18 to 35s Essential Nepal

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 2 pm this afternoon in Kathmandu, where you'll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in the city. Kathmandu’s most important Buddhist shrine, Swayambhunath Stupa, and the nearby ‘City of Devotees’ Bhaktapur, are well worth a visit. If you want to delve deeper into ancient architecture and rich cultural heritage, there are some Intrepid Day Trips that can help you out. After the meeting, maybe have dinner with your group to get to know each other or hit up one of the nearby bars. Your leader will have lots of great recommendations.

Take a morning drive over the rim of the Kathmandu Valley and soak up the views of the Ganesh and Langtang ranges. Then hit the waters for some whitewater rafting on the Trisuli River – this is the most popular river for rafting in all of Nepal. Soak up the thrill of the rapids, Ladies Delight, Rock Garden and Snell's Nose, among the beauty of the nearby gorges.

Have some more fun on the river this morning, negotiating the Monsoon and Upset rapids. In Kurintar, refuel with a light lunch and then drive to Pokhara. When you arrive, take an afternoon walk around the city with your leader, who will point out some sights and sounds in the area, including Phewa Lake. This evening is free for you to chill out at one of the many lakeside restaurants or bars. Maybe get yourself a plate of momos (dumplings) or a nourishing bowl of dal bhat (thick lentil or bean soup) for dinner tonight.

Today, you’ll make the drive from Pokhara to Birethanti – this is where the trekking adventure begins. Your hike is mostly uphill today on some pretty diverse terrain. There’s a dirt track leading to Shyauli villages, then you’ll reach a stone staircase up to Kimche, where you’ll stop for lunch. Rest your legs for a beat, taking in the views of snowcapped mountains and expansive fields below. From here, you’ll follow the stone flags that lead you through fields of wheat to Ghandruk. Tonight, you'll stay in your first Nepali teahouse.

Fill up at breakfast, enjoying the mountain views, then start the trek towards Tolkha. Along the way, take in the diverse scenery of the river below, the mountain above and the wild landscape on every side. The Annapurna Range makes for a pretty great photo (and she’s not shy, either). Tonight, you’ll rest up in Tolkha, getting ready for tomorrow’s trek.

This morning, continue your trek from Tolkha to Hemjakot. This trail from Dhampus to Hemjakot is pretty remote, giving you the opportunity to really switch off and enjoy the scenery. Tonight, you’ll have the chance to socialise during your overnight stay with a local family. Spend time with them in their traditional home, which is made from natural stones from this region. It’s fantastic insight into the rural way of life in the mountains and the local culture of the Gurung population, who migrated here from Tibet.

Say goodbye to your hosts in Hemjakot and head out again – this morning’s trek is a short descent to Phedi. When you arrive, transfer to Pokhara, arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to do all the things you didn’t do the first time around in Pokhara – a popular choice is taking a rowboat (doonga) out on Phewa Lake. If there are blue skies today, you’ll have mountain views wherever you look. After, maybe check out the Tal Barahi Temple and the Shree Bindhyabasini Temple, which are both free to explore.