Annapurna Dhaulagiri

Detail Itinerary

DAY 01: Kathmandu (1300m)

Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport look for your guide with Sherpa Backpackers’ display board at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to the hotel. After you check in you have sometime to explore the city and then preparing for your next day adventure is must. Your guide will introduce you to rest of the team member and brief you about the trip in the evening. Provided there is time after the meeting we may as well go out for a group dinner to a traditional Nepali Restaurant.

DAY 02: Kathmandu to Ghandruk via Pokhara (1960m) 6 Hours drive to Pokhara , 2.5 hours drive & 1.5 hour trek
Today we make an early start as we have a long journey of driving. After the breakfast, we leave Kathmandu at around 7am and nearly after 5-6 hours’ drive we reach Pokhara. Enroute we see more of countryside of Nepal that offers greeneries, rivers, villages, farms and beautiful mountain sceneries. However, the condition of road is not equally fine in all portion of our drive today. The road to Pokhara is coal-tarred road, whereas after Pokhara the road is uneven but we definitely have an the outstanding sceneries through the windowpane. Ghandruk is one of the biggest Gurung settlements. Overnight in Ghandruk with a beautiful view of Annaopurna South, Hiuchuli and fishtail.

Day 3 :Trek to Tadapani (2450m)
Todays walk will be easier with not many steep ascents to encounter.Once you leave Ghandruk,you enter into oak and rhododendron forest keeping you cool.The forest is comes alive with the sounds of birds,streams and small waterfalls.There are no villages on today’s walk,but there a few tea houses at Bhaisi kharka .we stop in for your morning tea and rest. 

There will be fine views of Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna South (7237m), Machhapuchhare (6993m) and Lamjung Himal (6931m) teasing you all along the way.

Your lodge at Tadapani is perfectly located between the rhododendron forest.Sunrise and sunset views is a must to see from here.

Day 4: Trek to Bailikharka (3400m)
You will leave now leave the main trail that leads to Ghorepani today and follow a rarely used trail –(mainly used by the local sheperds).you trek through thick rhododendron forest ,pine and bamboos and soon emerge above the tree line to superb views of the Annapurna range and the Fishtail mountain.There are little tea shops here and we stop for lunch.After lunch you will continue to climb gradually through rhododendron forest .to reach Dobato. From here you get great views of the ‘fish tail’ Machapuchhare (6993m) and Annapurna south.The trail descends for a while before making the final ascent to Bayli Kharka where you stop for the night.This is the first community lodge of the trek.From the lodge there are great views of Dhaulagiri Himal.

Day 5 : Trek to Khopra Ridge (3700m)
To reach the ridge at Khopra, you will embark on a steady climb that carries you above the tree line. The best way to tackle the climb is to ascend steadily, take your time and rest as often as you wish.You come across few herders with their Yaks grazing on the slopes.

You will reach the lodge on Khopra Ridge in time for lunch and will be greeted by more awe-inspiring views. This extraordinary panorama includes Annapurna South, towering directly above you ,Varashikar and Nilgiri prominent to the north. Across the depths of the Kali Gandaki Valley, the Dhaulagiri Himal dominates the entire western skyline.

Kopra Community Lodge supports the secondary school at Nangi. Sunset and Sunrise is spectacular from here.

Day 6 : Trek to Swanta (2200m)
After breakfast we slowly descend down the hillside and continue steeply downhill. You will retrace the route back to Chistibung.

You will then head to the village of Swanta, where you will stay overnight in the newly constructed lodge.This lodge supports the school at Swanta.You have time to pay a quick visit the school and interact with the kids and the teaching staff.

Day 7 : Trek to Gorepani (2800m)
From Swanta you will descend through the village fields to a small river and take a quick look at the local water mill. From here you will cross the suspension bridge and head upwards to the village of Chittre, where you’ll join the main trekking trail for a little while through the rhododendron forest and finally get to Gorepani.

Day 08 : Trek to Poonhill –Ulleri (1900m) and Drive back to Pokhara – 3 Hours
Today will be a special day because we conquer Poon Hill- an icon of Annapurna region. To catch the magnificent splendor of sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill. Poon Hill is a great viewpoint from where we will be able to enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the Mustang part and Pokhara valleys including the closest views of more than 20 highest mountains including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The snowy peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. After taking photos and having some coffee or tea or hot chocolate, we return back to Gorepani. Upon breakfast. We descend through rhododendron forest and slowly head towards Ulleri via Bhanthanti. Once we get to Ulleri we drive back to Pokhara.

DAY 09: Drive to Kathmandu
Today, we drive back to Kathmandu early for the long bus journey. Once you are in Kathmandu your guide will help you check in to your hotel. Once checked in you have all afternoon free to yourself to explore more of the cities / have rest / body massage enjoy spa etc. After all you deserve to have all of them. If you are still keen on exploring any other areas in Kathmandu,you can talk to your guide and he/she will organize it for you accordingly.

DAY 10: Final Departure
The journey within the mountains of Nepal comes to an end today. Depending on your flight schedules you can wander around Thamel and relax before your flight. Your guide will see you off to the airport for your flight back home. You should be leaving the hotel 3 hours prior to your flight time.