trekking in the wet season (May to September).
There are down jackets, hats, gloves and sandals provided in the lodges, so you do not need to carry these.
YOU WILL NEED A COUPLE OF PASSPORT PHOTOS FOR YOUR TREKKING PERMIT, which will be obtained for you on your first day.
