Ghandruk Trekking - 6 Days | Nepal Guide

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

Ghandruk Village, located at the North West side of Pokhara, is home to local Gurung community people. This village is rich in culture and the views seen from this village attracts anyone to its doorsteps. Considered to be the gateway to the Annapurna Base Camp trek, this place is visited by most travelers following the trail of Ghorepani Poonhill, Khopra Danda, or Annapurna Base Camp year round.

02 / WHY GO

The memorable moments

Highlights

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu! — Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel. Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley. In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.Overnight: Kathmandu Day Day 2: Explore Kathmandu — Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares. After breakfast, there are then a number of ways you can spend your day given the numerous famous sights around the Kathmandu Valley. You can use this as a free day or we can provide a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private jeep to take you around). Overnight: Kathmandu Day Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Pothana (6,102 feet / 1,860 m) — Today is the first day of your trek! After an early breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport to catch your flight to Pokhara. This is a city located west of Kathmandu. