Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley sight-seeing
Day 03: Kathmandu to Besi-Sahar 800 m: 6-7 hrs journey
Day 04: Besi-Sahar to Bahundanda: (1,310 m.)
Day 05: Bahundanda to Chamje 1,400m. 5-6 hrs
Day 06: Chamje to Bagarchhap: 2110 m. 5-6hrs
Day 07: Bagarchhap to Chame 2,680m: 4-5 hrs
Day 08: Chame to Pisang 3,180m: 4-5 hrs
Day 09: Pisang to Manang 3,450m: 4 hrs
Day 10: Manang (Acclimatization Day in Manang)
Day 11: Manang to Yak Kharka: 4,100m. 3 hrs
Day 12: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi 4,430m/High Camp 4,800m: 4-5 hrs
Day 13: Thorong Phedi /High Camp to Muktinath 3,800m: 6-7 hrs
Day 14: Muktinath to Kagbeni 2,800m: 3-4 hrs
Day 15: Kagbeni to Marpha 2,670m: 4-5 hrs
Day 16: Marpha to Ghasha 2,010m: 6-7 hrs
Day 17: Ghasa to Tatopani 1,100m: 4-5 hrs
Day 18: Tatopani (Relaxing day)
Day 19: Tatopani to Ghorepani (2772m)
Day 20: Ghorepani to Poon hill (3210 m) to Tadapani (2660 m.)
Day 21: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1926 m.)
Day 22: Ghandruk Nayapul to Pokhara 4-5 hrs walk 2 hrs drives
Day 23: Drive back to Kathmandu. 200 k.m. 5-6 hrs Bus Journey
Day 24: Leisure at Kathmandu
Day 25: Departure from Kathmandu
Day to day Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
Namaste and welcome to the Himalayan country of Nepal. You will be meet at the airport and be transfered to your hotel for check-in. After time to get refreshed, you will be meet in the evening for a welcome dinner in one of the finest Nepalese restaurants which includes a cultural show. Then afterwards you will be briefed about your trip and brought back to the Hotel for your overnight stay.
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley sight-seeing
Today, after breakfast you will go on a guided sightseeing tour of the highlights of Kathmandu and the surrounding Valley. You will visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple, with its fine views over Kathmandu valley. The temple has many interesting features as well as the great stupa with highest point to the Kathmandu valley.
After this you can join the devotees, pilgrims and wandering saddhus (holy men) at Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu temple in Nepal as well as being one of the most important Shiva temples on the subcontinent. It is situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River where you may have a chance to see a cremation on the River bank.
Take time to walk around Bodhnath (Boudha) stupa, the largest in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. Boudha is also the centre of Tibetan culture in Nepal and a wonderfully vibrant, interesting community.
Explore the temples and courtyards of Patan, also known as the City of Fine Arts. In the evening we’ll drive back to Kathmandu where we’ll have a group briefing on what to expect when our trek begins tomorrow. The remainder of the evening is free for you to explore the surrounding area or simply relax at the hotel.
Day 03: Kathmandu to Besi-Sahar 800 m: 6-7 hrs journey
Today we take an early morning drive to the countryside of Nepal by local bus/ private vehicles towards the scenic Pokhara highway. This is an interesting drive through the foothills of the Himalaya. The road has been greatly improved in recent years. Just two hours before the road that leads to Pokhara, our route diverts from the town village of Dumre towards north to Beshishar for overnight stay.
Day 04: Besi-Sahar to Bahundanda: (1,310 m.) 5-6 hrs
This is the first eday of the trek. It starts in the morning and the path follows the River Marsyangdi upstream, the trail offers fine views of Hiunchuli and peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli) as it climbs to Bulbule at 825 m. It then continues to Ngadi before reaching Bahundanda at 1,310 m after an hours climb. We will stay overnight at Bahundanda. In the evening explore the local houses and surroundings.
Day 05: Bahundanda to Chamje 1,400m. 5-6 hrs
Today from Bahundanda the trail drops steeply for half an hour, and then the walk leads to a winding path with few short ups and downs passing through interesting villages and terrace landscapes, Syange, and leading to Jagat where we stop for lunch. After lunch an hours walk brings you at Chamje via a large water fall and scenery across the River. We stop overnight at Chamje village.
Day 06: Chamje to Bagarchhap: 2110 m. 5-6hrs
From Chamje the trail follows the Marsyangdi River steadily uphill to Tal (1,700 m.), a small village at the foot of a large waterfall. Now the trek enters the Manang district. The trail crosses a wide, flat valley before climbing a stone stairway to 1,860 m. The trail continues with several ups and down before reaching at Dharapani and continues for one more hour to Bagarchhap for the overnight stay.
Day 07: Bagarchhap to Chame 2,680m: 4-5 hrs
On this part of the trek the vegetation, people and the landscape changes and the air will get cooler. The trail then climbs through forests to Dhanaque and to the alpine region passing through farm, orchids and beautiful pine forest with views of towering peaks of Lamjung and Annapurna II. The trail then follows the river Marsyangdi upstream passing by the villages of Ratamanang and Koto before Chame. From Koto, half hour of easy walk brings you to the village town of Chame an important place of Manang region. In the evening explore the Hot springs and overnight at Hotel.
Day 08: Chame to Pisang 3,180m: 4-5 hrs
This morning with beautiful mountain scenery, the trail leads through deep forest into a steep and narrow valley, crossing a river on a long suspension bridge at 3,040m. Nearing the village of Pisang one has a view of the whole of the Manang valley, a wide U-shaped valley between two huge snow peaks. Lunch will be at Dhukure Pokhari, a perfect spot for Mountain Views and the surrounding landscapes. After an hour walk we reach Lower Pisang and overnight at Hotel. In the evening you can visit Upper Pisang to see Tibetan life style, a Monastery and the best scenery of Annapurna range.
Day 09: Pisang to Manang 3,450m: 4 hrs
This mornings walk leads to constant view of the high snow capped peaks. The path climbs steeply for half an hour, after a short gradual walk from the Pisang village. On reaching the ridge top, you can see grand views of the Manang valley. This grand spot offers a dramatic view of the valleys, Hongdre village with it's short air-strip and the great peaks of Gangapurna, Annapurna II, III, Tilocho, and on the right Chuli east, on the back Pisang peak. The walk continues downhill gradually all the way to Hongdre. From Hongdre the trek is more or less gradual on the wide path most of the way to Manang, adding a slight touch of altitude as you near the village of Braga and Manang. Here we will have time to spend the morning visiting Braga Monastery. The largest in the district, it has an outstanding display of statues, thangkas and the religious manuscripts. From here it is only an hour walk to Manang for the overnight stop.
Day 10: Manang (Acclimatization Day in Manang)
Today is a day to acclimatize and explore Manang. The picturesque village of about 500 flat-roofed houses, is set amongst some spectacular scenery -Annapurna II, Annapurna III [7,555 mtrs.], Gangapurna [7,454 mtrs.] to the South - Tilicho [7,132 mtrs.] and the Grand Barrier to the West - Chulu West [6,583 mtrs.] and Chulu East [6,059 mtrs.] to the North.
Day 11: Manang to Yak Kharka: 4,100m. 3 hrs
This is a short day now begins an ascent to Tenk Manang. We then continue to climb the Marsyangdi valley, passing the small village of Gunsang, with breaks for tea or drinks and for the excellent Himalayan scenery. After crossing a large stream that flows from Chulu west and Gundang, the trail passes an ancient Mani wall in a pleasant meadow at 4000 m. Beyond here is Yak Kharka, also known as Koche and where we will stay overnight at the lodge. The rest of the afternoon is free for leisure or for short hike around. Here one can see some wild life like, Himalayan Thar, wild goats (bharal) or if you are lucky, a Snow Leopard as well.
