Poon Hill trek famous for Ghorepani
& Ghandruk village is a short trek suitable for everyone with a
fair degree of fitness and with limited time but dreaming for glimpse of snow
caped mountain peaks close views. It introduce the dramatic scenery of
the Annapurna
region in central Nepal. Ghandruk Ghorepani trek offers an eye-catching
mountain scenery with charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, Poon &
Magars, dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys,
all set below the Annapurna's with the picturesque peak of Machhapuchhare
(Fishtail Peak) dominating the skyline. One of the important highlights of this
trip is to make a claim on Pun Hill (3210m), possibly the Most Spectacular
Mountain scrapes on Earth. When the sun rises, it touches the snow-capped
Himalayan giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m) along with a maze
of other peaks, they gradually appear, just like magic that your eye could not
believe. This trek can be done any time of the year and as it reaches an
altitude of just 3210m there are no chances of altitude-related problems.
Be warned, this short trek is unlikely to satisfy your enjoyment of this
magnificent corner of the world – you are bound to return for longer treks in
the future.
Arrive at Kathmandu Airport with the
beautiful views of the valley, Himalaya and the terraced fields below. Meet
& be greeted by Donkeys Adventures’ (DA) airport
representative in the arrival section who will be holding the name card of the
group leader. He / She will guide you through the initial cultural shock of
Kathmandu narrow streets, cultures, people around and transfer to hotel. Then
DA will organize to meet in a
traditional Nepalese restaurant for a welcome dinner where we will have
introduction to DA staffs who will be directly involve during your stay in
Nepal. For the late night arrivals, we will either meet in the hotel lobby or
during lunch the next day. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: D
After breakfast, drive to the golden spire of the 5th-century Swayambhunath Stupa which is adorned with a colorful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. The stupa consists of a dome at the base which represent the entire world, above which is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions and between them, the number one in Nepali is painted in the fashion of a nose which meant to be unity. Swayambhunath is also known commonly as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Swayambhunath Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal.
Then, drive to Patan Durbar Square one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley which has a rich cultural heritage known for its fine crafts, evident in the elaborate architecture, stone carvings, and metal statues found all over the city. A center of both Buddhist and Hindu culture, Patan is home to more than 1,200 monuments. One of the most stunning is the Krishna Mandir, a stone temple with magnificent friezes built in the 16th century. Patan Durbar Square is also a good place to see beautiful examples of palaces, temples and shrines, and the stunning stone carvings in the Sundari Courtyards. Nearby is the Patan Museum which displays the traditional sacred arts of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of former Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. Its gilded door and window face one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The Museum’s exhibits cover along span of Nepal’s cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Their meaning and context within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained. The entire city of Patan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
After lunch, drive to Pashupatinath which is one of the
most significant Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks
of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu. Pashupatinath
Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu its existence dates back to 400
B.C. One of the major Festivals of the
temple is Maha Shivaratri on which day over 800,000 devotees
visit here. Open air cremation is
done in the holy Bagmati River at Pashupatinath area. The temple is
listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Drive back to hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early morning after breakfast, check-out from
the hotel and drive towards Sauraha, Chitwan – 180 Km from Kathmandu. We
will stop on the way at Charaudi after 85 km where a crowd
of friendly local people will be eagerly waiting to watch the proceedings. The
Crew Prepares the rafts, after which all head towards the brief river safety
talk and lessons on how to use paddles. Trishuli River (Grade III) includes
the scenery of small gorges and numerous rapids as the name of Snail’s nose,
Teendevi, Malekhu rapid, Monkey rapid, Upset, Surprise, Monsoon, Cotton Pony,
Ladies Delight, S-Bend, Highway, Monsoon and Pinball Rapid. After the
glimpse of the cable car leading to the famous Hindu Temple of Manakamana
in Kuringhat, we will end our raft to have lunch and continue our drive to Chitwan. Upon arrival our representative will meet
and transfer you to resort. On reaching resort, our guest relations officer
will brief the guest to give some information about jungle activities and then
Check-in at hotel. We will get ready for one of the following jungle activities
either Elephant Back Safari or Nature Walk through jungle to observation
tower or Dugout Canoe Ride in Rapti River or 2 hours Jeep Safari. 70%
of the vegetation is sal tree where more than 700 species wildlife is
accommodated, 19 species of snakes, 113 species of fishes and crocodile, 543
species of birds, 68 species of mammals including Bengal Tiger, clouded
leopard, sloth bears, golden jackals, leopard cats, one horn rhinoceros, wild
elephant, sambar deer, hog deer, four horned antelopes and langurs can be encountered
at any time We
will return passing through the Tharu Village also famous as Tharu
Cultural Tour, along the River Side Sunset View and finally
enjoy Tharu Stick Dance Show followed by dinner. Overnight in the
hotel.
Meals: B / L / D
We will enjoy our breakfast with beautiful birds
crippling in the surrounding then check out from the hotel, we will still have
some time if we have missed the jungle activities previous day or if we want to
add some more Jungle activities as we will be driving further west for almost 3
hours and reach Lumbini – birth place of Lord Buddha. En route we will pass by Shashwat Dham, a
destination for all to attain spiritual strength, get exposed to the eternal
knowledge passed over generations through saints and sages of Vedic times and
experience the true nature of our inner being which is love and joy. We will
further continue west and reach Ramagrama, the relic stupa of Lord
Buddha which is the only undisturbed original stupa containing relics of Lord
Buddha among the 4 parts. It was built in 6th century and enlarged
by being enveloped with bricks subsequently. The site includes adjacent
monasteries. We will continue our drive
from there and finally reach Lumbini (150m) hotel and check-in. Overnight
in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast explores Lumbini for a whole day, it is popular among Buddhist pilgrimage in Nepal. Lumbini (The birthplace of Gautam Buddha) is not only famous for Buddhist pilgrimage travelers alone but also popular for having views of the beautiful architecture namely of Maya Devi temple, Ashok stupa, Sacred Garden, Peace flame, Museum, Thailand Temple, Myanmar Temple, Chinese Temple, Wall Carvings, Buddha Stupa and Chinese Buddhism culture and other breathtaking places. Buddha is known as the light of Asia. Lumbini is listed in the World Heritage Monument List by UNESCO. Lumbini is divided into a ratio of 1:3 which means it is 3 km long for every 1 km wide. In total its 2 km by 6 km. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashok pillar and the Maya Devi temple, where the precise place of birth of Buddha is located. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast drive to Pokhara. We will
enjoy beautiful hilly highway following the lovely rice terrace fields. On the way there will be plenty of time to stop in
local villages and to take a look around. It is always possible to request a
stop as a sight which may seem interesting to you. Check-in in hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early morning after breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and driver north towards Birethanti (1025m) for couple of hours. We will then enter Annapurna Conservation Project Area after crossing Modi Khola and start our trek on a dirt road along the Bhurungdi Khola with an easy upward trail passing by some beautiful villages of Matathanti and Lamdawali (1160m). We will further continue the river side trail and no sooner we will begin to climb on the stone steps to reach village of Sudame (1340m). Further we will continue the wide stone trail to reach small Gurung villages of Hille (1460m) and Thikhedhungga (1520m). We will take a lunch break here and then after lunch we will cross the suspension bridge over Bhurungdi Khola and ascend along the long stone step trail to reach another beautiful Magar village of Ulleri (2020m). We will be rewarded with the magnificent view of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Overnight in the lodge.
