biranthi or Dhampus ?

[yakshaver]

Most people these days take a taxi or bus from Pokhara to Naya Pul and start at Birethanti (which is the village down from the Road at Naya Pul and the entrance into Annapurna Conservation Area). Dhampus for some reason is less popular these days. Im my trips there in 2000 and 2001 I started at Birethanti.
I would definitely take a good and warm sleeping bag. Especially if you plan to sleep at ABC. As far as the down jacket is concerned, you can hire one from KTD or Pokhara. No need to buy one. You can even survive without one if push comes to shove. However if you want to admire the sunrise at ABC (a popular activity and worth it, despite de devlish cold), you would need a downe jacket to resist more than 10 minutes outside the lodge at 5am... Still, you can survive without one if you have a good wind jacket and a pile jacket, as well as the usual polyporpylene underwear etc.

[Chheduk Man]

This is trek orgnizer/guide, more than 24 years in the mountaineering field. Yes, i am writing you information from Nepal. This is as follows;

Annapurna Sanctuary for 15 days:
This classic trek start from Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus. Pokhara to Landrung to Modi Khola valley to MBC to ABC by walk. It is walk right into the heart of mountain because it is lies on among Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), II, III, IV, South beautiful Mt. Fishtail and other several mountain peaks. You can see more icefalls from MBC and ABC. On this trek, you will be Gurung villages, lush forest, and ice. If you are lucky, you can see Langurs, Musk Deers, Himalayan Thar (wild goat), Jackals and many birds. It is one of the most environmentally sensitive tourist destinations in the ACA. Back via same route to Chhumrung to Gandrung to Naya pool. Naya pool to Pokhara by bus and Pokhara to Kathmandu by bus.

If you need guide/ porter, please remember me and i can arrange you and pay yourself your guide/porter.

My contact address; cmlama2001@hotmail.com
www.trekkingnepal.net