Day 1 Kathmandu ★Meeting day
All day
Tourists from all over the world are drawn to the snow-capped mountains and come to Nepal, a small country at the southern foot of the Himalayas. Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport (only on the day of the meeting) and check in at the meeting hotel in Kathmandu.
How to get there
There are many flights to Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport, airport code KTM) where you can choose from. We recommend purchasing direct flights from all over the country to Kathmandu:
There are direct flights to Kathmandu from many places in China (Chengdu, Beijing, Kunming, Guangzhou, etc.)
In addition, you can choose to connect. If you buy a connecting flight, please pay attention to the time between the two flights: usually more than 3 hours. This will prevent you from missing your flight due to delays.
Day 2 Kathmandu Tour (Durbar Square - Monkey Temple) → Bandipur
All day
Driving distance: about 140 kilometers
Estimated time: About 5.5 hours
After breakfast, we officially began our trip to Nepal. To understand a country, we must first understand its culture. Nepal's culture is mainly concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley, so we first arranged a half-day tour of the religious world cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley!
We first headed to Swayambhunath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kathmandu is often shrouded in mist in the early mornings, but climbing to the Swayambhunath at this hour afforded a view of the entire valley, resembling the bottom of a misty lake. Swayambhunath is Nepal's oldest Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary, dating back over 2,500 years. Legend has it that Gautama Buddha once visited the site.
Afterwards, we'll head to Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area showcases Nepal's classical architecture from the 16th to 19th centuries. Over 50 temples and palaces, preserved in their original medieval style, are featured in the square and its surrounding buildings, including the Temple of the Living Goddess. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Living Goddess.
After the tour, we'll head to Bandipur, a medieval town. Bandipur is the most complete place where the traditional culture of the Newari (Nepal's main ethnic group) is preserved. With its red brick structures, carved wooden windows, and fences, it's a quiet medieval town.
Day 3 Bandipur → Pokhara (Rafting on Phewa Lake → World Peace Pagoda)
All day
Driving distance: about 80 kilometers
Estimated time: About 4 hours
In the early morning, a thin layer of mist rises from the Bandipur Valley and spreads over the hills. The big trees are covered with a hazy veil. The brown land is connected to the green lawn and then to the distant clouds... It unfolds layer by layer, like a beautiful oil painting.
After breakfast, we'll gather by car for Pokhara (885 meters above sea level), known as Asia's Little Switzerland. Its lush forests, clear lakes, and winding rural scenery, along with the majestic Annapurna Mountains towering to the north, captivate visitors from around the world. Upon arrival in Pokhara, we'll check in and rest for a while.
We'll depart at the right time for Phewa Lake, where we'll enjoy a boat trip. Relaxing halfway in the boat, we'll let the boatman rock us back and forth, enjoying the stunning scenery and the tranquility of a secluded retreat. We'll also visit the Shakti Temple on a small island within the lake. We'll then sail to the southern shore of Phewa Lake, where we'll hike up the mountain for about 45 minutes to the World Peace Stupa. Constructed in 2000 by a collective effort of Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, the pristine white stupa offers a clear view of Pokhara's cityscape and the distant Annapurna Mountains. We'll wait for the sunset, and with luck, witness a stunning golden sunset over the mountains.
After sunset, we will return to the lakeside area. There are many hotels and restaurants here, so you can choose to have dinner there.
Day 4 Pokhara → Ulleri (1960m) → Ghorepani (2870m)
All day
Driving time: 3 hours
Hiking distance: 8 km
Cumulative climb: 700 meters
Estimated time: 4 hours
Today we officially begin our trek. After breakfast, we'll drive to Ulleri. As we head deeper into Annapurna, we'll gaze at the endless, uninterrupted peaks in the distance. Nepal's roads are in poor condition, making the journey slightly bumpy. After about 3.5 hours, we'll reach the trek's starting point, Ulleri (1,960 meters above sea level).
Gather your gear and set off! We headed for our destination, the azalea sanctuary of Ghorepani (2,870 meters). The scenery along the way was breathtaking, and everyone enjoyed plenty of photo opportunities. We journeyed through pristine forests, crossed gurgling streams, and passed through small mountain villages before climbing all the way to Ghorepani, a viewing platform for Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters, the seventh highest peak in the world), Annapurna I (8,091 meters, the tenth highest peak in the world), and Annapurna South.
