Experience the Best of Nepal on this Exciting Trek
Highlights
Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, Mount Everest, Annapurna, Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Ghorepani
Locations Covered
Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, Mount Everest, Annapurna, Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Ghorepani
trekking, sightseeing, backpacking
Group Tour
19 Days
Description
Combine the two most famous treks of Nepal with its premier wildlife habitat. This trip offers a huge variety of scenery, flora, fauna, and culture. The colorful villages, rich forests and rushing mountain streams of the Annapurna region offer an interesting contrast to the higher starker Everest region, home to the Buddhist culture of the Sherpas and the highest mountain on earth.
Itinerary
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Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
In the morning after breakfast, a trip orientation meeting will be organized and there will be a full-day tour around Kathmandu valley. Kathmandu, being a historical and cultural heart of Nepal, is a popular destination for tourists, trekkers, and adventure seekers. The city presents a wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Western influence in the Valley.
In this tour, we will see the glorious Newari architecture of the old palace of Kathmandu Durbar Square and we will join the pilgrims around the enormous Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa and then to Nepal’s most important Hindu temple Pashupatinath temple that stands on the bank of the holy Bagmati river.
Last-minute shopping can also be done this day. Welcome to dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner
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Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft); trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563ft) 2-3 hours trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla and set off on the first short trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi and then, downwards into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalizing views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding where we spend our first night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft); trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563ft) 2-3 hours trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla and set off on the first short trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi and then downwards into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalizing views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding where we spend our first night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinn
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Trek to NAMCHE (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent
Heading for the Namche Bazar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared a world heritage site.
Completing halfway to Namche Bazar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge, and just before this bridge, the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the Bhote Koshi.
Beginning the final steps uphill slowly, we reach heights of Namche from where we can have first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge and finally after about 1.5km/0.9mile), we reach Namche Bazar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Acclimatize at NAMCHE; Trek to KHUMJUNG (3780m/12402ft); back to NAMCHE
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire.
This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. In the way, we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam, and Taboche and we reach a signposted intersection from where we move towards the right hand for Khumjung.
Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest “THE EVEREST VIEW HOTEL” for lunch, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar (East) peak, besides Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Taboche and then, the path drop to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhava, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in the US.
We return back to Namche for a night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek KHUMJUNG (3780m/12402ft)
This day, we start the climb through the U shaped hillside above Namche from beside the Gompa. In the way we see several snowy peaks of Kwangde, Khumbila and Thamserku and Tagi Tau and Pharchamo, Tip of Ama Dablam and Taboche and we reach a signposted intersection from where we move towards the right hand for Khumjung.
Walking past a large chorten and a long mani wall, we reach a viewpoint to Everest, Lhotse, and Lhotse Shar (East) peak, besides Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Taboche and then path drops to Khumjung past the Hillary School. Khumjung is famous for its gompa that stands in a grove of cedar in the upper part of the village where there is an image of the Guru Padmasambhava, who helped establish Buddhism in Tibet, flanked by his two consorts. Inside the gompa is preserved a skull that lamas believe is that of the yeti, but was disapproved by scientists in the US.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek to TENGBOCHE (3870m/12697ft
As we head out of Khumjung, we can see Tengboche with its great monastery perched on a ridge, straight ahead. We climb rapidly down the stepped Tengboche path, descending through a forest of rhododendron and birch trees. The path eventually reaches Sanasa (3650m/12,045ft), a major trail junction where the Khumjung road meets the main Namche-Tengboche trail. The region is rich in wildlife: trekkers often spot musk deer, herds of blue sheep, and the taur (Himalayan goat).
The trail now begins a long and zigzag descend from Tashinga that finally brings us level with Dudh Koshi at a small settlement of Phunki Tenga. This ascends to Tengboche from here is surely the toughest climb on the trail so far taking about 2-3 hours. Finally, after a bend, we can view the peak of Kangtegaa(6783m/22,383ft).
As we climb further, a kaani gateway suddenly appears which means we have reached Tengboche. The Tengboche meadow is dominated by its monastery, one of Nepal’s largest. Tengboche’s fabled scenic beauty will take our breath away. The mountain panorama includes the entire gamut of lower and middle Khumbu peaks-Kangtega, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Kwangde, and Tengkangboche-besides the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge on the northeast with Everest just visible. This place can be best visited during the Mani Rimbu Festival in autumn when mask dances are held in front of the monastery for three days.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek back NAMCHE
From Tengboche, we retrace our steps down to Phunki Tenga, and then climb the ridge towards Namche Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek back LUKLA
Descending through Namche Bazaar, we pick up the trail again, following the Dudh Kosi south through rhododendron and pine forests, past Jorsale, Monzo and Benkar to Chaunrikhara. Here, we leave the main trail and climb the short distance to the small airstrip of Lukla.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Fly back KATHMANDU
Flyback from Lukla to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
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Fly to Pokhara ; Drive to NAYAPUL & Walk to BIRETHANTI
We depart Kathmandu early in the morning and Take a 30 minutes flight to Pokhara. There will be someone to pick us from the airport and drive us Naya Pul, from where it is a short walk to Birethanthi, a large prosperous village.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek to GHOREPANI (2750m/9023ft)
Following the trail through the main streets of Birethanti, winding through bamboo forests and past a large waterfall and swimming hole we reach Sudami beyond a pasture used by caravans. We climb steadily up the side of the valley to reach Hille and about 15 minutes above Hille is the Tikhedhunga.
Crossing the Tikhedhunga Khola on a suspension bridge, the trail drops and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola on a large bridge at 1520m. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase that is said to have more than 3300 steps which continue to the large Magar village of Ulleri (2080m) and climbing gently through the pastures and cultivated fields the trail makes its way to deep forests to reach a hamlet of Banthanti.
Crossing the magnificent oak and rhododendron forests the trail passes through two sparkling clear streams, a small ridge, and another stream before making the final climb to another Magar village of Nangathanti (2460m).
About an hour past this village, we reach Ghorepani where we can see eight different species of Nepal’s national flower rhododendron in the hillsides below Ghorepani.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek to POON HILL (3210m/10532ft); Trek to TADAPANI (2710m/8892ft)
After about an hours climb in the morning we reach Poon Hill which is a viewpoint for the spectacular Himalayan panorama extending from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna to Machhapuchhre; that stretches from Dhaulagiri I ( 8167m) and Tukuche (6920m) to Nilgiri (6940m), Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8091m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Tarke Kang (7193m).
Climbing just a little further beyond the viewpoint, the trail descends a bit and then goes through series of ups and downs through the forest of bamboo, rhododendron, and birch to reach a hamlet of Deurali which also has a viewpoint tower some 200m/660ft above the hamlet. Beyond Deurali, crossing through the slippery stretches we reach a stream and taking the path above the stream.
Crossing the bridge over the stream we climb steep stone steps with iron railings and reach the hamlet of Banthanti. The path drops steeply down now through the dense forests and crossing the bridge in the stream climb steep stone steps to reach Tadapani which offers an excellent ringside view of the entire region with a ring of mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek to GHANDRUK (1970m/6464ft); 2-3 hours, 720m descent
The Ghandruk trail descends steeply through forests to Bhaisi Kharka from where we take the right-hand trail that makes a short steep descent among rocks to a stream crossing, and then leads out on a ridge towards Ghandruk. The trail reaches the top of Ghandruk and descends on stone steps into the maze of the village itself. Ghandruk is the second-largest Gurung settlement in Nepal framed by outstanding views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Trek to NAYAPUL 3-4 hours; 1000m descent; Drive to POKHARA
We take the main trail that leads to south dropping at first on a staircase, and then traversing high above the river on a stone-paved trail. We cross a stream at Chane (1690m) and continue to Kimche (1640m) and follow the ridge downhill to join the Modi Khola at Syauli Bazaar (1140m). From here on, the walking is flat and following the river valley through a lovely birch forest and rice terraces we reach Birethanti. Now walking 30 minutes on a rough and rocky road takes us to Nayapul from where we drive back to Pokhara.
Meals: Breakfast
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Drive to CHITWAN
After breakfast, we head west to Chitwan National park, one of the best-managed parks in the world, which is approximately 160km and takes 4-5 hours from Pokhara. We enjoy lunch at a lodge and participate in various jungle activities such as an elephant safari, jungle drive, and a nature walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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CHITWAN
For watching wildlife, birds and the rare species of flora and fauna we can either go for Jungle Safari deep into the park in a four-wheel jeep or on a walk or choose an altogether relaxing way on a canoeing trip on the Rapti or Narayani Rivers or by elephant riding which is much thrilling rather than comfortable. Moreover, we can head for exploring surrounding Tharu villages.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Drive back KATHMANDU
After breakfast, we drive back to Kathmandu arriving in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
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Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS
If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours, etc.
Meals: Breakfast
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
The Group Size and Price | |
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1 to 50 | /group |
This is a group tour |