Summary:
The second shortest trek in this site, offering good mountains views from Pokhara, Ghandruk, Tadapani and Ghorepani (Poon Hill). Very rich in flora and fauna and glimpse of traditional rural village life, people and of course their charming faces.
Detail Itinerary:
Day 01 :
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m.) which takes about seven hours. You depart for the seven hours drive to Pokhara (820m,), 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu. As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to quickly descend again to the Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its junction with the Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up through heavily terraced fields and small hill towns to the Seti River that takes you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara is tourist's paradise with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with mountains. You can observe views to the north across the hills and Phewa Tal (lake) to the white peaks of the Manaslu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri ranges. This drive will take most of the morning, leaving much of the afternoon to fall in love with its beauty.
Day 02:
Pokhara (820m) – Nayapul (1070m), then trek to Ghandruk.
5½ - 6 hours, 950m ascend, 50m descend
The first part of the trek is reasonably flat than ascend upto Kimche (1640m.), where there are some tiny souvenir shops and restaurants, the little village mostly occupied by Black Smith, one of the so-called untouchable caste in Nepal as well as in India. Just below the village is the nature conservation and human potential education centre, a British project that has a small visitor centre explaining its work. Again the trail gently ascend to Ghandruk (1950m). En route, you pass through forests, rice terraces, waterfalls and green scenarios. Ghandruk village, the second largest Gurung village, having about 310 households (the largest is siklis, having about 400 households), one of the major ethnic group out of the 63 identify ethnic group of Nepal and well known for the brave Indian and British regiment. There is a handicraft centre and Gurung museum. From this village you could see Annapurna south, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Fishtail.
Day 03:
Ghandruk (1950m) – Tadapani (2700m)
2½ - 3 hours, 750m ascend, 20m descend
The trek from Ghandruk to Tadapani is gradually ascend through rainy and dense forest. You could pass via Bhaisi Kharka with the birds chirping sounds. Form en route you could see beautiful mountain views as well as green hills.
Day 04 :
Tadapani (2700m) – Ghorepani (2900m)
4 - 4½ hours, 500m descend, 700m ascend
The first part of the trek is steeply down to small stream for half an hour then immediately steeply ascend to Banthanti (2650m). Again, your trail is steeply ascend about two hours to the Deurali (3100m). After Deurali your trek is still gradual ascend upto Gurung Hill (3200m). Finally your trail is descend all the way to Ghorepani. All this day you walk through Rhododendron, pine and oak forest. En route you could see beautiful mountain views and green hills.
Day 05 :
Ghorepani ( 2900m) – Poonhill (3200m) – Tikhedhunga (1500m)
6 – 7 ½ hours, 1700m descend, 400m ascend, 12 K.M. Distance
Early morning trip to Poon Hill (3200m.) to enjoy the sunrise view over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.), Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7855m.), Machhapuchhre (6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung Himal (6931m.) and other numerous snowcapped mountain peaks. After breakfast, you again follow gradual descend path through the forests of rhododendron and oak upto Banthanti (2300m). It is a small village where you can pause for hot and cold drinks. Then the trail descends to Ulleri (2010m.), a big Magar village from where you can enjoy view of Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli. From here the trail upto Tikhedhunga is steeply descend passing terraces and some villages.
Day 06 :
Tikhedhunga (1500m) – Nayapul (1070m)
3 – 3 ½ hours, 500m descend, 100m ascend, 8 K.M. Distance
This day’s trek gradually descends following Bhurung Khola (Bhurung Stream) all the way to Birethanti before you cross the Modi Khola over the suspension bridge. You are amazed to pass small villages, see the magnificent waterfalls and walk through the sparse forests.
Day 07 :
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist mini bus that takes about seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli,, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal's first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to capital city.
You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes approximately 25 minutes.
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Facts of the Trek: