Ecofriendly Treks & Expeditions

Itinerary Detail

DAY 01: ARRIVE KATHMANDU (A)
Airport representative of Eco-friendly Trek will meet, well-come you with flower beat and transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel. The rest of the day at leisure to adjust to the culture shock of medieval Kathmandu, with its bustling bazaars interspersed with shrines and temples and interesting architecture. In the evening you can either eat in at your hotel or venture out to one of the many restaurants in Thamel. Overnight.

DAY 02: SIGHTSEEING IN KATHMANDU 3 HOURS (A,B)
3 hours sightseeing in Kathmandu. Today, you will visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square,  Monkey Temple & Pashupati Nath Temple, all are World Cultural Heritage Site enlisted by UNESCO, rest of the day finalize trekking permit (TIMS), national park permit and final packing for the trekking. Rest of the day finalize trekking permit (TIMS), national park permit and final packing for the trekking.

DAY 03: DRIVE TO KHUDI VIA BESI SAHAR (2,591 ft/790m) 7-8 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Today you will be picked up from your hotel for the drive to Besi Sahar. Your journey takes you through deep gorges as you trace the Trisuli River westwards. You will pass through the small town of Mugling where the Trisuli and Marshyangdi rivers meet. The town also serves as the crossroads between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan in the south. You pass over an impressive suspension bridge and begin to follow the Marshyangdi River, which will become a familiar sight, as it will be your companion all the way to Thorong Phedi. On this section of the road you will gain your first sight of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. After Mugling you turn north and the Annapurna Massif looms as you approach Besi Sahar. After taking lunch here you will begin further driving to Khudi. After crossing the Pam Khola (Khola means river) you follow a gently ascending path through the fertile Marshyangdi valley. After just less than one hour’s drive you cross a bambo bridge which signifies the approach to Khudi, a small settlement made up of local lodges, shops and teahouses. You will cross another bridge to reach the Riverside Guest House, a lodge on the banks of the Nagdi Khola, where you can relax to the sound of the river and look forward to tomorrow’s walk. Overnight lodge.

DAY 04: TREK TO BAHUNDANDA (4,330ft/1,320m). 5-6 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Leaving Khunde you regain the main trail and pass a local school on your right-hand side. You pass through the small village of Bhulbhule, which sits on both sides of the Marshyangdi River. You cross a wide suspension bridge over the mighty Marshyangdi, which at this point flows milky white. The bridge serves as a vital connection between both sides of the village. You continue past terraced rice fields and here the path is mostly level. About 30 minutes after Bhulbhule you begin a gentle ascent to the village of Nagdi. You will have to cross a small wooden bridge after which you will come across the first few houses, which signify the outer reaches of Nagdi. Continuing up the path you will see the main village, which rests on a small outcrop on the banks of the Marshyangdi. There is the opportunity to stop here for a cup of tea in one of several friendly lodges. From here you will cross another large suspension bridge over the Ngadi Khola, where the trail starts to gain height and strays away from the Marshyangdi and through a wooded area. For the last hour there is a steep climb through cultivated fields into Bahundanda. Bahundanda means “hill of the Brahmins” and the settlement of mainly Hindu population sits on the crest of a ridge. There is a small temple in the village and in the centre of the village square is a large pipal tree, which has religious significance. If you still have some energy after your days’ walk there are some hot springs 30 minutes away. Overnight lodge.

DAY 05: TREK TO CHAMJE (4,691ft/1,430m). 6-7 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
From Bahundanda you will descend a series of stone steps. Around these low-lands you may see local villagers harvesting their rice crops. In this area they are able to grow 2-3 crops a year depending on rainfall. The path then levels off and from here you will see the small settlements of Sildhunga and Tadhring clinging to the hillside on the opposite side of the valley. You cross a small log bridge and climb up passing a disused waterpowered grinding mill. After passing through the village of Lili Bhir you continue contouring around the valley side. You come to a small chorten which marks the boundary of Khani Gaon and there is another chorten at the end of the village. You will soon pass through another village called Ghermuphant. This means “flat place” due to the wide flat expanse on which the village sits. On the opposite side of the valley there is a magnificent waterfall which extends the whole height of the valley side. You now descend to the valley floor to cross a steel suspension bridge across the Marshyangdi at Syange. As you trek up the valley you will notice the sides narrowing and increasing in height. You will pass many donkey trains along the way. From here it is a steep climb up to the village of Jagat which means “toll-station”, as this was once a tax collecting point for the Tibetan salt trade. When Bill Tilman visited the area in 1950 this route did not exist. Instead he had to walk along a series of wooden galleries tied to the rock face! The valley has now become a steep canyon and there is a steep climb up to the village of Chamje. Overnight lodge.

