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.

Right after breakfast you will leave Kathmandu around 8 am in the morning. You can see picturesque views of Nepal countryside, lush greenery, rivers, villages, farms and mountain vistas en route throughout the drive. After 8/10 hours of drive you will reach Chyamche via Beshisahar. Overnight in Chyamche.

After having breakfast, you have to start the trek from Chyamche until you reaches the river. Then you’ll have to ascend further to sharp-edged cliff facing the riverbank. After crossing a suspension bridge, you need to climb steeply towards the slippery and physically challenging path to Sattale. You’ll pass by a Tal towards steep forested village of Karte. You will finally reach Dharapani after crossing a suspension bridge. Overnight in Dharapani.

You have to skirt through a narrow field from the village. Annapurna II become visible as you arrive at Bagarchhap, a Bhotia village. As you continue ascending through forests of pine and oak, you will pass through Timang before coming to a thundering waterfall. You can pause for a while and take in the splendor of the picturesque Manaslu. When the steep incline ends, you have to follow a path to cross a stream before entering a pine forest and then enter the pristine hamlet of Kotho, from where you can capture the most enchanting view of Annapurna II. You’ll soon reache Chame, administrative headquarter of Manang. Overnight in Chame.

From Chame the route will get quitter with fewer cars and people, the scenery gets better with snow peaks, small glaciers, river, pine forest etc. Bhartang is a beautiful place, basically one fancy hotel, a couple of local houses and a big apple farm, the place is surrounded by apple plantation. From Bhartang you will be walking uphill to Dhikur Pokhari. After Dhikur Pokhari the route splits; one continues on the Lower Pisang, another one goes uphill to Upper Pisang. It is better to walk through Upper Pisang since the route is located higher than Lower Pisang and offers better views. Overnight in Upper Pisang.

There are two trails on north and south of the Marsyangdi Khola that meets at Mungji. The southern route via the road at Hongde (3,420m) involves less climbing. The northern route, on the other hand, provides mountain views on the upper trail via Ghyaru and Ngawal (3,660m). This route is better and will aid your acclimatization. You’ll continue from Mungji (3,500m). After a short steep climb you will reach Manang. Overnight in Manang.

You will have an important rest and acclimatization day today before crossing the Thorung La. You can stroll by the river to see the tremendous ice-fall coming down from the Annapurnas. You can also climb high above the village for a full panorama of the Annapurna range and the Manang Valley. You can also visit Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aid post in the village. Overnight in Manang.

From Manang village, the trail crosses a stream and climbs to a village of Tenki above Manang leads you to the Marshyangdi Valley. The trail follows the valley northward, passing a few pastures, a scrub of juniper trees, as it steadily gains elevation. You’ll pass by a small village of Ghunsa and through meadows where horses and yaks graze. When you cross a small river on a wooden bridge, you’ve to pass by an ancient old Mani wall and then you’ll reaches another village of Yak Kharka. Overnight in Yak Kharka.

After a good time at Yak Kharka, morning adventure offers you tremendous views of Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Chulu Peaks. As the walk progress, getting closer to the base of Thorang-la, crossing a bridge then a climb along the river bank of Jarjung, leads you to cross a steep rocky slope and finally reaching at Thorung Phedi. Depending upon the physical conditions of the clients, if all goes well, you will have an hour steep climb to High Camp. Overnight in High Camp.

You’ll have an early start today for crossing Thorung La (5,416m). The trail becomes steep immediately on leaving but as this trail has been used by local people for hundreds of years the path is well defined. After 4 hours of steady climbing you will reach the chorten and prayer flags of the pass. You’ll see snow covered mountains ahead of the Kali Gandaki valley and then hills of Mustang. You need to descend down to Muktinath for with excellent views of Dhaulagiri. Overnight in Muktinath.

You will now descend down the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge, through this arid country in the same geographical and climatic zone as Tibet. Instead of going the classic way down to Kagbeni and then down the windy valley to Jomsom (a lot of which now follows the road) you will go via Lupra village (3,310m). This will gets you off the road and you can also see the monastery of Samasim (Bonpo Monastery) that is located in Lupra. This is the only village in the Annapurna Region where you will find and can gain such an insight into the ancient Bon religion. From here you will descend to Jomsom, sprawled along both banks of the Kali Gandaki and from where you will have fine views of the Nilgiri peaks. Overnight in Jomsom.

In the Jomsom to Tatopani segment, the trekking trail and the road are same and it is busier with vehicles than any other part of the Annapurna Circuit. To make your experience better, we have kept a drive from Jomsom to Tatopani which will take about 4/5 hours. We will use a local shared 4WD vehicle to descend through the Kali Gandaki River Valley. The vehicle will be shared among our own group or with travelers of other companies. But, if our group size is bigger, for example 4 and above clients, we will arrange private transfer. On the way, we will encounter the world’s deepest gorge, Kopchepani. Tatopani is famous for its hot springs. This is the best place to relax our body after a long trek. We will spend another day relaxing at this spot. Overnight in Tatopani.

You can take a hot shower or dip into the natural hot springs. You can also enjoy drinks and local food. Overnight in Tatopani.

You’ll have to ascent from Tatopani to Ghorepani that takes about 7 hours. You have to climb about (1,620m) up. From Ghorepani, you will be able to see Annapurna South, Himchuli, Tukuche Himal and many other Mountains. 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. Lunch and dinner are free to choose the food of your choice – we will give some good recommendations for great restaurants/cafes on Lakeside. Overnight in Pokhara.

After breakfast today we’ll escort you to the domestic airport for your return flight 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!