Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu Airport (1,360 m).
After your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in medieval and modernized Kathmandu, you will be warmly greeted by our office representative and transferred to the hotel. After a brief meeting with the sales executive regarding the whole trip you can then go for a stroll down the street to get familiar with the neighbourhood, have supper and go to bed. This is your first overnight in the valley of temples and cows, probably the most in the world.
Day 2: Kathmandu Valley sightseeing & trek preparation [a day of leisure].
The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, being the historical and cultural heart of the country, is a popular destination for tourists, trekkers and other types of adventure seekers. The city is a marvellous amalgamation of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western cultures and influences. Patan and Bhaktapur are its two major neighbouring cities. These two cities, like Kathmandu, have a rich historical, cultural and religious legacy which is reflected in the many temples, monuments and artefacts that they contain. You will be taken on a half-day guided tour of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur cities. In Kathmandu, you will be visiting Pashupatinath, the most famous and revered Hindu shrine in the country; Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Soyambhunath, which contains both Buddhist and Hindu shrines and stands as testimony to the religious harmony that exists in the country; and the 15th-century 55-window palace in Bhaktapur. An orientation session for the trek, which commences the following day, will be organized in the evening.
Day 3: Fly or drive to Pokhara, this is optional.
After breakfast, we leave our hotel early morning for a drive with scenic views along the road to Pokhara via Prithivi national highway. The drive could take roughly 7 - 8 hrs to reach Pokhara. We also have the option for a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara for 35 minutes. We will visit some prime spots in the lake city after refreshing at our hotel we will do a tour of some beautiful places in Pokhara that include Davids fall (if we reach early by road), and the Phewa Lake etc. we then do an overnight at our hotel by the lake in the lovely ‘city of lakes’ on BB Plan.
Day 4: Drive to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m), 4/5 hrs walk.
This morning we make the 45-minute drive from Pokhara to Nayapul where our trek commences. From here the trail descends steeply to Birethanti before following the banks of the Bhurungdi Khola to reach Tirkhedhunga where we crash out for our first overnight on the trail. Overnight at our lodge with full board meals.
Day 5 Trek to Ghorepani (2,870 m), 6 hrs walk.
From Ulleri, we move on along steep trails on well-known tracks. Nature lays before us alien sights of majestic snow-capped mountain peaks, lush vegetation and fertile plant life that is so fantastic to behold. We climb further through rhododendron forest to Deurali [3100m] and reach a hamlet and cultivated fields.
Continue walking for 3 hours and finally, we find ourselves in Ghorepani. Ghorepani also has houses lodges that provide food and accommodation to travellers out on the trail. Next, it’s overnight. Overnight at Ghorepani inclusive of all meals.
Day 6 Trek to Tadapani (2,590 m), 5/6hrs walk.
We wake up early morning to hike up to the famed vantage point of Poon Hill. The climb to Poon Hill takes around 45 minutes. As the sun rises, the views are breathtaking, a wide Himalayan scenery stretching from Dhaulagiri 8,167m (the world's seventh highest peak) to Manaslu (8,156 m) (the world's eighth highest peak) in the east, with the mighty Annapurna range is a fantastic experience we enjoy in between them. We will return to our camp in time for a warm breakfast. Afterwards, the first part involves climbing along the ridges of the hills in pine and rhododendron forest to 3030m and then descending to a second pass, Deurali. The steep descent becomes gentle as we reach Banthanti where we will stop for lunch. From Banthanti, the trail follows the stream down to a bridge and starts climbing to Tadapani (2540m). We crash out at our lodge with full board meals.
Day 7: Trek to Landruk (1,565 m), 5 hrs walk.
As we quit Tadapani, we hike along terraced fields below the wonderful panorama of awe-inspiring glaciated Himalayan mountain ranges. As the trail moves across a group of flatlands, forest, cultivated lands and a suspension bridge over Khumnu Khola, we arrive at the scenic & beautiful village of Ghandruk after hiking for 3 to 4 hours. A supreme vantage point in this pristine & serene village offers breathtaking views of Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Machhapuchhare and Hiunchuli. Several hotels and teahouses at the village give us a warm welcome with sincere Nepalese hospitality while catering to the requirements of all trekkers’ who hit the trail through this village. Camping in its terraced fields give you the open wild feelings of adventure! Overnight at the lovely village of Ghandruk with all meals inclusive
Day 8: Trek to Dhampus (1,650 m), 5 hrs walk.
After an Early morning breakfast, we can enjoy the view of Sunrise, Annapurna South, Himchuli, Machhapurchre & much of the countryside. We leave Landruk catching flat trails about an hour then little steep for 20 minutes to reach Tolka. Tolka trail follows through the forest again with steep ascends for about one & half hour to get to Deurali, from where you can see the valley of Pokhara. You will find teashops at Tolka and Deurali. After Deurali, the trail leads to where you gradually descend to Dhampus via Pothana. Overnight at lodge on full board meal.
Day 9: Trek to Dhampus Phedi - Pokhara - 1 hr walk.
This morning will be a fantastic morning with views of the Annapurna Himalayas & scenic settlement of villages, we walk up a steep stone setup trail down to Dhampus Phedi/Ghatte Khola for about an hour and then drive to Pokhara (about 30 minutes drive}. Overnight at hotel with BB.
Day 10: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus that takes about seven hours.
While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, we head up to Damauli, Dumre, Mugling and Kurintar where Nepal's first Cable car is operated to reach Manakamana Temple, this is a temple where most Nepalese come to have their wishes granted. From Naubise we climb up to Thankot, the gateway to Kathmandu and finally reach our hotel & a lovely soft warm bed. Overnight in Kathmandu inclusive with all meals.
Day 11: Departure to that place we all love calling home.
After breakfast and our last day in Kathmandu, our vehicle and escorts will be on standby to drop you to the international airport three hours before our scheduled flight back home. At Rupakot Holidays, meeting you has been a great honour and we pray for your Safe journey home and will reflect on the wonderful times we spent together. Bon Voyage!!! We hope to see you again someday…
Accommodation
A TH [Teahouse Lodge] is a term used for sleeping in teahouse lodges on the trails. These teahouses are pretty basic but provide all the comforts that you would expect when hiking in remote conditions, they are cosy and warm – you’d like the homely environment. We crash out in single rooms wherever available, but often times we sometimes have to adapt to sleeping out in dormitory type rooms for a night. Generally, it’s just a bed with a pillow and blankets. It’s a matter of choice, if you want, you bring your own ‘Air pillow’ and freak out anyways, this is an adventure in the wild…the rougher it gets the better. We accommodate our trek groups in local lodges available each day. Our porters hike ahead of us to book the required rooms for the group (rooms cannot be booked in advance). Please note, that some of them are very basic and a spirit of adventure is the call of the day. It is cheaper to stay in lodges rather than organizing a camping trek.
We have a pool of hotels in Kathmandu under 3 Star categories which we provide to clients in connection with this itinerary unless it is mentioned otherwise or clients have a special choice. You can check on the description of such hotels through our website. Accommodation is never a problem, the choice exclusively yours.
Dining
At ‘Rupakot Holidays’ – it is zero tolerance on cutting of cost when it comes down to feeding our trekking guests because we know how tough it is on the trails; we ensure that the lodges provide three tasty, bountiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast is ‘king size’ [the first meal of the day] consisting of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereals followed by omelette, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional bread.
After a lengthy gritty day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, rice and pasta dishes completed with a simple dessert. Don’t be surprised if the delectable ‘apple pie’ lands on your plate, it’s literally ‘yummy’’, even better than the ones you come across in Thamel. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible and special diets are regularly catered for. The local trek leaders are able to maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and also within the group with respect to personal hygiene. This has allowed us to maintain extremely high standards of health over many years of planning treks - and good health is vital to an enjoyable and successful trek and climb. All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. Boiled water is served for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for. ‘Gluttony is a sin’ but there are no restrictions on the grub we serve to our guests on the mountains; we leave it up to our trekking guests who are the best judge of their own appetites…Bon Appétit!!
