Ghorepani & Poon Hill Private Hike: 10 Days

Ghorepani & Poon Hill Private Hike: 10 Days

Day 1: Kathmandu

If you look into the distance, you'll see them - the Himalayas await! You'll be able to spot their peaks as soon as you land in Nepal. From Kathmandu Airport, we'll take you to a hotel in the city centre where you'll get some rest after your journey. 

Once you've got some of your energy back, we'll reconvene in the hotel lobby to discuss the preparations for the hiking route we'll undertake in the next few days. After this meeting, we'll head to a central restaurant in Kathmandu for a welcome dinner with a variety of local dishes. We'll also watch a dance show! After dinner, we'll drive you back to the hotel, where you'll spend the night.

Day 2: Kathmandu

Good morning! After we've had breakfast at the hotel, we'll set off on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. We'll explore the city in either a car or a minibus, depending on the size of the group. During our tour, we'll learn all about the history of iconic places in Nepal's capital such as Durbar Square, the Pashupatinath Temple and the famous Buddhist Swyambhunath complex. The final stop of the tour will be in a venue where we'll prepare all the trekking gear we'll need for our hike in the Himalayas.

Having organised our equipment, we'll return to the hotel in Kathmandu. You'll have the rest of the day free to explore the city at your leisure.

Day 3: Kathmandu - Pokhara

At 7 am, we'll head to Kathmandu Bus Station. From here, we'll set off for the city of Pokhara. During the 7-hour journey, we'll make 2 stops: one for an included breakfast and one for lunch on your own. In the late afternoon, we'll arrive at the hotel in Pokhara where we'll spend the night. Make sure you get lots of rest, as our hike to Ghorepani and Poon Hill kicks off the next day!

Day 4: Pokhara – Nayapul – Tikhedhunga

Rise and shine! After fuelling up with breakfast at the hotel in Pokhara, we'll take a bus to the village of Nayapul. When we get there, you'll be able to make out the steep peaks of Annapurna and Machapuchare.

When we get to Nayapul, the porters will prepare the equipment. Once everything is ready, we'll set out on our hiking route through the Himalayas along the banks of the Modi River. This first stage of our trek will take us to the village of Birethanti, where the English-speaking guide will provide us with the necessary permits to continue trekking to higher altitudes. At this point in the route, we'll climb up to an elevation of 4,855 feet (1,480 metres) above sea level. When we've made our ascent, we'll come to the campsite at Tikhedhunga. We'll have 1 night's accommodation with full board in this small village. Goodnight!

Day 5: Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani

Having started the day with a hearty breakfast, we'll work our way up the 3,000 stone steps to the village of Ulleri. All this effort will be well worth it, as from here we'll gaze out at spectacular views of the surrounding mountain scenery.

Our hike will then continue through lush forests, at the end of which lies the picturesque Ghorepani. This village is situated at an altitude of 9,383 feet (2,860 metres) and is where we'll stay in a mountain lodge where both lunch and dinner are included.

Day 6: Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Tadapani

On this day, we'll wake up bright and early and set off on our hike. At the end of our morning hike, one of the best viewpoints in Nepal awaits. This would be Poon Hill, where we'll arrive at dawn just in time to see the sunrise over the south face of Annapurna, Machapuchare, Hiumchuli and Dhaulagiri. After admiring the scarlet and orange tones of the sunrise, we'll return to the Ghorepani lodge for a leisurely breakfast.

After breakfast, we'll grab our hiking poles and make our descent through the village of Banthanti to the village of Tadapani. When we get there, we'll have lunch, dinner and overnight accommodation included.

Day 7: Tadapani – Ghandruk

Once we've woken up and had breakfast in Tadapani, we'll head to the foothills of Annapurna. At the foot of this legendary peak and at an altitude of over 26,246 feet (8,000 metres), we'll find ourselves in Ghandruk. We'll have a hearty lunch in this beautiful mountain village and get ready to spend the night.

Following our lunch, we'll visit a handicraft centre and the local museum, where we'll learn about this region's customs and traditions. We'll then have dinner at the lodge in Ghandruk before going to sleep.

Day 8: Ghandruk – Nayapul – Pokhara

A farewell breakfast will bring this unforgettable stay in Ghandruk to an end. As we follow the course of the Modi River, we'll stroll along the banks to the south. At the end of this leg of the hike, we'll come to the village of Nayapul. A private vehicle will be waiting for us here to take us to Pokhara. After having a lunch of different Nepalese dishes in the town, you'll have the afternoon free to stroll around the famous lake at your leisure. A little after sunset, you'll be driven to a 3-star hotel in the city centre.

Day 9: Pokhara – Kathmandu

You'll be taken to the bus station in Pokhara so we can hit the road back to Nepal's capital. During the 7-hour drive, we'll make one stop for breakfast and another for lunch. You'll need to cover your own lunch costs on this day. In the late afternoon, we'll pull into a restaurant in Kathmandu where we'll have a lovely farewell dinner with some traditional Nepalese dishes. After dinner, you'll be taken to a hotel in the city centre.

Day 10: Kathmandu

Hasn't the time flown by! After you've had breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu, you'll have some free time until we pick you up 3 hours before your flight's departure time to take you to Kathmandu Airport. If you'd prefer, you can also choose to spend some more days on your own in Nepal's capital.

Accommodation & Meals

This 10-day hike in the Himalayas includes 9 nights' accommodation

• 3 nights with breakfast in Kathmandu: Hotel Apsara Boutique, Hotel Buddy or similar
• 2 nights with breakfast in Pokhara: Hotel Pokhara Batika, Hotel Landmark or similar
• 1 night with full board in Tikhedhunga: Chandra Guest House, Tikhedhunga Guest House or similar
• 1 night with full board in Ghorepani: Hotel Sunny, Hotel Excellent View or similar
• 1 night with full board in Tadapani: Hotel Himalaya, Green View Guest House or similar
• 1 night with full board Ghandruk: Peaceful Lodge, Annapurna Guest House or similar

Other than the 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokahara, we'll sleep in mountain lodges and tents in campsites every night.

Who can participate in this activity?

This medium-high difficulty route involves making ascents to locations that are almost 13,100 feet (4,000 metres) high. We'll walk for an average of 6 hours a day. Therefore, participants must already have a good level of physical fitness.

Children under 8 years old won't be able to do this activity.

Necessary Documentation

• ACAB and TIMS permits, which are obligatory to go on a trek in Nepal, are already included in this 10-day hike.
• A special Nepal entry visa is required for this route, which costs around US$ 30 per person, but you'll need to pay for it yourself.
• We also recommend taking out travel insurance. Your policy, which you'll need to pay for separately in case you want to take out a deed, should cover expenses for 15 days in Nepal in case of illness, theft, accident or loss of personal belongings.
• Although a medical certificate isn't required, we advise getting a thorough medical check-up done before travelling to Nepal.