Eco Community Cultural Trek  - 14 Days

Upon our arrival in Kathmandu, Himalayan Glacier will arrange to pick us up from the airport. We will then be transferred to our hotel. During the late afternoon, we can take a rest at our hotel room. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier where you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the country’s food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we begin our sightseeing tour by visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites within Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square showcases Nepalese art and architecture at its best. The architecture is typical of the Malla dynasty who ruled over Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century. Swayambhunath Temple is popular among the foreigners as the Monkey Temple owing to the large monkey population residing in the area. Pashupatinath Temple is situated on the banks of river Bagmati and is one of the principal temples of Lord Shiva. The Bauddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in South Asia which is built on the ancient trade route to Tibet.

We drive to Syangja District located west of the Kathmandu Valley. The district has also recently gained popularity for growing citrus fruits. We interact with the farmers and observe their farming techniques. During the evening, we drive to Pokhara all the while soaking in the beautiful hill landscape. Overnight in Pokhara.

Today we visit the Galeshwor Temple that stands on a single rock and is dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. We then walk to Banskharka following the Annapurna trail. Bansakharka is a picturesque village inhabited by the Magar community of Nepal. The village is surrounded by beautiful Rhododendron forests and with streams flowing through it. The village has lived for hundreds of years on the production of mandarins, oranges and honey, which you might learn about and taste in your visit.  We stay in a community managed lodge and enjoy the local food. Overnight in Basnkharka.

Today will be a fun filled day with lots of activities. We not only stroll in the Citrus farms meeting the farmers and observing their farming practices but also interact with the retired British Gurkhas. There will also be a cultural program during the evening where we can enjoy the local dances with good authentic rural Nepalese food. Overnight in Banskharka.

We embark upon a half day trek to Dandakateri today and enjoy the beautiful Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges which are both among the tallest Himalayan Mountains. Along with enjoying the incredible mountain vistas we also interact with the locals of the area. Overnight in Banskharka.

We have two route choices today. We could either follow a trail that passes through the Banmare village or we walk in the dense high altitude pine and rhododendron forests. If we follow the first route we will be surrounded by beautiful hill landscape with bench terraces greeting us in every bend. However, if we follow the second trail, we might get lucky and spot some wild deer and varieties of birds and butterflies all along the way. Either way, we will reach Nagi village late in the afternoon. There is another cultural show waiting for us tonight. We enjoy locally made food and millet liquor and spend the night at a community managed lodge in Nagi.

Nangi is a village situated at the height of 2330 meters in a valley surrounded by sacred forests that host several Hindu temples. While taking a tour of the village we get to witness high altitude subsistence farming system along with a few cottage industries like handmade Nepali paper, Sitka mushroom cultivation, and vegetable seed production. The tour will also get us acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of the area. Overnight in Nagi village.

We enjoy the breath taking mountain scenery while walking up the slope in a stone paved trail that leads to Mahare Danda located 3330 meters in altitude. We again spend the night at a community managed lodge and take delight in a delicious evening meal. Overnight at Mahare Danda.

Mahare Danda stands above deep gorges and valleys on the verge of a steep ridge and offers pristine views of the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre. Today, we say goodbye to this place and take a down-hill walk from Mahare Danda to Nangi.  Overnight in Nagi.

Today we leave for Pokhara via Mallaj Lekhphant in Parbat District. We enjoy picturesque hilly landscape along the way and sit for lunch at Ratamata. We then participate in a 2/3 hours long interaction program with teachers and students in Gram Prakash Higher Secondary School. Overnight in Pokhara.

Early in the morning we leave for Sarangkot, a hill that overlooks the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges in the north and Pokhara city in the south. From here, we catch amazing views of the sun as it rises in the mighty Himalayas. We then head back to Pokhara and continue touring the city’s landmarks. Davis Falls is a unique waterfall that flows directly into a narrow and deep canal which has no end. The Shiva Cave is located near Davis Fall and houses a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, a primary Hindu God. We also do some boating in Phewa Lake, the largest lake in Pokhara and visit Bindyabasini Temple located at the center of the Lake. We visit the famous International Mountain Museum (IMM) that records, documents and chronicles the past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world and the Himalayas in particular. We also tour the Tibetan refugee camp and witness how the refugees keep themselves busy by producing and trading woolen carpets and other handicraft items. Overnight in Pokhara.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. This will be a journey along river banks with wonderful views of hills and rural Nepalese lifestyle. After reaching Kathmandu, we take rest or do some souvenir shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our trip, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A representative from Himalayan Glacier will take us to the airport approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight.