Compare Annapurna Base Camp Trek- 14 Days by Outfitter Nepal vs Signature City Asheville by Road Scholar

Day 1: Arrive at Kathmandu airport transfer to hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

You will be met & greeted by our airport representative who will be on standby to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Your evening is free and after you’ve refreshed, you can go for a stroll down the street to get familiar with your surroundings. Window shopping would be a good start to look around. Your first overnight in the valley of temples & cows. Probably the most in the world; however, these unusual sights are sometimes welcome & interesting.

Day 2: Full day sightseeing of Kathmandu valley & an orientation:

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel, Hours: 6

After having breakfast at hotel, we take you for the sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley; you will be escorted by a professional guide and Your tour will include Kathmandu Durbar Square, Monkey Temple - Swayambhunath (note, there are real monkeys down here & they can be a pain in the neck, especially if you are munching something while climbing the steps to the temple; whatever your munching could vanish from your hands in seconds if you’re not careful and the best way to appease these monkeys is by buying some bananas from vendors just by the roadside to the temple & distribute them on your way up, they’d be happy & leave you alone). Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhanath Stupa. The Pashupatinath is a significant place of visit because this is a heritage site & is the most important religious site for Hindus in Nepal & India and within the boundaries of this temple are cremation zones where the bodies of Nepalese, right from the pauper on the streets to the king of Nepal are cremated at this old temple. In the early evening we get back to our hotel & refresh after which your trek leader will meet the group & orient you on the whole program related to your trip. You will even have sufficient time to buy some trek gear if you need any in Thamel area.

Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (200 Kilometers west of Kathmandu):

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel, Hours: 6

After having early breakfast at hotel, we start our drive and the drive goes along the scenic Trisuli and Marsyangdi River to reach Pokhara, it’s a pretty good drive as we go by the beautiful river which is also good for rafting; we view Ganesh Himal and the Manaslu peak as well We drive along the scenic Trisuli and Marsyangdi River to reach Pokhara, it’s a pretty good drive as we go by the beautiful river which is also good for rafting; we view Ganesh Himal and the Manaslu peak as well during the Driving. Pokhara is a tourist's paradise full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, & temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with her lovely mountains; after 6 hours of driving; we will arrive in Pokhara, the city of lakes, welcome to this beautiful town of serene lakes that gives so much meaning to your holidays, overnight at your Hotel.

Day 4: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedunga:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 5 Max. Altitude: 1577

After having breakfast at the hotel, we start to drive to Nayapul which takes approximately one and half hours, we then start the first part of our hiking out to Tikhedunga (1577M) Via Birethanti (1065m.) this is a pretty easy flat out hike as we pass through several small lively villages and settlements, after some time, we will ascend gently to the final destination of the day, overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 5: Trek to Ghorepani:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accomodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 6 Max. Altitude: 2800

After having hot breakfast at lodge, we start trek and ascend steeply for the first 2 hours then ascend gently passing through Ulleri (2070m.) and Banthanti, villages. This path gives breathtaking views of Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m.), Hiunchuli (6441m.), and the grand Annapurna (7219m) south on the way. Our trekking trail now gets quite easy going as we pass through rhododendron and shadowy forests amidst the cackling of birds which gives us good feelings till we ascend gently up to the final camp to the Ghorepani, check into the Lodge and overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 6: Hike to Poonhill and trek to Tadapani:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 6 Max. Altitude: 3210

Today, we hike to Poonhill (3232m.) to enjoy the sunrise views over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.), Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7855m.), Machhapuchhare (6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung Himal (6931m.) and other numerous snow capped mountains in the morning. Poonhill has always been a symbol of beauty for the Annapurna region then we will return down to Ghorepani and have a hot breakfast at our lodge and trek to Tadapani (2650m.). Most part of the trail we trek is through blooming rhododendron forest; the beautiful flower makes the jungle colorful in spring when they bloom, check in to the lodge in Tadapani and overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 7: Trek from Tadapani to Chhomrong:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel, Hours: 6 Max. Altitude: 2675

After having breakfast at lodge, we start the trek and enjoy our hike by descending gently all the way through rhododendron, oak and other kinds of dense forests along the trail, We hear the chirping of different kinds of birds on the way to Kimrung Khola. We then straightaway ascend steeply and walk at a flat level for 45 minutes with gentle steep paths in-between and flat all the way to Chomrong which the gateway to Annapurna Base Camp., check into the Lodge and overnight at lodge.

