14 Nights & 15 Days
4,500 Meters / 14,763 Feet
Any number
March-May & Sep-Nov
Khair Lake trekking, an exclusive and elusive adventure in and around hidden pockets of massive Annapurna range of mountains, and close to Dhaulagiri and Vara Shikar Himal (Annapurna Fang) in perfect tranquility of mountains and dramatic landscapes.
Khair Lake Trekking, where walk leads you to remote and isolated farm villages and on high scenic ridge of Kopra to reach at Khair Lake, regarded as holy pond fed from the glaciers of Annapurna and Vara Shikar peaks.
This will be one of the most beautiful adventures away from main flow of trekkers for some days on leaving the main popular trail of Ghorepani village, heading into complete wilderness and beyond from human settlement.
Khair Lake Trekking starts from beautiful Pokhara, a popular touristic city blessed by natural wonders of snow peaks of Annapurna-Manaslu and majestic Machhapuchare Himal (Fish-Tail) with serene calm Phewa and Begnas Lakes.
Walk leads with a short drive from low warm country to reach into mid hills within traditional farm villages of Poon-Magar people at Ghorepani, where a short hike takes you to scenic Poon Hill for alluring panorama of mountains with striking sunrise views.
From Ghorepani walking into deep rhododendron forest as walk leads beyond main trekking trail entering into total wilderness and then heading higher to reach at high and scenic Kopra ridge facing tremendous close views of Dhaulagiri-Annapurna South with Vara-Shikar peaks.
Slowly our trek leads to our main destination at Khair Lake surrounded by high peaks of Annapurna Himalaya, here enjoy its pristine environment in the harmony of serene surroundings of snow-capped peaks and the holy lake of Khair.
Khair Lake where once a year in full moon of August, great numbers of local pilgrim’s visits for a holy dip and bathe in icy pond believing it cleanse the sin of hundred lifetimes, from here our walk leads back to Pokhara on an alternative route to join the main Annapurna trekking trails to Pokhara.
On reaching Pokhara, our marvelous adventure completes with grand memories and enjoyable experience in Khair Lake Trekking.
We will welcome you at the international airport and guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to get you settled into your hotel.
In the afternoon (depending on your arrival time) we can take you on a bazaar walk exploring the secret alleys and courtyards of old Kathmandu that most visitors don’t get to experience.
We begin by walking into the old city and exploring the small alleyways, myriad of hidden temples belonging to both Hinduism and Buddhism (in some cases, both!) and make our way through local bazaars of fruit, vegetables, spices and stunning wares made of brass, bronze and copper. Not only exotic produce, but a fascinating mix of people are everywhere; along with the brightly clad locals of the Kathmandu Valley, you’re likely to see ‘Gurkhas’, Sherpa women in their striped aprons, traders from India, and sadhus – Hindu holy men – perhaps on pilgrimage to one of the many temples and shrines of the valley. (Note: this is a walking tour) Overnight in Kathmandu.
After breakfast today, we embark on a full day of sightseeing to get to know the incredible Kathmandu Valley. Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and you will be chauffeured by private vehicle to three out of an incredible seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.
First you will visit the Swoyambhunath Temple. Also known as the Monkey Temple for the many resident monkeys that scamper around the myriad of small shrines and temples, this ancient Buddhist Stupa is perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. From here you will proceed to Patan, also known as Lalitpur, the city of fine arts. Patan is one of the three ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley and the Patan Durbar Square showcases stunningly preserved temples and palace complexes.
Your final exploration today takes you to Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest temples in the Hindu religion. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the three main gods in Hinduism, as his birthplace. Situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, Pashupatinath is the main cremation site for Hindus in the Kathmandu Valley, with cremation ghats lining the Bagmati River below the temple. It is such an important. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Early morning, you will be driven to Pokhara through the beautiful Nepalese countryside to reach the Pokhara lakeside and transfer to the hotel. You can take rest of the time to explore the surrounding lakeside areas. Overnight in Pokhara.
Today our trek will be commenced after breakfast at early morning. You will have an hour drive from Pokhara with your trekking guide until Nayapul and commence our trek to Birethanti, a large and prosperous city beside the Modi River. With lots of joy and adventure we head up the Kimche. After resting there for some time, we then continue our trek to Ghandruk which is of 2 hours main trail to Ghandruk. Overnight in Ghandruk.
In Ghandruk, you will get to enjoy astonishing views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli Mountains. From there you can continue upwards through Deurali and into the dense rhododendron forests. After trekking over a small pass you will reach Tadapani where you can enjoy excellent views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna and Hiunchuli mountains. Overnight in Tadapani.
After Tadapani you will be leaving for main trail and for the next few days you will walk in a more remote area of the Annapurna region. On the trek today you will get to appreciate the diverse flora and fauna of the region and of course the magnificent view of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South. Trekking in a relatively easy trail, you will reach Dobato which is dominated by the excellent view of the Annapurna South. Overnight in Dobato.
After having breakfast, you will descend through open ground and beautiful forest to reach the pastures of Lower Chistibung. You will then ascend gradually through a forest before reaching Upper Chistibung which is a temporary herder’s settlement. If you are lucky, you might even spot the colorful Lophophorus (Danphe), the national bird of Nepal, as well as Himalayan Thar on the grassy ridge high above the trail. Overnight in Chistibung.
You will embark on a steady climb above the tree line through alpine meadows and pastures to reach Khopra. As you approach Khopra Ridge, you will see the tip of Annapurna South. Upon reaching Khopra you can go for a short walk down Khopra Ridge to a viewpoint overlooking Kali Gandaki river far below in this deep valley. From Khopra you can also admire the stunning mountain panorama including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna South. Overnight in Khopra Ridge.
You will begin the trek early in the morning towards the Kaire Lake from where you can attain excellent views of the Fang and surrounding mountains. If you do not want to walk all the way to the lake, a half day walk from Khopra can also be arranged. Overnight in Khopra Ridge.
From Khopra Ridge you will descend off the hillside and continue downhill on a steep trail. Along the way you can get more views of Mount Dhaulagiri with the mountain providing a lovely backdrop to the terraced fields and traditional houses in the nearby villages. Overnight in Swanta village.
Today is another big day. You have to trek towards Ghorepani that takes about 7 hours from Swanta village. You have to climb about (1,620m) up. From Ghorepani, you will be able to see Annapurna South, Himchuli and Tukuche Himal. You will pass a couple of Magar and Gurung villages on the trail. Overnight in Ghorepani.
Early morning, you’ll start an hour hiking to Poon Hill at an elevation of (3,210m). There you can spend about an hour. You have to return to Ghorepani where you will have hot breakfast at the hotel. You will trek down towards Tikhedunga, walking down along the ridges and through rhododendron forests before finally reaching Tikhedhunga. Overnight in Tikhedhunga.
After some light trekking, you will reach Nayapul (1,070m). An hour drive takes you to Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.
Pokhara has an abundance of things to do, regardless of whether you are in an adventurous or relaxed frame of mind: you can go for a leisurely boat ride on the lake; take a 2 hour return walk up to the World Peace Pagoda with its incredible views to the Himalayas; visit one of the Tibetan refugee villages that dot the area, where Tibetan carpets and other handicrafts are available; hire a bike and cycle along the lakeside; you can try your hand at tandem paraglide with a professional pilot, an ultralight flight, or even take a ride on the new zipline! Of course, it is also lovely to just relax and take in the surroundings in one of the many lakeside cafes.
After nice time in Pokhara finally, we’ll escort you to the domestic airport for your return fight to Kathmandu, where you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore, at your pleasure. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today is your last day in Kathmandu and is an opportunity to do all the bits and pieces you thought of doing over the past few weeks including any last-minute shopping, returning to places that you enjoyed or didn’t get a chance to visit before your trek. Do let us know if would like help organising anything for today. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After a great breakfast at your hotel, you are free until it is time for us to transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home. We bid farewell for now and until next time!
