| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
| 1 |
Arrival Kathmandu. |
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 Marsyangdi
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 Bhaundanda 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
Marsyangdi 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 Mnaag 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 Bharthang
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 - Gheyru |
5 hours |
3540 |
Easy |
| |
We walk through the oldest pine trees and several
bridges to Gheyru. It is a light ascent to Gheyru up rocky hill
with no trees. Here we have an acclimatization day tomorrow
to prepare for the summit gear. There are many lodge and local
houses here. |
| 10 |
Gheyru-Rest
|
|
|
Easy |
| |
We can walk for a few hours on the hills around
the village before heading back to camp to make final preparations
for the summit bid. We can leave behind the gear we don't need
for the summit, as well as anyone who is not up to the climb.
We'll reunited in a few days time. It might also be your last
chance to stock up on chocolate bars. |
| 11 |
Gheyru-High Camp |
5 hours |
|
|
| |
We leave Gheyru early to head through the green
hill and pine trees way to high camp. Here we can rest a little
walk around the area
|
| 12 |
an acclimatization |
|
|
|
| |
Here again we have an acclimatization a day more.
It is last chance to take rest for the summit. We can walk for
a few hours on the hills around the moraine. And preparation
for the summit |
| 13 |
High camp-Summit-High Camp |
8 hours |
|
Hard |
| |
| We leave camp early to attack the summit
by walking through the rock and ice fall (roped together)
and then on fixed ropes as we near the summit. From the
summit there will be views of the village of Pisang, Gheyru,
Ngawal and Manang as well as Annapurna 4(7525m). Annapurna
2(7937m). Annapurna 3(7555m). Tilicho (7134m). Gangapurna
(7455m). After a rest to enjoy the view and take some
photos we head back down to camp. Where we will enjoy
a well earned meal and sleep. |
 |
|
| 14 |
High Camp-Ngawal |
6 hours |
|
Easy |
| |
We have a long gradual descent to Gheyru for lunch.
Where we also collect our gear and fellow trekkers who have
been waiting here for us, after lunch easy walk to Ngawal just
one an half hours from here. |
| 15 |
Ngawal-Manang |
4 hours |
|
Easy |
| |
We continue through the green hills and pine trees
to Manang. 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. |
| 16 |
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. |
| 17 |
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. |
| 18 |
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 is
strong enough, we will trek through Throng Phedi and sleep a
little higher to make the ascent a bit easier in the morning. |
| 19 |
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. |
| 20 |
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. |
| 21 |
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. |
| 22 |
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. |
| 23 |
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. |
| 24 |
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! |
| 25 |
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. |
| 26 |
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. |
| 27 |
Pokhara - Kathamandu |
6 hours |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
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| 28 |
Kathmandu free shopping |
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| 29 |
Final Day end of trek debrief and departure. |
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