Annapurna Sunrise and Everest View Trek - 17 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350m/4,428ft)

Upon our arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Traverse who will drop us off at our hotel. After checking in, we take a rest. We may also stroll in the streets of Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenir shopping. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Traverse. For dinner, you will be served excellent Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the country's food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:Dinner

Day 02: Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparation

Today after breakfast we tour several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath) which is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where we can meet our trek leader and other team members. We can also ask whatever queries we have about our trek and find out what we have to look forward to. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:Breakfast

Day 03: Fly to Pokhara (823m/2,700ft) and trek to Ulleri (2050m/6725 ft): 30 min flight, 1 hour drive, 6 hours trek

We take an early morning flight to Pokhara and enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas from the right side of our plane. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, the beautiful lake city, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. After taking a rest, we drive to Naya Pul and start the trek. We pass through sub-tropical valley forests, sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Bhurungdi Khola (river) via a bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. The Ulleri Hill with thousands of steps and boulders that continually go upward will really prove a test of our stamina. We reach Ulleri by late afternoon. Overnight in Ulleri.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 04: Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,750m/ 9,020 ft): 4 - 5 hours trek

After breakfast, we ascend to the Ghorepani village. The name Ghorepani in Nepali means ‘horse-water’ due to it being an important campsite for traders before it became a trekker's stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we begin to feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 05: Ghorepani to Tadapani (2,700m/8,860ft) with a visit to Poon Hill: 6 - 7 hours

To catch the sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill (3,210m/10,529ft), the most popular trekking destination of the Annapurna region. It is also a great viewpoint to enjoy the amazing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The snowy peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. After taking photographs and having some coffee or tea or hot chocolate, we return back to Ghorepani. After breakfast, we head east and climb a nearby ridge. We descend through rhododendron forests, pass by spectacular waterfalls along the way and reach Tadapani to spend the night.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 06: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/6360 ft): 3 - 4 hours

From Tadapani, we make a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. This part of the trek will be through a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. By afternoon, depending upon the season of travel, we also get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After trekking some more minutes, we enter the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. Along with enjoying the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains, we also acquaint ourselves with the simple but rich cultural traditions of the Gurung people at the Gurung Museum in Ghandruk.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 07: Ghandruk to Pokhara: 4 hours trek and 1 hour drive

Today we trek from Ghandruk to Naya Pul then drive back to Pokhara. The trek will be downhill all the way to Birethanti. We step onto a staircase paved with stone slabs, curving in and out of the village and then terraced farms. It keeps on going down almost without any breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. From Birethanti, a half-an-hour's walk takes us to Naya Pul. The journey on foot comes to an end at Nayapul. Then, we drive to Pokhara for an overnight stay.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch

Day 08: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu: 30 mins flight

We fly to Kathmandu in the afternoon. The left side of the airplane offers some amazing views of the Himalayas. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will be escorted to our hotel. We enjoy the day leisurely or catch up on some last minute shopping or explore any landmarks we missed during our first day in Kathmandu.  To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:Breakfast

Day 09: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, trek to Phakding (8,700ft): 40 mins flight, 3 - 4 hours trek

During the 40-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (9,186ft), we enjoy one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. At Lukla, a gateway destination from where our trek begins, we meet our other crew members and begin packing and arranging with them. From Lukla, we start trekking. At one hour’s gradual descent, we will be at a Cheplung village from where we have a glimpse of Mount Khumbila (18900 ft), a sacred mountain which has never been climbed. From Cheplung, we then gradually descend until we reach Phakding and spend the night.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 10: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,283ft): 5-6 hours

After breakfast we walk through beautiful pine forests and then along Dudh Koshi River ending our nature-filled journey at Namche Bazaar. After walking for almost over an hour, we come across the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6,608 m) on our right and also experience the serenity of pine, fir and juniper forests throughout our journey. If the weather is clear, we may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We continue walking until we reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and main trading centre of this region. This day we cross five suspension bridges, the last one also known as the Hillary Bridge being the highest. It is an uphill walk from Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 11: Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,283 ft): Acclimatization Day

This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle.  We stroll around Namche’s quaint villages and come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture. While in the Namche village, we visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 12: Namche Bazaar to Khumjung (3,810 m/12500 ft): 4 hours

Today's journey starts with a climb up to the famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel from where we can enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. We continue trekking to Khumjung village which is surrounded by Kondge, Thamserku and the sacred Khumbila mountains. While here, we visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery (a monastery famous for housing the head of the Yeti!). Overnight in Khumjung.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 13: Khumjung to Tengboche (3,870m/12694ft): 4 - 5 hours

We descend to Dudhkoshi River and pass through beautiful villages on the way. We walk on a forest trail which will take us to a riverbed. Next, we ascend for around two more hours through pine and fir forests to reach a small village of Tengboche. The village is also home to the famous Tengboche Gumba which is situated at 3,867 m and is the largest monastery in the Khumbu region of Nepal. We tour the Gumba and enjoy  a panoramic view of the Himalayas, including Tawache, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Everest.Overnight in Tengboche.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 14: Tengboche to Monjo (2,950m/9,676ft): 6 - 7 hours

We trek on a trail through hillsides blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing a prayer-flag festooned bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, we walk alongside the Dudh Koshi gorge descending rapidly through pine forests. On the way we may come across mountain goats, snow leopards, and colorful milieu. After passing a Chorten, we reach an army camp at Namche Bazaar. We get amazing views of the surrounding landscape from this juncture. We continue our trek with a steady descent on a hill and cross a few bridges before reaching Monjo. Overnight in Monjo.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 15: Monjo to Lukla: 5- 6 hours

The trail descends steeply before it cuts up to the airstrip in Chauri Kharka. On the way we pass Phakding and Chopling villages. The climb from Chauri Kharka is the final climb of the trek. As the local staff you met in Lukla will not be accompanying you to Kathmandu, today is last day you celebrate your accomplishment together. Overnight in Lukla.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 16: Fly to Kathmandu

We take an early morning flight to Kathmandu. Our trip leader will drop us off at our hotel and we have the rest of the day off. We can stroll around the streets in Thamel, a popular Tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenir shopping. You may also visit popular tourist attractions nearby. Either way, there will be a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of our journey. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:Breakfast Dinner

Day 17: Final departure

Our journey comes to an end today. A representative from Himalayan Traverse will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight.

Included meals:Breakfast

(Note: Booking must be confirmed 6 months before in advance)