Highlights
- Explore the wilds of Kathmandu, including its temples, squares, and bazaars
- Visit the sacred sites of Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, & Patan Durbar Square
- Veer off-the-beaten-track with a stop at Muldai Peak for incredible views
- Optional day hike to the sacred waters of Kaire Lake and explore lakeside shrines
- Celebrate your trek with a soak in the natural hot springs in Tatopani
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Kathmandu! | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square | Kathmandu |
| Day 3 | Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Tadapani (8,694 feet / 2,650 m) | Tadapani |
| Day 4 | Trek from Tadapani to Dobato (11,220 feet / 3,420 m) | Dobato |
| Day 5 | Trek from Dobato to Upper Chistibung (3,198 feet / 2,975 m) | Upper Chistibung |
| Day 6 | Trek from Upper Chistibung to Khopra Danda (12,007 feet / 3,660 m) | Khopra Danda |
| Day 7 | Rest day in Khopra Danda (Optional day hike to Kaire Lake) | Khopra Danda |
| Day 8 | Trek from Khopra Danda to Tatopani, Dip in the Hot Spring | Tatopani |
| Day 9 | Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara | Pokhara |
| Day 10 | Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 11 | Depart Kathmandu |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!
Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.
Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.
In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.
Day 2: Explore Kathmandu: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by an English-speaking guide for a full-day tour of the Kathmandu Valley, visiting three sacred sites: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square.
This day fits quite a bit in — helpful for maximizing your time in Kathmandu — but doesn't overload you with too many sites. You can spend as much time as you like at each temple (this is a private tour just for you), although most people tend to spend an hour. For lunch, you'll stop at one of our recommended local restaurants.
Return to your hotel in Kathmandu in the late afternoon and meet your trekking guide who will go over details for tomorrow's adventure.
Tour length: 7-8 hours (including transfers)
Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Tadapani (8,694 feet / 2,650 m)
After breakfast in Kathmandu, you'll be picked up by private transfer and driven to the domestic airport for your flight to Pokhara, Nepal's second-largest city. This is a stunning half-hour flight along the Himalayan range, where four of the world’s fourteen giant mountains (standing over 26,000 feet/8,000 m) can be seen: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu, and Shishapangma. Your specialist can help you get a seat on the right-hand side of the plane for views of the Himalaya en-route.
Upon arrival in Pokhara, you'll be picked up and driven to Kimche (a 2.5-hour drive from Pokhara); from here, you'll start the trek to Ghandruk, where you'll have lunch and enjoy great views of the Machapuchhre and Hiunchuli.
After lunch, wind your way up through the beautiful old homes of Ghandruk and climb an undulating trail to a tea house with a great view of Annapurna. From here, you continue through the rhododendron forest, which gets more stunning throughout the day until you reach the teahouses at Bhaisi Kharka. After enjoying this stunning section of the trail, you then have a short, steep climb up into Tadapani.
Driving time: 2.5 hours
Trekking time: 5 hours
Day 4: Trek from Tadapani to Dobato (11,220 feet / 3,420 m), Sunset from Muldai Peak
After breakfast in Tadapani, you'll leave the main trail and begin walking in a more remote area of the Annapurna region through beautiful rhododendron forest. This off-the-beaten-path trail crosses beautiful Nepali villages and a variety of flora, fauna, and ancient trees. It's a magical atmosphere straight out of a Tolkien book.
After a short climb and descent into a dell, you'll start a more serious climb all the way up to the lodges at Dobato; about half an hour later, you'll emerge on the northern side of the ridgeline. Enjoy a stunning view of the Annapurna South massif towering above you and hear the roar of many waterfalls as the river races away into the dramatic steep-sided valley far, far below. The forest will now transition to more oak trees and conifers. From here, it's a steep half hour up to the teahouse at Meshar Danda, perched on the ridgeline with truly incredible views.
After a cup of tea and a short rest, you'll have about an hour more of this type of forested trail until you reach the open hillside at Isharu, where shepherds graze their sheep. Fuel up with a hearty lunch before hitting the road again. You'll start out with a gentle ascent as the trail contours around the hillside and then up to a small but beautiful pass, where the path goes through a fascinating Gurung temple.
From here, it's a short descent to a beautiful open valley before you head into the trees again and back up to the ridgeline. Along the way, you can see incredible purple-barked rhododendron trees, much smaller than the ones you saw earlier but striking for their color (and the mountain backdrop if the weather is clear!). From the ridge, you will contour down to a creek bed and a small pass, which you'll traverse to the lodges at Dobato.
If you have extra energy to spare, head up to Muldai Peak for sunset views. It takes about 45 minutes from the teahouse to reach the view tower and the sight there is stunning — one of the highlights of the trek!
Trekking time: 5-6 hours (4 miles / 6.5 km)
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Trek from Dobato to Upper Chistibung (3,198 feet / 2,975 m)
You'll have an early breakfast in Dobato and then begin the climb to Muldai Peak for a magnificent panoramic view at sunrise. From here, you'll descend through open ground and a beautiful forest to reach the pastures of Lower Chistibung.
Next, ascend gradually on the trail through another forest before reaching Upper Chistibung, a temporary herder’s settlement. If you’re lucky you might even spot the colorful Lophophorus (Danphe), the national bird of Nepal, as well as Himalayan Thar on the grassy ridge high above the trail.
Trekking time: 4-5 hours (2.4 miles / 4 km)
Day 6: Trek from Upper Chistibung to Khopra Danda (12,007 feet / 3,660 m)
After breakfast in Upper Chistibung, you'll embark on a steady climb above the treeline through pretty alpine meadows and pastures to reach Khopra. As you enter the ridge, look for the tip of Annapurna South in the distance.
Upon reaching Khopra, go for an easy walk to a viewpoint overlooking the Kali Gandaki River far below in the deep valley. Based in Khopra for the night, you can also admire the stunning snow-capped mountain panoramas including Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna South.
Trekking time: 2-3 hours (2 miles / 3.2 km)
Accommodation: Teahouse
Day 7: Rest day in Khopra Danda (Optional day hike to Kaire Lake)
Today is a rest day, so sleep in and enjoy a relaxing morning in Khopra Danda. Or head out on a full-day hike to the sacred waters of Kaire Lake.
Kaire Lake Day Hike
After breakfast, you'll have the option to embark on a challenging full-day hike to Kaire Lake, where you'll get excellent views of the surrounding mountains. Considered a sacred lake by the Hindus, Kaire is believed to help you attain Nirvana if you bathe in the water. Since Hinduism and Buddhism are intricately related in Nepal, you can wander around a number of Hindu and Buddhist shrines scattered along the lakeside.
Kaire Lake altitude: 15,272 ft / 4,665 m
Kaire Lake trekking time: 7-8 hours
Kaire Lake trekking distance: 10.2 miles (16.5 km) round-trip
Not interested in hiking all the way to the lake? A half-day walk from Khopra can also be arranged.
Day 8: Trek from Khopra Danda to Tatopani, Dip in the Hot Spring
From Khopra Danda, you'll descend steeply downhill into the valley toward Paudwar. After lunch in the village, you'll continue the hike down to Tatopani (meaning "hot water" in Nepali).
You'll stay overnight here in a teahouse, and can dip in the hot spring and relax for the rest of the day, and can also interact with locals and kids.
Day 9: Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara
After breakfast, you'll take a private jeep back to Pokhara, passing through the town of Beni en route. Beni is one of the main transport hubs that connect Pokhara and Jomsom. You'll then continue driving through Nayapul all the way to Pokhara.
Driving time: 4 hours
Day 10: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.
In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in the city.
Day 11: Depart Kathmandu
It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.
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