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DAY 01: Arrive in Kathmandu |
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Meet and greet at Airport then you'll be taken to your
hotel. While in Kathmandu you will have time fascinating
Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines reflecting ancient
local traditions are highlighted on our guided tour.
There's time to explore the city's many charms on your own
too. In the evening delicious traditional Nepali well come
dinner await for you. O/N in Kathmandu |
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DAY 02: Kathmandu City Tour |
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After breakfast, we'll visit Swayambhunath temple, and
said to be 2000 years stupa on a hillock offers
breath-taking view of Kathmandu City. We will then
processed to Visit Pasupatinath and Bouddhanath. After
lunch we'll visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan (Lalitpur)
- which is the oldest of the three major cities in
Kathmandu Valley - famous for its Buddhist monuments and
Hindu temples, and you can catch the traditional artisans
working with wood, stones and metals. O/N in Kathmandu. |
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DAY 03: Kathmandu- Besi Sahar (823m) |
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Drive to Besi Sahar, near Pokhara. Overnight here. |
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DAY 04: Besi Sahar - Bahundanda (1311m) |
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The route follows the Marshyangdi River upstream, crossing
a long suspension bridge and passing a beautiful, thin
waterfall with a fine bathing pool. There are good views
to the north and a little-known hot spring here. |
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DAY 05: Bahundanda - Chamje (1390m) |
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The gorge becomes narrower as we cross a cantilever bridge
followed by a suspension bridge. We pass a few small
settlements along the route and Chamje, the destination
for the day, is one of them. Having traveled upstream, we
observe many changes in the people, architecture and
vegetation. Houses are now built of rocks, the vegetation
is less tropical and the culture more Tibetan-like. |
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DAY 06: Chamje - Bagarchap (2103m) |
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Leaving Chamje, the gorge becomes more impressive. We
cross into the district of Manang and see more Bhotia
people. These are primarily agro-pastoralists and the real
trans-Himalayan traders of the region. The route climbs
gradually to the town of Bagarchap meaning (butcher’s
place). The houses here have flat roofs, indicating that
there is less rainfall here than the south. There is a
temple here worth visiting, and views of the Annapurnas
and the Lamjung Himal. |
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DAY 07: Bagarchap - Chame (2615M) |
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Leaving Bagarchap, the valley becomes narrow and
picturesque. The vegetation is temperate, broad-leaved
forest. Chame is a government town and district centre for
Manang. There are interesting religious buildings and hot
springs |
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DAY 08:
Chame - Pisang (3133m) |
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We continue in an unrelenting narrow valley of pine,
hemlock and cypress forest. The trail through a serene
forest leads to lower Pisang; a side trip to higher Pisang
(100m higher) is a must for an amazing view of Annapurna
II. This arid region is in the rain shadow of the
Himalaya. The men here are traders - and may sell or trade
almost anything - and part-time farmers, and the women are
full-time farmers. |
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DAY 09:
Pisang- Manang (3500m) |
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There are 2 routes from here: a low road and a high road,
the latter taking longer but affording outstanding views
of the Annapurna Himal and few trekkers. Both routes
converge in the large and interesting village of Braga,
which is the seat of the oldest monastery in the area. The
gomba is about 900 years old and belongs to the Kargyupa
sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and contains some unique works
of art. Manang is 30 minutes from here. |
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DAY 10:
Manang (3500m) |
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Today is acclimatization day, which is best spent being
active and climbing to higher elevations for views but
returning to lower altitudes to sleep. Manang itself is in
a spectacular location with many attractions. There are
lakes, caves, moraine-hills, monasteries or local
activities in town. |
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DAY 11:
Manang - Latdar (4176m) |
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Leaving Manang, facilities become scarcer. We cross small
tributaries and contour along pleasant meadows with
occasional birch groves. There is a chance to see herds of
blue sheep. |
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DAY 12:
Latdar - Thorung Phedi (4404m) |
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We gain altitude gradually, and spend the night at the
phedi, meaning 'foot of a hill'. If you are lucky you may
spot a snow leopard near here at dusk! |
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DAY 13:
Thorung Phedi - Thorung La (5416m) - Muktinath
(3802m) |
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The trail now leaves the river valley and climbs steadily
over lateral moraine. The pass, marked by a large cairn,
is the high point of our trek. It is an exhilarating
geographical feature, dividing 2 mighty Himalayan valleys.
Far below to the west is the Kaligandaki River. We descend
in that direction for the village of Muktinath, located in
a poplar grove. It is a sacred shrine and pilgrimage site
for Hindus and Buddhists. |
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DAY 14:
Muktinath - Jomsom (2713m) |
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From Muktinath to Jomsom, we see people from Mustang, a
restricted area to the north, who come to sell handicrafts
to pilgrims. Among their merchandise is the highly-revered
mollusk fossil called shaligram. We will pass some ancient
caves and see the impressive white mountain that is the
Dhaulagiri. We also transit at the significant town of
Kagbeni, which is at a junction of 2 rivers and the
north-south and east-west trading routes. |
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DAY 15:
Jomsom - Kalopani (2530m) |
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We descend to Marpha, a lovely village of whitewashed
houses and fertile fields, and continue down the
Kaligandaki reaching the former Thakali trading centre of
Tukche. As the trail continues, the Himalayan rain shadow
blends into coniferous forest, and we reach the main river
valley and Kalopani. From here there are spectacular views
of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. |
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DAY 16:
Kalopani - Tatopani (1190m) |
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A beautiful walk, with another transition into
sub-tropical vegetation and the return of water buffalo,
banyan trees and poinsettias. The trail follows the river
through a narrow gorge and descends to cross a bridge near
a spectacular waterfall, before winding through the valley
to Tatopani. The hot springs that give the village its
name provide the perfect opportunity for a good scrub. |
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DAY 17:
Tatopani - Ghorepani (2819m) |
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Steadily climbing all day, we eventually leave behind the
terraced fields and walk through thick rhododendron forest
to the village of Ghorepani, meaning (horse water). We
camp at the pass for the best views of the sunset over the
spectacular, snow-capped Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna
Range. |
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DAY 18:
Ghorepani - Tadapani - Ghandrung (2012m) |
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Today the trail undulates through giant rhododendron
forest and orchid colonies to the pretty Gurung town of
Ghandrung, where the Annapurna range and Machapuchare (the
Fishtail) dominate the mountain views, although glimpses
of Lamjung Himal and the Manaslu range can also be seen
further east. |
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DAY 19:
Ghandrung - Dhampus (1700m) |
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The views continue to outstanding even as we descend, to
the village of Dhampus. |
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DAY 20:
Dhampus - Pokhara |
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Today the trail descends through forests, all the way to
the valley floor, from where we make our way to the city
of Pokhara. |
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DAY 21:
Pokhara- Kathmandu |
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After breakfast you're return to Kathmandu by road. After
arrive in Kathmandu you're free to shop and pick up some
last minute souvenirs, rest and visit the shop etc. O/N in
Kathmandu. |
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DAY 22:
Departure |
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After breakfast free for you until time to leave the
international airport for your final destination. |