Nepal’s capital city serves as the departure point for treks into the Himalayas, including Mount Everest and Annapurna, and as a result is a major travel and tourism hub. Besides its proximity to these world-class hiking trails, the city also features many charms of its own, including an exquisite setting amidst snow-covered mountain peaks, friendly locals, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a series of ornate stone temples dating back hundreds of years. Don’t miss a visit to the sacred Boudhanath Stupa, the ancient tree-swathed site of Swayambhunath, or Kathmandu Durbar Square with its 12th-century temples.
Fly into Kathmandu, where you will be met your Travel Counsellors Representative who will assist you and taken to your hotel of stay.
Day 2: Kathmandu
Full day tour of Kathmandu covering Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Patan.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the important historic and tourist destinations in Nepal. This massive complex is home to palaces, temples and courtyards. The original center of Kathmandu is often named as Basantapur, Hanuman Dhoka or Durbar Square all denoting the same location. Kathmandu Durbar square has various historical royal and governmental institutions mixed with temples of different styles and ages. It may seem a little bit crowded with lots of buildings and temples built around on a very small area. This important historical attraction has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The main attraction of Durbar Square is Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex. The striking palace was named in honor of the monkey god, Hanuman, and a statue of the unusual deity stands at the main entranceway. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial museum and the Mahendra Museum.
Swayambhunath meaning “Self-Created One”. The Tibetan name for Swayambhunath means ‘Sublime Trees’. It was built over 2,500 years ago. It is also known as monkey temple as there are holy monkeys living in part of the temple. An excellent view of Kathmandu valley can be observed from this UNESCO World heritage cultural site. This Buddhist Stupa holds a special position both among the Buddhists
Patan
Also known as Lalitpur, the city of artisans, and home to the valley’s finest craftsmen who have preserved such ancient techniques as the repousse and lost wax process used to produce exquisite sculptures. The city retains much of the old charm with its narrow streets, brick houses and multitude of well-preserved Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries (vihars) and monuments. As in Kathmandu, Hinduism and Buddhism have co-existed here for ages, influencing each other, and the religious harmony is exemplary. Patan Durbar square is one of the seven monument zones that makes Kathmandu valley UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 3: Kathmandu – Pokhara
The second-largest city in Nepal, Pokhara sits on the shores of Phewa Lake in the central region of the country. Often called the ‘Adventure and Leisure Capital of Nepal’, and known as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, Pokhara is a popular hub offering plenty to see and do. The range of activities on offer is almost overwhelming, with lakes and waterfalls to admire; yoga, reiki and meditation classes to attend; caves (such as Mahendra) to explore; boating, canoeing and whitewater rafting on the waterways surrounding the Lake to enjoy; and a number of challenging hikes to test your fitness, with the viewpoint of Sarangkot being particularly rewarding. Meanwhile, serious trekkers can access the Annapurna Base Camp from Pokhara, the first stop for a number of impressive trails through the spectacular mountain range.
Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara by air (a short flight for about 30 minutes).
Arrive and check-in at the hotel and later take a boating at Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake is located in the Pokhara Valley of Nepal. It is a popular tourist destination with many hotels and restaurants surrounding it. A religious temple can be found in the centre of the lake and is a popular destination for Hindu tourists. The lake is also popular among watersports enthusiasts
The day starts with a transfer to Nayapul which is about one hour drive from Pokhara, where we’ll take the first steps of our trek. The walking is easy at this stage, as we stroll through the Modi Khola River Valley. We trek to the small village of Tikhedhunga to spend the night.
Day 5: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani
Approximate Time: Trek 5 to 6 hours. Ascent 1300m. 10km.
Elevation: Tikhedhunga (1540m) to Ghorepani (2750m)
From TikheDhunga we’ll cross a stream as the warm up to ascending the steep stone staircase to the scenic, quaint Magar Village at Ulleri. After lunch, our route wends through glorious blooms of rhododendron and imposing oak forests. We’ll move slightly upwards in the direction of Nangethanti before scaling towards Ghorepani for dinner and sleep.
