21st Oct 2023 - 1st Nov 2023
12 days/Nepal /Moderate to Challenging
This five-day Himalayan trek is a great opportunity to witness the culture and tradition in the Nepalese countryside. Along the way you will enjoy the views of the snowy peaks of the Annapurnas, stay in quaint locally-owned teahouses and enjoy awe-inspiring panoramic views. A highlight will be the sunrise views which unfold from Poon Hill (3400m), the highest point on the trek.
After completing the trek you will be able to see the work of World Vision first hand with visits to a number of local projects.
NB. Any bookings for this trip are now subject to flight availability and a surcharge.
A moderate to challenging trip because of the combination of long days trekking over varying terrain (including some days where you will trek uphill all day), the increasing altitude as the trek progresses, and the basic conditions at the teahouse accommodation.
The trek is accompanied by English-speaking first aid trained local guides, assistant guides, and porters, who together make your journey possible. You will also be accompanied by a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but overall there will be lots of undulating terrain each day. The first two days you will gain altitude so you will spend more time going uphill. On day three you will spend the morning ascending and the afternoon descending, and the final two days will be descending. It is critical that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients. Underfoot you will find stony trails, muddy forest floors, rocky steps or scree slopes. In some places it will be very dusty (bring a ‘Buff’ to cover your nose/mouth). There are some suspension bridges to cross. Each day’s trek is between 5 and 8 hours in duration (variable depending on group pace).
Temperatures will be dependent upon the weather which is usually clear and sunny in the morning, with clouds, and possibly rain, coming in during the afternoon. You can expect days to be sunny and warm (between 15 ̊C to 25 ̊C) and nights to be colder (between -5 ̊C to 5 ̊C). It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing technical non-cotton layers, and waterproofs.
Please note: The conditions above are historically accurate but climate change can lead to uncharacteristic conditions which are out of our control. The guides will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included and meals are taken at local restaurants in Kathmandu, at the guesthouse in Pokhara and at teahouses during the trek. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, the teahouse menu during the trek is often repeated with most teahouses offering the same variety of rice, soup, dal bhat, potato and noodle dishes. A variety of bread, pancakes and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. Lunch is typically a hearty soup, momos, fried rice, noodles or other light meal. Dinner includes dal bhat, fried rice, noodles, curry and so on. You can purchase snacks such as biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks at the tea houses (not included – payable separately). Nepali food is similar to Indian, with some Chinese influences.
You will stay in a hotel in Kathmandu, a guesthouse in Pokhara, a hotel in Lamjung and teahouses during the trek. Teahouses are locally owned lodges which are comfortable but basic. They feature a main lounge/dining area which is heated with a yak dung burning stove in the centre which makes it a very cosy environment. You will eat breakfast and evening meal in this room and may wish to play cards and relax here each evening too. Battery charging facilities, mineral water, soft drinks, hot drinks, snacks and souvenirs may be available to purchase at many tea houses along the way.
The bedrooms at the teahouses usually have two or three single beds per room which have mattresses and occasionally pillows and blankets. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag and earplugs are strongly recommended.
The tea houses may have hot (or tepid) water showers or access to buckets of hot water for washing (available at a fee payable locally). Toilet facilities at the teahouses usually offer a mix of Western and Asian style squat toilets and these are usually flushing. Please ensure you dispose of toilet paper in the bins provided and do not put it into the toilet as this will cause blockages. Toilet paper is not provided so you will need to bring your own. During the trek you will need to pack up any toilet paper you use to dispose of properly at camp. NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter on the trail.
You must be 18+ to participate on this trek unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit. It is advised that you are of a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s exertions. An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
You should have a good level of fitness to ensure fast recovery from each day’s exertions while trekking and during the project activities. An ideal candidate would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new. If you do not already regularly exercise it is crucial that you start training (including plenty of hills!) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. You must be prepared to carry a daypack weighing 6-7kg. If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be more difficult than necessary and may detriment your experience and the experience of your teammates.
This trek is graded challenging because of the combination of long days trekking over varying terrain (including some days where you will trek uphill all day), the increasing altitude as the trek progresses, and the basic conditions at the teahouse accommodation.
You will slowly ascend to an altitude of 3400m by day three, after gradual acclimatisation on the previous two days. 3400m is above the generally agreed threshold for some people to start feeling some mild symptoms of altitude exposure. Your local guides are very experienced in spotting the signs of altitude sickness but it is important that you also do some research into the effects so you can be aware of how your body is adjusting. A great source of information can be found at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Altitude-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx or http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm.
E-tickets + pre-departure info
Passport + copy
Nepal visa or US$25 plus visa-on-arrival authorisation form
2 passport photos (for trek permit)
Insurance policy details
Pen for immigration forms
Cash (£) / ATM card(s)
LED head torch + spare batteries
Adaptor 2 round pins (Euro)
Sunglasses
Plastic bags – various sizes
Protective gloves for project
Camera + spare batteries
Hiking boots*
Trainers/light shoes for evenings
Trek socks & underwear
Base layer top (long sleeved)
Non-cotton t-shirts
Warm fleece
Waterproof jacket + trousers
Thermals for nights
Warm jacket (e.g. down)
Sun hat
Lightweight trek trousers
Gloves and warm hat
Buff www.buffwear.co.uk (for dust)
Scarf/pashmina (for temples)
Casual attire for sightseeing
Clothing and shoes for project visits
Shampoo/conditioner*
Toothbrush/toothpaste*
Antiperspirant/deodorant*
Shower gel/ shave kit / loofah*
Wet wipes*
Toilet paper* x2 rolls
Sun cream (high SPF)*
Hand sanitizer
Small travel towel
Feminine hygiene products*
Nappy sacks* (for used toilet paper)
Hairbrush/comb
Prescription medicine
50% DEET insect repellent
Ibuprofen and Paracetamol
Plasters/blister plasters
Imodium (Loperamide)
Rehydration (e.g. Dioralyte)
Muscle rub (tiger balm/Deep Heat)
Anti-histamine tablets/cream
Antiseptic cream (e.g. Savlon)
Indigestion remedy (e.g. Gaviscon)
Lip balm with SPF protection
Decongestant
Throat lozenges
Scissors/tweezers
Zinc oxide tape (optional)
Spare glasses/contact lenses
Video camera + charger
Mobile phone + charger
iPod/MP3 player
Walking pole(s)
Portable power bank/powerpack
Notebook/diary
Books/playing cards
Suitcase for checked luggage
Trek kit bag
Daypack (25-30 litres)
Padlocks
Energy snacks
2-litre water bottle (e.g. CamelBak)
1-litre standard water bottle
Water purification (e.g. Biox Aqua)
Electrolyte tablets (e.g. NUUN)
Ear plugs (essential)
Eye mask (optional)
Sleeping bag (comfort -5°C)
Sleeping bag liner
Pyjamas (use your thermals on trek)
Please note: This list is not exhaustive and does not account for your personal taste or preference. It should be used as a guideline only. If you have any questions or queries regarding this list which are not answered in the sections above please contact info@different-travel.com.
*Please ensure you pack your boots in your hand baggage in the unlikely event your luggage is delayed or goes missing.
*Please consider eco-friendly or biodegradable options.
London to Kathmandu
Depart for Kathmandu on an indirect overnight flight. Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will transfer to a central hotel. If you wish, you may enjoy some independent sightseeing before gathering together this evening for a briefing on the days ahead and a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Kathmandu – Pokhara
After breakfast, we depart for the scenic drive to Pokhara (approx. six hours). Upon arrival in this beautiful lakeside town, we check into the hotel then the afternoon is free to take in the sights or even do some souvenir shopping.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Pokhara – Nayapul – Ulleri
This morning we transfer to Nayapul (approx. 2 hours’ drive) from where you commence the trek. You will follow the banks of the Bhurungdi Khola River as far as Tikhedhunga (1575m) where your final challenge for the day is a steep uphill walk to Ulleri where you stay the night in a teahouse (2073m).
Approx. 10km trek / 530m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Ulleri – Ghorepani
A day of ascent! Today we will gradually gain more altitude as we walk for about 5 hours uphill to the overnight teahouse in Ghorepani (2800m). As we approach Ghorepani we will pass through stunning rhododendron forests.
Approx. 11km trek / 1400m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Tadapani
An hour-long pre-dawn ascent gives us the opportunity to see the fascinating views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri glowing in the morning sun from Poon Hill (3400m). After breakfast back at the teahouse, it is a mostly downhill walk through magnificent oak and rhododendron forests, to reach our teahouse in Tadapani, where you will have another chance to enjoy views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain).
Approx. 11km trek / 330m ascent / 640m descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Tadapani – Ghandruk
The descent to Ghandruk is a shorter and easier walk, mostly downhill. From Tadapani you descend through mossy forests and deep gorges, before the scenery changes to a drier more sparse forest as we approach Ghandruk, where we will stay in a teahouse tonight. Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung Village, where many of the inhabitants are Gurkhas.
Approx. 8km trek / 700m descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Ghandruk – Pokhara
Today is our final day of trekking as we descend to Birethanti, from where we travel by road back to our hotel in Pokhara.
Approx. 13km trek / 1000m descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Pokhara – Lamjung – Kathmandu
Today we will leave Pohkara and head back towards Kathmandu, spending a night in Lamjung. We will visit our first projects – a local school and a farmers group – to see how the work of World Vision has supported the lives of locals.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Kathmandu
We will spend today visiting more projects in Balaju and Kritipur. This afternoon there will be some free time for you to explore the wider city before a celebratory farewell dinner on your final night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Kathmandu – London
Today you will transfer to the airport for the return flight to London. Depending on flight times you may arrive back in the UK the next day.
Meals: Breakfast
N.B. This itinerary has been prepared in advance so while we do not anticipate changes, this itinerary may be subject to alteration due to flight schedules, hotel availability and other factors outside our control. During the trip itself the itinerary will depend on the group ability, weather and the daily circumstances. Any changes in the itinerary will be made in the interest of group safety and enjoyment. In-country, your guide and tour manager will have the final say in the interest of the health and safety of the group.
Registration fee: £335
and then either…
Sponsorship: £3990
or
Flexi: Pay £1995 trip costs* and fundraise a minimum of £1995 for World Vision
There is a minimum sponsorship amount for the tour that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs* (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
NB. Any bookings for this trip are now subject to flight availability and a surcharge.
*Please note trip costs are based on the final group size and are subject to change.
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