Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival in Kathmandu a travel-to-nature Asia guide/representative will be at the airport to greet and take us to our hotel. Please look out for your name-card once you exit out of the arrival area.

If not feeling jet-lagged, take some time to explore Kathmandu’s medieval backstreets, discover temples dating back to the 16th century, make your way down to Thamel, the main tourist hub in Kathmandu and a great place to dine.  There are myriads of options to choose from like New Orleans Cafe, Rum Doodle, Bear Garden etc just to name a few. Enjoy your evening and get some rest as the adventure begins tomorrow!

Accommodation: Manaslu Hotel

Pokhara | Phewa Lake | Peace Stupa

We’ll head to the airport after breakfast and take short flight from Kahmandu to Pokhara, centre of the Western Development Region and traditional trading centre in the shadow of the Annapurna Massif. Weather permitting, during our half an hour flight we might get the view of the mighty Himalayan range, including the Annapurna, Ganesh, Mt. Nilgiri, and Manaslu.

Upon arrival our local representative will transfer us to our hotel. Afternoon we walk along the shores of the Phewa lake allowing us to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Pokhara valley or we take a traditional rowing boat across the lake, stopping off en-route to see the Bharai temple on a small island, walk across the hills through woods and traditional Gurung village, a pleasant hike to Peace Stupa at an elevation of 1222 m, and most scenic short excursion from Pokhara. This day hike will offer us a captivating glimpse of rural life and the magnificent view of Annapurna range and the Pokhara Valley itself. Or we sit back and relax in a cafe with a book. We’ll head for Moondance Cafe or Boomarang restaurant or hotel restaurant by the pool or the lake terrace for dinner and drinks in the evening – great spots!

Accommodation: Fish Tail Lodge
Meal: Breakfast

Alternative Village Trek – Kusma | Kaligandaki Valley | Narayansthan

We’ll jump right into our vehicle for the scenic drive to Kusma where we’ll set off for a trek. In Kusma, after organizing the gear and loads with the local porters, we trek down to the Kaligandaki river, one of the holy rivers of Nepal, and affords beautiful views of the Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri Mountain Ranges. After crossing the river over the first suspension bridge the trail follows the valley floor to the open meadow close to the river side where hot picnic lunch will be served. We ascend 400 m to the traditional and beautiful village of Narayanthan on the plateau where we’ll camp for the first night above the Cliff in a beautiful pine forest. We can see the crew setting up camp for us. We will introduce you to our dining tent and your personal tents.

The camping spot is very strategically placed with a dramatic view of the cliff and deep gorge overlooking Kusma Bazaar and surrounded by the rolling hills. The rim of the plateau have steep rocky slopes and, often escarpments. During the autumn and winter one can enjoy observing different species of vultures and eagles, including Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Red headed Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle and many more. Enjoy the surrounding nature, have a cup of tea and watch Nepali life go by.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Local Farm House | Blind School 

Today we will take time to explore the village, meet the local people and get an insider’s perspective on the local culture by drinking tea with a local family in their home and exchange and enhance inter-cultural relationships. Visit various SWAN’s projects sites such as Blind school, local School, local women farmer groups, health care Centre etc. During the harvesting time one can join the local farmers harvesting crops in their fields. Evening, we go out for traditional dinner at local farm house “Aama’s Farmhouse” and join the local gathering for a program.

SWAN (www.swannepal.org) traditional cultural local charity organization has been running village development projects for many years in Narayansthan and Baglung district. Projects include national level health projects such as Mother & Child care program, support to the local health posts, an integrated blind school, pre-schools for “untouchable” children, and various schools support, micro credit for mother’s groups, goat breeding programs, supporting local farmers for alternative farming for income generation.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we trek the most amazing areas of the scenic country.

The next few days are classic trekking through Nepal’s lush, green and diverse ‘middle hills’ following shimmering rivers and contouring around precipitous ridge lines. The villages we pass through are both Hindu and Buddhist, and the architecture traditional mud-brick dwellings, rice paddies, terraced fields and fruit trees. If we’re lucky we’ll pass through villages celebrating some of the numerous Nepali festivals, very colorful and lively. We are following the routes that involve local communities in all aspects of conservation and development aiming to develop a model eco-trekking route to conserve the natural and cultural heritage. This route is a spectacular and interesting route through some of Nepal’s most remote villages.

We gently ascend up to Amalchaur village from where one can get the most spectacular mountain views, sweeping from east to west in a vast snowy expanse;  the entire Annapurna massif with such prominent peaks as Annapurna II (7,937 m), Annapurna III & IV, Mt. Machchhapuchare (6,993 m) and as well as Manaslu (8,156 m).

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bhairavsthan – Mulabari

A similar day of trekking to yesterday, today’s destination is the even more interesting as we walk along the Bhairavsthan ridge to Mulabari for camp.

The trail out of Amalachur runs gently uphill, through open fields and scattered villages along the ridge to our camping ground. En-route, we will visit a local kindergarten supported by SWAN, a locally famous Bhairavsthan temple perches on the very edge of the gorge. The temple is dedicated to God Bhairab in his bloodthirsty incarnation of Lord Shiva, and twice a week faithful Pilgrims journey here to satisfy her bloodlust.

