On arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will complete all necessary immigration formalities followed by baggage collection from the designated area in the airport. As you exit, one of the representatives from AID Journeys & Adventure, with a placard, will officially welcome you and escort you to your pre-assigned hotel. At the hotel, you may stretch out your legs and relax for few hours from the possible jet lag that you might have experienced after a long flight. Those who are anxious and want to hit the streets right away, may stroll around Thamel and do a bit of shopping or hire gears and equipment for the upcoming trip. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After a good night’s rest, you will be woken up with a morning call, if you desire, followed by a warm bed tea. Once you finish your breakfast, there will be a guided tour to some of the most historical and spiritual landmarks of the city, all of them being recognized as UNESCO world heritage sites. You will visit the most revered and holy Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath, the prominent monkey temple, Swayambhunath, one of the largest stupas in the world - a Buddhist shrine at Bouddhanath, and the captivating Basantapur Durbar Square. In the late afternoon, you will visit our office site to make necessary preparations, get your equipment checked, and meet your trip leader, crew members, and other fellow accomplices. You will have a brief discussion about the forthcoming trip and return to your hotel room. Overnight in Kathmandu.
The day begins with a long scenic drive along Prithvi Highway on meandering roads with Trishuli River on our right side, till Mugling. Bifurcating from this junction, we move straight ahead towards Pokhara. On reaching Dumre, we leave the main highway and head north towards Besi Sahar; the district headquarter of Lamjung passing several Gurung and Magar villages admiring the terraced fields and mud-built huts. Driving further ahead of Besi Sahar will take you to the starting point of your trek, Khudi passing through beautiful forests. Khudi offers you the first glimpse of the stunning Manaslu and beautiful views of varieties of different birds. Overnight in Khudi.
Your first trekking day engages crossing several suspension bridges on the undulating path along with cool waterfalls as you tread along paddy fields across dense forests. Beginning with a gradual hike, the trail shapes out on a steeper slope passing along an ethnic Tamang settlement Taranche, from where the mountains seem to be close as you keep walking higher. A few hours of walk from this village will bring you to Sirung, which offers you close-up views of Ngadi Chuli and Manaslu peaks. In this village, you can enjoy the taste of cultural delights and local cuisines. Overnight in Sirung.
Departing Sirung in the morning after breakfast on an easy trail, you will leave behind the village terraces and enter lush forests, ferns, beautiful villages and woodlands, and several species of beautiful birds. Crossing several tiny hamlets and some temples en route, you will pass a suspension bridge over the Sangu River at a place called Mipra. Moving ahead, you will cross another suspension bridge at Syange over the Marshyangdi River this time. There is a large, beautiful and an eye-catching waterfall near the bridge as the trail moves beside the impressive Marshyangdi River. Crossing one more wooden bridge, you will reach your destination, the village of Jagat. Overnight in Jagat.
Upon breakfast, you will begin your trek slowly descending towards the river and a gentle climb through a lush forest. A series of ups and downs for about an hour through beautiful tropical forests will lead you to Chyamje village amidst the glorious backdrop of the towering Annapurna. From here, it is a gentle downhill walk to the river, and after crossing a suspension bridge, it is a steep climb to Sattale. This segment of the steep climb is slippery as well as physically challenging. Following the succession of rock-strewn trails and undulating path, you will climb the meandering way to the top of a hill, from where it is a moderate descend to a grassy riverbed that finally leads to Tal village. At Tal, you will get to see beautiful waterfalls, few hotels, and teahouses. Some trekkers use this village for an overnight stay. After lunch at Tal, you will continue through the rugged and winding path and the valley narrows as you approach the steeply forested village of Karte. Beyond this small village, the trail meanders along the waterfalls and cliffs. Then crossing a suspension bridge at Lower Dharapani, it is a short ascend before you reach the Upper Dharapani village right after the stone Mani wall. Overnight in Dharapani.
After breakfast today, you will leave Dharapani and walk a few steep ridges through pine and fir forests along with several landslides on the route to reach Bagarchhap and Danaque villages in the first two hours. Continuing to hike along with fantastic views of the Himalayan peaks such as Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV throughout the trek, you will first ascend steeply until the village of Timang. Leaving behind tiny settlements of Lattemarang and Kotho over several forested ridges and several small hot springs; you will arrive at Chame, the administrative headquarters of the Manang district. Overnight in Chame.
You will continue trekking on a narrow path crossing dense pine and fir forests, then passing through several suspension bridges and apple orchards up to the village of Bhratang. From here, you walk along a trail leading through a very dense forest and a steep, narrow valley, probably the steepest part of the Marshyangdi Valley. The valley exposes the grand vistas as it widens towards the Paungda Danda, an enormous oblique rock face that soars above 1500 meters above the trail. Further ahead, after crossing a ridge which is bejeweled with fluttering prayer flags and stone cairns, you will enter the large village of Pisang, which is split into lower and upper Pisang. From the monastery at Upper Pisang, you can experience some beautiful views of the meandering villages and long-winded houses of Lower Pisang. Overnight at Lower Pisang.
From Lower Pisang, two routes lead to Manang. You will be walking by the upper trail that takes you to via Upper Pisang to Ghyaru, where you can witness the Mringchho Lake on the way. You will get an opportunity to observe outstanding sceneries and excellent views of the beautiful landscape and the majestic mountain peaks including Annapurna and Pisang Peak. You can visit the old monastery before continuing your trek to Ngawal village, which is your lunch stop. After lunch, the trail gently descends until reaching Braga village where the landscape and vegetation seem to be contrasting, and the cold, dry weather creates a harsher environment. You will visit the largest monastery in the entire Manang district, the Braga Monastery. From Braga village, it is a mere half an hour walk to Manang. Overnight in Manang.
This day is set aside for acclimatization to get acquainted and adjust with the thin air and shrinking pressure at high altitudes. Instead of staying idle, it is recommended to take short hikes to a higher altitude and come back later to sleep at lower elevations. For the said reason, you will hike to either the Bojho Monastery or the Gangapurna Lake. You may also hike to Chhunker viewpoint which is about 90 minutes uphill walk, and from this viewpoint, you can savor the marvelous glimpses of the Annapurna Ranges, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, Chulu Peak and Thorong Peak. After lunch in your lodge or teahouse, you can visit the Himalayan Rescue Association where it is advantageous to acquire some ideas about altitude sickness or AMS. Overnight in Manang.
Because of a shorter trekking day today, you have a relaxing start today from Manang after a scrumptious breakfast. After the first 5 km crossing a stream and a gradual climb, you will reach the village of Tengi, past the tree line and surrounded by magnificent peaks of the Annapurna Ranges and Hiunchuli. The trek gradually becomes more challenging as the air begins to thin and it is advised to hike at a slow pace and frequent rests. You will now enter the valley of Jarsang Khola and continue further to Gunsang, a small village with flat-roofed mud-built houses. Gunsang is the last permanently inhabited village in the valley, and the communities you see further are all temporary camps targeted for trekkers. The route after Gunsang levels and enters into pastures and small forests. You may witness barberry and juniper forests and walk past picturesque meadows; you may also catch sight of grazing yaks or horses. After crossing a small stream on a wooden suspension bridge, the trail passes an ancient Mani wall in a pleasant meadow to reach Yak Kharka, a tiny settlement on the path. For an overnight stay, some trekkers head out towards Letdar instead. Overnight at Yak Kharka.
Climbing steeply from Yak Kharka and after walking for a while, you will come across a suspension bridge before reaching Letdar village. Passing a herd of yaks, and some great views of Annapurna III and Gangapurna, you will tread on the narrow valley with steep slopes on both sides. The area from Letdar to Thorong Phedi has a surreal beauty with multi-colored hills. After climbing for a while, the trail suddenly drops to the river, where you will cross a wooden bridge. From here the trail again meanders steeply up the other bank to a small teahouse. Then you will come across a landslide-prone area, which you are advised to cross as quickly and carefully as possible. With a gentle descend at the later part of your trek; you will enter Thorong Phedi, which is just a beautiful rock strewn meadow. Overnight in Thorong Phedi.
Today’s walk is the most exhilarating trek throughout the trip, and you will wake up quite early to begin gaining heights and reach the highest pass in the world, Thorong La Pass at 5416 meters. Immediately after leaving Thorong Phedi, the trail becomes steep, but it is a well defined and easy-to-track path as it has been used by the local yak herders and mule trains since hundreds of years. After about four hours of the steep and relentless climb, you will reach a point with prayer flags and a small chorten, and a building on the top of a hill. This is a teahouse at the top of the pass. From the top, the views of the majestic snow-capped mountains, hills of Mustang and the Kali Gandaki Valley, the deepest gorge in the world, are just awe-inspiring. After spending about half an hour on photo sessions, you will retrace and descend gently, as downhill walk seems more demanding on your knees. The downhill trek to Mustang is a tiring journey; nevertheless, it is highly compensated with excellent views of the Dhaulagiri Ranges. Walking along the Jhong River Valley, you will finally reach Muktinath, a famous pilgrimage for both the Hindus and Buddhist. Overnight in Muktinath.
Today, you will cover much more distance than you had on any previous day, although the walking hours at maximum is five hours. After visiting the temples and a brief sightseeing spree in Muktinath, your trail will lead you to the village of Ranipauwa. Descending the spectacular Kali Gandaki valley for two and half hours, you will reach Eklebhatti with reasonable steep trail walking past the gateway to the remote and mysterious mountain kingdom of Upper Mustang. From Eklebhatti, the path, all ofa sudden becomes utterly flat following the river bed through several high-sided, dusty canyons. Walking for about one hour, you will arrive at Jomsom where you will have your lunch. After lunch, the journey to Marpha involves much sidestepping to avoid passing vehicles blowing a whirlwind of dust. Walking for about one and half hour against the windy noon will lead you to a pretty village of Marpha, the famous apple capital of Nepal and home to the legendary apple orchids. You will be able to taste the apples and the multiple apple products like apple pies, wine or brandy. Overnight in Marpha.
After a long tiring trek to Marpha the previous day and a good night’s slumber, it is time to embark yet another long hiking day to Kalopani. There are two routes from Marpha to tread on and reach Kalopani. You will, however, follow the new path via Chokhopani village instead of the Larjung route. Crossing the traditional villages of the ethnic Thakali communities and apple gardens, you will also be greeted by 360 degrees vista of Himalayan giants such as Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Fang, and the three Nilgiri peaks. Continuing to hike, you will reach Kokhethanti village, where you may rest for a while and stretch out your sore legs. From here, you move ahead towards a river and cross it to reach a newly constructed road that will lead you to Kalopani. Overnight in Kalopani.
Your hiking journey today continues to descend through the Kali Gandaki River Valley to lower elevations. Like the previous day’s trail, to avoid the newly constructed dusty roads, you will embark on a new hiking trail to Tatopani. During the walk, you will cross a bridge at Ghasa. Emerging back into dense forests with lush vegetation, the trail drops down to much lower heights continuing along Rupse Chahara, a well-known waterfall. From here, the downward path takes you towards Kopchepani via Garpar to a bridge at Dana to arrive at Narchyang Besi, which has a powerhouse that supplies electricity to that region. You will descend for most of the trek before finally crossing the river to reach Tatopani, which is famous for its hot springs. This is the best place to relax your body after a long walk. Overnight in Tatopani.
Another big day, you will begin hiking from Tatopani leaving the Kali Gandaki behind and heading up to Ghara Khola Valley. Traversing through terraced and inclined farmlands surrounded by mountains, you will now pass through the villages of Sikha, Phalate and Chitre encountering rhododendron, birch and magnolia forests and some lovely meadows. From the vantage point of Sikha, stunning views down through the Kali Gandaki Valley and across the Dhaulagiri Ranges can be sighted. The segment of today’s trip gives you ample opportunities to witness the lifestyle of the people living in the midland villages of Nepal. Leaving behind the picturesque villages and trailing further through rhododendron forest and a steep uphill climb, you will reach Ghorepani from where views of Annapurna South, Tukuche Peak, and Hiunchuli are gorgeous. Overnight in Ghorepani.
Today is marked as one of the noteworthy highlights of your trip as you will be kicking off with a pre- dawn, roughly-an-hour climb along the steep trail through rhododendron forests leading up to the grassy top of Poon Hill. The viewpoint of Poon Hill is the most popular trekking destination within the Annapurna region, where you can enjoy tantalizing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains including close-up views of Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu. The unobstructed and illuminated sunrise view over the Himalayas and far western ranges of Dolpo is the most mesmerizing moment for you today. After a photographic delight and a hot beverage, you will descend to Ghorepani for breakfast and then trek to Tadapani. The trail in this segment is mostly hilly meandering through forests and village farmlands, scenic waterfalls and steep rivers with melted water from the glaciers above. Descending finally through rhododendron forests, you will reach Tadapani with your legs feel the stretch. Overnight in Tadapani.
After an epic hiking day, today is a relatively easy but a steep downhill trek through dense and dark forests. As you descend, the scenic views of wildflowers and splendid views of mountains are visible almost throughout the day. The trail eases as you approach nearer to Ghandruk, a slope settlement comprising of the stone house and mostly inhabited by the Gurung community. From this village, you will again be able to savor the mesmerizing beauty of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli peaks. You will leave the picturesque village of Ghandruk gently descending through Syauli Bazaar on the Modi Khola. From here, the trail along the river is on a leveled earth crossing terraced farms and staircases paved with stone slabs till Birethanti with scenic mountain views and landscapes. From Birethanti, an easy walk for about half an hour brings you to Nayapul, where your journey on foot comes to an end. One hour drive from Nayapul will lead you to the lake city of Pokhara. On arrival at Pokhara, you will be transferred to your hotel room, where you may stretch your legs and relax in leisure or may take a stroll in the lakeside or indulge yourself in the very common boating at Phewa Lake. Overnight in Pokhara.
Bidding goodbye to the lake city, you will board on an exciting bus journey after an extravagant breakfast. Throughout the trip, you will witness scenic greeneries, rivers, tiny hamlets, streamlets, vegetation farms and marvelous mountain views. The appealing drive eventually lands you in Kathmandu, from where you will be transferred to your hotel where you may take a rest, or wander around Thamel for souvenir shopping to carry back home. If you feel energetic enough after the tiring trip, then you may explore around popular tourist attractions nearby. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today is the day your holidays in Nepal has come to an end, and you will be flying back home with ample memories of the experiences you’ve had in the Himalayas. A representative from AID Journeys & Adventure will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport well ahead of your scheduled flight for your onward journey. With plenty of time onboard, you may plan your next trip in the Himalayan realms of Nepal. For those willing to stay back and extend your holidays, AID Journeys & Adventure will be glad to plan your trip according to your craving.
