During the first couple of days of this journey we will trek through lush bamboo forests and rice fields. The ascent to Ghorepani crosses many waterfalls and we will have several opportunities to enjoy the stunning views of the high Himalayas. While in this region, we will experience many of the different cultures of Nepal; and there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals. One of our favorite part of this trip is talking with the school children along the trail on their way to school. On the third day, we climb up a steep stone staircase. As we ascend, the majestic peaks of the Annapurna range become visible beyond the green hills.
The sunrise excursion to Poon Hill, on the eighth day, is one of the highlights of this trip with unbelievable views of countless peaks reaching over 20,000 feet. Some of the peaks we will see are the famous, Machhapuchhare and the peaks of the Annapurna mountain range. After we have reach Poon Hill, we will have a rest of the day to relax and enjoy the magnificent views of the Himalayas. The following day, the trail traverses along ridges with panoramic views of the Annapurnas towering on either side. Then, we begin the descent through dense and beautiful Rhododendron forests to the Village of Tadapani. This village is perched atop a ridge over looking the deep valleys below reaching as far as the Indian border.
On our way to Ghandruck, we will walk through a dense and mossy green jungle. There is a rock quarry near Ghandruk where we will see porters carrying flat slabs of stone on their backs. The stone slabs are used to make hut roofs in nearby villages. Ghandruk is a large Gurung village set on a steep, terraced hillside at an elevation of 6,400 feet. From Ghandruk, we will continue down the hillside to the bottom of the valley and up on the other side.
The last two days of the trek will offer some of the best views of the peaks in the Annapurna region. We will continue through cool and lush forests until we reach our final destination at Phedi. Once we reach Phedi, we will travel by a private chartered bus to Pokhara. Pokhara is a beautiful and quaint village by a lake. We will have half a day to explore Pokhara. We will fly to Kathmandu the following morning.
This trek is a relatively low altitude trek with a maximum altitude of 10,500 feet (3,193 meters).
You have the option to spend a few days white water river rafting and participate in a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park for an additional charge. Click here for a detailed description of the white water river rafting and jungle safari.
Click here for the Itinerary – Ghorepani.
Click here for a Map of Nepal with the Annapurna Region.