After checking into the inn, rest, sip fragrant coffee, gaze out at the snow-capped mountains, and gather around the fire to listen to the stories of hikers from all over the world. This may be the meaning of hiking! As night falls, Annapurna South, at 7,219 meters, shines brightly under the starry sky. Enjoy this beautiful mountain night!
Remark:
According to local Nepalese news, a landslide in the mountainous area between Pokhara and Uleli has prevented direct access to Uleli. Therefore, the itinerary will need to be adjusted. The original itinerary for Day 3, Pokhara-Uleli-Gorepani, with an 8-kilometer hike, has been changed to Pokhara-Tikhedhunga-Gorepani. The scheduled departure time is 6:00 AM on the same day. The drive will take approximately 3.5 hours, followed by a 13-kilometer hike, for an estimated 8-hour journey. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Day 5 Ghorepani → Poon Hill (3210m) → Tadapani (2720m)
All day
Hiking distance: Goripani-Bhun Hill (round trip 3 km), Goripani-Thadapani (9 km)
Cumulative elevation: +800m/-1000m
Estimated time: About 6 hours
Today marks the climax of our trip. We woke up at 4:30 AM and set out to the summit of Poon Hill (3,210 meters above sea level) to watch the sunrise! The hike from the guesthouse to Poon Hill takes about an hour, a 350-meter climb. This is the perfect vantage point for viewing the sunrise over Nepal's sacred peaks: Fishtail Peak, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Annapurna South. Dhaulagiri leads the way, a 270-degree expanse of peaks. As the scorching sun gradually paints the cold snow-capped peaks red, the earth feels the warmth of the sun, marking the beginning of each day's journey, a truly awe-inspiring experience.
After sunrise, we returned to Gorepani for breakfast, then packed up and continued our hike to our destination, Tadapani. From the inn, we'll initially ascend a short climb to Thapla Danda (3,165 meters), where we'll be even closer to the snow-capped mountains, with Fishtail Peak seemingly within reach. We'll then descend, entering the forest, crossing streams, passing through villages, and finally traversing the deep mountains of Annapurna.
We arrived at Tadapani in the evening and spent the night in this quiet village. After some laughter and chatter, we fell asleep peacefully with the snow-capped mountains as our pillows!
Day 6 Tadapani → Ghandruk (1900m) → Kimche (1640m) → Pokhara
All day
Hiking distance: 10 km
Cumulative climb: descent 1100 meters
Estimated time: About 4 hours
In the early morning of Tadapani, the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding landscape greets you as you open the door. Those with the energy and curiosity can even get up early and take photos of the golden mountain at sunrise from the hotel! After breakfast, we descended through several villages, arriving in Ghandruk after about three hours. This is the largest village we'll encounter during the hike. We rested briefly here before lunch.
After lunch, we walked through the village and continued downhill for about an hour to the trek's final destination, Chimche. After packing our bags and bidding farewell to the porters, we returned to Pokhara by car, where our beds awaited us at the Rouran resort. Upon arrival in Pokhara, we enjoyed a nice shower, a massage, and a delicious dinner to celebrate the successful completion of our trek. The group would disband tomorrow, so we could all reminisce about this unforgettable journey.
We're leaving the Annapurna Mountains today. If you don't have any gear or clothing left after hiking, please leave it with the porters. They're constantly in and out of the mountains, so their gear wears out quite a bit, and their income is limited. Nepal is a tipping country, so as a courtesy, please give the porters and guides a modest tip to show your appreciation for their work.
Tip reference
Porter reference: US$5 per day per member
Guide reference: US$10 per day per member
Day 7 Pokhara ★ Dismissal day
All day
Today is the day to disband, and everyone can arrange their return trip according to their own holidays. Pokhara is one of the three major paragliding destinations in the world. If time and weather permit, everyone can go there to enjoy paragliding on their own.
Kind tips:
1. If you need to book paragliding or Pokhara-Kaduna air tickets, please ask the tour guide for details after joining the group.
2. If you want to experience paragliding in Pokhara and return to Kathmandu on the same day, it is recommended to book a return flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu after 3:00 PM.
3. The road condition between Pokhara and Kathmandu is poor, the distance is about 200 kilometers, and the driving time is about 8-10 hours.
