Annapurna Sunrise and Everest View Trek  - 17 Days

On arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will escort us till our hotel. After checking in, we take rest or visit Himalayan Glacier’s office. We may also stroll on the streets of Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenir shopping. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier. For dinner, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine, which will introduce you to the Nepalese food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today after breakfast we tour several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath) which is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where we can meet our trek leader and other team members. We can also ask whatever queries we have about our trek and find out what we have to look forward to. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We take an early morning flight to Pokhara and enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas; opt to sit on the right side of the plane. On arrival in Pokhara, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and several others. After a short rest, we drive to Hile, which is our trailhead. We pass through sub-tropical valley forests, sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Bhurungdi Khola via a bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. The Ulleri Hill with thousands of steps and boulders that continually go upward will really prove a test of our stamina. We reach Ulleri by afternoon. Overnight in Ulleri.

After breakfast, we make our way ascending towards Ghorepani. The name Ghorepani in Nepali means ‘horse-water’ due to it being an important campsite for traders before it became a trekker’s stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we begin to feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Today is the first big day for us, so we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210m/10,529ft.) to witness the most amazing sunrise views over the Himalayas. Poon Hill is the most popular trekking destination of the Annapurna region. It is also a great vantage point to enjoy the amazing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains, including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. After spending some time taking pictures and having coffee, tea or hot chocolate, we return to Ghorepani for breakfast. Then we head east and climb a nearby ridge. We descend through rhododendron forests, pass by spectacular waterfalls along the way and reach Tadapani to spend the night. Overnight in Tadapani.

From Tadapani, we make a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. This part of the trek will be through a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. By afternoon, depending upon the season of travel, we also get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After trekking some more minutes, we enter the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. Along with enjoying the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains, we also acquaint ourselves with the simple but rich cultural traditions of the Gurung people at the Gurung Museum in Ghandruk.

Today we trek from Ghandruk to Hile for about an hour, then drive back to Pokhara on a private vehicle. In the afternoon, we will have a half-day sightseeing of Pokhara tour. Overnight in Pokhara.

We fly to Kathmandu in the afternoon. The left side of the airplane offers some amazing views of the Himalayas. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will be escorted to our hotel. We enjoy the day leisurely or catch up on some last minute shopping or explore any landmarks we missed during our first day in Kathmandu.  Remaining time, we can loiter around Thamel or simply rest in the hotel room. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We take an early morning flight to Lukla which is where all Everest treks begin. We meet the rest of our team in Lukla and start trekking from there. We walk on a trail that gradually descends to Cheplung village from where we get a glimpse of Mt. Khumbila, a sacred mountain which has never been climbed. From here, we gradually descend until Phakding. Overnight in Phakding.

Our trail passes through a pine forest and we continue our walk on the trail that goes north up the Benkar valley. We cross Dudh Koshi River and pass Chumoa and Monjo villages before reaching the entrance of the Everest National Park. Then after crossing a suspension bridge, we pass Jorsale village and walk alongside of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. We ascend on a steep trail and reach Namche Bazaar which is probably the biggest town in the Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle.  We stroll around Namche’s quaint villages and come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture. While in the Namche village, we visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Today’s journey starts with a climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel from where we can enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. We continue trekking to Khumjung village which is surrounded by Kondge, Thamserku and the sacred Khumbila mountains. While here, we visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery (a monastery famous for housing the head of the Yeti!). Overnight in Khumjung.

We descend to Dudhkoshi River and pass through beautiful villages on the way. We walk on a forest trail which will take us to a riverbed. Next, we ascend for around two more hours through pine and fir forests to reach a small village of Tengboche. The village is also home to the famous Tengboche Gumba which is situated at 3,867 m and is the largest monastery in the Khumbu region of Nepal. We tour the Gumba and enjoy  a panoramic view of the Himalayas, including Tawache, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Everest.Overnight in Tengboche.

We trek on a trail through hillsides blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing a prayer-flag festooned bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, we walk alongside the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through pine forests. On the way we may come across mountain goats, snow leopards, and colorful milieu. After passing a Chorten, we reach an army camp at Namche Bazaar. We get amazing views of the surrounding landscape from this juncture. We continue our trek with a steady descent on a hill and cross a few bridges before reaching Monjo. Overnight in Monjo.

The trail descends steeply before it cuts up to the airstrip in Chauri Kharka. On the way we pass Phakding and Chopling villages. The climb from Chauri Kharka is the final climb of the trek. As the local staff you met in Lukla will not be accompanying you to Kathmandu, today is last day you celebrate your accomplishment together. Overnight in Lukla.

We take an early morning flight to Kathmandu. Our trip leader will drop us off at our hotel and we have the rest of the day off. We can stroll around the streets in Thamel, a popular Tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenir shopping. You may also visit popular tourist attractions nearby. Either way, there will be a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of our journey. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A Himalayan Glacier representative will escort us to the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. If you wish to extend your stay in Nepal and make up your mind to partake some other activities, then Himalayan Glacier will be more than happy to make all arrangements for you. Ciao!