| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
| 1 |
Arrival Kathmandu transfer to Hotel |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Meet with our representative at the
airport. Drive to hotel. |
| 2 |
Kathmandu |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing Day see Kathmandu Day Trips for ideas
of what to do. |
| 3 |
Kathmandu - Besi Sahar |
6 hours |
760 |
Easy |
| |
Private or public
transport to Besi Sahar (via Mugling Bazaar and Dumre) along
the Trisuli river bank and then turning north along the Marsyangdi
valley. Over night at lodge or camp. |
| 4 |
Beshishar – Bahundanda |
6 hours |
1310 |
Easy |
| |
Start walking along the Marshyangdi
valley through rice fields, banana and mango orchards. We occasionally
cross bridges over the river - the lower stretches are one of
the finest rafting routes in Nepal. Then we have a mild climb
to Bahundanda and our over night camp or lodge. |
| 5 |
Bahundanda – Chamje |
7 hours |
2670 |
Easy |
| |
Today we leave the more Hindu
lower villages and start to see Tibetan Buddhist cultures
dominate. Starting with a downhill section to Syanje, we again
cross the Marshyangdi River and then a mild climb up to Chamje. |
| 6 |
Chamje - Bagarchhap |
7 hours |
2160 |
Easy |
| |
The trail snakes up through a deep
gorge, one side the massive Manaslu range, the other the Lamjung
Himal (a sub-range of the Annapurna). Passing waterfalls and
temperate rainforest we camp or lodge at Bagarchhap. |
| 7 |
Bagarchhap - Chame |
7 hours |
2670 |
Easy |
| |
Today is wonderful, plenty of opportunities
to soak in hot springs, and stroll through mountain villages
and forests. The first springs are at Lata Manang where you
can also cross the Marsyangdi if the river is low enough. We
then head on to Chame (the administration center of the local
District) where there are yet more hot springs to enjoy! |
| 8 |
Chame - Pisang. |
5 hours |
3200 |
Easy |
| |
After a pleasant walk through Bhrathang
village and its apple orchards we cross the river again. A short
climb to a peaceful pine forest leads into the wide Manang valley.
We camp or lodge at the new Pisang village, the old one is difficult
to access on the far river bank beneath the Tibetan Monastery.
|
| 9 |
Pisang - Manang |
5 hours |
3540 |
Easy |
| |
Although Chame is the District
centre, Manang is the trading hub. As we approach Manang cultivation
increases and we pass through some of the oldest villages
in the region. There are plenty of lodges and places to shop
in Manang, which also has a Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic
- an ideal spot to enquire about the rigours of living and
trekking at altitude.
|
| 10 |
Acclimatization at Manang |
all day |
3540 |
Easy |
| |
This is an important acclimatization
day. Rest and explore around Manang, a fabulous trans-Himalayan
valley and the base for many of the climbing peaks in the
area. |
| 11 |
Manang - Yakkharka |
5 hours |
4200 |
Moderate |
| |
The upper reaches of the
Marsyangdi valley is a tough place to live. Thanki village,
which we pass through today, is full of homes designed to
cope with the extremes that the Himalaya can throw at a settlement.
The low, mud-roofed homes have a stable on the ground floor
- the animal dung being a prime source of fuel for the kitchens.
The trail climbs and we enjoy magnificent views of the Annapurna,
Gungapurna, Tilicho and the Chulu peaks.
|
| 12 |
Yakkharka- Thorung Phedi |
3 hours |
4400 |
Moderate |
| |
Today we head up to the last
camp and lodges before the Thorung La. If camping and the
group are strong enough, we will trek through Thorong Phedi
and sleep a little higher to make the ascent a bit easier
in the morning.
|
| 13 |
Thorung Phedi-Muktinath |
10 hours |
5416 |
Hard |
| |
Today is the hardest on
the trek; we first ascend steeply to 4590m, and then trek
along an undulating trail to the flat top of Thorung La (5416m.)
From here there are stunning views of the Annapurna range
to the south and Mukut Himal bordering Dolpo to the West.
The trail descends steeply over glacial moraine, which gives
way to grassy meadows before we reach Muktinath. This is one
of the most important pilgrimage sights for Hindus and is
home to many ethnic Tibetans and Buddhist monks who live in
monasteries scattered around the valley. The nearby temple
with 108 carved spouts from which holy water flows is famous
for a fire that miraculously burns in a stream of water. |
| 14 |
Muktinath - Marpha |
7 hours |
2670 |
Moderate |
| |
A long descend through Jharkot,
Khinga Gurung and Thakali villages brings us to the windy
Kali Gandaki River at Jomsom. Our trail then continues along
the river bed to the beautiful stone village of Marpha, famous
for its apple orchards which produce cider and brandy.
|
| 15 |
Marpha - Kalopani |
7 hours |
2530 |
Easy |
| |
Our trek along the Kali Gandaki river
bed takes us through many villages which used to thrive on the
trade of salt from Tibet. The trail undulates at first and then
heads down to our scenic overnight stop at Kalopani. |
| 16 |
Kalopani - Tatopani |
8 hours |
1120 |
Easy |
| |
We now enter the deepest river gorge
in the world as the Kali Gandaki rumbles between the 8,000m
peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Our destination is the village
of Tatopani, a sub-tropical oasis of orange gardens and a great
hot spings where you can relax and unwind. |
| 17 |
Tatopani - Ghorepani |
8 hours |
2850 |
Moderate |
| |
At first we descend a little further
along the Kali Gandaki to Bega Khola. Then we have a long, slow
climb up through the villages of Ghara and Shika to our destination
of Ghorepani. |
| 18 |
Ghorepani - Ghandrung |
7 hours |
1950 |
Easy |
| |
| Fabulous panoramic views will delight us
today, stretching away to the distant plains of India
and up to the massive bulk of the Annapurnas. We wake
up in the early morning to climb Poon Hill from where
we will see the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Mustang Ranges.
Then we set off after breakfast towards Tadapani, through
rhododendron forest, and along a ridge trail with mountain
views of the Annapurna all the way. The trail then snakes
through dense moss-covered forest rich with bird life,
through Tadapani to Ghandrung and beautiful sunset views
of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. A day in the Himalaya
doesn't get much better than this! |
 |
|
| 19 |
Ghandrung - Pothana |
7 hours |
1900 |
Easy |
| |
Steep down hill to the Modi River
and climb the far bank to Landruk village and slow climb to
Pothana with classic views of the Annapurnas and Modi valley. |
| 20 |
Pothana - Pokhara |
3 hours |
960 |
Easy |
| |
Our morning begins with some
final views of the mountains, we then descend down through
Dhampus village and stone steps to Phedi and drive back to
our hotel in Pokhara. |
| 21 |
Pokhara - Kathmandu |
6 hours |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Final Day end of trek debrief and
departure. |
