The trek to Ghorepani followed by the pre-dawn climb to the vantage point of Poon Hill is perhaps the most spectacular way to view and experience the inspiring high Himalayan peaks of Nepal. The views across the Annapurna Massif and its many icy peaks can never be forgotten. This is truly one of the best treks in Nepal. The trek takes you through the valleys and high foothills of the Annapurna Sanctuary. You get to experience wonderful mountain scenery, forests, birds, wildlife and charming villages along the way. Get there at the right time, from February through April, and the dense rhododendron forests will be in full bloom and full of birds enjoying their nectar. At other times of the year you can just soakin the fantastic mountain views along the trekking trails. The Annapurna Massif has countless icy summits and the picturesque peak of Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Peak) dominates the skyline during parts of the trek. However, the absolute highlight of this trek is the pre-dawn climb up to the lookout on top of Poon Hill. As the sun rises it s rays reach peak after peak and bath them in a golden sunrise glow. The sunrise show starts over the eastern peaks of the Annapurna Massif before your attention is turned to the west and the massive Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167m) is turned from shadow to a stunning wonder of the Himalayan mountains. You will want the sunrise show to just go on and on. Your journey through the Annapurna Sanctuary will reward you with natural beauty and a lifetime of memories with each footstep. Duration: 12 days Price: $949 Group Size: 2 Grade: Moderate Destination: Nepal Activity: Trekking Region: Annapurna
Date & Prices: Start Date End Date Price 20th Mar, 2017, Monday 31st Mar, 2017, Friday $899 17th Apr, 2017, Monday 28th Apr, 2017, Friday $899 22nd May, 2017, Monday 02nd Jun, 2017, Friday $899 18th Sep, 2017, Monday 29th Sep, 2017, Friday $899 23rd Oct, 2017, Monday 03rd Nov, 2017, Friday $899 20th Nov, 2017, Monday 01st Dec, 2017, Friday $899 19th Mar, 2018, Monday 30th Mar, 2018, Friday $899 16th Apr, 2018, Monday 27th Apr, 2018, Friday $899 21st May, 2018, Monday 01st Jun, 2018, Friday $899 17th Sep, 2018, Monday 28th Sep, 2018, Friday $899 22nd Oct, 2018, Monday 02nd Nov, 2018, Friday $899 19th Nov, 2018, Monday 30th Nov, 2018, Friday $899 Equiment Lists: Recommended equipment list: Trekkers need to provide their own personal clothing and equipment. Some items of equipment are available for hire from us such as a Down Jacket Footwear : Well broken-in walking shoes - these must be suitable for snow, thick socks, light socks, camp shoes. Clothing : Down or fiber filled waterproof jacket and trekking trousers, sweater or fleece jacket, underwear, warm and cotton trousers, shirts and T-shirts, shorts, long underwear, wool hat, sun hat, gloves, bathing suit, track suit. Other equipment: Sleeping bag (5 seasons), door lock, day pack, water bottle, sun cream, sunglasses, flashlight with spare batteries, charger, lip salve, gaiters. Other items: Insect repellent, toilet articles, diary, toilet roll, laundry soap, wet ones, pocket knife, towel, sewing kit, plasters, binoculars, camera, memory cards, chargers and personal medical kit. Itinerary: Day 1: Kathmandu arrival Welcome to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The Langtang Ri Trekking & Expedition representative will greet you at the airport and 2
transfer you to your hotel. After your refreshment you will be picked up from your hotel lobby and driven to our Thamel office where you will be formally introduced to your trekking guide. We will go through all your trek itinerary and arrangements with you to insurer every detail is in place. We will also ask to bring your passport, extra passport photographs and a copy of your travel insurance so that we can organize permits required for your trek in the Annapurna Sanctuary. Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing After breakfast, we start an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Escorting by an English speaking guide (can be provide any language speaking guide on request) the tour will give you a taste of our vivid Nepali culture and history. In our sightseeing tour we go to Monkey Temple Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Bouddhanath: Bouddhanath is a Buddhist religious complex with a history dating back over 500 years. Located on the eastern edge of Kathmandu it is now a site of great pilgrimage for Buddhist followers who circle its massive stupa, spin its many prayer wheels and visit its beautiful monastery. The main feature of Boudhanath is its huge hemispherical white stupa with central golden tower and the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha. Visitors should circle the stupa in a clockwise direction and spin prayer wheels for good fortune and a good life. Visitors may also enjoy visiting the thangka painting school within the complex to see highly skilled artists at work on religious mandala paintings. Pashupatinath: This Hindu Temple is a very large complex and focal point for the Hindu religion in Nepal. This old and very revered complex of buildings and shrines is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism. While Lord Shiva has multiple forms he is often seen as the destroyer. This has great significance for the Pashupatinath temple as it is the site of many Hindi ritual cremations each day. Pashupatinath is considered by Hindus to be an auspicious site for passing from one stage of life to the next through the purifying and destroying flames of cremation. However, on a happier note, visitors may also get to see the