Itinerary
After having early breakfast at hotel, we drive along the Trisuli and Marshyangdi River to reach Pokhara; this is a real scenic drive where we will get to see the beautiful river as we drive by its banks & view Ganesh Himal and Mt. Manaslu right from the comfortable seats of the bus. Pokhara is a virtual tourists’ paradise. This city is full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites that include: lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus, all in the backdrops of the beautiful mountains that include the lovely fishtail peak. After 6 hours of driving; we will arrive in Pokhara, this wonderful ‘City of Lakes’, which amazes you at every corner of your tour, overnight at hotel.
After having breakfast at the hotel we start our driving to Nayapul which takes approximately one and half hours. Then we start out to Tikhedhunga (1577M) Via Birethanti (1065m.), it is a pleasant cool trek as we pass through several small villages and settlements. Afterwards we will ascend gently to the final destination of the day, overnight at Guesthouse.
After having breakfast at lodge, we start our trek and today, we ascend steeply for the first 2 hours and then ascend gently passing through Ulleri (2070m.) and Banthanti. We get great views of Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m.), Hiunchuli (6441m.), and Annapurna (7219m) south on the way. Now, our hiking path is quite easy passing through mossy rhododendron forests and shadowy trees as we ascend gently up to the final camp for our overnight, overnight at Guesthouse.
Today, we hike to Poon Hill (3232m.) to enjoy the sunrise views over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.), Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7855m.), Machhapuchhare (6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung Himal (6931m.) and other numerous snowcapped mountains. This is a classic experience to enjoy. We then hike down to Ghorepani, have a hot breakfast at our Lodge & then trek to Tatopani through rhododendron forest, fine vistas open up as we approach Chitre, with the Dhaulagiri Range straight ahead. The path then leads through terraced fields to Sikha, a Magar village clustered on a ridge. We continue to descend, gradually at first and then more steeply to cross the Ghar Khola. After a short climb, we then cross the Kali Gandaki on a large suspension bridge and from here it is only a short distance upstream to Tatopani. Tatopani takes its name from the hot springs near the river below the village where we will enjoy a Natural Hot Spring Bath that has healing properties, 0vernight at Guesthouse, ( A, B, L, D).
After having breakfast at lodge, we now follow a route which ascends gently up the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, towards the village of Dana, which is surrounded by bright orange groves. From autumn to winter, baskets of these oranges are offered for sale to passing travelers. Just beyond the small hamlet of Rupse, a thundering waterfall cascades down beside the trail. From here, the trail enters the steepest and narrowest section of the gorge, but the layered stone path is well-constructed and wide. When the rock cliffs end, we descend to the river before making the short climb back up to Ghasa, overnight at Guesthouse.
We start our trek after having breakfast at lodge and the trek ascends crossing the wide valley of Kali Gandaki for about six to seven hours. Throughout the trek we will be enjoying the company of the sweet smelling Rhododendron trees and many ethnic villages with a sparse population of Gurungs, Thakalis and few Tibetans. On the way to Marpha we trek along the banks of Kali Gandaki through Apple orchards that bring a sweet scent to our nostrils, we could munch a few apples if it happens to be the fruit season, Marpha is a big village enriched with a Buddhist Monastery in between the village which has its own cultural importance, overnight at Hotel.
After having breakfast at lodge, we continue to follow the wide valley of the Kali Gandaki towards Kagbeni; the landscape becomes increasingly arid and impressive with its mixture of browns, yellows and grey that dots the arid terrain, contrasting with the white snowcaps of Tilicho and Nilgiri. By afternoon, the stiff winds begin to blow & we’ve got to hold on to our hats & the light stuff we could be carrying, hastening our way to Kagbeni, overnight at Guesthouse
We start our trek after having breakfast at lodge and the trail steeply ascends for couple of hundred Meters. While gradually walking we will enjoy beautiful deserted landscape, Caves, old Tibetan Style Villages, apple Gardens, Yak herds, Sheep herds and so on. We get to view Thorung La valley upfront straight up on our way to Muktinath. We will enjoy a delicious lunch at Jharkot while we take a breather and visit a nearby Monastery believed to be built in the 15 century. A further 10 minute hikes up the hill, we will be rewarded with the actual religious site of Muktinath & this area is kept free of hotels and camping sites. Muktinath is a pilgrimage center for Buddhists and Hindus. Hereabouts, we see Tibetan traders as well as sadhus from the far south of India meditating in reverence to the gods. There are shrines amidst a grove of trees including a Buddhists gompa & the Vishnu temple of Jwalamai. We also come across an old temple nearby which shelters a spring and natural gas jets that provide Muktinath’s famous eternal flame. It’s the earth-water-fire combination that accounts for Muktinath’s great religious significance or so the myth goes. After this, we head towards Muktinath following a steep ascended path for half an hour, overnight at Guesthouse.
After having breakfast at lodge, we start our trek; today, we continue down for nearly two hours and then walk through the flat path till we reach Jomsom. Between the walk lies Ekle bhatti village where you find teahouses and lodges where we can stop for coffee and a breather, overnight at Guesthouse
We will have early breakfast at lodge in Jomsom and we will take flight to Pokhara, and check in to our hotel and refresh ourselves before we visit the most beautiful city Pokhara, we chill out & relax today and also we can do some boating on the serene fewa lake; this is probably one of the loveliest lakes in the world, overnight at hotel.
In the morning after b/fast, we hope a tourist bus at 7 AM to drive to Kathmandu and the driving will be truly enjoyable along with the many satellite towns we come across on the way and we are able to see vibrant colorful village settlements, rivers, terraces and landscapes, & after 6 hours driving we will arrive Kathmandu and overnight at our hotel.
