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Essential Nepal
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: HNYU
Overview
Destination:
Nepal,
Start:Kathmandu, Nepal
Finish:Kathmandu, Nepal
Finish:Kathmandu, Nepal
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 16)
Travel Period
March 2025 - December 2026
This nine-day trip will tick all your boxes – thrilling outdoor adventures, an insight into bustling city life and an introduction to the slower pace of the Nepali countryside. Start and end your trip in Kathmandu's bustling metropolis, explore Durbar Square and wander the vibrant streets. Then, pull on your adventure boots and hit the road outta town for a rafting experience in Pokhara, camp on the riverside and enjoy dinner beneath the stars by the Trisuli River and trek the Annapurna region. Enjoy the chance to stay with local families along the way, including in a remote village in Hemjakot where you’ll tuck into a home-cooked dinner.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. An excellent level of fitness is required for this trip as there are long trekking days in difficult terrain. Altitude does not exceed 1950m.
2. Please ensure you bring a passport size photo for our Annapurna trek permit application.
3. A sleeping bag is required for this trip. Please bring your own or hire in Kathmandu for a few dollars a day.
4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement will only be included on Days 1,3, 7 & 8 (Hotel) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
5. If you need assistance booking optional activities pre or post trip, please contact our local operator on +977 980 112 3645.
6. Please be aware that in the event of an emergency evacuation, Intrepid does not have control over which helicopter service may be used. Some helicopters are not in regular use with Intrepid and have not passed our internal safety auditing.
2. Please ensure you bring a passport size photo for our Annapurna trek permit application.
3. A sleeping bag is required for this trip. Please bring your own or hire in Kathmandu for a few dollars a day.
4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement will only be included on Days 1,3, 7 & 8 (Hotel) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
5. If you need assistance booking optional activities pre or post trip, please contact our local operator on +977 980 112 3645.
6. Please be aware that in the event of an emergency evacuation, Intrepid does not have control over which helicopter service may be used. Some helicopters are not in regular use with Intrepid and have not passed our internal safety auditing.
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Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner.
- Transport: Auto-rickshaw, Local bus, Whitewater raft, Private vehicle.
- Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Tea House (2 nights), Permanent Tented Camp (with basic facilities) (1 night), Homestay (1 night).
- Trisuli River - White Water Rafting (Grade 3).
- Trisuli River – Riverside Camping.
- Trisuli River - White Water Rafting (Grade 3).
- Annapurna Region – 3 Night / 4 Days Trekking.
- Hemjakot - Community Homestay.
- Pokhara - Orientation Walk.
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1: Kathmandu
Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 2 pm this afternoon in Kathmandu, where you'll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in this vibrant city. Kathmandu’s most important Buddhist shrine, Swayambhunath Stupa and the nearby ‘City of Devotees’ Bhaktapur are well worth a visit. If you want to delve deeper into ancient architecture and rich cultural heritage, there are some Urban Adventures day tours that can help you out (just see www.urbanadventures.com). After the meeting, Maybe have dinner with your group to get to know each other or hit up one of the nearby bars. Your leader will have a tonne of recommendations for a great place for a cocktail (or two).
Day 2: Trisuli River
Take a morning drive over the rim of the Kathmandu Valley and soak up the views of the Ganesh and Lantang ranges. Then hit the waters for some whitewater rafting on the Trisuli River – this is the most popular river for rafting in all of Nepal. Soak up the thrill of the rapids, aptly named Ladies Delight, Rock Garden and Snell's Nose, among the beauty of the nearby gorges. Explore the magnificent scenery from the rapids, and then tonight, camp on the beach and enjoy a local meal under the stars.
Day 3: Trisuli River - Pokhara
This morning is for some more fun on the river, including negotiating the Monsoon and Upset rapids. In Kurintar, refuel your energy with a light lunch with your group and then drive to Pokhara. When you arrive, take an afternoon walk around the city with your leader, who will point out some sights and sounds in the area, including Phewa Lake. This evening is free for you to chill out at one of the many lakeside restaurants or bars. Maybe get yourself a plate of momos (dumplings) or a nourishing bowl of dal bhat (thick lentil or bean soup) for dinner tonight.
Day 4: Ghandruk (1950m / 6397ft)
Today, you’ll make the drive from Pokhara to Shyauli Bazaar – this is where the trekking adventure begins. Your hike is mostly uphill today on some pretty diverse terrain. There’s a dirt track leading to Birethanti and Shyauli villages, then you’ll reach a stone staircase up to Kimche, where you’ll stop for lunch. There are views of snowcapped mountains and expansive fields below, so make sure you’ve got your camera. From here, you’ll follow the stone flags that lead you through fields of wheat to Ghandruk. Tonight, you'll stay in your first Nepalese teahouse.
Day 5: Tolkha (1700m / 5577ft)
Look east this morning to Landruk, the next village on your route. Look down to the Modi Kola River 600 m below. Your breakfast this morning will be a refreshing start, with a mountain view so you can take it all in. When you’ve refuelled, start the trek towards Tolkha – where you’ll be staying for the night. Along the way, take in the diverse scenery of the river below, the mountain above and the wild landscape on every side. The Annapurna range makes for a pretty great photo subject (and she’s not shy, either).
Day 6: Hemjakot (1530m / 5019ft)
This morning after some breakfast, you’ll continue your trek from Tolkha to Hemjakot – the best spot to connect with some locals. As you start today’s walk, you’ll notice you’re surrounded by pink and purple rhododendrons. Do you know what you won’t see much of? Other people – this trail from Dhampus to Hemjakot is pretty remote, giving you the chance to really switch off and enjoy the scenery. Tonight, you’ll stay with a local family. The homes in Hemjakot reflect the traditional style of this part of the Himalayas and are made from natural stones from this region. This displays a domestic style of architecture that has largely been overshadowed in Nepal's big cities. When you arrive, you’ll experience the rural way of life in the mountains, gaining insight into the local culture of the Gurung population, who migrated here from Tibet.
Day 7: Pokhara
Say goodbye to your new friends in Hemjakot and head out again – this morning’s trek is a short descent to Phedi. When you arrive, transfer to Pokhara, arriving in time for lunch. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to do all the things you didn’t do the first time around in Pokhara – a popular choice is taking a rowboat (doonga) out on Phewa Lake. If there are blue skies today, you’ll have mountain views wherever you look. After, maybe check out the Tal Barahi Temple and the Shree Bindhyabasini Temple, which are both free to explore.
Day 8: Kathmandu
It’s a long bus ride back to Kathmandu (so bring some snacks, road trip games and a good book). When you arrive, maybe grab a banana lassi to soak away the bus ride. Tonight, you’re free to explore Kathmandu’s nightlife further (what better way to celebrate a good trek).
Day 9: Kathmandu
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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