Compare Nepal: Himalaya Highlights by G Adventures vs 19 Days- Annapurna base camp with chitwan by Asian Heritage

Day 1 Kathmandu

Arrive any time. Arrival transfer is included. Enjoy a relaxing wellness experience with a sound bath demonstration followed by a six-course vegetarian welcome feast tonight, savouring the diverse flavours of Nepali cuisine.

Day 2 Kathmandu

Spend the day exploring Kathmandu, the colourful capital of this Himalayan nation. Pay a visit to Bodhnath Stupa, the holiest Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet, and explore the wood-carved temples, pagodas, and palaces of Bhaktapur, Nepal’s medieval capital.

Day 3 Kathmandu/Pharping

Venture to the ancient hilltop temple of Swayambhunath, decorated with vibrant prayer flags and home to troops of rhesus monkeys. Later, we’ll hear about National Geographic Grantee Chhing Lhomi’s efforts to preserve the weaving traditions of the Upper Mustang region through her work with the Himalayan Indigenous Society, a Kathmandu-based nonprofit. Then depart for nearby Pharping, known for its Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and settle into a tranquil monastery guesthouse for the night. Get an insider’s view of monastery life, and enjoy a chanting and prayer service; or opt to take a walk in the monastery’s peaceful grounds. Enjoy a cooking demonstration at local community restaurant and learn how to make Nepalese momos (dumplings). Afterwards, taste your delicious creations.

Experience the serenity of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monastery guest house offers comfortable accommodations in a peaceful setting with balconies and private western-style bathrooms. There are approximately 200 monks in residence following the Nyingmapa tradition. This is a new monastery (2006), and income from the guest house directly supports it.

Please note that on select departures, the itinerary may be re-ordered to have the Monastery visit at the end of the itinerary.

Day 4 Pharping/Kurintar

Rise at dawn to listen to the monks’ morning chanting, and witness a stunning sunrise. Then drive to the small riverside village of Kurintar and hike to our lodge, nestled on a forested hill overlooking the Trishuli River. Opt to relax by the pool or take a guided walk through the surrounding countryside, stopping at local villages.

Arrive at our remote lodge, which sits on a ridge amidst the hills overlooking sandy beaches and a river. Forests cascade down the hillsides, enclosing tiny settlements of tribal people.

The lodge is only accessed by foot, so please expect a walk of approx. 30 to 45 minutes. Porters will be hired to carry our bags but please pack what you need for the night, as we will leave our larger bags in the vehicle.

Day 5 Kurintar/Royal Chitwan National Park

Today, we travel towards Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s oldest wildlife reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is home to 68 recorded mammal species, including the one-horned rhino and the Bengal tiger, as well as hundreds of species of birds. Check in to our lodge, located on the banks of the East Rapti River. After lunch, board a traditional flat-bottomed boat for a river safari, keeping your eyes out for aquatic birds, crocodiles, and other riverine fauna.

Spend two nights enjoying cultural and wildlife excursions in and around Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), the oldest national park in Nepal. Established in 1973, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Within its area of 932km² (579 mi²), RCNP is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles, including sambars, chitals, rhesus monkeys, tigers, and langurs.

The specifics and order of activities may change, depending on the season and local conditions. Your CEO will confirm the exact activities and timing with the naturalists upon arrival at the lodge.

Day 6 Royal Chitwan National Park

Spend the day exploring Chitwan National Park on a variety of excursions; activities differ depending on the season. Set out on a jeep safari through the grasslands and forests, seeking out rhinos, leopards, elephants, monkeys, and the elusive Bengal tiger. Meet with a “tiger technician” from the Nepal Tiger Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection and conservation of these majestic cats. Visit a farming village bordering the park for a glimpse of rural life, and return to our lodge this evening in time for a dance performance by the local Tharu people.

The jeep safari is often prohibited during monsoon season by the park authorities; monsoon season is from June-September, and sometimes it can last till October. When the park is inaccessible, we will search out wildlife in the surrounding forest which is unfenced and just as likely to view animals. Boating is also subject to the water levels and local conditions on the Rapti River.

Day 7 Royal Chitwan National Park/Pokhara

Drive to Pokhara, an enchanting town set on the shores of turquoise-hued Phewa Lake against a backdrop of snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Enjoy a guided walk around the city, and opt to have dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Nestled in a tranquil valley at an altitude of 827m (2,713 ft), beautiful Pokhara lies on a once vibrant trade route between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalayas. This enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. It's a popular place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Day 8 Pokhara

Venture to Sarangkot village early this morning and hike to the famed Sarangkot lookout to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Annapurna Himalaya. Back in Pokhara, climb up a lush forest path to the gleaming white Peace Pagoda, built by Japanese monks after World War II. Later, visit a Tibetan refugee settlement, established by the United Nations in 1964. Learn about the history of the community on a walk through their photo gallery, and enjoy a traditional Tibetan lunch. In your free time, opt to take a boat tour of Phewa Lake.

The hike up to the World Peace Pagoda can be quite strenuous and is all steps up and back down. If you are not feeling so energetic, please let the CEO know and you can opt out of this activity.

Day 9 Pokhara/Kathmandu

Catch a flight back to the capital, Kathmandu. Enjoy time to shop in the bustling Thamel district, or choose to visit Pashupatinath Temple, the most sacred Hindu temple complex in Nepal.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon for exploring. Visit the burning ghats at Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, or the monkey temple. Kathmandu is fascinating at every turn, and some travelers prefer to just wander, seeing where the city may lead them.

Day 10 Kathmandu

Depart at any time.

Feel free to depart at any time today, but remember that check out time from the hotel is 12:00pm.

Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu

Welcome! To Kathmandu Nepal.

Asian Heritage Treks & Travel Representative welcomes you at the Airport with your nameplate.  After Arrival at Nepal airport transfer you to the hotel. On the way Airport to Hotel, you will pass by the Open cremation Place (Pashupatinath temple), Royal Palace Museum i.e. Narayanhity, Garden Of Dream and reach the Thamel.

Your hotel will be in downtown of Touristic Hub. Our representative will facilitate you and discuss your travel itinerary. There will be enough time to stroll through the street of Thamel.

Overnight accommodation in the Hotel.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Our tour guide will come to pick you up along with the private vehicle. Firstly you will be visiting the UNESCO world heritage site Kathmandu Durbar Square where you can observe the typical wood-carved temples and buildings reflecting the ancient Kathmandu city and then you will be heading towards Swyambhunath- the monkey temple where you can observe the religious harmony and tolerance between the Buddhist religion and

Hindu religion along with that enjoy the panoramic view of Kathmandu city and the Himalaya ranges from here. After that, you will be visiting the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the biggest pilgrimage sites for the Hindu religion people in south-east Asia, explore the surroundings and you can observe the ritual body cremating ceremony process of the Hindu people at the bank of holy Bagmati river and explore the surroundings.

Then you will go to visit another UNESCO world heritage site Boudhanath Stupa. It was built in 600A.D. and is the only one of a kind of stupa reflecting Buddhism in the world. Explore the surroundings of Boudhanath Stupa and after completing your sight seen get back to the hotel and rest.

Overnight accommodation in the Hotel.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara Drive Duration: 5-6 hours

Today, we will drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. On the way, you can enjoy the greenery around and beautiful hills. What attracts most visitors to Pokhara is the natural richness of the valley.

Imagine the joy of observing the majestic Himalayas and it's a reflection on Fewa Lake. The Pokhara valley is outstanding with the elevated close-up view of snowy peaks. Pokhara is famous for sightseeing, and many adventurous outdoor activities. We will visit Davi's Waterfall, International Mountain Museum and GhuptesworMahadev.

Overnight accommodation at hotel in Pokhara.

Day 4: Pokhara – Nayapul – Ulleri (1940 m), Driving Duration: 2 hours, Hiking Duration: 6 hours

We wake up early in the morning and take a private vehicle to Nayapul. It takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to reach Nayapul. From Nayapul, we walk for around 6 hours, to reach our Ulleri, our destination for the night. On the way to Ulleri, we are pass typical Nepali villages and beautiful terrace rice fields. The last part of the walk is quite interesting as we have to climb up to approx 2500 stone stairs!

Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge.

Day 5: Ulleri – Ghorepani (2860 m), Hiking Duration: 5 hours

We head up for Ghorepani via a slightly easier trail. We pass through amazing Rhododendron and pine forests while crossing little bridges. We continue our walk towards the beautiful, blue village of Ghorepani. After hours of walk, we will reach the village in the late afternoon. From Ghorepani, we can enjoy a great view of the magnificent Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167 m).

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Day 6: Ghorepani – Poon Hill (3210 m) – Tadapani (2630 m), Hiking Duration: 6 hours

We get up very early in the morning to hike to Poon Hill. Here you can see the beautiful sunrise with the view of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Fishtail, and the complete Annapurna range. After sunrise, we hike back to Ghorepani to our lodge. We then continue hiking through beautiful rhododendron forests, alongside wild creeks and waterfalls. We stop at Banthati to have some rest before continuing our trail to reach Tadapani (2590 m) in the late afternoon.

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Day 7: Tadapani – Chhomrong (2010 m), Hiking Duration: 5/6 hours

The trail leads us alongside terrace rice fields and many little settlements. We descend to cross the Kimrung Khola and then climb up to reach Chhomrong during the early afternoon. From Chhomrong we have a fantastic view of Fishtail and Annapurna South.

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Day 8: Chhomrong – Bamboo (2300 m), hiking duration: 5/6 hours

We start our hike with a steep way down until we cross the Chhomrong Khola. After the bridge, we climb up to reach Sinuwa. After some rest, we continue our walk through the rocky steps. We reach the settlement Bamboo (2300 m) in the early afternoon. Bamboo is famous for its large Lemurs colonies and lodge surrounded by trees.

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Day 9: Bamboo – Deurali (3220 m), Hiking Duration: 5/6 hours

We start our hike to Deurali through Dovan village and the Himalayan hotel. In the trail, we cross beautiful rhododendron and bamboo forests. After a little settlement called Hotel Himalaya, there is a steep climb to the much drier forest. From here, we can see the trail drop closer to the river before climbing again to Deurali (2920 m).

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge in Deurali.

Day 10: Deurali – Annapurna Base Camp (4130 m), Hiking Duration: 5/6 hours

Continuing our trekking, the trail goes alongside the beautiful Modi Khola River. On the way, we have an amazing view of the holy mountain of Machapuchare (Fishtail) which changes its shape the closer we come. After ascending for about 40 minutes we reach MBC. Catching our breath, we then continue our hike to ABC, this setting of the Annapurna Base Camp is absolutely unique and incredibly spectacular. It is also called Annapurna Sanctuary because of its oval-shaped plateau which is surrounded by a ring of mountains. Arriving at ABC we find ourselves face to face with the magical Annapurna I (8091 m). The sunrise there is truly breathtaking and worth every step. Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Continuing our trekking, the trail goes alongside the beautiful Modi Khola River. On the way, we have an amazing view of the holy mountain of Machapuchare (Fishtail). After ascending for about 40 minutes we reach MBC.

Catching our breath, we then continue our hike to ABC. This setting of the Annapurna Base Camp is absolutely unique and incredibly spectacular. It is also called Annapurna Sanctuary because of its oval-shaped plateau. Arriving at ABC we find ourselves face to face with the magical Annapurna I (8091 m). The sunrise there is truly breathtaking and worth every step.

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge.

Day 11: Annapurna Base Camp ABC (Rest Day)

Enjoy the mesmerizing sunrise view of Annapurna Base Camp. Later, you can hike to Himchuli Base Camp. It’s a rest day for your body.

Overnight accommodation will be at a lodge.

Day 12: ABC- MBC - Bamboo, Hiking Duration: 7 hours

We will find yourself facing the magical Annapurna I (8091 m). The oval shape sanctuary offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains. This is the morning you will never forget. The sunrise and views at ABC cannot be compared to anything else in the world. After breakfast at ABC, we go back to MBC and descend to Bamboo.

Overnight accommodation will be in a lodge in Bamboo.

Day 13: Bamboo – Jhinu Danda (1780 m), Hiking duration: 7/8 hours

Leaving Bamboo, we continue our walk on the same trail which we used before to reach Chhomrong. We leave our previous path and walk steeply down to a nice place called JhinuDanda. We leave our bags in the lodge and climb down to the take a relaxing bath in the hot springs of the Modi Khola River.

Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Jhinu Danda.

Day 14: JhinuDanda to Pokhara via Syauli, Hiking Duration: 6 hours, Drive Duration: 2 hours

On the last day of the trek, we begin walking through a beautiful landscape with many little villages. We enjoy the flora of the region and meet numerous colorful butterflies on our way. We need to walk almost ninety minutes to get to Kyumi and again from Kyumi walk to Syauli Bazar.

From Syauli Bazaar walk two more hours to get to Nayapul. Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek ends here at Nayapul. We arrive in Nayapul in the late afternoon where we take a car back to Pokhara.

Overnight accommodation at hotel in Pokhara.

Day 15: Chitwan drive & Activities drive duration: 5-6 hours

Today, we drive to Chitwan National Park. You will visit the Tharu village and enjoy their traditional dance. You will enjoy the tea made by the Tharu community in clay teapot. Later on, enjoy the Tharu stick dance and Dhaan Naach. You will enjoy the beautiful sunset relaxing at riverside offering a glimpse of wild-life.

Overnight Accommodation: Hotel in Chitwan.

Day 16: Chitwan Activities

Today we will first walk around the jungle of Chitwan. Then, and we will dive deep down in the forest in the local jeep to trace the footprints of the tiger. Further, get prepared for the glimpse of the one-horned rhino, Asian elephant, Spotted Deer (Chital), Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Samber, Swamp Deer, Black Buck, Bull, Wild Boar, Wild Dog, Leopard, and many other wild animals.

After completing the jungle safari, we will head for the canoe trip. You will canoe ride along the Rapti river. You will see the varieties of birds in the river along with the canoe trip.

Overnight Accommodation: Hotel in Chitwan.

Day 17: Chitwan – Kathmandu Drive duration: 6-7 hours

You will drive from  Chitwan to Kathmandu. On the way, you can see the beautiful hills and slopes. Later, you can stroll through the streets of Thamel for shopping. you can also buy souvenirs for your friends and family. overnight accommodation in a Yatri Suites & Spa.

Today we will drive back to Kathmandu. Later on, you can stroll through the street of the Thamel. You can buy gifts as a token of love for your friends and family.

Overnight accommodation in the Hotel at Kathmandu.

Day 18: Sightseeing in Patan & Bhaktapur.

Today, our guide will receive you and then drive you to Patan for sightseeing. In Patan, you will be visiting other heritage like Krishna Temple and Patan Durbar Square. Later on, we visit the Patan Museum, where you can learn more about the history of Patan and the kings. We also visit the Golden Temple and Banglamukhi Temple, a major attraction for both Hindu and Buddhist people.

Then after we will be visiting Bhaktapur where you will be amazed by the architecture. Observe the old wood carved buildings all around Bhaktapur. Explore the surroundings and visit the Nyatapola Temple, the biggest temple in Nepal. Here, you can also take the pottery making class using the traditional methods. You will visit the Pottery Square. You will be taught to design and adorn your pot with beautiful patterns and inscriptions.

Overnight accommodation at the Hotel at Kathmandu.

Day 19: Departure

Your trip will come to an end today. First, you will be advised and assisted with your onward travel arrangements. Then, we shall transfer you to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. You will reach the airport 3 hours before your flight schedule.