DAY 06: TREK TO BAGARCHHAP (7,086ft/2,160m). 6-7 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Leaving Chamje you soon come to a suspension bridge to cross to the Marshyangdi’s east side. You continue through a series of overhanging rock formations. After a short climb the path begins to traverse the rock face on a broad ledge. You then come to a series of stone steps and pass a couple of “Bhattis” (historically liquor distilleries) on your way. “Bhattis” originally offered just alcoholic drinks and some lodgings but since the advent of tourism they now stock all sorts of soft drinks and snacks. After a while the trail evens out and you will cross through an archway- this is the gateway to Tal and the Manang district. “Tal” is the Nepali word for “lake” and you will see the broad expanse where a lake used to be. The trail leads to the right of this expanse beneath a mighty rock wall on your right. The people of the Manang region are Tibetan in origin and you will see increasing evidence of this Tibetan influence as you continue your trek up to Thorong Phedi. The architecture changes and you will see more Buddhist chortens and gompas. Another hint of this influence can be gained by the lodge names with a plethora of names such as “New Tibetan”, “Lhasa” and “Potala” Guesthouses. The trail from Tal is level for a while, giving a welcome relief for your legs! The Marshyangdi is wide and calm at this point. After an hour you cross a bridge back to the western side of the gorge. Back on the eastern bank you will see the old trail which was used until recently -however due to landslides it is no longer safe. You continue to climb to reach the village of Dharapani, which has numerous hotels and a police check post. While you pass through the village you will see a valley coming in from the east along which the Dudh Khola flows. This is where the Manaslu circuit trek route joins the Marsyangdi River, coming down from the Larkya La. F rom here there is a “low path” or a “high path” leading to Bagarchhap. The high path involves climbing a series of stone steps for at least 45 minutes, however it is worth it for the view and the two small villages you pass through. The first is called Odar and the second Ghalan Chok. As this trail is little used by tourists, the villages have retained their character and there is not a guesthouse in sight. The villages are surrounded by high terraces of maze and soya beans. From here you make the short descent to Bagarchhap for the night. If you have time you may want to visit the splendid Gompa in Bagarchhap. Overnight lodge.

DAY 07: TREK TO CHAME (8,628ft/2,630m). 5 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Leaving Bagarchhap you proceed up the valley gaining great views of Annapurna II (7,937m/26,040ft) and Lamjung Himal (6,932m/22,743ft) directly in front of you. After half an hour you will pass through the village of Danakyu. You pass a mani wall and a huge prayer wheel on your left hand side. If you look back you should be able to see the lofty peaks of Manaslu (8,154m/26,752ft), the eight highest peak in the world, and Peak 29 (7,833m/25,699ft). After Danakyu there is the possibility of taking a “low route”. However we recommend you take the “high route” which offers spectacular scenery. You will have a steep climb of just under an hour through a forest populated by pines and firs. The trail then flattens out and you cross a log bridge. You might catch sight of the Langur monkeys, which are resident here. The trail ascends again and looking back, Manaslu  now appears closer than ever. The trail takes you through a natural amphitheatre, with high wooded hillsides all around. A short while after you will reach Timang Meadows - a small village. Continuing on, the path is level and after a river you will come to another village called Thanchok. Further up the trail you may get a sight of Annapurna II towering into the sky. The path then rejoins the main trail and in this area the trail is scattered with huge boulders. Descending through woodland you pass through the village of Koto which sits in the shadow of Annapurna II and on your right you will see the Naw Khola joining the Marshyangdi from a northern valley. In Koto there is a small Gompa adorned with brightly coloured paints. The valley then opens out and it is a short level walk to Chame, where you will spend the night. Chame houses the headquarters of the Manang district and you will see district officials riding up and down the trail on horseback, which is still the fastest means of transportation in this area. You enter Chame through an archway and there is a large mani wall just inside. Chame is a good place to do last-minute shopping – you can buy woolly hats and gloves, chocolate and batteries, the bank may be open to change money and you may even be able to make a telephone call. You cross the Marshyangdi to the north side to find your lodge. There are some hot springs five minutes walk from the lodge and excellent views of Lamjung Himal. Overnight lodge.

DAY 08: TREK TO PISANG (10,465ft/3,190m). 5-6 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Today will be a shorter walk but the scenery is so wonderful that you will want to take your time. Leaving Chame you pass a few mani walls, one overshadowed by a huge wall of rock to your right. You pass though a small hamlet marked by chortens at each end. The trail here is even and for a while is bordered by an attractive dry stone wall. Soon after you arrive at a water-turned prayer wheel. You pass through the village of Bhratang and continue up until you begin a 45-minute climb through forest, levelling off and then reaching a suspension bridge. Crossing the bridge there is a moderate climb in forest and you begin to move away from the Marshyangdi. The valley begins to broaden out and Pisang Peak (6091m/19,983ft) will be directly in front of you. The woodland here is made up of juniper, pine and fir. You pass a couple of small lakes where wading birds can sometimes be seen. Pisang is divided into upper and lower villages. You cross a small wooden bridge to arrive in Lower Pisang where you will stay in a lodge. It is well worth while crossing the Marshyangdi River and climbing up to the upper village, which is more traditional and has an ornately decorated gompa overlooking both villages. Overnight lodge.

DAY 09: TREK TO MANANG (11,482ft/3,500m). 5-6 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
On this day there are two options a Low route of 5 hrs or a High route of 6/7 hrs depending on how energetic you are feeling.   Either: If you take the lower, less strenuous route, the path out of the valley is pretty level and then once out of the valley you begin to contour round to your left and climb up onto a ridge. The view from this ridge is breathtaking looking down into the Manang valley and you will want to stay here all day to enjoy it! Dropping to the valley floor the path is wide and dusty. You will have noticed that the scenery here is becoming more arid, the air drier and the wind colder. Annapurna III (7,555m/24,786ft) rises to the left and passing through the village of Hongde you will see the deserted remains of the old village on its outskirts. The path then rises  radually and takes you into the next valley. After a couple of hours’ walk you will pass through the village of Braga, just 30 minutes’ walk from Manang. Overnight either at Hotel Yeti or Himalayan Singe - both offer en suite facilities. Or: If you are feeling fit and energetic then the high route on the east bank of the Marshyangdi is strenuous but well worth the effort. You cross the river out of Pisang village and then take a reasonably level path through scrub land, passing a small picturesque lake on your right. You then pass a long mani wall and descend to cross a stream and begin a strenuous zigzagging climb up to the village of Ghyaru (12,050ft/3,673m). A welcome tea shop is the first house you reach in the village. It is well worth climbing up to visit the gompa at the top of the village. The views from here of Annapurna II and Annapurna IV are totally stunning. From Ghyaru you continue up the valley on a wonderful high level trail, passing the ruins of a castle set on a promontory, with views both ways up and down the valley. You then arrive at the village of Ngawal (11,975ft/3,650m) where there is a large newly built gompa up to the right. You leave the village near a long mani wall. Finally you descend back to the valley floor and rejoin the main trail to continue to Braga and Manang. Before continuing it is well worth visiting Braga Gompa, which is the oldest in the area and is a wonderfully atmospheric building. Ask your guide to find the ‘man with the key’! Overnight lodge.

DAY 10: REST DAY AT MANANG. (A,B,L,D)
It is essential to spend time for acclimatisation in this area. There are splendid views of the peaks from both Manang and Braga villages. Manang is a large village situated on a rise immediately across from the huge Gangapurna glacier. A beautiful emerald lake lies at its foot. There are plenty of good walks in the area and for at least a couple of hours you should try to climb as high as possible above the village. Side trips are recommended to a small summit with prayer flags about an hour above Braga village, or up the ridge behind Manang village, or to a viewpoint above the lake opposite Manang Village. It is also possible to walk up the valley towards Tilicho Lake to the village of Khangsar. In addition it is worth visiting the Manang Gompa or, if it is open, visit the clinic run by the Himalayan Rescue Association – they often have talks about altitude in the afternoon. There are also shops to explore for souvenirs. Overnight lodge.

DAY 11: TREK TO KHANGSAR (A,B,L,D) 
This day we will trek to the village of Khangsar, about 2-hrs from Manang at (3730m). On the way, we can make a detour to small lake at the Gangapurna glacier. There about 70 houses in Khangsar as well as a monastery named Tore Gompa. From the village, there are superb views up the Khangsar Khola to Tilicho Peak and the Grand Barrier.

DAY 12: TREK TO TILICHO PHEDI BEFORE PASS (A,B,L,D) 
In between Tore Gompa and Tilicho Lake, there is a big, grassy field where Blue Sheep are often seen. About one kilometer from the field, we reach a hill. Climbing this hill (4800m) affords us a view of the entire valley. A steep descent will bring us to Tilicho Base Camp, where we find our lodging for the night.

DAY 13: EXPLORE TILICHO LAKE AND TREK TO BACK TO SAME PHEDI (A,B,L,D) 
If weather conditions are favorable, we’ll make our day trip to Tilicho Lake, the highest lake in the world at (5200m.) The Lake is 4 kilometers long and 2.5 kilometers wide. It is the main source for the Marsyangdi River. It is about 3-hrs from the lodge to the lake. We’ll have a picnic lunch before returning to the lodge.

DAY 14: TREK TO KHANGSAR (A,B,L,D) 
This day we return to Khangsar and continue our trek to Gunsang village at (3900m.) We’ll celebrate having reached the highest place on earth – if the sign at the Marsyangdi Hotel is correct, we are 3850 kilometers above see level!

DAY 15: TREK TO YAK KHARKA (13,418ft/4,090m). 3-4 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Today is a shorter day. However it is essential for acclimatisation to stop between Manang and Thorong Phedi. You will leave Manang and take about 30 minutes to reach the upper village. After this you contour round the hillside and gain great views of the “grand barrier”, the high ridge between Roc Noir and Nilgiri named by French climber Maurice Herzog. Below the grand barrier you will see down the Khangsar valley which leads up to Tilicho lake. Passing the hamlet of Gunsang you continue through the barren upper reaches of the Manang valley. The path ascends gradually but is still hard work due to the increased altitude. You will arrive at Yak Kharka and have lunch there. In the afternoon you could take a walk further up the valley or climb the ridge behind the village – if you make it to the top of the ridge there are great views of the north of the Annapurna range. Either of these walks would help with acclimatisation. Even if you only venture a short way above the camp there is the chance to see the large flocks of blue sheep which inhabit this area. Either of these walks would help with acclimatisation. Overnight lodge.

DAY 16: TREK TO THORONG PHEDI HIGH CAMP(16070ft/4900M). 4-5 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Again today is another short day, yet essential for proper acclimatisation. Leaving Yak Kharka you will pass through the small collection of lodges known as Letdar. You will take a high route, which winds its way around the eastern side of the Thorong valley, before dropping down to the valley floor. Crossing the river there is a short but sharp climb to Thorong Phedi. Phedi means “foot of the hill” and while it is the jumping off point for crossing the Thorong La it is not the prettiest place in the world! In the afternoon it is worth walking up beyond the first notch to the collection of huts known as upper base camp, as an acclimatisation walk, and then continuing up to the right to a small peak for superb all round views. Watch out here for blue sheep and snow leopard! Overnight lodge.

DAY 17: CROSS THORONG LA (17,764ft/5,414m) TREK TO MUKTINATH (3800M) 8-9 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
TREK TO MUKTINATH (12,500ft/3,810m). Approx. 8-10 HOURS Today you will need to have plenty of water with you and you may also want to have your down jacket with you. Starting at dawn or thereabouts you first ascend steeply for 1½ hours to a rock ledge and notch at 15,350ft/4,679m, then continue up along an ascending and undulating trail. This ascent will seem endless and be warned – there are several false summits - but there are great views back down the valley as you go. Finally, after anything from 3 to 5 hours, you arrive at the top of the Thorong La (17,764ft/5,414m) with its large cairn and many prayer flags. You will have spectacular views of the Annapurna Range to the south and the Mukat Himal bordering Dolpo to the west. The peak immediately south of the pass is Thorong Peak – this is a ‘trekkers peak’ and you may see people climbing here. You will probably not want to linger too long at the pass as it can be very cold and you will probably be feeling the effects of altitude. The descent to Muktinath is very steep and takes some 3 to 4 hours. This is where you might appreciate having walking poles to take the strain off the knees! During the descent there are splendid views of Dhaulagiri (8,175m/26,821ft) and Tukuche Peak (6,920m/22,703ft) and all the way down into the valley of the Kali Gandaki below. Finally you see the buildings of Muktinath coming in to view. You bypass the enclosure round the famous temples and descend to the main village, which is actually called Ranipawa and not Muktinath, a name which technically refers just to the temple. Overnight lodge.

DAY 18: MORNING IN MUKTINATH AND TREK TO KAGBENI (9,200ft/2804m) IN THE AFTERNOON. 6 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
A relaxed start to the day today after the exertions of yesterday. After a late breakfast you can wander up to the temples and explore there, most likely in the company of many other pilgrims, both Nepalese and Indian. Tibetan trinket sellers display their wares by the roadside. Woven cloth in red and black stripes is made locally and is particularly typical of the area.

MUKTINATH: The temples at Muktinath are one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. It is mentioned in the classic Indian epic, the Mahabharata, and you may see pilgrims bathing in the holy water flowing from the 108 spouts carved in the shape of cows’ heads surrounding the Vishnu Temple. The temple is built in Tibetan style and contains huge brass idols of Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma and Kali. Muktinath is home to many ethnic Tibetans and is holy to Buddhists as well, particularly for the temple in which fire miraculously burns in a stream of water! Pilgrims to Muktinath are able to gain Karma merit in a number of ways. The fire and water temple represents to Buddhists the life giving butter lamp that lights the path to enlightenment. Taking seven steps in devotion at Muktinath can help free you from the grievances of a bad rebirth. If you erect a silk banner at Muktinath you will be reborn in a future life as a universal monarch. Muktinath remains a place of atonement to its pilgrims in this modern age. You start your trek today by walking down from Muktinath. You walk for about half an hour north of the police station to reach the pleasant village of Chhyonkhar. Here a wooden bridge over the river must be crossed. A proper road has not reached this area, but the Village Development Committee has a budget for building it. You take the downhill path and cross the suspension bridge to reach Jhong – a beautiful village. There is a very old monastery here dating back to the 7th or 8th century and the ruins of an old fort. The village has 40 households and a restaurant named Milan where tea and coffee is served during the tourist season. After walking downhill for another half an hour to 45 minutes, you reach the road crossing at Putak. There are two roads leading out - the lower road goes alongside the river and leads to Khinga while the upper road goes towards Kagbeni. After walking along the upper road for some time, you cross the suspension bridge to arrive at Kagbeni. This route used to fall within a restricted area, but now ACAP has opened it up so as to avoid the road. Kagbeni is a fascinating oasis in this arid landscape. It is the most northerly village of Mustang that you can visit without a permit and it is worth walking through its narrow streets of ancient houses, through to the end of town, to see the Thak Khola valley stretching away to the north. The ancient gompa is also worth visiting. In the autumn watch out overhead for migrating demoiselle cranes which fly down the valley on their way to  India from Siberia and Tibet. The Red House Lodge is an ancient house with old wall paintings and its own private gompa room with an impressive statue of Buddha. Overnight lodge.

