Ghorepani-Ghandruk (Poon Hill) Lodge

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport where you will be met by your representative of Vertical Expedition. You will be escorted to your hotel where there are complimentary welcome drinks and a short briefing with plenty of time to relax from your flight.

Your day will be spent visiting several of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  This is a great day to get a feel of the culture, spirituality and the beauty of the famed Kathmandu Valley. The Valley is larger than the country of Singapore and is known for its temples, shopping and great hospitality.

It’s a short flight (just 35 minutes) from Kathmandu to Pokhara, but what a view! This flight literally flies the backbone of the mighty Himalayas as you look down at the snowcapped peaks. You will see the ranges of Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and finally the peaks of the Annapurna Massif. Once you land, you will check into your hotel and then be able to do some sightseeing around Pokhara. The city is beautiful, as it is located on the shores of a mountain lake. There’s plenty to see and do in Pokhara. Some of the places include Phewa Lake, Devis Falls, Gupteswor Cave and more.

This day begins the start of the trekking. We leave Pokhara by private car for the village of Nayapul. The trip gains elevation as we go from river valley to the top of the ridge where we begin our trek. The high Himalayas tower over us with their snowcapped peaks rising majestically. The day’s trek takes us past waterfalls and through forests, and there will be lunch on the trail. Our destination is the village of Tikhedhunga with a walk of three to four hours. We will overnight in the village.

The trail climbs upwards to our first village of Ulleri which we will reach after two hours. We continue up the trail until arriving at Banthanti where we stop for lunch and incredible views of the mountains. From on top, we can easily see the peaks of Machhapuchhre, Hiun Chuli and Annapurna South. The trail starts to level off to an easier ascent until we get to the Magar village of Ghorepani. The name means “horse water” and has been a popular watering spot for horses traveling with riders for centuries. The village offers great views of the mountains, along with good accommodations for overnight.

Ghorepani is the gateway to the famous Poon Hill. We get up before the first rays of the morning sun begin to fill the skies. It is around a 45 minute trek in the dark through Rhododendron forests (with torchlights) until we reach the summit. There we stop in silence as we see the first of the rays breach the night skies. Here the morning sun turns the snowcapped peaks from grey to reddish-orange and finally to a brilliant white that stands boldly against the indigo blue skies. From on top, you can see a variety of snowcapped peaks, including: Dhaulagiri (8,167 m, 7th highest mountain in the world); Annapurna I (8091 m, 10th highest peak in world); Tukuche Peak (6920 m); Nilgiri (6,940 m); Baraha Shikhar (7,847 ); Annapurna South (7,525 m); Machhapuchhre (6,993 m); Annapurna IV (7525 m) and Annapurna II (7,937 m). There are even more peaks that the morning sun will illuminate. Return then to Ghorepani for breakfast, and then off to our next destination: Tadapani. The trail goes through deep forests of oak and rhododendron. There will be many opportunities to see monkeys along the way as well as many varieties of birds. At Tadapani, there will be another opportunity to see the high peaks of the Annapurna Range. We will overnight in a local lodge. Total trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.

The morning trek leaves after breakfast as we make our way toward the Gurung village of Ghandruk. We descend through a deep forest with fantastic views of the mountains from a variety of vistas and overlooks on the trail. Upon our arrival in Ghandruk, we can visit an ancient Buddhist monastery as well as the local museum that shares the culture of the Gurung people. We will overnight in Ghandruk. Trekking time is 3 – 4 hours.

Today is the final day of trekking. The day is around 4 – 5 hours of trekking past a landslide area, and through forest trails. We will have lunch at the village of Birethanti. Once we reach the village of Nayapul, we pick up our private car for the return trip to Pokhara.  There will be time to do some additional exploring, or simply choose to relax at Lakeside along the beautiful shores of Phewa Lake. Spend the night in a three star hotel in the city.

It’s a return flight to Kathmandu, following the backbone of the mighty Himalayas. The flight is short, between 25 and 35 minutes when you finally arrive in Kathmandu. Use the rest of the day to enjoy the Valley. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening where you will get a chance to enjoy local dancing, food and culture.

All good things must come to an end, and your trip to Nepal is no exception. Before leaving, why not talk to your representative at Vertical Expedition about returning to Nepal for your next holiday. The vast majority of people make a return trip to Nepal because they are impressed by not only the beauty, but also the local people.  Vertical Expedition offers trips into neighboring Tibet, Bhutan and India. Be sure to discuss your interests and plans with them today.