| Starting
from: |
Kathmandu |
| Ending at: |
Pokhara |
| Grade: |
Easy |
| Highest access
of the trek: |
3800m (Muktinath) |
| Culture:
|
Gurung, Magar, Thakali |
| Mode of trekking
tour: |
Teahouse |
| Himalayan
sights: |
Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Annapurna
range, Manaslu, Nilgiri etc |
| Most Attraction
of the trek: |
Mountain View, villages, Monastary |
|
| Day to Day Itinerary |
| Day
01 |
Arrive in Kathmandu
Airport & Transfer to Hotel
Welcome dinner in the evening. |
| Day
02 |
Full day Sightseeing
in Kathmandu Valley.
We will be visiting three of the famous heritage sites in Kathmandu.
You will visit first the Swayambunath
Stupa (Monkey Temple). It is said that Swayambunath
Stupa is more than 2,000 years old, and it symbolizes knowledge.
The painted eyes on all four sides symbolize the all-seeing
power of Buddha. It is an important Buddhist place where pilgrims
from all over the world come.
It is a 30 minutes
drive to Boudhanath Stupa,
another important Buddhist pilgrims site. This ancient Stupa
is considered one of the biggest in the World. Every morning
and evening, many Buddhist devotees come here to pray and circumambulate
enabling the visitors to observe local religious practices.
One of the holiest hindu
shrines in the world, The fabulous
pagoda houses the linga of Lord Shiva and people bathe in the
Bagmati River with a faith of cleansing themselves spiritually.
Many Sadhus or Hindu Ascetics live here. During religious festivals,
Hindus come to make offerings, and it is sometimes very crowded.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
This former royal palace complex offers the elegant 15th
century Palace of 55 win-dows, artistic courtyards, the Golden
gat.
Patan Durbar
Square : Durbar Square an enchanting melage of
palace buildings, courtyards and pagoda temples, is the center
of Patan's religious and social life. |
| Day
03 |
Kathmandu
- Pokhara by Toursit Bus
A beautiful town set on the banks of the Phewa Lake. It is smaller
and much less hectic than Kathmandu and is the perfect starting
point for our trek. Your first day in Pokhara can be spent just
relaxing or you may enjoy a visit to the Tibetan Refugee Camp
and Devi Falls. The remainder of the time is yours to enjoy
either doing last minute shopping for the trek or packing your
kitty bag for the following day's departure O/N Hotel B&B |
| Day
04 |
Pokhara
- Jomsom - Kagbeni
Fly to Jomsom & sightseeing around Jomsom. The Kaligandaki
valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis,
who are distantly related to the Tibetans. The day we walk to
Kagbeni, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang. The altitudes
of this trek vary between about 915m at Pokhara to approx.3880m
at Muktinath; going up and down will test the best pair of knees.
The secret is, take it SLOWLY! |
| Day
05 |
Kagbeni
- Muktinath
We ascend steeply to a 3880m, at Muktinath. This is one of the
most important pilgrimage sights for Hindus. Holy water flows
from the 108 carved spouts surrounding the Vishnu temple in
a grove of poplars. Muktinath is also home to many ethnic Tibetans
and holy Buddhists, who come here for the temple in which fire
miraculously burns in a stream of water inside a small but very
holy temple. |
| Day
06 |
Muktinath
- Jomsom
Descend gradually through fields and poplar groves, then into
the Kali Gandaki river valley. Follow the valley southwards
to Jomsom. The Kali Gandaki valley here is called the Thak Khola,
from the ethnic group the Thakalis, the main inhabitants of
this area. |
| Day
07 |
Jomsom -Kalopani
Descend to Marpha, a lovely village of whitewashed houses and
fertile fields. Continue down the Kali Gandaki reaching the
old Thakali trading center of Tukuche. As the trail continues,
the Himalayan rain shadow end and open spaces make way for coniferous
forest and Kalopani (2560m.) From here there are spectacular
360-degree views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna high above. |
| Day
08 |
Kalopani
- Tatopani
A beautiful walk, with another transition into sub-tropical
vegetation and the return of water buffalo, banyan trees and
poinsettias. The trail follows the river through a narrow gorge,
and descends to cross a bridge near a spectacular waterfall,
before winding through the valley to Tatopani. The hot water
springs that give the village its name provide the perfect opportunity
for a good 'scrub. |
| Day 09 |
Tatopani
- Ghorepani
Steadily climbing all day, we eventually leave behind the terraced
fields and walk through thick rhododendron forest to the village
of Ghorepani. We camp at the pass for the best views of the
sunset over the spectacular, snow-capped Dhaulagiri and the
Annapurna Range. |
| Day 10 |
Ghorepani
– Tadapani
Early morning, you will visit the famous Poon Hill where you
will hopefully be blessed with a fantastic sunrise and 360 deg
view of all the Annapurna Range including Annapurna South (7272m)
Annapurna I (8091m) with imposing views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri
(8157m) and the Dhaulagiri Range to the West. The views here
are breath taking as you sit and sip on a hot chocolate before
heading down the main trail to Pokhara. Here you will be able
to see how things have changed over the years since western
man started visiting the Himalayas. One of the added advantages
of lodge trekking is being able to sit and chat to the Sougi
(Inn Keeper), whilst he spins you yarns about life in Nepal.
A short early-morning climb to the Deurali pass for a spectacular
panorama over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna, and all the way
south to the plains of India. Trail descends steeply through
dense moss-covered forest rich with bird life to Tadapani (2540m)
for beautiful sunset views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. |
| Day
11 |
Tadapani
- Ghandruk
Trail descends steeply through dense damp forest, where you
may see monkeys, and continues down over a series of rock-cut
steps that follow a leaping stream. Arrive in Ghandruk (1940m)
and explore the maze-like streets of this thriving Gurung settlement. |
| Day 12 |
Ghandruk
- Birethanti - Pokhara
A steady climb down past startlingly green cultivated terraces
and picturesque, beautifully-preserved farms to the scurrying
Modi River, which the trail follows back to Birethanti. Drive
to Pokhara. O/N at Hotel. |
| Day 13 |
Drive Back
to Kathmandu |
| Day 14 |
Sight seeing
in Bhaktapur City |
| Day 15 |
Free on
your own or leave Kathmandu |
|