Day 8: Trek from Chhomrong to Himalaya:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 7 Max. Altitude: 3500

After having breakfast at lodge, we start our trek; the trekking trail descends on a stone stairway for the first one and half hour and crosses the Chhomrong Khola on a suspension bridge, then climbs out of the side valley. High above the Modi Khola on its west bank, the trail passes through forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak, then we climb further on a rocky path, we will reach Sinuwa, at 2350m & then we trek gently through the forest and descend a long, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests to reach Bamboo and walk on gently up towards Dovan and Himalaya, check into the lodge.

Day 9: Trek from Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 7 Max. Altitude: 4130

After having breakfast at lodge, we start our trek, the valley widens and becomes less steep and we will see the gates to the sanctuary from here as the trail continues into the sanctum, it crosses two avalanche tracks on a narrow trail that hurdles up against the cliffs. After a short trek we will be at Bagar (3310m.), a green meadow with some abandoned hotels. The normal trail follows the left side of the valley. Now the trail appears gently ascending until Machhapuchare Base Camp (3820m.) Which is one place where we enjoy some of the best landscapes in the venture; we will enjoy the view of Mount Hiunchuli (6441m.), Annapurna South (7229m.), Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna III (7555m.), Gangapurna (7454m.) and Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m.). The path follows through alpine meadows and after some distance our trails go gently up. After a short trek, we begin to approach Annapurna Base Camp at (4170m.), congratulation that you now have reached the Annapurna Base Camp, the destination of our holiday, overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 10: Trekking from Annapurna Base Camp to Dovan:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 7 Max. Altitude: 2630

We will have great views of the Himalayas with sunrise in Annapurna base camp then we will have breakfast and ready to return trekking to Dove that takes about five hours and much easier as we go down. You should have no problem reaching Sinuwa from Annapurna Base Camp in a single day however; we have chosen this route as some trekkers may have problem on going down due to shaking or wobbling legs that could be fatigued, check in to the lodge and overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 11: Trekking from Dovan to Jhinudanda:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Tea house/ Lodge, Hours: 6 Max. Altitude: 1800

After having breakfast at lodge, we start our trek to Jhinu dada, the trekking trail is a descent till Bamboo passing through forests with varieties of rhododendron, oaks and bamboo plants then, after Bamboo, the trail goes steeply up an hour and the trail is quite flat until Sinuwa. We trek gradually descending to the Chhumrong Khola and we have to follow a stone staircase for almost an hour to reach Chhumrong village, the last part of the trail is steep down to Jhinudanda. We check into our rooms at the guest house then we could go to the Hot Springs to take a refreshing bath in the warm salt waters, overnight at Guesthouse.

Day 12: Trek from Jhinudanda to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara:

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel, Hours: 6

After having breakfast at guest house in Jhinu, we start our trekking and the first part of the trek is lttle descent then flat level trail until Birethati along with the bank of the river, we will stop at Birethati for lunch and after walking about 30 minutes to Nayapul, there will be our car/van waiting for us to take us back to the civilization, Pokhara the city of lakes and natural wonders, overnight at hotel..

Day 13: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu:

Accommodation: Hotel Hours: 6 Meals: Breakfast

You will have early breakfast at hotel in Pokhara and Our tourist bus leaves at 7 AM to drive us to Kathmandu and the driving will be a fantastic experience as we drive past many satellite towns on the way and we are able to see rural settlements, gushing rivers, terraces and green rural landscapes; after 6 hours driving we will arrive Kathmandu and its overnight at your hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to airport for your departure:

Meals: Breakfast

You will be transferred to the international airport for your final departure to your loving home. OUTFITTER NEPAL has taken pleasure in serving you all of these weeks; you counted on us & we didn’t let you down because we know how hard you’ve worked to enjoy this holiday. Meeting you was an immense pleasure & we do hope you will remember us down the years with memories of the time you’ve spent in this amazing country that’s Nepal. A safe BON VOYAGE home…takes care!!!.

Day 1 Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Film Asheville

Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Program Registration 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel conference room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to learn when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful, rewarding, and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. At the hotel, we will enjoy an informative video about the Biltmore Estate that will introduce the property and provide pertinent information for our field trip tomorrow. They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” and the beauty of this estate is a prime example of why such a saying is so accurate. We will engage in some group discussion after the film.

At the hotel, we will enjoy a tasty plated meal to welcome us to Asheville, North Carolina. Coffee, tea and water are included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 2 Asheville History, Trolley, River Arts District Asheville

Walking up to 1.5 miles on paved city sidewalks with some slight inclines.

At the hotel with a local historian, we'll learn about Asheville's beginning as a crossroads for Native American Indians and its progression as it grew into one of the highest ranked destinations in the country. We'll review its history and how it became a storehouse for music, culture, arts, crafts and other treasures. Called the "Paris of the South," we'll hear about the boast-worthy collection of art deco architecture Asheville hosts. Our expert will share with us about the coming of the railroad and its role in the city’s history as well as how it was affected by the stock market crash in 1929. Over 200 years of history will be condensed into a single morning session to help us gain a greater understanding of Asheville before we set out and explore by trolley in order to cover a number of miles and key sites. We will board our trolley in front of the hotel. Our field trip will end up at Pack's Tavern for lunch.

Board your trolley after lunch for the River Arts District. Visit The North Carolina Glass Center to experience a glass blowing demonstration by one of their in-house artists. There is a special viewing area with benches. The galleries and studios run along a one mile stretch of the French Broad River. Because of the distance between venues and individual browsing time differences, we have left this exploration for you to return on your own during any free time in the program.

At leisure.

At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet featuring the chef's choice of a hot item, assorted pastries, yogurt, fruit, coffee, tea, juice and water.

At Pack's Tavern, we'll enjoy a wonderful plated meal from a select menu featuring regional specialties. The structure was built in 1907 and was originally known as the Hayes and Hopson building of Pack Square Park. In the earliest years, there was an underground passage that led from the building's basement to other buildings in the vicinity. During this time the building was used as a means of distributing illegal "moonshine" to people who didn't respect the dry laws. Today the building has been beautifully restored to its "Prohibition-Era Grandeur." Pack's Tavern boasts excellent service, the best drinks in town and a large eclectic menu.

Dinner on your own.

Day 3 Biltmore Estate & Gardens, Antler Hill Asheville

Walking up to 2 miles at the Biltmore Estate and grounds over uneven terrain and standing up to 2 hours while going through the Biltmore Hose with audios.

After transferring from the hotel via motorcoach, we will visit the beautiful Biltmore Estate for a self-directed field trip to the 250-room Vanderbilt home. With the help of individual audio guides that will bring attention to special features and furnishings, we’ll meander through the halls of this American fairy tale manor admiring the interior. We'll get a glimpse into the luxurious living areas of the Vanderbilt family, lovingly restored to the grandeur of Vanderbilt's time, and still filled with priceless, carefully preserved artworks and furnishings.

Our visit will continue into the afternoon with time to visit the Estate Gardens and Conservatory. The gardens, both formal and informal, were designed by landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted designed many parks throughout the United States including Central Park in New York City. The gardens at Biltmore are a living tribute to Olmsted, and the estate's horticultural experts work diligently to preserve his original vision for the gardens and grounds. The Conservatory is described by the Biltmore Company as an "architectural treasure, almost as beautiful as the Biltmore House. The Conservatory, designed by Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt, was built to provide Biltmore House and the gardens with flowers and tender bedding plants. Today, more than a century later, it still fulfills that role. Carefully placed at the lower end of the garden, so as not to obstruct the view from Biltmore House, the Conservatory consists of four main rooms. The central room is a "Palm House," which contains a large collection of palms, ferns and other foliage plants. The annexes include a cool house, hot house and orchid house. The total heated space under glass in the Conservatory is over 7,000 square feet, making the structure an exotic escape in cooler months. Leaving the gardens, we will board our motor coach for a stopover at the Biltmore Estate Winery and the Antler Hill Village. Antler Hill Village is adjacent to the winery and we will have some time allotted there for independent exploration. This area includes numerous agricultural and historical exhibitions.

Evening at leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will have a plated lunch at the Biltmore Estate serving coffee, tea, and water.

Dinner on your own.

Day 4 Cherokee History, Basilica, Blue Ridge Parkway, Music Asheville

Walking to Basilica is .2 mile from hotel, with some moderate inclines on sidewalks.

We'll begin our morning with a long-time resident of the Southern Appalachians who is a folksinger/folklorist for over 30 years. He'll present the Cherokee and Appalachian history and culture as it relates to Asheville and the area. Afterwards, we will leave our hotel walking to the Basilica of St. Lawrence for a docent-led field trip. The Basilica was designed by Rafael Guastavino (Valencia, Spain, 1842 – Asheville, North Carolina 1908). Rafael, being commissioned for work by George Vanderbilt on the estate, settled in the Asheville area and designed the basilica in 1905, a structure completed shortly after his death. The Basilica of St. Lawrence boasts the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America measuring a span of 58 by 82 feet.

We'll meet up in the hotel lobby to prepare for our afternoon on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Boarding the motor coach, we'll travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway, America's longest and most narrow national park. 469 miles long. It connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. On a short stopover at the Visitor's Center, we will see a film on the history of the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The last thing we do before returning to the hotel will be to stop at one of the Parkway's overlooks to see the beauty of the mountains and learn why they are called "Blue" in the name Blue Ridge.

Our final session on the Southern Appalachians will be with our expert who plays several instruments, including the fretless five-string banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, Cherokee flute, rattle, and water drum, in addition to the guitar and mouth bow. He plays traditional Appalachian and Adirondack mountain music, but he often sings the traditional songs a cappella. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and has earned a reputation among folk music performers for his authentic style and traditional rhythms.

Hotel buffet.

Lunch is on your own in downtown Asheville.

At a restaurant one block from our hotel we will enjoy a plated dinner with tea, coffee and water. Other beverages will be available for purchase.

Day 5 Thomas Wolfe Home, Omni Grove Park Inn Asheville

Thomas Wolfe home is historical and does not have an elevator to the second floor. The Thomas Wolfe museum is HC accessible as is Grove Park Inn. Walking down ~15 steps to get to dinner location.

We'll start the day by boarding our motor coach for a docent-led field trip to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. "Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, ‘Look Homeward, Angel,’” states the museum’s website. “Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and the Old Kentucky Home boarding house earned the historic Victorian home a place as one of American Literature’s most famous landmarks. Afterwards, we will make our way by motor coach to the grand Omni Grove Park Inn. This beautiful hotel has captured the hearts of many travelers that sought the peace and tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grove Park Inn has withstood time to secure a permanent spot as a landmark in history. We will enjoy a leisurely self-exploration of the Inn's historic displays.

After lunch we'll take a short walk down to the Grovewood attraction located behind the Grove Park Inn for a docent-led walk through their classic car and textile museums. Returning to our hotel, enjoy some down time and take advantage of your centrally located hotel in the heart of downtown Asheville.

Upon our return to the hotel mid-evening, be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Hotel buffet.

Enjoy a plated lunch at the Omni Grove Park Inn with coffee, tea, and water. Other beverages available for purchase.

For our final evening together we will dine at a popular local restaurant downtown just steps from our hotel. We'll enjoy a wonderful plated dinner from a select menu with coffee, tea and water; other beverages available for purchase. We will walk down a flight of approximately 15 steps to get to the street level the restaurant is on.

Day 6 Program Concludes Asheville

Hotel check-out by 11:00 am

This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Hotel buffet.