temple in a buoyant festival mode with one of the many Hindu festivals celebrated here through the year. Swayambhunath: You will first visit the Swayambhunath temple complex that sits atop a high hill overlooking Kathmandu and the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is perhaps the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal. It consists of a very large white stupa with the all-seeing-eye of Lord Buddha plus many small stupa and beautifully carved stone shrines. This is a wonderful place to catch your breath and start to understand and appreciate the deep importance of Buddhist belief to the people of Nepal and the Himalaya region. Make sure you ring the many bells to awaken the gods and let them know you are in Nepal. Take the time to enjoy the view over Kathmandu and have your guide point out the many other highlights of the city. In the far distance to the east you may also be able to see the hills of Nagarkot. If you feel energetic you might also like to try some or all of the 350 steps that lead all the way from Kathmandu city up to your Swayambhunath temple vantage point. 3
Kathmandu Durbar Square: The next stop today is the beautiful Kathmandu Durbar Square, or the royal palace square of the ancient Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. This square and all its architectural treasures are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While some damage to buildings occurred in the 2015 earthquake the site still contains many stunning architectural gems. The original royal palace courtyards are open to visitors and you will marvel at the intricate timber carving and beautifully crafted brickwork of the palace. The open square outside the palace has many beautiful multi-storey pagodas and temples with ornate carving and carpentry artwork that tells some of the story of the ancient kings and their mystical time and beliefs. The square also contains many important Hindu temples and statues such as to Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Durbar Square also contains the unique and intriguing Kumari Chok. This is an ancient and ornate house where resides the Raj Kumari the Living Goddess. She is a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. If you are in the courtyard of her home at the right time in the afternoon you may see a brief glimpse of the Goddess at her window. Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (about 6 to 8 hours by road) We have both drive and fly options to travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The drive to Pokhara will normally take 6-8 hours while the flight takes just 25 minutes. The flight is an optional extra for this itinerary. Pokhara is located about 200km west of Katmandu on the shores of the beautiful Lake Fewa. Pokhara is normally not as crowded as Kathmandu but still busy with lots of visitors since Pokhara serves as hub for all the Annapurna trekking region. It has the atmosphere of a relaxed resort town. The option to drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara provides an opportunity to experience more of the real Nepal beyond the national parks and trekking trails. The scenery and people you will meet on the drive is also worth the experience. Day 4: Short drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and then commence your trek to Tikhedhunga We start today with a one and half hour drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and then commence your trek to Tikhedhunga (1,577m). A short and scenic twisting road takes you from Pokhara (915m) to Nayapul (1050m) at the southern margins of the Annapurna Sanctuary. From there it is time to lace up the boots, pull on your day-pack and begin your trek to Tikhedhunga (1577m) via Birethanti (1065m). While the trail undulates you will have gained about 500m in altitude by the end of your four or five hour walk. The initial sections require little effort but the trail starts to steepen in the later section as you near Tikhedhunga. There are a few villages you pass through today and they make a great place to take a break and enjoy a cup of Nepali tea just the thing to boost your energy for the next stage of the walk. The villages you pass through are populated by the ethnic Gurung people and their religion is Buddhist, so you will often see carefully tended stupa along the way. Day 5: Ascend from Tirkhedunga to Ghorepani 4
The trek from Tirkhedhunga to Ghorepani (2675m) takes about six hours and some considerable effort. The first couple of hours is steep but the trails are very well made with good solid steps when the grade steepens. So take your time, rest when you need to at the villages of Ulleri (2070m) or Banthanti along the way. The gorgeous scenery will help take your mind off all the steps. The stunning views of Mount Machhapuchhre or Fish Tail (6997m), Mount Huinchuli (6441m) and Annapurna South (7219m) will inspire you forward and upward. The higher you ascend the better the views get! At times you will be walking through beautiful rhododendron forests which normally blossoms during March and April. You may also hear and see monkeys and many species of birds in the trees as you pass by. The final section of the walk takes you up too many steps to count and delivers you to today s destination and some rest time in Ghorepani. By the end of the day you will have ascended over 1.1km in altitude. But the rewards of tomorrow are worth every step and sore muscle. Day 6: Pre-dawn walk from Ghorepani to Poon Hill then trek to Tadapani Today is the scenic highlight of your trek. You will depart Ghorepani before dawn and ascend to the vantage point of Poon Hill just to the north-west and