Highlights
- Hike along ridges with panoramic views of the Himalayas
- Visit a mountaintop shrine and lake
- Sleep under the stars and wake to the sounds of birdsong
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Explore Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 3 | Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara | Pokhara |
| Day 4 | Trek from Pokhara to Bhumdi | Bhumdi |
| Day 5 | Trek from Bhumdi to President's Camp (below Panchase Lekh) | Panchase Lekh |
| Day 6 | Trek from President's Camp to Tashis Camp | Tashi's Camp |
| Day 7 | Trek from Tashi's Camp to Kande; Drive to Pokhara | Pokhara |
| Day 8 | Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 9 | Depart Kathmandu |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu
As you fly into Kathmandu, you'll have beautiful views over the valley, the Himalaya, and of the terraced fields below. After going through customs, a representative will be waiting to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets and get you settled into your hotel. Once you've settled in, head out and visit one of Kathmandu's cultural highlights. 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
Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares. There are a number of ways you can spend the day given the many incredible sights around the Kathmandu Valley. Later in the evening, head out for dinner at one of the city's great eateries, or your specialist can arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family.
Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara
After breakfast, you'll be picked up and driven by private transfer to the domestic airport for your flight (30 minutes) 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 over 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 Himalayas en-route.
Upon landing, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore, select from one of the tours below, or just relax by the lake. Pokhara has plenty of great cafés, restaurants, funky shops, and yoga studios that cater to expats and adventure travelers.
Day 4: Trek from Pokhara to Bhumdi
Welcome to Nepal — a country known for its breathtaking mountain vistas, plunging gorges, and picturesque mountain lakes. When you arrive, make your way just south of Pokhara to Thare Khola. It's here that you'll start your mountain trek!
Follow the trail as it climbs up the west bank of the stream before breaking off to the left through the ethnic Chhetri Bahun village of Kalibang. Continue through the farming country of Bhumdi and along a ridge with panoramic views of Macharpuchare, the Annapurnas, and Manaslu Himal. Finally, make camp just beyond Bhumdi.
Hiking duration: 2-3 hours
Day 5: Trek from Bhumdi to President's Camp
Get ready for a morning of sweeping views as you trek past scattered mountain dwellings, through mixed vegetation and thick deciduous forest teeming with birds, and along a high ridge. Keep your camera handy — from the panoramas along the ridge to the tree orchids, white michelia, and rhododendrons hidden along the forest trails, the day's hike is rich in photo ops.
Continue west toward Panchase Lekh, pausing for a rest along the ridgeline before making your way to a Roman fort built along deserted farming terraces where you'll stop for a picturesque lunch. Half an hour on, a distinctive bhanjyang (ridge crossing point) beckons you to climb west to President's Camp — a scenic spot just below Panchase Lekh.
Hiking duration: 5-6 hours
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Trek from President's Camp to Tashis Camp
Rise early on your third day in the mountains and make your way up Panchase Lekh. There's a shrine near the summit, a small lake on the west side of the hill, and sweeping views of the Himalayas and foothills in every direction. After lunch, continue on through the forest to Tashi's Camp, located just above the village of Bhadhaure.
Hiking duration: 5 - 6 hours
Day 7: Trek from Tashi's Camp to Kande and drive to Pokhara
Start your day with an easy downhill trek to the village of Bhadaure and then a steep climb to the ridgeline above it. Follow the ridge as it gradually winds its way toward Khare, featuring panoramic views of the Pokhara Valley and Phewa Tal Lake along the way. Stop for lunch just before you reach Khare, then make your way down to Kande where cars wait to transport you back along Phewa Lake to your hotel in Pokhara.
Hiking duration: 2 hours
Day 8: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of the 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 Kathmandu.
Day 9: Depart Kathmandu
Time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.
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