Annapurna Base Camp

After breakfast, we start an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Escorting by an English speaking guide (can provide any language speaking guide on request) be, try to give them a full taste of our vivid culture image and an enchanting manner of its people. In our sightseeing tour, we go to Monkey temple Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar square.

Durbar Square
This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar square, protected as a UNESCO world Heritage site, is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also museums inside the palace building. There is an entrance fee of Rs.250 for foreign visitors. Your ticket to the Square entitles you to visit all the museums.

Swayambhunath
6.5 kilometres west of Kathmandu, situated on a hillock, this 2000 years old Stupa is the world’s most glorious Buddhist shrine and is surrounded by several small pagodas. The main temple is capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt and is painted on the four sides with all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (914m.) which takes about six hours. You depart for the six hours drive to Pokhara (915m,), 200 kilometres west of Kathmandu. As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to quickly descend again to the Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its junction with the Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up through heavily terraced fields and small hill towns to the Seti River that takes you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara is tourist’s paradise with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with mountains. You can observe views to the north across the hills and Phewa Tal (lake) to the white peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. This drive will take most of the morning, leaving much of the afternoon to fall in love with its beauty. You can also fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara which takes about 30 min.

Drive from Pokhara (915 m.) to Phedi (1130 m.) and trek from Phedi to Pothana which takes about five hours. From here you begin your trek to Pothana (1900m.). The trail ascends all the way to Pothana through forests till you reach the village called Dhampus. It is a Gurung village which gives you an opportunity to look at the magnificent views of Annapurna ranges, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu. The ascent trail follows to Pothana through the forests. This is a small village which is surrounded by forests having marvellous mountain views.

Trek from Pothana to Chhomrong (2040 m.) which takes about six and half hours. While trekking from Pothana to Chhomrong the trail ascends gently to Deurali and begins to descend to Bherikharka through forests. Now you follow the flat path till you reach Landruk village. The path you follow till Landruk is really exhilarating as you pass through many local villages rich in culture, terrace fields and numerous green hills. From here the trail descends to Modi khola (stream) and ascends all the way to Chhomrong. Village via Jhinudanda where there is a hot spring. Chhomrong is a big Gurung village. From this village, you could see good views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Fishtail.

Trek from Chhomrong to Bamboo (2340m.) and it takes about five hours. Leaving Chhomrong, the trail descends on a stone staircase and crosses the Chhomrong Khola on a swaying suspension bridge, then climbs out of the side valley. High above the Modi Khola on its west bank, the trail passes through the tiny settlement of Tilicho in forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. Climbing further on a rocky trail (beware of the stinging nettles) you reach three hotels at Sinuwa, at 2350m. Climb in rhododendron forests to Kuldi, at 2520m. This was once a British sheep breeding project; now the stone houses are an ACAP visitor centre and check post. In winter, it’s common to find snow anywhere from this point on. Descend a long, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests. It is then a short distance on a muddy trail to Bamboo Lodge (2340m.).

Trek from Bamboo to Deurali (3230m.) which takes about five hours. You trek gently ascend through bamboo forests with varieties of rhododendron and oak trees. The first town you reach is Dovan (2630m.) where there are few lodges and camp sites. Now you pass through a muddy trail which traverses high above the river. There is debris of avalanches except during winter season. After a short trek, you reach Himalayan Hotel (2900m.), the town named after the Himalayan Hotel. Beyond it , the trail is steeply ascent up to Hinko Cave (3160m.), this name as a huge overhanging rock provides some protection against rain and avalanches. It takes approximately twenty minutes through normally ascent path to reach Deurali (3230m).

Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4170 m.) via Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3820m.) and it takes about four hours. From here, the valley widens and becomes less steep and you can see the gates to the sanctuary. The trail is less steep. As the trail continues into the sanctuary, it crosses two avalanche tracks on a narrow trail that hurdles up against the cliffs. After a short trek, you will be at Bagar (3310m.), a meadow and some abandoned hotels. The normal trail follows the left side of the valley. Now the trail appears gently ascent until you reach Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3820m.). Here you find almost 6 to 7 lodges. This is one of the places, where you can enjoy the view of Mount Hiunchuli (6441m.), Annapurna South (7229m.), Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna III (7555m.), Gangapurna (7454m.) and Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m.). The path follows through alpine meadow and after some distance, your trails go gently up. After a short trek, you begin to approach Annapurna Base Camp (4170m.). From here, you can see the views of several peaks at 360 degrees.

Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Dovan (2630m.) which takes about five hours. It’s much easier going down. You should have no problem reaching Sinuwa in a single day from Annapurna Base Camp. Now you trek through Himalayan Hotel to Dovan.

Trek from Dovan to Chhomrong (2040 m.) and it takes about four hours. The path is descent up to Bamboo passing through forests with varieties of rhododendron, oaks and bamboo plants. After Bamboo, the trail goes steeply up to the Kuldi Ghar and now the trail is quite flat until you reach Sinuwa. You trek gradually descend to the Chhomrong Khola and you have to follow stone staircase for almost an hour to reach Chhomrong.

Trek from Chhomrong to Ghandruk (1940m.) which takes almost four hours. The trail stretches at a flat level for early an hour passing through rhododendron forests, terraces and green scenarios. At this point, you have to go gradually down till Kimrung Khola ( Kimrung stream). Now the trail keeps on ascending steeply before you reach Kimrung Hill. Here the path goes gently descent all the way to Ghandruk village. This part is full of green scenarios, streams, terraces and so on. Ghandruk is a big Gurung village. There are a handicraft centre and Gurung museum.

Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul via Birethanti which takes about six hours. You begin your trail following gentle flat path passing through forests, rocks and terraces. After Kimche (1638m.) the trail descends through human settlements and terraces up to Seuli Bazaar. From here, the trail moves along the bank of Modi Khola to Birethanti. En route, you pass through forests, rice terraces, waterfalls and green scenarios. Birethanti is a small town with few lodges, shops and human settlements. Now you walk for almost twenty minutes through flat path up to Nayapul (New Bridge). Here you board the vehicle to drive back to Pokhara which takes approximately one and half hours.

Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal’s first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to the capital city. You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes approximately 25 minutes.

This is the free day and you can use it for your shopping.In the evening we will drive you for farewell dinner with cultural dance.

All too soon it’s time to bid Nepal farewell and one realises that we can never be intimate, only acquainted with this amazing adventure kingdom.