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Your journey will begin in Kathmandu, the ancient capital city of Nepal. You’ll spend a day exploring the historic temples and landmarks that encompass the bustling city. Take a scenic flight to Pokhara with spectacular views of the Himalayas before starting the trek the same day. The short Annapurna trek passes through several bucolic Gurung villages. The Gurung people are one of sixty ethnic groups in Nepal and the predominant race recruited in the famous Gurkha regiment of the British and Indian army. You will be staying at the comfortable Ker and Downey lodges on the trek with ensuite rooms. The trek ends in Pokhara. After a couple days in Pokhara, you head to Chitwan to explore the National park which is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros. A short flight brings you back to Kathmandu where the trip concludes.
This trek will also include a post-trek massage, Nepali cooking class and more special touches.
Every day on this incredible adventure there will be opportunities to commune with your body & spirit through yoga and meditation. In Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, the yoga will be in places suited for a comfortable yoga class. And while on the trek, you will be treated to some of the best and most unconventional settings for yoga classes ever. Each lodge will have a different arrangement, but often those classes – weather permitting – will be outside with the spectacular Himalayas standing guard over your practice.
Highlights
Day | Description | Overnight | Altitude |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
Day 2 | Exploring Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
Day 3 | Fly to Pokhara. Drive to Kimche. Trek to Ghandrung | Ghandrung | 1,940m/6,400ft |
Day 4 | Trek to Landrung | Landrung | 1,565m/5,140ft |
Day 5 | Trek to Majhgaon | Majhgaon | 1,410m/4,620ft |
Day 6 | Trek to Phedi. Drive to Pokhara | Pokhara | 827m/2,700ft |
Day 7 | Explore Pokhara | Pokhara | 827m/2,700ft |
Day 8 | Drive to Chitwan | Chitwan | 415m/1,370ft |
Day 9 | Explore Chitwan | Chitwan | 415m/1,370ft |
Day 10 | Fly to Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
Day 11 | Sightseeing in Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
Day 12 | Final departure |
Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during group dinner. Overnight Hotel Shambaling or similar. (Dinner)
Visit Bodhnath – the Stupa of a million dew drops. Bodhnath is a sacred destination for Buddhists. Here, you will find devotees, many from Tibet, circumambulating the monument at any time of the day.
Visit Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, the God of Destruction. Non- Hindu visitors cannot enter the main temple sanctum and must view it from across the sacred Bagmati River. Here, you are likely to witness a Hindu cremation.
After lunch, visit the well- maintained Patan Museum which houses ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar (Palace) Square. Patan is also known as Lalitpur, the City of Arts.
Overnight Hotel Shambaling or simlar. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Transfer to the domestic terminal at the Kathmandu airport for your flight to Pokhara. You must arrive at the airport one hour before your scheduled departure time. Be ready for a wait at the airport if your flight is delayed due to weather or other reasons.
The flight to Pokhara (800m/2,640ft) is approximately 30 minutes. Depending on the weather, you will be able to view the Himalayan range including Manaslu and Annapurna IV from your airplane window. Note: sit on the right hand side of the plane if possible.
After arriving in Pokhara, transfer by private vehicle to the starting point of your trek at Kimche. The first day’s walk is mostly ascent through terraced paddy fields and staircases to Ghandruk.
Overnight Ker and Downey Lodge. (All meals)
Descend steeply through terraced rice fields to the Modi Khola. Then make a steep ascent to Landruk.
Overnight Ker and Downey Lodge. (All meals)
Overnight Ker and Downey Lodge. (All meals)
From Majhgaon, walk 1.5 hours to Lumle where the trek ends. A 4 x 4 will drive you back to Pokhara.
Overnight Temple Tree resort or similar (Breakfast and Lunch)
Short boat ride on the Phewa lake. 30 minute uphill hike to Peace Stupa.
Visit the International Mountaineering Museum which has an excellent display of exhibits of the world’s mountains. Lunch at the museum café.
Evening, enjoy a trekkers massage at the hotel.
Temple Tree Resort or similar. (B, L)
Drive to Chitwan. The drive should take around 5-6 hours. In October, a direct flight from Pokhara to Chitwan is available.
Overnight Barahi Jungle Resort (All meals)
Early morning yoga in the resort compound followed by a full day of Jungle activities which will include elephant back ride through the community forest in Meghauli. If you do not wish to ride an elephant, you have the option of a jungle drive.
In the evening, a cultural showcasing the traditional stick and other dances of the ethnic Tharu people will be presented. The Tharu are the indigenous people of the Terai of Nepal and one of 60 or so ethnic groups of Nepal.
Overnight Barahi Jungle Resort. (All meals)
Optional yoga in the morning in the hotel premises. Afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. Day is free for shopping or just relaxing.
Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar (B)
In the morning, after yoga, drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square. Continue to Budanilkanta to see the sleeping Vishnu revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. In the afternoon, a Nepali cooking class followed by dinner at a Nepali home.
Overnight: Hotel Tibet or similar. (All meals)
Transfer to airport for final departure. (B)
Per person price (valid until December 31, 2020)
2 participants: US$ 4,200 per person
4 participants: US$ 3,780 per person
5 or more participants: US$ 3,360 per person
Single Supplement: US$ 950
US$ 150 per person discount on January, February and December departures
Payment policy:
Cancellation policy:
This trip is fully customizable for a party of two or more. Please contact us for details.
