Targeted towards beginners and students, the Annapurna Sunrise Tour from Orbit Alpine can be done in a little more than a week. The trekking experience is real, taking students from Kathmandu to the heights of the Annapurna region. The route passes through typical villages, quaint valleys, and dense moss-lined forests. In higher altitudes, the route even passes through waterfalls whose water is literally ice-cold and fresh beyond reckoning! This educational tour provides plenty of opportunities to photograph the mountains that are the essence of Nepal. Beginning from Nayapul in Pokhara, the trek takes the students to Poon-Hill at an altitude of 3,210m for a magnificent sunrise over the Annapurna mountain range. Undoubtedly, Poon-Hill is one of the most popular vantage points in the Annapurna region.
A popular trekking route of all time, the trail to Poon-Hill feels even more beautiful with the lush greenery, amazing flora and fauna, rhododendron forests, terraced paddies, and time-worn villages with equally old cultures. A more prominent mountain in the region is the majestic Mt. Fishtail, or Machhapuchchhre. From Poon-Hill, you will witness glory and beauty, as the rays of the sun gradually flow outward and in all possible directions. The white and shining peaks become more and more sumptuous as the sun gets higher in the sky. For more than an hour, the spectacle continues; but the memory of it all becomes permanent for many years.
Students are advised to carry battery packs or power-banks during the tour so that they can charge their cameras and mobile phones during the day. At night, they can charge the devices at the lodge. Orbit Alpine strongly recommends drinking bottled mineral water because although the water is fresh and natural, it is unprocessed. Other essential things to carry would be sun-screen and light jackets or coats. Pack lightly, as most part of the tour is pure trekking.
It’s a moderately difficult trek, which begins from either Kathmandu or Pokhara depending upon where you choose to begin the tour. Orbit Alpine recommends traveling there from mid-autumn to early Spring, and again in mid-summer. Orbit Alpine recommends booking the trip at least two months before your departure, as early bookings will ensure accommodations for a bigger group size.
For the first trip to Nepal, this is an ideal program for students of schools and colleges of Nepal and other countries. With a beautiful and diverse geography, Nepal is simply a foremost choice for student-tours. To gain a wider perspective on the rural culture and traditions of Nepal, students from all over the world are welcome in this Himalayan nation. Apart from the core trekking programs, students will also have exposure to UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu, the ancient and medieval architecture of Nepal, and the incredible culture of the people.
