Annapurna Panorama Trek

Our Nepal Hiking Team member will welcome you to the TIA upon arrival. They will escort you to a three-star hotel in the heart of Thamel, Kathmandu's tourist hub. Later, our representative will brief you regarding your trip. 

You have the rest of the day to yourself. If you are not tired from your flight, you can leisurely visit some nearby attractions. 

You will begin your Nepal adventure by visiting some of Kathmandu's sacred and historical sites. The day tour will take you to Kathmandu Durbar Square, an ancient palace of the Shah and Mall kings. A plethora of architectural masterpieces surrounds the massive white structure of the palace. These ancient temples are kept intact to preserve Nepal's archaeological history. 

Swoyambhunath Temple is a sacred Buddhist religious site atop a hill overlooking the city. On a clear day, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the city and its surrounding landscapes. Another Buddhist site you will visit is Boudhanath Stupa. There, you will find many worshippers circumambulating the Stupa throughout the day. 

The last site to visit is Pashupatinath Temple, a holy Hindu religious site where hundreds of worshippers come from all over the world to pay homage to Lord Shiva. 

After an early breakfast, you will board a tourist bus to Pokhara. You will drive along Prithvi and Pushpalal highways for around seven hours before you reach the Lakeside at Pokhara.  

On the way, you will see beautiful landscapes of Nepal, such as terraced fields, lush green forests, the gushing Trisuli River, and humble villages. Many restaurants and tea stalls along the Trisuli River provide food and beverages for travelers.

Pokhara is well known as the favorite tourist city after Kathmandu. It has the best scenic views, such as the serene Phewa Lake, lush green forests around the lake, and many snowy peaks visible at a distance, all of which make it an ideal place to recuperate from nature. On a clear day, you will see Mt Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna ranges, and others from the Lakeside.  

When you reach  Pokhara, you can either rest at your lakeside hotel or visit the bars and restaurants along the Lakeside. Later, you can take a boat ride on Phewa Lake to enjoy the pleasant view.

Note: If a road trip to Pokhara seems exhausting, you can take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which takes only 25 minutes. It will cost an additional US $180 for a round trip. 

After a drive to Birenthanti, the trailhead of the Annapurna Panorama Trek via the villages of Lumle and Nayapul. Here, you will begin your actual hiking adventure and go through the beautiful foresrs, waterfalls and swimming holes.

Passing by the pastures of Ramghai and going up the valley, you'll reach Tikhedhunga. At the end of the day, you'll reach Ulleri by walking across a suspension bridge and ascending the 3,300 steep stone steps.

Ulleri is a beautiful Magar town with green pastures and campgrounds. You will take a short break here before moving towards Nangethanti, which means 'the naked rest house.' After your lunch at Nangethanti, you will head on to Ghorepani. 

Ghorepani used to be an essential junction connecting several villages of the region with Annapurna Base Camp. In olden times, traders traveling with their goods on horses used to rest at this place. They provided the horses with water and food before resuming their journey. Hence, the resting place for their horses has come to be known as Ghorepani, which means 'water for the horses.' 

We will start a pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210 m) before breakfast, a popular vantage point to view the sunrise upon the gigantic Annapurna massif. Some of the mountains visible from Poon Hill are Annapurna I (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Machhapuchare (6,993 m), and Nilgiri Himal (7,061 m).

Our guide will inform you of the departure time from Ghorepani to Poon Hill, depending on the season. The hike usually takes about an hour.

At the top of Poon Hill, we will feel a sense of calm and immense joy, beholding the sun rising among the snowy peaks. Ascending Poon Hill is an achievement for many novice trekkers as it is an essential milestone on their trek.

After returning from Poon Hill, we will have breakfast at the teahouse and then leave for Tadapani (2,630 m). The trail winds up a ridge line through lush green rhododendron forest. We will see many rhododendrons blooming on these trails during spring.

The day's trip is divided into two parts: first, we will hike from Tadapani down to Ghandruk village, and then we will take a motor ride from there to Pokhara.

In the morning at Tadapani, we will ensure you catch the sunrise that illuminates Mount Machhapuchhare (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, and Annapurna South, offering a brilliant view of the valley below.

The trail from Tadapani to Ghandruk is mostly downhill, passing through lush forests and terraced fields, providing a scenic and pleasant trekking experience.

After the trek to Ghandruk village, we will have lunch and then drive to Pokhara.

After breakfast, we will take a tourist bus to Kathmandu. The drive will take us back through the Pushpalal and Prithvi highways, winding through river gorges, mountains, terraced fields, towns, and villages. When we arrive in Kathmandu in the late afternoon, we will take you to the hotel where you can rest.

Note: If a road trip to Kathmandu seems exhausting, you can take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which takes only 25 minutes. A one-way flight will cost an additional US $90 per person.

After breakfast, a member of our Nepal Hiking Team will drive you to the airport three hours before your scheduled departure from Tribhuvan International Airport. 

Your trip comes to an end. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Nepal. Feel free to contact us for further adventures.