Meals: B / L / D
After breakfast, we will begin our second day of the trek leaving the
Bhurungdi Khola a bit far on our right and ascend in the temperate climate
through the mixed kind of forest. Soon we will reach a small Magar hamlet
village of Ban Thanti (2210m). We will further take a gentle ascend
through the thick sub-tropical forest of Oak and Rhododendron crossing small
and short stone bridges to reach Nangge Thanti (2430m). After lunch
at this tiny village we will we will continue on the trail with paved stones
and pass by lower village and upper village of Gorepani (2860m). The
village offers a panoramic view of both Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Range.
Overnight in the lodge.
Meals: B / L / D
Today we will wake up early in the morning around 4:30 am and get ready
to hike to Poon Hill (3210m), possibly the Most Spectacular
Mountain scrapes on Earth. We can enjoy the sunrise view over Mt. Dhaulagiri
(8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.), Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt.
Annapurna I (8091m.), Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7855m.),
Machhapuchhre (6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung
Himal (6931m.) and other numerous snowcapped mountain peaks. We will spend some
time there and then hike back to our lodge where we will take our breakfast and
then proceed downward towards Deurali crossing the Deurali Pass (3090m) with
a gentle trek from the ridge. After couple of hour gentle downhill we will reach
another village of Ban Thanti (3180m) with a watch tower. We will
take our lunch there and leave the left trail and follow the south steep trail along
with the small stream and waterfall through the Oak and Rhododendron forest to
reach Bhurumgdi Khola suspension bridge. After crossing the
bridge, we will climb up again on the steep trail to reach Liui Kharka
(2680m). Languor monkeys swinging in the trees can be also entertained
on this trail. We will again take a south east level trail to reach beautiful
village of Tadapani (2630m). Overnight in the lodge.
Meals: B / L / D
This day is easy day so we will start late morning after breakfast. We
will trek on the level trail passing through forest and landslide area and
reach Bhaisi Kharka. And further continue on the gentle down and flat trail to
reach a beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk (1940m) by noon. We will
have our lunch and take a short hike through the village with whitewashed stone
houses, small Gurung Museum in a traditional house. Apart from the cultural
Gurung sites we will also have a mountain views of Annapurna South-7219m,
Himchhuli-6441m, Fishtail-6997m, Mardi Himal to name some. The village is situated
in a favorable location above the Modi Khola Valley and settled mostly by
Gurung community whose one of the family would be serving in the British Gorkha
Army. Overnight in the lodge.
Meals: B / L / D
Today we will have our breakfast with the magnificent
Annapurna and Machhapuchhre mountain view. We will then stroll around the
alleys of beautiful Ghangruk village (1940m) and pass through the Gurung Museum
to see their traditional clothes, agricultural tools and living styles. We will
return back to lodge, pack our things and get ready to drive back to Pokhara
(825m) on the hilly dirt road for couple of hours and then on a Baglung Highway.
Meals: B / L
Wake up early in the morning around 4:00 am and get ready to drive 5 km away and hike for half an hour to Sarangkot Hill (1592m). Within a moment we will have great view of Pokhara Valley. Sarangkot is the small hilltop which is famous for its breath taking view of sunrise and Annapurna range with Fishtail (Virgin Mountain). From here, we can see a panoramic sweep of Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to the perfect pyramid that is Machhapuchare (6997m) and the rounded peak of Annapurna II (7937m) in the east. Most people come here at dawn, when the sun picks out the peaks in brilliant colors. Sarangkot is the highest view point for a sunrise and it is just 1592m high. Drive back to hotel.
After breakfast, we will take a wooden boat and visit island temple Barahi Temple which is island itself in the middle of Fewa Lake. This temple is the most important religious monuments in Pokhara. The Barahi Devi is considered as the protector Goddess representing the female force. The peaceful surrounding or typical structure of the temple does attract everyone towards the temple. The temple is worth visiting for both spiritualist and materialist. One can observe the Nepali culture, art and architecture and spiritualist can satisfy their inner feeling and belief praying to Devi.
From there we will cross the lake and hike for an hour and half to World Peace Pagoda which is also locally know as Shanti Stupa. It was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monk Morioka Sonin with local supporters under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk and the founder of Nipponzan-Myōhōji. Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning peace, also widely used in Nepali and Hindi language, and Shanti Stupa means Peace Pagoda. Shanti Stupa is the shrine build as symbol of peace. The spot situated at the height of 1100 meters on the Ananda Hill was chosen by Nichidatsu Fujii and he laid the foundation stone as well with the relics of Buddha on the hilltop on 12 September 1973. Nepal has two of the eighty peace pagodas in the world: Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara. Shanti Stupa in Pokhara has also become a tourist attraction. It provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and the Fewa Lake.
After Lunch, we will drive to Davi’s fall also known as Patale Chango in Nepali. Patale Chango (Hell's fall), more commonly called "Devi's or David's Falls" for the tourist with some melodramatic story behind it. The water from this falls comes from the Fewa Lake flowing to the Seti. The water plunges into a hole and disappears! In monsoon this sight is most spectacular. The scenic and natural beauty near the falls is extremely impressive.
Nearby, across the street of Davi’s fall is a
cave called Gupteshwor Cave. This venerated cave contains
a huge stalagmite worshipped as a Shiva lingam. It allows you to clamber through a
tunnel behind the shrine, emerging in a damp cavern adjacent to the thundering
waters of Devi’s fall. It has some big hall-size rooms and some passages where you have to
crawl on all fours. This cave holds special value for Hindus since a phallic
symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered.
Than we will drive to International
Mountain Museum which was established to record document and
chronicle, past and present development of mountaineering activities in the
world in general and to preserve the saga of the momentous feats in the history
of mountaineering in the Himalayan peaks in particular. The foundation stone of
IMM was laid on 1 Dec, 1995. The soft opening of IMM took place on 29 May, 2002
where it was officially opened on 5 Feb, 2004. Drive back to hotel and
overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast check out from the hotel and get ready to
drive back to Kathmandu. After getting fresh in the hotel in Kathmandu walk
around 10 minutes to Kathmandu Durbar Square, while browse around Kathmandu
Durbar Square you will visit Hanuman Dhoka, the old and historic palace
of Kathmandu named after monkey God, Hanuman. It is historic seat of royalty.
The Kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations also held inside the court
yard here. There is a statue of King Pratap Mall sitting on the stone pillar in
the front and temple of Jagannath from mediaeval period. Within the walking
distance you will find the tall temple of Taleju from 1549 AD, the large stone
statue of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction. The Big Bell and
Big Drum and Hindu Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati peeping from window.
Visit the temple of Kumari, the residence of Living Goddess
within the vicinity. Kumari means the virgin girl. The girl is selected from
Newar Buddhist family. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and
window screen.
Meals: B
After breakfast, we will drive to Boudhanath Stupa, which is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, located about 11 km from the center and northeastern outskirts of Boudhanath is a stupa. Boudhanath was probably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions; various interesting legends are told regarding the reasons for its construction. After the arrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, the temple has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. It was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1979. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.
From above, Bodnath Stupa looks like
a giant mandala, or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. There are
other symbolic numbers here as well: the nine levels of Boudhanath Stupa
represent the mythical Mt. Meru, center of the cosmos; and the 13
rings from the base to the pinnacle symbolize the path to enlightenment,
or "Bodhi" — hence the stupa's name. At the bottom, the stupa is
surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. The
mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Om Mani Padme Hum - is carved on the prayer
wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara around the base of
the stupa. The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms, decreasing
in size. As at Swayambhunath, Bodnath is topped with a square tower bearing the
omnipresent Buddha eyes on all four sides. Instead of a
nose is a question-mark-type symbol that is actually the Nepali character for
the number 1, symbolizing unity and the one way to reach
enlightenment—through the Buddha's teachings. Above this is the third eye,
symbolizing the wisdom of the Buddha. The square tower is topped by a pyramid
with 13 steps, representing the ladder to enlightenment.
Than we will drive 14 km east of Kathmandu and explore the Bhaktapur Valley. The valley is said to be founded by King Ananda Deva in 889 AD. It is an inhabited museum of medieval charm as it retains past glories and structures of the Malla rulers. Throughout the city there are glorious examples of temples and pagodas dedicated to gods and goddesses plus palaces, monuments, woodcarvings, sculptures and pottery. The central area and main attraction in Bhaktapur is Durbar Square featuring The Lion Gate (1696 A.D.) guarded by two enormous stone lions. Then, visit to The Golden Gate, also said to be the most beautiful and richly crafted specimen of its kind in the entire world; some have said it's the loveliest work of art in the whole Kingdom. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows built in 1427 of brick displays a balcony containing fifty-five windows, each a masterpiece of woodcarving. An amazing five-storied pagoda, Nyatapola Temple built in 1702, 108 ft., dominates the Square. It is the tallest temple in Kathmandu Valley and stands on a series of five terraces. Likewise, visit another two temples in Durbar Square: the three-storied Bhairab Nath Temple and the Temple of Dattatraya. Dattatraya temple is believed, originally was carved out of the trunk of a tree and subsequently renovated in 1458. Many temples, bahals (monastery courtyards), and residences, the city is still a living proof of the highest craft standards in this part of the world. As the visitor wanders through narrow brick paved streets, many alleys will show hidden shrines and statues. Clay craftsmanship as well as cloth weaving is still practiced here very much as in the past. Fourteen kilometers east of Kathmandu, this peaceful, conservative town stands in sharp contrast to the bustle of its two adjacent cities.
After lunch, we will drive back to Kathmandu Durbar Square,
while browse around Kathmandu
Durbar Square you will visit Hanuman Dhoka, the old and historic
palace of Kathmandu named after monkey God, Hanuman, a historic seat of
royalty. The Kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations also held inside
the court yard here. There is a statue of King Pratap Mall sitting on the stone
pillar in the front and temple of Jagannath from mediaeval period. Within the
walking distance you will find the tall temple of Taleju from 1549 AD, the
large stone statue of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction. The Big Bell
and Big Drum and Hindu Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati peeping from window.
Visit the temple of Kumari, the residence of Living Goddess
within the vicinity. Kumari means the virgin girl. The girl is selected from
Newar Buddhist family. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and
window screen.
Meals: B
Today will be the last day of
our Nepal visit and we will spend today packing
and maybe catching up on some last-minute souvenir shopping for your family,
relatives and friends back home. Check out from the hotel. Meet DA airport representative for farewell
and then drop to Airport for onward journey, with the last minute mountain
views from the sky.
Meals: B
Package Types | 1 PAX | 2-3 PAX | 4-6 PAX | 7-12 PAX | 13-20 PAX | 21-35 PAX |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diamond | $ 5,904.44 | $ 3,571.14 | $ 2,991.95 | $ 2,708.77 | $ 2,512.47 | $ 2,388.43 |
Gold | $ 4,479.94 | $ 2,735.14 | $ 2,177.95 | $ 1,916.77 | $ 1,742.47 | $ 1,640.43 |
Silver | $ 3,702.94 | $ 2,279.14 | $ 1,733.95 | $ 1,484.77 | $ 1,322.47 | $ 1,232.43 |
Note:
Above prices are valid to book your holiday package until one year from the date of booking only.
Full board complementary for one Group Leader for 16 and above group.
The prices are net and all the applicable taxes are included in the above price (local taxes in Nepal).
All the above prices are subjected to change with prior notice.
Package Types:
Diamond 5 star hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Gold 3 star hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Silver Budget tourist standard hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Pashupatinath / Swayambhunath / Boudhanath / Bhaktapur Durbar Square / Patan Durbar Square / Sarangkot / Fewa Lake / International Mountain Museum / David's Fall / World Peace Pagoda / Chitwan National Park / Ghandruk / Poonhill /