Annapurna to Chitwan: Walks & Wildlife

Begin your adventure at the Royal Singi Hotel in Kathmandu, the start point for many of our Himalayan treks over the years. Around 6pm, bid namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead during a full trek briefing. Your tour leader then ensures a big Nepalese welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want to explore Kathmandu further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Take a 30-minute flight to Pokhara this morning, bypassing a long, bumpy, drive and maximising our time in the Himalaya. On a clear day, we get magnificent views of those same mountains from the right side of the plane. From the airport, we first head to the hotel in Pokhara to collect our trek packs and meet the guide for the trek briefing. After, leaving any luggage you don’t wish to take on trek at the Pokhara hotel, we take a short transfer to our trek start point: the village of Nayapul. We begin by following a ridgeline in the lower Annapurna foothills with views of the Pokhara Valley. The route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where Sanctuary Lodge is located. The property has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain (or Machhapuchhare, as it is locally known). Lunch is in the lodge; in the afternoon, we can either relax in the wonderful garden or join the tour leader on a bird-watching walk to Birethanti village.

Leave the lodge after breakfast to start today’s trek through small farms. Following the Modi River, and with constant views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare ahead, we soon climb the valley towards the mountains. Today is quite a long climb up stone steps, passing through rice fields and forest, but we take plenty of stops and have lunch en route. In the afternoon, we arrive at Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk. Enjoy tea and snacks on arrival, plus spectacular views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare.

Although we can see our next destination Landruk village across the valley, we must descend steeply to the river and climb up the other side to get there. Crossing the suspension bridge, trek up a stone staircase to Landruk, enjoying views of the Annapurna range and passing under the cliffs where honey hunters climb ropes to harvest wild bee honey. Lunch is ready as we arrive at our lodge. After, rest and enjoy the spectacular views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli or go on a sightseeing tour in the village with your guide.

It’s an easier walk today on a wide trail with no steep ups or downs, passing through village and farmlands with views of the Annapurnas behind. Today is a great day for bird watching in the forests above us. We arrive at the lodge by lunchtime; in the afternoon, enjoy mountain views from your room or spend time in the wonderful garden with views of Annapurna South. There is also the option of a guided walk to Thanchok, a traditional Gurung village. Occasionally, if Gurung Lodge is full, we walk on for another 20 minutes to the equally wonderful Mala Lodge in Tomijun village.

After a spectacular sunrise on Annapurna South, walk along a wide forest track ascending gradually for a couple of hours. A short section on a forest trail brings us to the main trail at Potana. Half an hour further on, we come to Australia Camp, a collection of lodges with panoramic views of Machhapuchhare, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu. We can stop here for a tea break before descending the ridge to Dhampus. Enjoy a hot lunch at the lodge, after which you can take a short walk into Dhampus village. The sunset and sunrise from the lodge garden are not to be missed – we can see all the way to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhare, Annapurnas 4 and 2, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu.

Depart along the ridge after breakfast and descend on a stone staircase through the wooded hillside and terraced farmland. After 90 minutes to two hours, we reach the valley floor: the end of our hiking adventure in the Annapurna foothills. We transfer (one hour) to Pokhara, a lakeside city that’s become a hub for adventurers tackling the Annapurna trails. Having just completed a multi-day hike, the afternoon is free for you to relax. You may want to chill by the hotel or wander along the lakeside browsing the shops. Alternatively, take a boat ride on Phewa Lake or hire a bike for a cycle along the lakeshore. Your tour leader will brief you on the various options available.

Head to the Tibetan refugee camp in Tashiling this morning, a 15-minute drive out of Pokhara. Established in the 1960s, when hundreds of Tibetans fled instability in their home region, the Tashiling camp is now a permanent home to around 100 families. Meet some of the residents and take part in a cookery experience, learning how to make the popular Nepalese snack momos, which originated from Tibet and was introduced to Nepal by the refugees. Before leaving, look around the carpet handicraft centre, souvenir shops and traditional Tibetan food shops with any purchases directly supporting the community. We also have an optional visit to the International Mountain Museum in the afternoon, which delves deep into the history of mountaineering across the planet, or perhaps take the chance for a boat trip on the lake if you didn’t yesterday.

We leave Pokhara this morning (with magnificent Annapurna views on clear days) and embark on a four to five-hour drive to Chitwan. Along the way, we are accompanied, in parts, by the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. The road heads towards Kathmandu for about 56mi (90km) before turning south to Chitwan National Park. We should arrive around lunchtime; this afternoon, we meet our naturalist guide who discusses the activities for the next two days, followed by a bird walk late afternoon in the local area. Activity timings may vary depending on the naturalist’s recommendations.

Today is dedicated to discovering the wildlife of Nepal and exploring the Chitwan jungle. In the morning, take a traditional dugout canoe made from a single tree trunk along the Rapti River, our naturalist guide helping us to spot birdlife and crocodiles as we gently cruise on the water. After lunch, head out from our resort on a jeep safari through Chitwan National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for several deer species, wild boars, endangered one-horned rhinos and the very rare Bengal tiger. Our certified guides are typically local to the park, often from the indigenous Tharu community, who have a long history of living in close harmony with the Chitwan wildlife. Their knowledge of the local ecosystem, animal behaviour and traditional practices makes them excellent nature guides. This evening, we watch a traditional stick dance performance, an important part of Tharu culture. The dance is performed by members of the Tharu community, who use long sticks to create an engaging, energetic performance. It is believed to have originated as a means of protecting the Tharu communities from various threats, including wildlife and evil spirits, and is now a celebration of Tharu identity and a way to preserve and showcase their cultural heritage to visitors. Please note, the order we do activities is decided by the naturalist depending on local factors.

You have the option to rise early and head out before breakfast for a bird-watching walk in the Baghmara Community Forest, around a five to 10-minute stroll from our resort, joined by a naturalist guide. Then, after a leisurely breakfast, we set off for the six-hour drive back to Kathmandu, arriving in the evening. Our journey takes us out of the lowlands to travel once more alongside the Trishuli River, before arriving at the Himalaya foothills. Taking a Chinese-built road running parallel to the range, the journey slows as we pass through the hilly region. Our reward, however, is plenty of amazing views encompassing terraced farms, numerous villages and the adjacent Trishuli River. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we typically have time to refresh before dinner.

For those keen to see the highest mountain in the world, there is the option of an early morning Everest sightseeing flight from Kathmandu. This can be booked and paid for locally with help from your tour leader. Please note, it may not always be available due to weather restrictions. Today is also your chance for sightseeing in the capital. A local guide escorts you on a city tour, visiting one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Boudhanath, and the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath.

The trip comes to an end after breakfast. However, if you’d like a little more time to explore Kathmandu or the surrounding valley region, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Alternatively consider joining Everest Treks in Comfort, which can be combined with this trip.