On a yoga trek, besides trekking, you would practice yoga every morning (prior to breakfast) or in the evening. The yoga sessions will be led by a certified yoga instructor. There will also be time for instructor led meditation. Besides your trekking gear, all you need to bring is comfortable yoga attire. We will provide yoga mats.
There are two preferred seasons for this yoga trip: Spring (March through May) and Fall (October through December). Day time temperatures range in the 60’s and upper 70’s (20 to 30 Centigrade) while night-time temperatures are in the 40’s and 50’s (5 to 10 Centigrade). Expect night time temperatures of near Freezing in the Winter. Expect some late-afternoon showers in the Spring which is the season for rhododendrons and magnolias. October is historically regarded as the best month to trek with clear skies and better views of the mountains.
We highly encourage you to trek in the winter months of December, January and February when days can be quite sunny and warm (50F – 10 Centigrade) although you should expect temperatures near or just below freezing in the night.But the trails and lodges aren’t as crowded. We offer a $150 per person discount for treks in the Winter.
Anyone who is reasonably fit and can hike 8 miles a day can participate in this trip. Most of the trek involves ascents and descents. That said, the better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy the trek.
It is advised that anyone with a pre-existing condition consult their doctor before signing up for a trek.
We rate this trip a 2 (moderate) on a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging).
In general, expect porridge (Oatmeal), toast, eggs (any style), muesli, hash browns, sausages etc for breakfast. And sandwich, pizzas, momos, noodles (dry and with soup), rolls, fried rice, Indian bread with vegetables etc for lunch and dinner. And expect Nepali dal-bhat (rice-lentils with vegetables and/or meat) at all the lodges.
Ours is an OPEN menu. Meaning we allow our clients to order anything from the lodge menu besides bottled beverages, specialty coffee and packaged snacks. We also don’t limit the number of items per meal as long as you aren’t wasteful. When choosing your trekking company, ask if meals are fixed or if you are only allowed to order one item from the menu.
Layering is key. And it’s always recommended to trek with good branded gear. A good pair of hiking boots that’s been broken in is very important. Good top and bottom base layers, a mid layer (fleece or capilene), and an outer layer (Gore-tex or other material). If you tend to get cold quickly, bring a down parka especially for the evening at the lodge. On most days, you’d be hiking in a convertible hiking pant that can be converted into shorts and one or two top layers.
if you’re trekking with Crystal Mountain Treks, we provide a sleeping bag (rated to 0 degree F or -17 degree C), duffel bags, down jacket and Steripen for water purification to our clients for no charge.
It is possible to buy cheap and relatively functional gear in Kathmandu – convertible pants, down jackets, fleece, Gore-tex jackets. But remember, you get what you pay for. Wool gloves, hats, socks are available too.
There are quite a few branded stores too. North Face, Moutain Hardwear, Marmot and Sherpa. If you’re coming from Australia or Europe, items in these shops are probably cheaper than back home. But if you’re coming from the US, it’s better to buy branded gear at home.
Nepali tap water is NOT safe to drink. Even if you see the locals drinking water straight from the tap, never drink water before boiling or sterilizing. Bring water purifying tablets or other water purifiers. At higher elevations during the coldest times of year the water will freeze, so you’ll need to buy boiled water from teahouses. If you plan to use a STERIPEN, bring wide mouth water bottles. You would need at least 2 one-liter water bottles for the trek. Even if you plan to bring a hydration pack, bring 1 one-liter water to sterilize the water before pouring into your hydration pack.
Crystal Mountain Treks will provide you with a Steripen to use on the trek for no charge.
Most of the places on the main Annapurna trail now have cell coverage. But once you get off the main trail, coverage may not be available. Lodges will offer wi-fi for between $1 to $10 per hour. You can also buy a Sim card with 5GB or 10GB data for under $25: do this in Kathmandu.
The more physically fit you are, the more you will enjoy the trip. There are three aspects to training for any trek. 1) Cardiovascular Training will make your body more efficient in using oxygen. Running, walking, swimming or biking, or any combination of these are great for cardiovascular conditioning. 2) Strength Training by either using free weights or machines at the gym will build hiking strength. Walking stairs, especially with a pack will simulate the hiking environment. We also recommend practicing squats. Trekkers will encounter low hanging obstacles to duck under, and many toilets are at ground level, which requires a low squat.
3) Endurance Training is where you build endurance in the months leading up to your trek, slowly increase your length of training sessions. By the time you are 2 weeks from the scheduled trek date you should be able to ascend 3,000 ft. in a 3-4 hour period.
In the end, the more your training simulates a trek, the better off you will be. So hiking 4-5 hours outdoors, uphill and downhill, about once or twice a week in addition to other cardio vascular training at the gym or at home will greatly benefit and prepare you for the trek.
The Ker and Downey lodges have en suite rooms with Western style toilets. It is possible to shower in all the lodges.
Activity: Camping Trek
Destination: Kanchenjunga
Country: Nepal