looming above Ghorepani. Your goal is to arrive on Poon Hill just before the sun starts to rise over the Annapurna Massif and its many peaks. Poon Hill (3232m) is about 500m higher than Ghorepani and the hilltop provides uninterrupted views in every direction. Watch the first rays of the sun hit the summit of Mount Dhaulagiri (8167m) to your west and the other icy peaks of the main Annapurna Massif Tukuche Peak (6920m), Mount Nilgiri (6940m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m), Mount Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna III (7855m), Machhapuchhre (6993m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna II (7937m), Lamjung Himal (6931m) and many other gorgeous Himalayan peaks. Make sure you have fresh batteries in your camera, you re going to leave Poon Hill with lots of fantastic photos and memories that will last a lifetime. But once the sunrise show is over and you catch your breath it is time to descend the hill and trek on to Tadapani. The trek is about 5 hours from Ghorepani to Tadapani with slight up and down. Tadapani is 200m lower altitude than Ghorepani. Day 7: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk Today we continue to trek towards the east and into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary as we head for the village of Ghandruk. The trail brings you closer to mountains such as Machhapuchhre and at high points of the trail you are rewarded with fantastic views of its distinctive twin-peak summit. Ghandruk is a great place to end the day s trek as it is a thriving village that welcomes visitors to its cultural museum of the Gurung people and also its local handicrafts shops. So this is a great place to find the perfect Annapurna trek gift or memento. Day 8: Trek from Ghandruk to the starting point of Nayapul and drive to Pokhara Trek from Ghandruk to the starting point of Nayapul and drive to Pokhara (960m) Today the trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul descends about 900m so it is a bit easier walking than the initial days of the trek, however it still requires about five hours of walking. There is plenty of opportunity to take a break for a Nepali tea or snack along the way in the pretty little villages of Kimche, Shayuli Bazaar or Birethanti. Once you arrive back in Nayapul and your group is all together your guide will organize the short drive back to Pokhara. You will stay overnight at a hotel in Pokhara and no doubt celebrate the end of your trek in one of Pokhara s great restaurants, perhaps looking out over Lake Phewa. Day 9: Return from Pokhara to Kathmandu After breakfast in the morning you say goodbye to Pokhara and head back to bustling Kathmandu by road. You may also choose to 5
fly back to Kathmandu as an optional extra to your itinerary. You will be delivered back to your Kathmandu hotel at the end of today s travels. Day 10: Bhaktapur sightseeing Bhaktapur sightseeing (1,300m) Bhaktapur is one of three ancient cities in the Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu itself, Patan adjacent to and just to the south of Kathmandu, and Bhaktapur 18 km to the east of Kathmandu. All three of these cities have a Durbar Square or royal square and each is an architectural wonder and protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The durbar square of Bhaktapur comprises a beautiful and ornate royal palace with intricate stone and wood carvings. Adjacent to the palace is an extensive plaza with many wonderful religious shrines to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and tall multi-level traditional Nepali pagoda. The main five-level pagoda in Bhaktapur is the tallest such structure in all of Nepal and a wonder of carpentry craftsmanship. Day 11: Free Day in Kathmandu for a little shopping This is a free day for you to explore a little more about Kathmandu and complete your gift shopping. In the evening you will be picked up from your hotel for a farewell dinner in a Nepali cultural restaurant where they will play traditional music and dances. Day 12: Departure for home Kathmandu Airport Our representative will pick you up from your hotel 3 hours prior of your flight time for your departure to your home country. Cost Include: Airport pick-up & drop-off transportation by private vehicle Twin/Double accommodation at Kathmandu & Pokhara in 2-3 star hotels with breakfast Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Escorted with English speaking guide. Private transportation. Entrance fees Kathamandu / Pokhara / Kathmandu transportation by tourist bus Pokhara/ Naya Pool/Pokhara local bus or private transportation Accommodation in normal tea house during trek Meals (Breakfast with 3 cup Tea /Coffee, lunch, dinner) in trekking Sleeping bag Annapurna trekking map for group Annapurna Conservation Area Permit fees TIMS Permit A First Aid and Eco trained & Government licensed holder English Speaking guide One porter between each two members during trek Accommodation, meals, salary, equipment, transportation & Insurance of trekking staffs Travel & rescue arrangement 2 Liter water per day and Electricity bill First Aids kits All government taxes Farewell dinner Cost exclude: International Airfare Nepal Visa fee (US$ 40 per person for 30 days) Lunch/Dinner in Kathmandu & Pokhara Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara is an optional extra for this itinerary Tips for Nepali staffs Medical evacuation in case of emergency 6
Personal gears & clothing Any expenses of personal nature Expenses incurred due to mishaps, landslide, strikes, political unrest etc. In such case extra will be charged as per actual Anything doesn t specified in cost include section 7