Upon arrival in Mulabari set up camp together with the camping crew and enjoy the magical movements while sun is setting over Annapurna mountain. Enjoying the breath-taking panoramic views of several peak from our camping ground.

If our fitness & time permits we hike down to Bhakunde village visiting the local Magar Tribe and interacting with the locals or we can hike up to the view point to get the 360° Bird-Eye View, explore the ruined fortress and the surrounding Rhododendron forest.

Rest of the day participate with the kitchen team in preparing dinner. It is likely that the local women visit us to perform their tribal dance at the camp to raise fund for their social projects.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Payuinpata – Aama’s Farmhouse

We descend downhill with wonderful views throughout and eventually reach Aama’s Farmhouse in Narayansthan where we will end our trek. En-route, we visit Kindergarten built by SWAN for underprivileged community children in Musurabari village.

Accommodation: Camping Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As always, your camping team is happy to serve you early breakfast before you head back to Kusma. After about an hour’s drive from Kusam to Birethanti (1015 m) – a large and prosperous town beside the Modi River that has many shops and teahouses – where you will commence your Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. 

After taking a short break here, we gear up as the main trail beyond the pasture used by the pony caravan in Sudami climbs gradually up the side of the valley, reaching Hille (1510 m) before pushing on to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m) for overnight. Today’s walk offers a short and relatively easy day, during the journey which allows to become used to the experience of trekking in Nepal. Overnight stay in Tikehdhunga.

Accommodation: Lodge/Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Prepare for the long uphill trek, and start with steeply ascends on the long stone staircase that is said to have more than 3300 steps. As we continue uphill we will arrive a large Magar village of Ulleri (2,080 m) village with the amazing landscape and the tops of Annapurna South (7,219 m; an Annapurna Dhaksin in Nepali) and Hiunchuli begins to emerge from the behind the hills. The trail further ascends through the magnificent rhododendron and oak forests. The wild scenery gives you inner power to climb up these steps and immerse you to walk more. After few hours of steeply ascent with several breaks in between reaching at Ghorepani (2,750 m) for overnight stay. Ghorepani literally means ‘horse water’ and was until recently a welcome watering stop for the mule caravans that carried goods between Pokhara and Jomsom.

Accommodation: Lodge/Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We rise before dawn to make the early-morning excursion to Poon Hill (3,210 m), about an hour climb from Ghorepani Pass (2,870 m) or Deurali up to Poon Hill Vantage Point. The route offers the glimpse of the pleasant rhododendron forest. This brilliant viewpoint provides you an unobstructed sunrise over the high Himalayas and the wide range of spectacular panoramic scenery stretches from the far western Himalaya of Dolpo, Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Tukuche (6,920 m) to Nilgiri (6,940 m) Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8,091 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), and Tarke Khang (formerly known as Glacier Dome; 7,193 m). Watching the sun rise over the unobstructed Himalaya is a definitely moment! After a great time return back to Ghorepani for breakfast and continue trek to Tadapani (2,710 m) for overnight. Tadapani means ‘far water’ and the water supply is a long distance below the village.

Before the water pipe was constructed it took porters more than 30 minutes to fetch each load of water. The Tadapani trail descends through rhododendron forest and it becomes more gentle as the route reaches Banthanti and eventually to Tadapani.

Accommodation: Lodge/Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A short day today – in good physical condition the downhill journey from Tadapani to Ghandruk can be made in about 3 hours . The trail descends steeply through the forests to Bhaise Kharka (Buffalo Pasture), a clearing and further reaches the top of Gandrunk viallge at 1,970 m. Gandruk, with about 270 families, is the second – largest Gurung settlement in Nepal, and is a confusing cluster of closely spaced, slate-roofed houses. There are neatly terraced fields both above & below the town.

The view of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare are spectacular rom here, especially at sunset and from just above the village. Arriving Gandruk in time, allows us to explore the village and visit its museum (ACAP visiting centre & Traditional Gurung Museum) , and if we are on a spending spree, try one of the carpet shops or visit the handicraft shops in the Local Youth Eco Trekking Centre.

Accommodation: Lodge/Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trail today from Tolka head downhill to Sualibazar where we end our trek. After saying thank you and good bye to our trekking crew we drive to Pokhara and connect late afternoon flight to Kathmandu.

Celebrate your Annapurna trek with a few cold beers at the hotel in the evening.

Accommodation: Manaslu Hotel
Meal: Breakfast

Swayambhunath – Patan Durbar Square

This morning we start our half-day sightseeing tour first by visiting Swayambhunath, UNESCO site commonly known as the “Monkey Temple” which lies atop forested hill some 3 km from Thamel, tourist hub of Kathmandu, which was built over 2500 years ago. From here we enjoy panoramic views of Kathmandu, stretching out the foothills of the Himalaya.

Our next stop is the nearby city of Patan, a renowned center of Nepalese arts and crafts. Patan was founded in 250AD and became known for producing fine works in copper, bronze and silver. You see many of these treasures on display at the new Patan Museum. If time permits, you head to the nearby Tibetan refugee camp for a demonstration in carpet weaving.

Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to airport for your homeward-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast