Deluxe Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek – Starting with extensive sightseeing of Kathmandu valley’s major attractions including two of its other sister cities – namely Patan and Bhaktapur, this tour is specially designed to provide you with a real taste of real Nepal in a comparatively short period of time. This is a luxury tour where we will be making use of high-end accommodation arrangements wherever they are available (mainly in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bandipur, and Nagarkot) while the trekking we will be using the best possible accommodation with an en-suite bathroom wherever they are available.
This Deluxe Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek combines elements of cultural/historical and natural attractions in providing you a real taste of the urban and rural settings of Nepal.
We will initially begin the tour by exploring Kathmandu valley’s major attractions. The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world-famous. The seven include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath, and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. The seven monument ensembles represent an exceptional testimony to the traditional civilization of the Kathmandu Valley.
After covering Kathmandu valley we will then fly into Pokhara and start the trip earnestly by driving to Nayapul (1 hour’s drive from Pokhara) and will start the trek from there. From Nayapul we will trek to Ulleri (1960m) and then to Ghorepani (2860m). Staying for a night at Ghorepani, we will then hike up to Poon Hill viewpoint (3210m) very early in the following morning from where there are uninterrupted, panoramic views of some of the largest and most photogenic Himalayan mountains, including the magnificent Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, and specifically Hiunchuli, beyond Annapurna South to Annapurna I (8,091m/26,566ft) Gangapurna, Khangsar Kang (7485m), Annapurna III (7555m) and Machapuchare – Fishtail (6993m) of Dhaulagiri (world’s 7th highest at 8167m) and Annapurna 1 (world’s 10th highest at 8091m).
Deluxe Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, we will then descend back to our hotel in Ghorepani and will have our breakfast before moving onto Tadapani (2710m), Ghandruk (2012m), and then back to Nayapul from where we will be driven back to Pokhara where we will spend 2 full days exploring this beautiful lakeside city and its surroundings before driving to Bandipur for a day and then back to Kathmandu the following morning.
Please feel free to discuss your ideas should you wish to customize the itinerary as per your specific preference and we will be very happy to come up with a very befitting proposal for you.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, one of our team representatives will be at the airport to pick you up, and he will then take you to your hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
Welcome dinner in the evening hosted in your honor by the Asian Heritage team
Overnight stay at hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Once a fiercely independent city-state, Patan (pah-tan) is now almost a suburb of Kathmandu, separated only by the murky Bagmati River. Many locals still call the city by its original Sanskrit name of Lalitpur (City of Beauty) or by its Newari name, Yala. In Patan, we will explore many of its attractions before moving on to another city Bhadgaon (pronounced bud-gown) or the Newari name Khwopa, which means City of Devotees. The name fits – Bhaktapur has three major squares full of towering temples that comprise some of the finest religious architecture in the country.
The third of the medieval city-states in the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur was always described as the best-preserved. Tragically, however, the 2015 earthquake caused terrible devastation and loss of life. Nevertheless, only a few temples were destroyed, there is still much to see here and tourism is vital to the community. After concluding the Bhaktapur sightseeing we will then drive on to Changunarayan. The Changunarayan temple is said to be the oldest Hindu temple still in use in the Kathmandu Valley. Built-in the two-tiered pagoda style, the main shrine here is guarded on all sides by pairs of real and mythical beasts – elephants, lions, winged lions, and ram-horned griffons – and its roof struts feature some amazingly intricate carvings of Tantric deities. We will return back to Kathmandu overnight after completing the Changunarayan tour.
Overnight stay at hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the trek starting point, Nayapul (1050m). You will bypass through old villages and meandering green hills. Terraced paddy fields along the neighboring yet distant hills and the wind gushing in your face makes for a pleasant and smooth drive with much time to enjoy the landscape and contemplate about the tiring but exciting journey ahead. Lunch will be at Hile or Birethanti. The initial part of the trail is gentle and passes along thin settlement and paddy fields and one will be very soon transported and immersed into a vastly different lifestyle – a very simple yet charming. The trail will lead to Tikhedhunga via Birethanti (1065m).
Overnight stay at Summit River Lodge Kurintar.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, tea and Coffee
You will be ascending up at a slow and gentle pace, passing through Ulleri (2070m). Lunch will be at Ulleri and Banthanti, Magar villages where you can choose from a variety of dishes but with a little bit of Magar twist to it. There will be ample opportunities to interact with the locals and learn, understand and get a firsthand experience of their way of life. Along the way, one would enjoy the majestic view of Machhapuchhre (6997m), Huinchuli (6441m), and Annapurna South (7219m) and the world’s largest rhododendron forest. One can get a chance to view the unique and colorful scenery of forest flowers during March and April.
Overnight stay at the best available local lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, tea and Coffee
You will start trekking from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m) and then to Tadapani (2650m). You will be covering the distance within six to seven hours of a normal trek. You will begin the trek to Poon hill (3210m) in the wee morning so as to catch the first ray of sunlight peeking from behind Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m)and slowly rising over Tukuche Peak (6920m), Nilgiri (6940m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m, Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna III (7855m), Machhapuchhre (6993m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna II (7937m), Lamjung Himal (6931m) and numerous other elegant snowcapped mountain peaks slowly unraveling their beauty leaving one with a surreal experience.
You can have your breakfast at Ghorepani, and the trek to Tadapani (2650 m) will begin through the tranquil deep forests of rhododendrons, bamboos, and oaks. Lunch will be at Banthathi. En route, one can observe and appreciate nature’s beauty; waterfalls, rocks, wild animals, birds, and green valleys.
Overnight stay at the best available local lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, and coffee
A relatively easy day is ahead of us as we trek through oak and rhododendron forests, often alive with beautiful wildflowers. Our next destination is the mostly Gurung village of Ghandruk where we can view several peaks, such as Annapurna South, Gangapurna, (7455m), Machapuchare, Annapurna III and Hiunchuli. Ghandruk happens to be the second biggest Gurung village in Nepal. Its Buddhist traditions and culture convey a sense of tranquility and charm. It also has its own Buddhist monastery. What makes Ghandruk stand out is its distinct architecture with houses constructed of stone with slate roofs.
Overnight stay at the best available local lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, and coffee
Heading back along the route we took to reach Poon Hill we follow a steep track until we reach Syaula Bazaar. Continuing along the trail we pass several small villages and pass through the terraced fields planted in a various assortment of crops. Our trek ends at Nayapul from where we will drive back to Pokhara. Upon reaching Pokhara we will have some time to stroll around Phewa Lake and take in the beautiful scenery.
Overnight stay at Temple Tree Resort and Spa
Meals included: Breakfast, and lunch
Stretched along the shores of Phewa Lake and dotted with colorful bobbing paddleboats, this little slice of tranquility is one of the favorite places in Nepal. There are a number of epic things to do in Pokhara, especially for those chasing adrenalin, with white water rafting and some of the best paragliding on earth all available here. There are the 8,000 meter-high snow-capped giants of the Annapurna range, awe-inspiring in their size and stature. On a clear day, they can be seen from everywhere in Pokhara like watchful guardians over the sleepy town.
Time permitting the sites we cover today in Pokhara will be as follow:
Overnight stay at hotel Temple Tree Resort and Spa.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast in Pokhara, we will then drive to Bandipur and check-in at our hotel.
In the afternoon we will explore the many attractions of this beautiful town. One of Nepal’s most charming towns, Bandipur is a living museum of Newari culture, a beautifully preserved village crowning a lofty ridge, its main street lined with traditional row houses. Time seems to have stood still here, although it has taken a lot of effort to preserve this magic while developing the town as a destination. Derelict buildings have been reborn as cafes and lodges, and temples and civic buildings have been pulled back from the edge of ruin. With its attractive 18th-century architecture, pedestrian zone, and outdoor dining, it has a distinctly European feel.
Overnight stay at hotel Old inn Bandipur.
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast in Bandipur, we will then drive to Nagarkot via Kathmandu.
Nagarkot has a reputation as the top spot for enjoying Himalayan views from the comfort of your hotel balcony. Just 20 miles (32km) from Kathmandu, the village is packed with hotels lining a ridge, affording one of the broadest possible views of the Himalaya, with eight ranges visible (Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal, Rolwaling, Everest and Numbur). However, timing is everything, as the mountains are notorious for disappearing behind cloudy skies. The best viewing seasons are October to December and March to April, when clear skies are likely.
Overnight stay at hotel Club Himalaya Nagarkot.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Approximately 3 hours before the departure of your flight, you will be transferred to Kathmandu international airport where we guide you to the check-in hall. From here we hope you had an amazing journey through our country, Nepal. And we hope to see you again.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
