Annapurna Conservation Area

 Program Itinerary:

 Day 01. Kathmandu Arrival
Arrive at international airport in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Refresh and relax in the rest day. Stroll around city market in the evening. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02. Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour
Breakfast in the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley including Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square & The Monkey Temple. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03. Kathmandu – Pokhara
                        Morning proceed to Pokhara with scenic drive. It takes approx. 5 to 6 hours to reach at Pokhara then we transfer to Hotel and refresh. Stroll around lakeside and city in late afternoon.
Overnight at lodge.

Day 04. Pokhara – Chandrakot (1580 m)
Early morning drive to Sarangkot for superb views of the Annapurna range and is the famous station for sunrise views. We take the breakfast near restaurant in Sarangkot then we start our trekking climbing out of the valley to reach the village Naudanda (1457 m), a top ridge for fine views to Phewa Lake, Machhapuchhare (The Fishtail Mountain) and the Annapurna range. It is possible to observe many birds of prey, particularly eagles and vultures, if lucky we can see allof Nepal’s eight species of vulture from this ridge and at the time of year migrating eagles and falcons may appear amongst them. We follow the trails for some hours through suntropical forest looking amongst the smaller birds – warblers, tits and babblers for the beautiful Green Magpie and White-crested Laughing-thrushes. Near Lumle we pass an experimental farm where Gurkha soldiers returning from service in the British army are given training in new farming methods. Still further along the ridge we come to Chandrakot where we stay overnight in the lodge.

Day 05. Trek, Chandrakot – Tikhedhunga (1540 m)
The trail following terraced farmland, scrub and alder groves, allow us ample opportunity to further acquaint ourselves with the common hill birds and with some of Nepal’s colorful butterflies, before descending steeply to meet the Modi Khola (river), which it crosses on a suspension bridge to Birenthanti. Continue climbing through alder and mimosa forest to Tikhedhunga following the Bhurugundi Khola we come across Nepal’s river birds for the first time: Brown Dippers, Plumbeous Water Redstarts and White-capped River Chats and if we are lucky Slaty-backed Forktails and the elusive large Pied (or crested) Kingfisher.

Day 06 - 07. Trek, Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani (3194 m)
Begin our trek with a steep climb to Ulleri (2080 m), the hardest climb of the trek. Then the trail ascends more gently through lofty rhododendron forest to Ghorepani. It is the marvelous forest that is one of the highlighted points of our trek, for it is full of many species of rosefinch, laughing-thrush, accentor, tit, treecreeper, woodpecker, sunbird, babbler and warbler. Here we find our first Red-flanked Bluetail and may encounter interesting animals like Muntjac, Common Langur (Hanuman) Orange-bellied squirrels, Yellow-throated Martens and even Red Pandas have all been seen here.
We will rest a day in this spectacular area to explore more. In the morning of second day we will make excursion trip to Poonhill for sunrise and the magnificent outstanding views of snow clad peaks of the Annapurna Himal.

Day 08. Trek, Ghorepani – Banthanti (2520 m)
From Ghorepani we head east towards Banthanti with short walk and spectacular through thickly forested with fir, spruce, oak and rhododendron and sits immediately beneath the snowy form of Annapurna South. This is a good opportunity to look for the birds and mammals of Nepal’s high forests and a chance to search for some new and unusual species such as Satyr Tragopan, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Black-headed Shrike-babbler, Juniper Finch and White-browed Rosefinch.

Day 09 - 10. Trek, Banthanti – Ghandrung (1950 m)
We take time on the first morning to continue our “off-trail” search of the forest and to capitalize on the splendid mountain views all around us. Walking on through yet more uninhabited forest, we at last reach the large village of Ghandrung where we stay for the next two nights. This is a Gurung village of closely built slate-roofed houses surrounded by terraced fields again with excellent views of Annapurna South.

Day 11. Trek, Ghandrung – Tolkha (1850 m)
We descend a steep stone staircase to cross the Modi Khola by a wooden bridge and climb again to Landrung; another large Gurung village at 1640 m. The trek further lead up with a few ups and downs passing through terraced fields and light Alder forest and reach at a small village called Tolkha. Some of the species likely to be seen along this route are: Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, Black and Bonelli’s Eagles, Red-billed Blue and Green Magpies, Cinnamon Sparrow, Jungle Nightjar, Pacific Swift, Blue-capped Rock-Thrush, Tickell’s Thrush, Ferruginous, Asian Sooty and Little Pied Flycatchers etc.

Day 12. Trek, Tolkha – Dhampus (1770 m)  
Finally we approach our last day of trekking passing over the old trail joining Tolkha & Dhampus. This less traveled path gives us undisturbed chances to look for birds and other wildlife. The damp temperate broadleaf forest contains many forest species, from the shy wren-babblers and tesia to the magnificent sunbirds, minivets and laughing-thrushes. It is also our final chance to see the rare Black-faced Warbler. We stay overnight in the village of Dhampus.

Day 13. Trek, Dhampus – Phedi and drive to Pokhara
We descend short distance, beneath eagles &vultures, to Phedi on the Yamdi Khola early in the morning, where our private transport is waiting to pick up and drop you in the Hotel at Pokhara.

Day 14. Pokhara – Kathmandu
Drive or fly back to Kathmandu after breakfast in Hotel. Rest day in leisure for your own activities like relaxation, shopping, wondering. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 15. Departure
Free until your departure time to the airport for your onward destination.