Itinerary
- Day 1
Kathmandu
You'll arrive in Kathmandu and get picked up at the airport for the drive to your hotel. After you settle in, there's a pre-trip briefing with your tour leader at 6 pm. Then you'll take a cycle rickshaw through Thamel, the main tourist area, and check out Asan market, the oldest square in the city with vegetable and spice stalls. The day finishes with a backstreet walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square, which lights up nicely in the evening.
Included Activities
- Pre-trip briefing with tour leader
- Cycle rickshaw tour through Thamel
- Visit Asan vegetable and spice markets
- Explore Kathmandu Durbar Square
Landmarks Kathmandu Durbar Square Asan Market Thamel - Day 2
Kathmandu to Bandipur
You'll have breakfast before driving from Kathmandu to Bandipur, stopping for lunch at Benighat along the way. From Dumre, the road winds uphill to reach Bandipur. Walking through the old bazaar brings you to The Old Inn where you'll have lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing or wandering around the quiet village. Dinner serves authentic Nepalese dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on arrival), Dinner (Authentic Nepalese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Drive from Kathmandu to Bandipur
- Walk through Bandipur Bazaar
Optional Activities
- Walk around Bandipur surrounds for 2-3 hours
Landmarks Bandipur Bazaar Manaslu Annapurna Range - Day 3
Bandipur to Ulleri
An early morning drive takes about 5 hours from Bandipur to Hille, the trekking start point. You'll pass through streams, waterfalls, tropical plants, and green fields. There's a suspension bridge to cross at Tikedhunga, then you hike uphill for roughly 40 minutes to reach Ulleri where you stay overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Hille trek start point
- Trek from Hille to Ulleri
Landmarks Hille Tikedhunga Ulleri - Day 4
Ulleri to Ghorepani
The trail goes up and down with many staircases and tea-houses along the way. Halfway up you get your first look at Annapurna South. Moving further, the forest gets thicker with moss-covered trees and tall bamboo. Past Banthanti the vegetation becomes really dense. You'll walk through a narrow valley with more steps before the jungle opens up at Nangathanti. One more hour of climbing gets you to Ghorepani.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani
Landmarks Banthanti Nangathanti Ghorepani Annapurna South - Day 5
Ghorepani to Tadapani
Start before dawn and hike for 45 minutes to Poon Hill to catch the sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. You'll head back to the tea-house for breakfast, then continue north along the ridge with great mountain views. After following a forested ridge, you'll descend down a muddy slope, enter a heavily forested gorge, and climb through thick forest to reach Tadapani.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill for sunrise
- Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani
Landmarks Poon Hill Dhaulagiri Annapurna Range Tadapani - Day 6
Tadapani to Chomrong
Trek down a steep hill through jungle to Chomrong. The landscape changes to terraced fields on a deep valley side and you keep walking along those contours. Then you'll climb steeply up the other side of the valley and enter the larger Modi Khola valley, which leads toward the Annapurna Sanctuary. The day ends when you reach Chomrong.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Tadapani to Chomrong
Landmarks Modi Khola Valley Annapurna Sanctuary Chomrong - Day 7
Chomrong to Bamboo
The trail heads down to cross the Chommro Khola and then climbs into the Modi Khola valley, moving up onto the main ridge high above the river. Rhododendron, oak, and hemlock trees line the gorge making this great for spotting birds. Most of the hiking is uphill as you work toward the village of Bamboo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Chomrong to Bamboo
Landmarks Chommro Khola Modi Khola Bamboo - Day 8
Bamboo to Himalaya Hotel
You'll hike an up and down trail to the small settlement of Himalaya. The route follows the valley and climbs steadily uphill to Doban. About 30 minutes past Doban there's a shrine dedicated to the deity Panchhi Baraha with an impressive waterfall nearby. After crossing the Modi Khola you hike steeply up to Himalaya Hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Bamboo to Himalaya Hotel
Landmarks Doban Panchhi Baraha Shrine Modi Khola Himalaya - Day 9
Himalaya Hotel to Machhapuchare Base Camp
As you gain altitude the trail gets icier. You'll walk through a 'sacred' forest and pass a big mossy waterfall and small temple. Moving to an open area above the forest, you reach Deurali. Continue to Hinko and then arrive at the narrow entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary with Machhapuchare clearly visible above the valley. You'll stay at Machhapuchare Base Camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Himalaya Hotel to Machhapuchare Base Camp
Landmarks Deurali Hinko Machhapuchare Annapurna Sanctuary Machhapuchare Base Camp - Day 10
Annapurna Base Camp
Head up to Annapurna Base Camp early morning before clouds roll in and to avoid avalanche risk. The camp sits at 4130m at the foot of the Annapurna Glacier's edge. From the top of the moraine you can see the gray, rock-covered glacier stretching below. The sounds of rock and ice slides regularly echo through the Sanctuary.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek to Annapurna Base Camp
Landmarks Annapurna Base Camp Annapurna Glacier - Day 11
Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
You'll head downhill for the day, retracing the same route from Annapurna Base Camp back to Bamboo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
Landmarks Bamboo - Day 12
Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Two long climbs and two long descents bring you to Upper Sinuwa with good views of Machhapuchare and Annapurna III. The trail then drops to Lower Sinuwa and climbs to a spur ridge overlooking Jhinu Danda where you stay the night. You'll get one last close view of Machhapuchare, Hiunchuli, and Annapurna South. In late afternoon, it's a 20 minute walk to the natural hot springs by the Modi Khola River to relax after all the hiking.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
- Visit natural hot springs
Landmarks Upper Sinuwa Lower Sinuwa Jhinu Danda Machhapuchare Annapurna III Hiunchuli Annapurna South Jhinu Danda Hot Springs - Day 13
Jhinu Danda to Ghandruk
You'll enter Kimrong Khola valley where the walking is easier for a bit. After reaching the junction with the route from Ghorepani and the village of Kimrong, the trail suddenly drops through short steep switchbacks in open rocky fields to Ghandruk, a 'Gurung' village that's grown large and wealthy thanks to pensions from retired Gurkha soldiers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Jhinu Danda to Ghandruk
Landmarks Kimrong Khola Kimrong Ghandruk - Day 14
Ghandruk to Pokhara
From Ghandruk the trail gradually descends on a wide flagstone path, staying along the ridge contour and passing through Kimche. After about 1.5 hours you reach Nayapul where a jeep picks you up. The drive to Pokhara takes roughly 3 hours as the landscape gets lusher and you head down toward the valley. You'll pass Birethanti and drive along the river to Pokhara.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek from Ghandruk to Kimche
- Drive from Nayapul to Pokhara
Landmarks Kimche Nayapul Birethanti Pokhara - Day 15
Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast you'll fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu. A private transfer takes you from the airport to Thamel, the main area for travelers. You'll have free time to walk around this district, check out the shops and restaurants, and do some last-minute souvenir shopping since many places stay open late.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Internal flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
- Private transfer from airport to Thamel
Optional Activities
- Explore Thamel district
- Shop for souvenirs
Landmarks Thamel - Day 16
Departure from Kathmandu
Say goodbye to your tour leader and the friends you've made. Your transfer to the airport is included in the tour. Make sure to check with your tour leader or the hotel desk about your checkout time before you leave.