DAY 19: TREK TO MARPHA (8,760ft/2,670m). 7 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
You begin by walking over a dry section of the riverbed to reach the small settlement of Eklaibhatti – which means ‘a lone house’, but the original lodge here is now joined to other buildings. As you walk down the valley, look out for ammonite fossils among the pebbles. These are sacred to Hindus who call them ‘shaligrams’. You cross the suspension bridge and walk along a trail on the bank of the Kali Gandaki river until you reach Jomsom so as to avoid the motor road. Jomsom - the administrative headquarters of the Mustang District is a rather dusty, characterless town with a STOL airstrip, police station, army camp, banks and shops. It is also normally possible to telephone from here. The Kali Gandaki is called Thak Khola here and the local people belong to the ethnic group known as ‘Thakali’, an enterprising and ambitious community who formerly dominated the salt trade with Tibet as it passed down this valley. After the collapse of this trade in the 1950s, they diversified into other businesses, most notably to running hotels along the trek routes. Their former wealth is reflected in their fine villages, the principle ones that you visit being Marpha and Tukuche. After lunch at Jomsom, you continue walking below the Airport and cross the bridge onto the Thini Village and the Dhumba Lake area passing by pine and juniper forests. There is a monastery here and the local people either follow Buddhism or the ancient Bon religion. You walk down towards the river, and cross the wooden bridge to reach Samley village. After walking for about 45 minutes, you arrive at Dhumba Lake. This lake is considered sacred by most folks, especially the Thakali people. There is a monastery near the lake named Dhumba Gompa. From the monastery you have good views of Thini, Jomsom, Syang, and Marpha villages, along with Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, Thapa Peak, and Tashikang Peak (Nanda Bhauju Takura). A village named Dhumba Gaon lies on the south side of the hill. An hour’s walk from the monastery takes you to Chairo Gaon where you can see the Tibetan Refugee Camp, monastery, school, small tea shops and many large pine trees. You then cross the Kali Gandaki river and spend a night at Marpha. Marpha is a lovely village of paved streets and well-maintained, whitewashed houses surrounded by productive fields and orchards. In the autumn, be sure to try some of the beautiful, locallygrown apples or better still sample the local apple brandy. The well maintained gompa is also worth a visit. Overnight lodge.

DAY 20: TREK TO LARJUNG (8,366ft/2,550m). 6-7 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
You cross the Kali Gandaki and walk through the Chairo Gaon. A two-hour walk takes you to an exceptionally beautiful village - Chimang Village (2,850m). You walk 20 minutes downhill to the Chiming river, cross the river and walk another 20 minutes towards Dading to reach Chokhopani village. Before Chokhopani, a suspension bridge must be crossed to reach Tukuche Gaon. Further up from Tukuche, the Kaligandaki river hits the banks as it flows down. In the 19th century, Tukche played a central role in the salt trade with Tibet. The doors and windows of the houses in this village are very artistically created. Another attraction of Tukuche is the Tukuche Distillery which produces the famous Apple Brandy and Apricot Brandy. After leaving Tukuche Gaon from its lower end, you cross the wooden bridge and then walk for one hr to reach Sauru Village. This is another remarkable village, but recently there was a flood in this area leading to the destruction of many houses and farming land. Since this village does not provide proper accommodation, you overnight at Larjung which is 40 minutes from Sauru. Overnight lodge.

DAY 21: TREK TO GHASA (6,100ft/1,859m). 7-8 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
You cross the wooden bridge at the lower end of Larjung to reach Nupsang Kharka (2,980m) via the small village of Sirkung. This route offers a chance of seeing different species of birds and various types of tree such as pine and rhododendron. There are great views from Nupsang Kharka of Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak and Dhampus peak. A road heads straight down to Thiti Gaon and Thiti Taal (Lake). You walk along the road for an hour towards the left of Nupsang Kharka, passing Taglung to reach Kunjo Gaon. Kunjo Gaon (2,580m) has telephone services, a small tea shop and a lodge. You cross the Lete river and walk along the dirt road until you reach Ghasa. You can also avoid walking on the road, but that means an unnecessary diversion of 40 minutes. Overnight lodge.

DAY 22: TREK TO TATOPANI (3,904ft/1,190m). 7-8 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
After breakfast, you leave Thakali country at Ghasa, an area populated by Brahmin and Chetri hill farmers and members of hill tribes such as Gurungs and Magars. The trail climbs high above the river through a narrow gorge. You leave the former trail route at Kopchepani and climb uphill to reach Bhalebas. Rupse Chhahara is seen on the opposite side of Bhalebas. You will probably stop for lunch at Kopchepani. After lunch you walk by a Brahmin-Chetri settlement and the hydro power plant. You then cross the bridge at Topang to reach the main trail which leads to Tatopani, a bustling village which has long catered to the needs of trekkers. In Tatopani, which means ‘hot water’ in Nepali, there are natural hot springs down by the riverside which are great for a relaxing soak. Overnight lodge.

DAY 23: TREK TO CHITRE (7,841ft/2,390m). 5-6 HOURS (A,B,L,D)
Continuing down beside the river you cross a long suspension bridge to the east bank. At a cluster of houses the trail divides: one branch continues downstream to emerge at the roadhead at Beni but your path takes off steeply uphill, making an altitude gain of about 4,000ft/12,200m to reach the small settlement of Chitre. Overnight lodge.

DAY 24: TREK TO GHOREPANI (9,105ft/2,775m). 2-3 HOURS CLIMB POON HILL (10,495ft/3190m) (A,B,L,D)
A short day’s walk today. You continue walking uphill to Ghorepani (horse-watering place). This was a main staging post on the old trade route to Pokhara although nowadays it is less utilised with most mule traffic going down the Kali Gandaki to exit at the road head at Beni. The main settlement of Ghorepani is down the other side of the pass, but most trekkers stay in the settlement at the pass itself so as to be in a good situation for climbing Poon Hill. You should arrive here by lunchtime. If conditions are clear in the afternoon you can climb Poon Hill (10,495ft/3,190m), a 45 minute steady uphill, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the mountains, this afternoon. To the east across the Kali Gandaki is towering Dhaulagiri, while Annapurna South and Huinchuli are directly in front of you, with Machhapuchare and others looking less distinguished a little further to the East. Far to the east the rolling hills diminish in size and you can see the serpentine Chinese road snaking its way through the hills and where the road ends at the Phewa Tal (Lake), Pokhara can be seen. If it is cloudy it is better to leave the climb of Poon Hill until sunrise the next morning. Overnight lodge.

DAY 25: TREK TO NYAPHUL. D RIVE POKHARA (2,713ft/827m). 5-6 HOURS (A,B,L)
At sunrise, if not done last evening, you can climb Poon Hill to see the mountains turn pink – one of Nepal’s classic views. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then descend from Ghorepani in fine oak/rhododendron forest. As you descend you pass through the small settlements of Nyathante and Banthante and then emerge from the forest into cultivated land above the large and picturesque Magar village of Ulleri (6,800ft/2,073m). From here it is a long descent on stone steps to reach the river (Stephen Bezruchka’s book says that it is 3,767 steps!) where you cross a suspension bridge to the village of Tirkedhunga (5,175ft/1,577m) - a total descent from Ghorepani of 4,000ft/1,200m). The trail then descends in a more sedate fashion down the valley of the Burungdi Khola to the village of Hille. Continue descending down the valley of the Burungdi Khola, passing a waterfall on your right with a beautiful pool at its base (good swimming here!) to arrive at the handsome bazaar town of Birethanti with its sturdy houses, paved streets and café terraces overlooking the Modi Khola River. You then cross the river on a long suspension bridge and then it is a further 20-30 minutes’ walk alongside the river to reach the road at Nyaphul where your transport will be waiting to take you to Pokhara. Overnight in the Hotel Barahi.

DAY 26: FLY POKHARA TO KATHMANDU 45 MINUTES FLIGHT. (A,B)
Return to Kathmandu by air where you are met and transferred to hotel.

DAY 27: AT LEISURE IN KATHMANDU. (A,B)
An opportunity to relax and reflect on your adventures and to complete any sightseeing and last-minute shopping. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 28: FLY BACK. (B)
We will serve you appropriate vehicle to transfer you to Kathmandu International Airport as per group size.

FURTHER INFORMATION: When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. If you do have queries at this initial stage do ring us and we will be pleased to offer advice.