You'll see: Kathmandu - Chisapani - Kutumsang - Tharepati -Tarke Gyang - Sermathang - Melamchi - Kathmandu - Chitwan - Pokhara - Tirkhedhunga - Ghorepani - Ghandrung - Dhampus - Pokhara - Kathmandu

This exciting itinerary will test your stamina and your senses. After a couple of days in Kathmandu, you'll depart on one of our favourite homestay treks. Hiking across the countryside and through small mountain villages, you'll stay at home with local Nepalis, where you'll be treated to magnificent mountain vistas and tasy homecooked meals. Next, you'll travel on to the tropical Terai for an elephant safari to spot rhinos in Chitwan National Park, where you'll stay in a cosy jungle lodge. The last leg of this trip, is a six-day trek through the famous Annapurna Range, staying overnight in traditional trekking lodges before flying back to Kathmandu.

On arrival at Kathmandu Airport, you'll be greeted by our driver and whisked away to your hotel. Once you've freshened up and recovered from the inevitable jetlag, you can take a stroll around the area to soak up the typical Nepalese atmosphere and find a good spot to eat. Definitely check out one of the many rooftop restaurants Thamel has to offer. Your hotel, located just outside the centre of Kathmandu is full of character and has a beautiful serene courtyard garden.

Day 2 will be completely free for you to explore, acclimatise, and stop of mugs of steaming, cinnamon-rich chai.

Travel time: 1 hour by car and 5 hours trekking

Today you'll be picked up by our driver for a one-hour drive to the village of Chisapani, where you'll meet your guide for the next couple of days. Then, it's time to lace up your hiking boots and begin the trek along a steep path with breathtaking views. On the way, you'll pass a water basin and several small Tamang villages where the children will run out to meet you and stare in curious amazement. After a short break the trek will continue through oak forests filled with rhododendrons and ends back in Chisapani, where you'll stay in a lodge built especially for trekkers. You'll reach a height of 2300m by the end of the day.

Travel time: 6 hours trekking

Today the trek continues through beautiful terraced fields and villages. The local children love it when you stop to play with them for a while; hide-and-seek or kicking a ball around, they're up for anything. They're not used it which makes it even more special. Though it may be tempting we don't recommend giving them any money. You'll spend the night in the friendly village Kutumsang. This is a traditional Tamang village with a great rural atmosphere, at 2130m altitude.

Travel time: 6 hours trekking

Today you'll begin the long climb to the highest point of the trek -  a pretty whopping 3490m. As the vegetation becomes more sparse you'll soon be rewarded with beautiful views across the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys below. At the top of Tharepati you can catch your breath and enjoy of the view of the snow-capped peaks around you. You will stay in a unique lodge built into the rock face. After dinner you'll hit the sack, and snuggled up nice and warm you'll have no problem falling asleep...

Travel time: 4 hours trekking

This is one of the most spectacular days of the trek. At dawn you'll enjoy some amazing views as the soft morning light slowly colours the mountains. You then descend through a forest with giant trees with the Himalayan peaks glistening through the treetops. After heading downhill for a couple of hours the temperature becomes a lot more comfortable and having crossed a couple of hanging bridges you arrive in the village of Tarke Gyang (2530m). Tarke Gyang is a very pretty, historic settlement with narrow streets and a Tibetan temple with a traditional prayer wheel. Tonight you'll be the honourable guests of none other than the mayor himself. He speaks excellent English and can tell you many fascinating stories about life in the villages. It's a great experience.

Travel time: 4 hours trekking

Today is the most relaxing day of the trek. The trail remains fairly level thoughout the journey, and on the way you can see local farmers working the fertile land. After passing a couple of streams and waterfalls, you'll end up in the village of Sermathang at 2620m. There is an unusual monastery at the highest point of the village, which has allegedly been home to a very strict elusive buddhist order for the past few decades. The members of the order are very rarely seen, but in the evening you'll hear their meditative prayers echoing through the valley. Ask the guide to stay in the Mountain Lodge tonight - it's a cosy lodge run by a very friendly family. The mother of the house is a fantastic cook but more importantly, they take care of the child of a Tibetan refugee as well as a very poor young girl from a neighbouring village. By staying the night here you can do your bit for the family.

Travel time: 5 hours trekking

Today is the most relaxing day of the trek. The path is pretty level and on the way you can see local farmers working in the fields. Having passed a couple of streams and waterfalls you end up in the village of Sermathang at 2620m. There's an unusual monastery at the highest point of the village, which allegedly for the past decades has been home to a very strict elusive Buddhist order. The order members are rarely seen but in the evening you can here their meditative prayers echoing through the valley. Ask the guide to stay in the Mountain Lodge tonight. It's a cosy lodge run by a very friendly family. The mother of the house is a fantastic cook but more importantly, they take care of the child of a Tibetan refugee as well as a very poor young girl from a neighbouring village. By staying the night here you can do your bit for the family.

Travel time: 4 hours trekking

It's time to say goodbye to your hosts and prepare for the hefty 2km trek downhill. Don't forget to look back on the way down. In the distance you'll see the majestic silhouette of the Himalayas and you can catch a glimpse of the river far below. It's a gradual descent most of the way and later on you'll head upwards again for a short climb before your final descent. Once you reach the bottom you'll cross the river to Melamchi Bazaar at 830m, which is essentially the end point of the trek. Melamchi is a lively trading town with a rural character. After all the tiny villages you passed on the way it'll seem like a huge town. You will spend the night in a friendly guesthouse with views across the river. The evenings are surprisingly warm here compared to the cooler nights you experienced high up in the mountains.

Travel time: 3 hours by car

After a refreshing night in the lowlands you'll head back to Kathmandu by 4-wheel drive. Passing through some beautiful countryside you can see the local farmers working with their bales of hay and rice mats. Tourists rarely visit this area. The road starts to ascend steeply and via a bumpy road downhill you soon reach the Kathmandu Valley. You will spend the night in bustling Kathmandu.

Travel time: approx 5 hours by car

Today, it's a 5hr drive by private car (with driver) to Chitwan National Park. After a short briefing on arrival, you can freshen up in your bungalow and grab some lunch. Then, in the afternoon, you'll have your first elephant safari. Perched high on the back of these giant beasts you'll be safely out of reach of anything that might be lurking in the tall grass. If you're lucky, you'll spot your first rhino (although there's a better chance of seeing them on foot on your walking safari tomorrow morning). If a rhino comes into view, your elephant will sound the alarm with an almighty growl, just to show the rhino who's boss. Not very subtle - but very effective. 

Chitwan is at its most beautiful at dawn, when early morning golden sweeps across the plains. Elephants stride through the water, rickety ferries glide along the river and rhinos graze in the grass. Today you will start off with a guided walk through the jungle, hiking along narrow paths through the forests and plains where the high grass seems almost impenetrable.

It's a little scary knowing that this grass is a hiding spot for rhinos, leopards and other wild animals, but don't worry - your experienced guides will know what they're doing! If a rhino gets too close you might even be directed to scramble up the nearest big tree !?! As sweet and harmless as they may seem, don't underestimate these beasts. They have very poor eyesight, and, as a result, they tend to storm into any unfamiliar noise or smell - so be sure to follow your guide's instructions very closely. Depending on how your day unfolds, later on there will be a crocodile walk combined with a canoe trip or another elephant safari.

Travel time: approx 2 hours by car and 4 hours trekking

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up for the 2-hour drive to Birethanti. On the way you will be able to see the high peaks of the Himalayas emerging in the distance as the road winds its way up to the starting point of the trek. Packed with your camera, a warm sweater and plenty of water, you'll head off with your guide and local porters. The villagers will wave goodbye as you slowly begin your ascent.

The path leads through a thick bamboo forest to lush green fields where cows with red plumes on their heads graze contentedly. You can stop off for some pictures or a drink on the way. After about 4 hours you arrive in Tirkhedhunga, a small village with a couple of shops, a wobbly hanging bridge across the river and lots of curious children. You'll sleep in a basic lodge.There's running water but don't expect a hot shower...

Travel time: 6 hours trekking

After a hearty breakfast, you'll set off on your next trek. The first stretch is fairly easy, as you walk downhill into the valley. Crossing the Burungdi Khola, you can stop and admire this spectacular mountain river, which at times is a peacefully flowing stream but can fast become a wild churning rapid. The freezing cold meltwater flows down from high up on the mountain. Then, you'll begin the most strenuous part of the trek. Heading up some stony steps you slowly make your way to 2000m.

At the end of the climb you'll be rewarded with an amazing view of the snow-capped mountains rising up about the surrounding hills. The last part of the trek is pretty level and leads through a colourful and aromatic rhododendron forest. On arrival in in Ghorepani put your feet up, have a drink and relax. As you look around you see colourful prayer flags blowing in the wind at the many temples and snowy mountain peaks in the background.

Travel time: 8 hours trekking

You'll make an early start this morning to catch the sunrise at Poon Hill. After breakfast, you start the 1-hour climb to the top at 3190m. Once you reach the top, you can sit yourself down on a nice comfy rock and watch as the sun slowly colours the white peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri a deep orange. It's enough to give you goose bumps...

When the sun's up the trek continues to Ghandrung. You'll meet a lot of local villagers on the way, carrying all kinds of interesting paraphernalia. Everything is lugged up the mountain, from sacks of rice to live chickens in big baskets, and even entire beds. The local men might wear simple flip-flops but they're a lot faster than us tourists in our posh hiking boots.  At the end of the afternoon you reach a small Gurung village where you will spend the night in a basic lodge.

Travel time: 6 hours trekking

Today will be pretty relaxed day compared to yesterday. The trek leads slowly downhill on even paths. There's no climbing and plenty of spots along the way to lie back in the grass. You'll also come across several traditional tea houses where the cheerful local women beckon you in to try their tea.

In the afternoon you arrive in Dhampus, which is also the main starting point for expeditions to the summit of Everest. You will stay in a basic lodge where you can exchange stories with other trekkers, or just sit back with a mug of masala chai and enjoy the amazing view.

Travel time: 1 hour trekking and approx 1 hour by car

After breakfast, you will leave for Phedi where a minibus is waiting to take you to Pokhara. In Pokhara, you'll check into the same hotel you stayed in at the beginning of the trek. The rest of the day is free for you to chill out in this friendly town on the lake. On a clear day you can see the snow-capped peaks in the distance. You can rent a boat and row out onto the lake or grab a burger or a curry in one of the many restaurants.

Travel time: approx 30 mins flight

In the late morning, you'll fly from Pokhara back to Kathmandu which takes about 30 minutes. From the airport, you can hop in a taxi to the same hotel you stayed in at the very start of your trip (which will feel like a long time ago now). You can spend the rest of the day relaxing and souvenir-shopping.

This itinerary ends after breakfast this morning, so you'll either continue with your journey or pack your things for the flight home. We can arrange your transfer to the airport for you - just ask one of our travel specialists.

If you have any questions about this itinerary, please feel free to call or email us. If you would like to request this itinerary, please fill out our quote request form.

Best time to travel
The best time of year to go trekking in Nepal is spring (March - May) or autumn (October-November). Summer (June - September) is monsoon season and the rain can make travel difficult with landslides blocking the road. A trek in the rainy season isn't much fun, especially above 1000m. Paths are muddy and slippery and trekkings are often cancelled due to poor weather conditions. The winter months (December - February) can be pretty cold and many of the higher mountain passes blocked because of the snow.

Accommodation
During the trek you will be staying in trekking lodges. These are (very) basic Nepali lodges with just a couple of rooms with two separate beds. The lodges have running water but don't expect a hot shower. Blankets are available but we recommend bringing your own sheet bag. You can rent sleeping bags in Pokhara.

Food and drink
The trekking lodges offer some good value meals and drinks and you can get a satisfying meal for less than £4. The menu consists of local dishes like Dahl Bhaat (rice with lentils), steamed momos (a type of filled roll) and bread. Often you can get some western dishes such as tomato soup, pizza or pancakes. During the day the many tea houses or 'bhatti's' are a great place to stop off for a hot cup of tea or an ice-cold coke.

Luggage
Besides your guide the trek will be accompanied by one porter for every two people. The porter can carry a maximum of 40kg so it's wise to take only the essentials and perhaps carry some things yourself in a daypack. You can leave the rest of your luggage at the hotel where you were staying before the start of the trek, or at our local agent's office.  

Tipping
It's not compulsory but tipping the porters and guides is customary and always greatly appreciated. A rough guideline is £1 a day for the porter and guide.