Annapurna Family Adventure in Comfort

You will be met by a representative of World Expeditions and transferred to the Radisson hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. A pre-trek briefing will be given around 4.30-5pm where arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fibrefill jacket. This evening we will head out for dinner, this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members.

Overnight: Radisson Hotel

Today you have a full day to explore Kathmandu’s bustling streets and significant landmarks. You may wish to start by exploring the city’s two most important World Heritage Listed spiritual sites: Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple and an important cremation site; and Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal and the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet. Alternatively you could wander through the markets and shops of the busy Thamel precinct or explore some more of the city’s significant sites such as Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) or the World Heritage Listed plazas of Patan, Bhaktapur or Durbar Square.

After breakfast we transfer to Kathmandu’s domestic terminal to take our flight to Pokara, the main gateway for trekkers into the Annapurna region. This is one of the most scenic flights in the Himalaya, as we trace the backbone of the monstrous Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. The flight path heads west up and over the rim of the Kathmandu Valley along the Trisuli River to Pokhara, Nepal's second largest town.

Overnight: hotel

We drive for an hour to pass between two river valleys at the village of Khare, and commence our trek to Dhampus. The trail ascends for the first hour, following a ridge through fields of bamboo clusters to magnificent rhododendron forest. Villagers greet us with “Namaste”, the traditional Nepalese greeting, as we pass their homes and continue to the ridge top where at the crest the scale of the mountains astounds us, with Machapuchare (6993m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Annapurna South (7219m) in our immediate viewpoint Overnight eco lodge.

This is an interesting day as the trail gently glides through forest, and in and out of small gullies, all the time bringing us closer to the mountains. In the rhododendron forests the lush canopy affords protection for the smaller delicate flora, such as primula and daphne. It also provides a haven for birdlife and we can hear their varied calls as we move through. The trail soon opens onto fields as we approach the village of Landruk with its excellent views of Annapurna South at the head of the valley. Overnight private eco campsite.

Our destination today is easily seen across the valley; the attractive Gurung village of Ghandruk. Unfortunately we must descend to the valley floor to reach it! Slowly descending through rice terraces, we cross the steel cable suspension bridge that spans the glacial river of the Modi Khola and commence our ascent. As we trek up the many staircases, we enjoy the beauty of the Himalaya at a relatively close range and observe the glaciers flowing from them and feeding the rivers below. It is a magnificent location and a photographer's delight. Our leisurely approach along these ridges with their fine mountain views ensures proper acclimatisation and the un-hurried opportunity to fully savour this magnificent scenery. Ghandruk is the centre for the Annapurna Conservation Area and after lunch we will visit the headquarters. Overnight private eco campsite.

After breakfast we are ready to head to our exit point at Kimchi. The trail is mostly downhill and if the weather is clear we enjoy our last views of Annapurna South, Himchuli and Machhapuchare. Once we reach Kimchi, we will commence the drive back to Pokhara where we will enjoy lunch on our arrival. The afternoon is free in Pokhara.

Overnight: hotel

This morning we transfer to Chitwan by road. On arrival we are briefed on the planned activities during our stay. Late afternoon and early morning are the best times to sight wildlife, so other times tend to be for less energetic activities. We will have lunch at our lodge and commence our activity program. Our accommodation is at the Chitwan Adventure Lodge outside the park, generally in 2-bed huts with a private bathroom. Solar heated hot water is available in the afternoons.

A full day's activities are available including jungle walks, canoe rides, bird-watching and jeep safari, as well as lectures on other fauna. Our concession area is the territory of many species of wildlife including 3 tigers, 5 leopards, 7 rhino, and many deer, boar, bear, peacocks, an extraordinary number of bird species and is occasionally visited by wild elephants.

We complete our last activity, and we make the journey out of the jungle and back to the Kathmandu by vehicle, arriving late afternoon.

There are a million things to see in Kathmandu and we recommend you spend this day wandering the town and exploring the valley on bicycle or by taxi. Our staff can arrange a guide and/or transport should you wish, or you can head off armed with a map and let the day unfold.

After breakfast the trip will conclude unless further arrangements have been made. Transfer to the airport for your homeward journey.