Annapurna Trekking – NAT12
Annapurna Trekking allows you to absorb the glorious views of the Nepalese countryside. Explore the greater Himalayan landscapes of northern Nepal, observing the Gurung, Magar and Manangi tribes and their lifestyles. The trek starts from the lakeside town of Pokhara and is designed for leisure to moderate hikers, reaching an altitude of 3210 m (10,531 ft.).
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival day in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft.)
Welcome to the Himalayan country of Nepal. Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative welcomes and transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu. During the evening, you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner in one of the typical Nepalese restaurant in the heart of Kathmandu.
Day 2 Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft.)
After breakfast we start with a guided day trip to world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley and surrounding areas. Visit the pilgrimage sites of Hindu temple Pashupatinath, one of the most important shrines of Shiva temples on the subcontinent and Saddhus where often can be seen a cremation on the holy riverbank of Bagmati. Hundreds of monkeys will explore with you as you visit Bouddhanath stupa, another pilgrimage centre which is a popular and important place for Buddhists. After lunch, continue to Swoyambhunath stupa, also known as the monkey temple. Stop to take in the 360 degrees view of the valley. Return to Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is old royal palace of Kathmandu. Observe the many temples, of various architectures, and walk the streets of the old city. Back at the hotel will be a briefing about your trekking adventure.
Day 3 Pokhara valley (823m/2,700ft), 7-8 hrs. drive
Your guide will greet you in the morning and transfer you to the tourist bus station for the 7 hour scenic drive, along rivers and Nepalese countryside. Arrive at Pokhara lakeside in time to explore the surrounding lakeside areas before resting at your hotel.
Day 4 Pothana (1990m/6527 ft.), 4 hrs. walk
Take a short drive, 40 minutes, to reach Phedi, the starting point of our trek. From here we’ll follow the trail to Dhampus village for 1.5 hours ascending through terraced fields and a small forest. After lunch at Dhampus village, we’ll continue our ascent for 2 hours to Pothana, where we’ll rest and relax at our local teahouse for overnight. Pothana is a small village surrounding by small forest with a good view of Machhapuchre (Mt. Fishtail) as well as Annapurna South.
Day 5 Ghandruk village (1940m/6360 ft.) 6-7 hrs. walk
After your teahouse breakfast we’ll be walking up and down along quiet trails through the forest for about 3 hours where we can stop at some small teahouses for tea or cold drinks. We’ll stop for lunch at Landruk, nestled in terrace landscapes. Continuing, the trail leads down to the Modi River and across a bridge, where bee hives can be spotted on the cliff side. We then ascend to Ghandruk, which is a largest Gurung (popular ethnic group from western region of Nepal) settlement in the area. It has the closest views of Annapurna and Machhapuchre. Spend the evening exploring the colorful traditionally dressed locals and the village itself.
Day 6 Tadapani (2,710m/8,891ft) 4 hrs walk
Walk through the rich rhododendron forest for about 3 hrs., reaching Bhaise Kharka teahouses. Ascend to Tadapani after few hour walk through a forested pathway. This small place is surrounded by rhododendron forest and enjoys the closest view of Mt. Fishtail and Annapurna range.
Day 7 Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft) 5-6 hrs. walk
A short walk down to a stream, followed by a 3 hour climb up to the steep ridge of Deurali for lunch. We walk to the top of Deurali pass (3160m/10365 ft.) and then it is an easy walk of around an hour, down to Ghorepani where we’ll stay for the tonight. This is popular place for panoramic views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri range.
Day 8 Tatopani (1,200m/3937ft) via Poonhill (3,210m/10,531ft) hike, 6-7 hrs. walk.
Wake up to start climbing, in the dark, up to the Poonhill to catch a sunrise. It takes about 45 minutes though the rhododendron forest and, once at Poonhill, you’ll be able to enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the Mustang and Pokhara valleys. Later, we return to the hotel for breakfast and then continue down to Tatopani, which means ‘hot water spring’ in Nepali. We’ll stop en-route for lunch at Shikha before reaching Tatopani. Take some time to visit the hot spring at the riverbank of Kaligandaki.
Day 9 Galeshowor (900m/2,952 ft.), 6-7 hrs. walk
Getting close to the end of your Annapurna Trek, we follow the Kaligandaki River downhill. Walk through villages, fields and past road construction for about 3 hrs., reaching Tipling for lunch. Then we follow the easy path to get to Galeshowor, which is a big town and touched with modern styles. After check in to the hotel, you may wish to explore the famous Shiva temple, the surrounding town and riverbank.
Day 10 Pokhara (823m/2,700ft) 4-5 hrs. drive
This morning, we’ll drive from Galeshowor to Beni and Pokhara taking around 4-5 hours through beautiful countryside. Upon arrival in Pokhara, we’ll explore the lakeside area or simply relax at our hotel.
Day 11 Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft.), 7-8 hrs. drive
Drive back to Kathmandu through scenic countryside, stopping en-route for breakfast and lunch, approximately 7 hours. On arrival, your guide will transfer you to the hotel for rest and relaxation.
Day 12 Departure from Kathmandu
Today is free for last minute shopping or sight-seeing. If departing, you’ll be transferred to the International Airport for your departing flight.
High Altitude Climbing and Altitude Sickness
Included services and equipment:
- Airport transfers Kathmandu
- Deluxe twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Welcome & farewell dinner in Kathmandu
- Sightseeing trip with city tour guide in Kathmandu as per itinerary & monument entry fees
- Full board meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & coffee) during the trek
- Comfortable accommodation in teahouse/lodges during trek
- Everest National park entry fee and necessary permits
- All government and local taxes
Safety Equipment
- Gamow Bag’ (High altitude chamber bag) as a precautionary measure on request
- Rescue assistance
- Exclusive medical kit bag
Staff
- Trekking guide training from NATHAM (Nepal Government)
- Intensive wilderness first aid training
- Eco-trekking workshop
- Rock and Ice Climbing and Mountaineering (Expedition Leaders)
- Ratio of at least one guide (English speaking) and one assistant guide
- One porter for each group of two trekkers
Mountain Cuisine
While on the trek, 3 good quality meals a day are provided. For breakfast, you can expect porridge, cereal, toast or chapatis, omelets and a range of hot drinks. All meals are provided from the tea house menus during your trek.
Accommodation
While trekking, accommodation is in basic tea houses, usually with shared facilities. Showers are available in some of the guest houses, and others will offer bucket baths.
Visas
All visitors require a visa to enter Nepal. You can obtain your visa from a Nepal Embassy beforehand, or upon arrival in Nepal. You will need 2 passport photos and $25 – $100 US cash, depending on length of stay.
Climate and Weather
Nepal has two distinct seasons, a dry one, which lasts from October to May, and a wet monsoonal one from June to September. The traditional trekking season is October to May. During the trekking season the nights can be very cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant daytime temperatures up to about 25 degree Celsius, falling to 5 degree Celsius, at night, between 1000m and 3500m. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20 degree Celsius down to – 10 degrees Celsius. Mornings are usually clear, and then clouds can build up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies. After May, summer (Jun, Jul and Aug) is monsoon so visibility and rain are an issue. Mornings are usually clear with cloud build-up occasionally bringing afternoon rain. Treks can last from two days to a month or more, and the first consideration will be to choose a trek that fits into your available time and physical condition. You’ll also need to strike a balance between trekking in the best weather for the area you wish to trek in and avoiding the crowds the good weather attracts.
Social Conventions & Customs of Nepal:
Be careful to respect local customs:
- Never step over the feet of a person, always walk around.
- Never offer food and drink that you have tasted or bitten; never offer or accept anything with the left hand, use the right or both hands.
- It is considered rude to point at a person or statue with a finger (or even with a foot).
Often when people shake their head, it means ‘yes’. Footwear should be removed when entering houses, especially kitchens, or shrines. Do not stand in front of a person who is eating. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaste).
Casual wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. However, bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate. Seek permission before entering a temple, and do not take leather articles inside them.
Photography: Always ask permission first. In general, it is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there is no hard and fast rule and the only way to be sure of not giving offence is to ask first and accept the answer.
A number of faiths and religions have merged in Nepal and exist simultaneously. Nepal is a country with “Unity in Diversity”. This diverseness in culture makes Nepal a unique country in the world with a lot of different customs and traditions. Traditions and rituals in Nepal have become an integral part of everyday life. Customs of Nepal are a major attraction for the tourists coming here.
Right from birth to death, a Nepalese keeps on performing various customs and traditions. Almost every occasion in Nepal (birth, engagement, marriage, death and so on) has a ceremony attached to it.
