Day 1 – Arrival in Kathmandu
Pick-up at Tribhuvan International Airport, meeting with your guide and transfer to the hotel. First impressions of Kathmandu (1 350 m) – walk to medieval Kathmandu Durbar Square and explore the beautiful complex of palaces, temples, shrines and courtyards built by the ancient Nepali kings between the 12th and 18th century. We bring you to our office and Thamel – the vibrant tourist area with hotels, restaurants, bakeries and outdoor shops. We get to know each other over a welcome dinner, check formalities and equipment and discuss your itinerary.

Day 2 – Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley
Today we discover the highlights of Katmandu and the valley. We adapt the programm to your interests and desires and what you have seen before. Usually, we go to Pasupatinath on the bank of the Bagmati River, where the most important Hindu temples and burning ghats of Nepal are situated. In Bouddhanath we circumambulate together with Tibetan and Nepali Buddhist pilgrims the whitewashed stupa. Our sightseeing usually ends in Patan, the city of Beauty, an astonishing center of fine art and Buddhist and Hindu culture.

Day 3 – Fly To Pokhara & Trek to Tolkla

After we take first flight to Pokhara we will have breakfast and we will drive to Phedi where our trek start. Today is a five hours long walk to Tolka (1 750 m). Our trail climbs to a rhododendron forest and the village of Pothana (1 990 m) where you have to show your trekking permit at the officer Annapurna Conservation Ara Project. We descend to the pass of Deurali, where we enjoy our lunch and views on Annapurna South (7 219 m) and Hinuchili (6 434 m). We descend to the forest to a hugh side canyon of the Modi Khola and later climb it out again on flagstone steps. We arrive at our camp place, Tolka (1 790 m), a pleasant Gurung village where you have beautiful vista over Annapurna South.

Day 4 – Trek Chomrong
As we leave Tolka the trail descends to the Tigu Khola river and climbs up again through forests to a ridge. After the ridge we make a pleasant walk passing rice terraces, fields and streams. The path further leads to Landruk (1 620 m), the hot springs of Jhinu Danda (1 750 m) and Chomrong (2 210 m), the last permanent village in the upper Moda Khola river valley. We stay in Chomrong blessed by tremendous views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

Day 5– Rest day in Chomrong
Today you explore the scenic environment of Chomrong village. Chomrong village is a typical Gurng village with slate-roofed neat houses admit a complicated network of terraces. The Gurungs are one of the ethnic groups recruited by the British for their famous Gorkha regiments. All of the Gurung villages you will visit are located on ridge tops with close views of the Annapurna, you are likely to see eagles and vultures circling the rooftops of these villages as they gain altitude in the afternoon thermals.

Day 6 – Trek Dovan
After Chomrong the trail descends 150 m over a stone staircase and crosses the Chomrong river. We climb out of the side valley via the small settlement of Tilche through forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. We lunch in Sinuwa (2 340 m) and climb for about an hour through a bamboo and rhododendron forest populated with many monkeys. We enter now the upper Modi Valley and see the lodges of Bamboo and Dovan below. Overnight in Dovan (2 500m).

Day 7 – Trek Deurali
The day begins with a climb along across a landslide and through a forest with a small temple where locals offer flowers, clothes or leaves. We have a cup of tea in Himalayan Hotel, situated in a deep gorge and continue our way to Hinku Cave situated at 3 100 m. After 4 hours walking we reach Deurali (3 140 m).

Day 8 – Trek Annapurna Basecamp
Above Deurali the valley widens and becomes less steep and you can see the gates to the sanctuary as the mountains really start to kick in. To avoid a dangerous avalanche area we climb through bamboo and birch woods. Around lunchtime we arrive at Machhapuchhare Base Camp situated at 3 700 m – which isn’t technically a base camp since climbing of the mountain is prohibited. The panorama includes Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna III (7 555m), Gangapurna (7 454 m) and Macchapucchare. After lunch we ascent 1,5 h to Annapurna Basecamp (4 130 m). We camp in one of the few teahouses that are run at this cold, windy place often snowbound and enjoy tremendous views of the near-vertical south face of Annapurna towering above the sanctuary of the northwest and are literally ringed by the peaks and the glaciers of the Annapurna Himal including Annapurna I (8 091 m), Annapurna South (7 219 m) and the Fishtailpeak of Macchapucchare.

Day 9 – Trek Bamboo
Heading back the valley is much easier. After 5 hours we arrive in our camp, Bamboo (2 310 m).

Day 10 – Trek Gangdruk
We make a a long steep climb back to Chomrong and enjoy beautiful views over Annapurna South, Hinuchili, Macchapucchare. From there we descend steeply to Jhinudanda (1 780 m) where you can take a dip in the steaming hot springs.

Day 11 – Trek Birethanti and transfer to Pokhara
We follow the Modi Khola River and follow it downstream until we reach after 2 hours Birethanti (1 025 m), at the junction of two rivers. Our private taxi will bring us in 2 h to our hotel on Phewa Tal at Pokhara. Here you can enjoy cycling, boating, paragliding or a massage.

Day 12 – Sightseeing in Pokhara & Fly Back To Kathmandu

Visiting World Peace Stupa after driving to Sarangkot for magical sunset view and boating at Phewa lake we will transfer to Airport and fly back to Kathmandu (40 min flight).

Day 13–Fly Back Home
We conclude our trip with a bus drive back to Kathmandu.

Extra days:

If you wish to stay longer in Nepal: Traveltimes Treks can offer you plenty of suggestions, we can arrange rafting and safari trips, helicopter flights, mountain biking, multi day tours to old historical city of Bhaktapur, the mountain stations Nagarkot & Dhulikhel or retreats in the serene monasteries of Namobuddha and Kopan.