Tour Overview
Combining superb treks with Nepal's premier wildlife habitat, this trip offers a huge variety of scenery, flora, fauna and culture. The colourful villages, rich forests and rushing mountain streams of the Annapurnas offer an interesting contrast to the higher starker Everest region, home to the Buddhist culture of the Sherpas and the highest mountain on Earth. Your checklist of peaks includes Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Machhapuchhare, the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri. This itinerary is an ideal first visit to Nepal for those who want a truly comprehensive look at this beautiful country.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1Start Kathmandu.
Day 2
Today there is a half-day tour of Kathmandu, led by a trained local guide. The tour visits the Durbar Square in the heart of the old city. Here is the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving and four fine towers. Outside is Kumari Chowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. All around is a maze of temples and images, such as the terrifying Black Bhairab, and Shiva and Parvati gazing benignly down on their subjects. Leading away from the square in all directions are narrow alleys, full of the most amazing variety of shops and stalls. The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing - you may like to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. There will also be a full trek briefing today.
Day 3
We depart Kathmandu early in the morning by bus towards Pokhara. After leaving Kathmandu valley over a low pass, the Chinese-built road winds its way westwards along the Trisuli Valley. We get superb views of the mountains as we follow the river to Mugling, where we stop for lunch in one of the roadside cafes. Continuing westwards we finally reach Pokhara, set in a beautiful valley near Phewa Tal, and looked over by Machhapuchhare, one of the most distinctive of the Himalayan peaks. Continuing through Pokhara we drive a little further to the roadhead, from where it is a short walk to Birethanthi, a pretty riverside village on the banks of the Modi Khola.
Day 4-5-6-7
We descend on a magnificently made stone staircase all the way down to the Modi Khola and cross it by a narrow bridge. We then climb steeply all the way up the other side of the valley to Landrung, another fine Gurung village with superb views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The following morning we contour round the valley for a while before a steep climb through forest to some herders' huts where there are good views back to Annapurna South. Descending the ridge a little we spend the night at or near Dhampus. Descending we have a final close up view of Machhapuchhare, the 'Fishtail mountain. We wind down the long ridge to the Yamdi Khola and take transport back to Pokhara, where we stay in a hotel close to the lakeside. There should be time this afternoon for a wander around this attractive lakeside resort.
Day 8-9
We drive to Chitwan National Park where we spend the next two nights. The most popular way of seeing animals is on elephant back, and we will be very unlucky not to see at least the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and several species of deer. We also make trips along the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, looking for crocodile and observing the many birds. The safari lodge has knowledgeable and helpful staff, who accompany us on all the excursions. The lodge has a small complex of two-roomed huts with attached bathrooms and a dining/bar area.
Day 10
After breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu arriving in the afternoon.
Day 11
We fly to the mountain airstrip of Lukla (2,800m.), where our porters load up all our gear, and we set off on the first leg of our Everest trek, heading northwards up the valley of the Dudh Kosi ('Milk River'). We descend from the small plateau, which only just manages to hold Lukla airstrip, down into the forested valley. The trail crosses several tributary streams and we have some tantalising views before reaching the small settlement of Phakding (2,652m.), where we will spend the night.
Day 12-13
We spend today exploring the area around Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Khumbu region, with a chance to introduce ourselves properly to the Sherpas and their way of life. We climb steeply out of Namche Bazaar to the villages of Kunde and Khumjung with excellent views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and many other peaks. We can perhaps take tea at the spectacularly-situated Everest View Hotel. We will also have the opportunity of visiting the Edmund Hillary Hospital in Kunde. Passing through the village of Khumjung we drop down to join the main trail at Kyanjuma (3,600m.), high above the Dudh Kosi and with excellent views of Ama Dablam across the valley.
Day 14-15
We walk back to Namche Bazaar along a beautiful undulating trail high above the Dudh Kosi. On the way into Namche there will be time to see the National Park museum with views of Everest and interesting displays of Sherpa culture. Descending through Namche Bazaar, we pick up our outward trail again, following the Dudh Kosi south through rhododendron and pine forests, past Jorsale, Monzo and Benkar to Chaunrikhara. Here we leave the main trail and climb the short distance to Lukla.
Day 16
We fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel.
Day 17
Free for individual sightseeing.
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