Day 12: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi 4,430m/High Camp 4,800m: 4-5 hrs
From here after an hours walk, you reach Ledar at 4,250m. From Ledar the trail continues to climb along the east bank of the Jorsang Khola, then descends and crosses the stream on a wooden bridge at 4,310 meters. After making a short ascent on a good trail to a small lonely teashop, the route then follows a narrow path across a high, unstable slope before arriving at Thorong Phedi, where there are about 2 lodges. Depending upon the group physical conditions and time to reach here, we can continue our trek after a good break and a lunch. The trek takes another hour and half towards High Camp to make it easier for the next hard day and allows us to traverse Thorang-la in good time.
Day 13: Thorong Phedi /High Camp to Muktinath 3,800m: 6-7 hrs
Wake up early and trek becomes steep immediately after leaving Thorong Phedi, and takes four to five hours from Thorong Phedi to the pass. Thorong-La pass with its traditional Chorten prayer flags is at an elevation of 5,416 m. which is the highest point of this trip. The views of the high Himalayan scenery from the trail and from the pass itself are outstanding. To the South One can see the entire Annapurna range, a heavily glaciated peak, the barren Kaligandaki valley far below to the West and the peak of Thorungtse (6,482 m.) to the north. We then descend to Muktinath where we will stay overnight. Muktinath is the holiest of all holy places. During auspicious times according to Hindu & Buddhist calendar this place is full and busy with pilgrims from Nepal and India. Muktinath is a pilgrimage place of picturesque scenery with mountain desert scenery.
Day 14: Muktinath to Kagbeni 2,800m: 3-4 hrs
Today, we wake up early to the divine sounds of temple bells and visit the famous pilgrimage center to Muktinath Temple area. After breakfast it is an easy trek down to Kagbeni. The trail descends through a dramatic, arid landscape all the way to Kagbeni. To reach Kagbeni one must travel on either side of the Kaligandaki River. The left fork continues up the river to Kagbeni. Later in the afternoon you can visit a seven hundred years old monastery and visit the small alleys in a village and overnight at Hotel.
Day 15: Kagbeni to Marpha 2,670m: 4-5 hrs
After few hours hours walking from Kagbeni one reaches Jomsom, a large town and the headquarters of the Mustang region. It has an airstrip just above the Kaligandaki River and is also a major village on the Kaligandaki area linking the age old Trans-Himalayan Salt Trade route to Tibet. From Jomsom onwards it is very windy in the afternoon, the path continues following Kaligandaki down stream with different views of mountains and sandy paths. Two hours of easy walk from Jomsom towards the south-east brings you at Marpha for the overnight stop. This is a little gem, with whitewashed houses, paved streets and numerous well kept lodges. Here you will have time to celebrate with the local apple products like cider, brandy and juice as this area from Kagbeni to Larjung is famous for its delicious apple and its products. Visit Marpha village with its Monastery, Apple Brandy factory and around.
Day 16: Marpha to Ghasha 2,010m: 6-7 hrs
After a wonderful time at Marpha, today’s long trail crosses the river back to the west side via a series of temporary bridges just before Kalopani (a small Thakali village) at 2,590 m. This is a best view point for mt. Annapurna ‘I’ and only one place to see it completely along the whole circuit. This is a long and tidy Thakali village with a Dhaulagiri technical school. Kalopani, another lovely village of more than 20 houses with excellent tea houses and lodge with grand view of Mt.Annapurna I, Nilgiri's and Dhaulagiri above the beautiful forest surrounding. The walk from Kalopani onwards leads to a dramatic change in the vegetation and overnight at Ghasa.
Day 17: Ghasa to Tatopani 1,100m: 4-5 hrs
Today we walk towards a warmer region. After Ghasa one can witness a dramatic change in the vegetation, from dry arid desert to pine and conifer forests while passing through and between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. The trek passes through the village of Rupsi with its beautiful waterfall, good views of the mountains and reaches Dana which is the deepest gorge of the world. A Further hours walk take you to Tatopani and its Hot springs where you can have a natural bath and stay overnight at the Hotel.
Day 18: Tatopani (Relaxing day)
Enjoy this day in the Hot spring by the Kali Gandaki river bank after long walking days and free from the hassle of packing. Here you can have a massage near by the poolside and explore Tatopani bazaar.
Day 19: Tatopani to Ghorepani (2772m)
Today after a wonderful rest at Tatopani we have a long walk up hill. Our trek continues towards east on the gradual trail for an hour crossing a suspension bridge over the Kaligandki river and starts to climb to Sikha, with a view of terrace field and landscapes. From here it’s a gradual climb for most of the way, leaving behind the terraced fields and walking through the dense rhododendron forests to reach the village of Ghorapani for our overnight stay.
Day 20: Ghorepani to Poon hill (3210 m) to Tadapani (2660 m.)
Today your guide will wake you early in the morning for a 40 minute hike up to Poonhill with the help of flash-light or moon light offering morning glimpse of stars and walking through the Rhododendron forest.
Poonhill is named after the hill tribe Pun, inhabitants of Ghorepani and the surrounding area. It is also an Advantage spot for the most panoramic scenery from the far western Himalaya of Dolpo, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna including Mt. Machhapuchare (Fish Tail) Manaslu all the way to Ganesh Himalayan range. Nearly 600 k.m range of mountains can be viewed from this great spot with the spectacular sunrise on the mid western Himalaya range. After a great time here return to Ghorepani for breakfast and continue trek to Tadapani, the walk passes through the Rhododendron, Pine, fur & bamboo forest with few short up and downs and finally you reach Tadapani. This is a wonderful place with close views of the Annapurna and Fishtail mountains, situated in the midst of the rain and alpine mixed forest. This takes around five hours walking up & down with a lunch break at Banthanti.
Day 21: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1926 m.)
Today’s walk leads through the serene forest for an hour on the gradual path to Bhasi Kharka. From this spot the trail descends with occasional views of the Mt.Annapurna ranges & Machhapuchre (Fishtail).
The trial descends through forest, creeks and small streams and into the maze of trails until Ghandruk village is reached. This is a semi-modern village and gateway to Annapurna Sanctuary. On reaching Ghandruk at lunch time you have enough time to explore the village and Gurung culture.We will stay here for the night stop
Day 22: Ghandruk Nayapul to Pokhara 4-5 hrs walk 2 hrs drives
Today we have a pleasant walk on this last day of the trek. The path leads to a long descent towards Syauli Bazaar for two hours and from here the path follows the Modi River all the way to Nayapul and passes through another nice village at Bhirethati. From this place after a short walk of 30 minutes you reach Nayaul. Form here we have a two hours scenic drive to Pokhara for the overnight stop near by the Lake Phewa.
Day 23: Drive back to Kathmandu. 200 k.m. 5-6 hrs Bus Journey
Today, in the morning you will drive back to Kathmandu with river views of Marsyangdi and Trisuli River. The drive passes through numerous towns and farm villages with great scenery of the farm fields, terrace landscapes. Reaching Kathmandu, you will return to the hotel and have the evening to explore the surrounding areas or to relax in the Hotel.
Day 24: Leisure at Kathmandu
This is a full day at leisure to rest and relax, to explore the local area and perhaps do a bit of last minute shopping at the heart of Kathmandu valley. You also have the option of doing some sight-seeing including Bhaktapur and Patan. Afterwards, you will have an evening farewell dinner with your crew and overnight at Hotel.
Day 25: Departure from Kathmandu
Today is free or last minute shopping for souvenirs or gift to your family, friends or relatives for you until your departure flight/drive or to commence any extra trips or activities you may have booked with us. If departing, you’ll be transferred to the International Airport for your departure flight to your onwards destination.
Note: The itinerary may flexible during the trek depending upon the clients requirements and fitness.
Extending your holiday
In Nepal, there are many choices and options if you’d like to extend your holiday before or after your main booking. Here are just a few suggestions of extensions available for this trip:
- Travel to the Trans Himalayan country with its mysterious and spiritual land of Tibet
- Visit land of the thunder dragon known as Bhutan
- Take a memorable wildlife safari with Elephant back ride in the Chitwan National park
- White water River rafting in the Himalayan country of Nepal
- 1 hour amazing mountain flight closest to the Mt. Everest
- Visit Darjeeling/Sikkim tour to India.
- Extend your trek in different trekking areas
- Bungee Jumping, Paragliding, Mountain biking and many more. >>> |