Day 6: Ghorepani to Tadapani, with excursion to poon hill
Approximate Time: Poon Hill 1.5km (1 Hour). Trek to Tadapani: 5 to 6 hours. 12km
Elevation: Ghorepani (2750m) to Poon Hill (3210m) to Tadapani (2590m)
We’ll be up before dawn today, but with good reason: our day kicks off with an excursion to Poon Hill and an indescribably wonderful panorama of three Himalayan peaks (Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, and Manalsu) illuminated by the glowing rays of sunrise. From here, we’ll also be treated to views of the 6,000m-deep Kali Gandaki Gorge and the visual border of Nepal and Tibet as divided by the trans-Himalayan ranges. Walk back to our lodge for a late breakfast, and then we’re back on the trekking path! Our legs get a bit of a rest on the downhill walk towards lunch at Bathanti, which takes us through beautiful, deep forests, and then to Tadapani.
More downhill walking awaits us today as we again trek rhododendron and oak forests. We’ll arrive at the lofty Gurung village of Chhomrong by lunchtime, giving you a bit of time to explore the fantastic views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.
Another precipitous stone staircase guides our way today as we descend towards the ChhomrongKhola. We shift gears at that point and will climb in the direction of Modi Khola, traveling its west bank, and pass through leafy bamboo forests. More upward travel awaits us in the afternoon as we head towards Kuldi and then another staircase down to Dovan from where we will continue another hour to Deurali, where we’ll rest after a vigorous day.
Day 9: Deurali to Annapurna base camp
Approximate Time: 7-8 hours. 13km
Elevation: Himalaya Hotel (2870m) to ABC (4130m)
You’ll feel the bite of the thin air today as we climb high above our starting point of Deurali, overlooking a river far below. We’ll scale the lateral moraine of a shimmering glacier and then come down the other side to the glacier bed before reaching the Annapurna Base Camp. A breathtaking 4,237m above sea level, this is our stopping point for the night.
It’s time to reap the rewards of your hard trekking work! Miles above earth, we have all day today to wander the base camp and drink in the beauty and majesty of Annapurna. The sunrise and sunset are spectacular displays of natural theatre, and not to be missed. Make sure your camera is charged!
We’ll savor one last fiery Annapurna sunrise before beginning our trek down the mountain. Our route today ends in the village of Bamboo, named for the dense forest of tall bamboo that surrounds it.
The stone staircases and their steep, unforgiving steps await us once again! We’ll trek the bamboo forest, passing vibrant blooms of rhododendron, on our way to Kuldi. After lunch, we pass through Sinuwa and Modi Khola before an invigorating uphill climb towards Chomrong.
From Chhomrong, we head back to Taglung, descending slowly through a forest to Kummu. It’s back towards Ghandrung and one more hypnotically-lovely panorama of Annapurna South before our last night on the mountain.
The end of our trek is in sight. Villages and terraced fields dot the landscape at these lower altitudes, adding interest and variety to our last morning on the mountain. We’ll pass through Syauli Bazaar and Nayapul before catching a ride back to Pokhara, where the comforts of a hotel ensconce you after a long and tiring journey.
The extraordinary natural beauty of Pokhara frames your penultimate adventure day, which is dedicated to exploring the town. Pokhara feels almost sublimely tranquil, with the sacred, fishtailed peak of Machhapuchhre rising behind it and the shining waters of Phewa Lake within its heart. Pokhara is at a lower elevation than Kathmandu, and, accordingly, has a balmier – almost tropical – climate, which has given rise to a riotous proliferation of flowers. Uncover Pokhara’s secrets at length as you drink in glorious views of the Himalaya range.
Day 14: Pokhara to Kathmandu
Kathmandu 1400m/4600ft Bus (6 to 8 hours)
We will jump on the early morning bus to Kathmandu for the drive back to Kathmandu the way we originally came, ending again in a comfortable hotel. Your conquest of the Himalayas is complete: it’s time for some rest! We’ll meet up one last time for a celebratory dinner at one of the town’s finest Nepalese restaurants, where you can give us your feedback on the trek. In the morning, we’ll make sure you catch your flight home with time to spare.
Day 15: Depart Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel. Later transfer the guests to the airport to connect their departure flight.
