Ghorepani Trek with Chitwan Tours -16 Days

You’ll get vistas of the valley, the Himalayas, and the terraced fields below as you soar into Kathmandu. After clearing customs, a representative will be there to welcome you outside the airport and help you navigate the initially disorienting tiny, winding streets of Kathmandu to your accommodation.

Go out and explore the city once you’ve settled in. You should start your trip at Kathmandu Durbar Square, where you may wander through confined passageways filled with quaint stores, historic temples, and neighborhood eateries. The white stupa that rises above the valley, Swayambhunath, is the ideal location to watch the sun set over the valley also if you need to get some exercise.

The evening is a nice time to eat, and Thamel, a popular tourist destination, offers a wide selection of eateries serving both Western and regional Nepali cuisine.

You will be picked up by an English-speaking tour guide after breakfast at your hotel for a full-day tour of the Kathmandu Valley, stopping at three holy sites: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square.

Although there is a lot packed into this day, it doesn’t overburden you with sights, helping you to make the most of your time in Kathmandu. Since this is a private trip just for you, you can spend as much time as you like at each temple, but most visitors choose to stay for an hour. You’ll make a visit at one of the neighborhood eateries we suggest for lunch.

Once you get back to your accommodation in Kathmandu in the late afternoon, meet your trekking guide and go through the specifics of your excursion for tomorrow.

Tour length: 7-8 hours (including transfers)

After breakfast, a private transfer will pick you up and take you to the domestic airport for your 30-minute flight to Pokhara, the second-largest city in Nepal. Four of the fourteen enormous mountains above 8,000 meters in the world—Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu, and Shishapangma—can be seen during this breathtaking half-hour fly along the Himalayan range.

A driver will be there to pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. You can explore or simply laze around the lake for the remainder of the day. There are many excellent cafes, restaurants, hip stores, and yoga studios in Pokhara that welcome expats and adventurers.

You’ll have the whole day in Pokhara today to unwind or partake in a number of activities. Go shopping, check out the cafes and restaurants, or try something more daring like paragliding or mountain biking.

Your trekking guide will meet you after an early breakfast and transport you to Lumle, where the journey begins. Ask the driver to make stops so you can take pictures of the breathtaking scenery whenever you choose.

The distance from Lumle to Chandrakot, a settlement at 1,580 meters, is one hour on foot. You can see Machapuchare, the revered and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, and Annapurna South clearly from this location. After another 45 minutes of walking through a forest, the trail brings you to your overnight lodging.

You are free to visit the nearby villages of Tanchowk, Majgaon, and Patlekhet after lunch.

Driving time: 1 hour

Set out on the way to Landruk after breakfast. Along the route, the trek passes through historic rhododendron woods and tiny Gurung settlements. You will arrive in the picturesque village of Landruk after three to four hours of walking. Spend the remainder of the day anyway you like after lunch at the resort, possibly by visiting a Gurung hamlet nearby.

With breakfast in Landruk, savor the last of your higher elevation vistas. The trail then begins with a sharp fall for approximately an hour towards the ModiKhola (river), followed by a steep ascent for two to three hours via dispersed settlements to Ghandruk, with stunning Himalaya vistas along the way.

You’ll eventually arrive in Ghandruk, one of the biggest Gurung communities in western Nepal. You’ll have time to take in the scenery and snow-capped mountains including Gangapura, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Mount Annapurna after you arrive.

Visit the Annapurna Mountain Conservation Area Project (ACAP) headquarters if time permits. The ACAP is the country of Nepal’s first and biggest protected area. The region has approximately 1,000 species of blooming plants, animals, amphibians, and birds, making it rich in biodiversity. You can get knowledge about initiatives that support local communities and tourist management (including its impact on the environment).

Trekking time: 4-5 hours (2.5 miles / 4 km)

Enjoy a delicious breakfast while waking up to stunning views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South, and the Hiunchuli peaks in Ghandruk.

The trail will then ascend via Deurali and enter some lush rhododendron trees from here. Nepal’s national flower is this blossom, and in the springtime when the trees are in full bloom, the forests transform into gardens of brilliant displays that seem especially stunning against distant snow-capped mountains.

You’ll reach Tadapani after hiking over a brief pass, where you may take in even more of those breathtaking views. The settlement is home to many hospitable Tibetans who will probably be selling trekkers trinkets to bring back home.

Trekking time: 3-4 hours (6 miles / 9.7 km)

The walk today takes 5 to 6 hours to complete. The route is steep and passes through grasslands, rhododendron, and oak forests later on. Originally a horse watering place, Ghorepani is now a crucial junction for hikers and the frequent mule caravans traveling between Jomson and Pokhara. It serves as both the beginning and end of the Poon Hill climb the next morning.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Start early in the morning for a one-hour ascent of the stairs to Poon Hill (3,200 m), where you may catch the first glimpse of the sun rising above Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the seventh-highest mountain in the world. Expect to experience the moment alongside many other enthusiastic trekkers, as Poon Hill is a well-liked site due to the breathtaking vistas. Bring some cash with you in case you want a cup of tea at the

top.

Enjoy your breakfast at the lodge after descending to Ghorepani. Continue your descent to Ulleri, where a waiting car will pick you up and drive you back to Pokhara.

You will travel in a private vehicle to Nepal’s renowned Terai region after breakfast. From what you have seen thus far and from the high, alpine parts of the Himalayan range, the landscape and culture are very different. The term “Terai” refers to the vast plains in the southern region of Nepal; this region is the furthest northern extension of the enormous Gangetic plains of India; it was gained and lost over decades of conflict and possesses both Indian and Nepali characteristics and culture.

You will arrive at the huge plains and the lively jungle of the Chitwan National Park in time for a late lunch after passing through narrow, twisting gorges and deep river basins, past terraced fields farmed by generations of family members. You may unwind and enjoy the breathtaking vistas of this diverse country from the car on this gorgeous overland excursion.

Early in the afternoon after arriving, you’ll check into your hotel and meet with a representative to go through the itinerary for your stay in Chitwan.

Driving time: 5-6 hours (91 miles / 147 km)

Get up early today and follow the elephants into the riverside grasslands, where the mahouts chop and gather the grass for the elephants to consume during the day. Enjoy a steaming cup of authentic Nepali tea while seeing the lovely sight of the elephants grazing in the early mist. It’s harder than the mahouts make it seem, but you can even try cutting and tying the grass yourself!

After breakfast, head back to the Elephant Camp, where you’ll spend tonight. Learn how to take care of the elephants from the mahouts for the remainder of the morning. Around noon, lunch will be served, and you may want to unwind and take it easy (like the elephants) during the sweltering daytime hours.

Take a stroll through the jungle with the elephants and their mahouts in the late afternoon when the weather is favorable. As you stroll next to the elephants, you will observe their movements, observe what they consume, and listen to their communication, which consists of rumbling and trumpeting. As you go with the elephants through the jungle, grassland, and wetlands, the naturalist will answer any of your questions regarding the local eco-system. Depending on the route you follow, you may see tiger footprints, deer, numerous bird species, and even one or more rhinos.

As an overnight visitor to the Elephant Camp, you will be surrounded by elephants that are free from chains and living in open spaces. All day long, you’ll be immersed in the elephants’ routine; even at night, their vocal and infrasonic interactions will make you aware of their presence.

Choose from a selection of options today, or spend the day unwinding and adventuring on your own. Spending time with Nepal’s beautiful elephants while they explore the dense jungle in search of wildlife or going on a river safari in historically accurate wooden canoes to see wildlife and birds along the river banks are two ways to make the most of your day.

The bigger one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer, and barking deer are among the wildlife found in Chitwan. A large diversity of birds are also present. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a leopard, a sloth bear, or a Royal Bengal tiger (although it’s getting harder and harder to see tigers these days!).

You will be driven to Bharatpur Airport following your breakfast in Chitwan so that you may catch a flight back to Kathmandu.

When you return to Kathmandu, a vehicle will take you to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Take a rickshaw, bicycle, or foot tour of the city’s streets to view anything you might have missed at the start of your trip or to look for souvenirs.

Flight time: 25 minutes

When the city is gently waking up in the morning hours and isn’t yet too chaotic, Kathmandu offers a unique aura. It’s a perfect time to stroll and explore the neighborhood, or to enjoy a chai while gazing out over one of the durbar squares or neighborhood courtyards.

Given the several well-known landmarks in the Kathmandu Valley, there are numerous things you might do after breakfast. You have the option of using this day at leisure or having a local English-speaking guide who is familiar with the area explain the significance of the landmarks and their history (along with a private jeep to transport you around).

It’s time to bid Nepal adieu. Take advantage of your final moments in Kathmandu by eating breakfast in a café, taking one more stroll around the congested streets and temples, and buying one last souvenir. To get you to the airport for your journey back home, a driver will be waiting for you at your hotel. It is ideal to arrive at the airport at least two hours before takeoff.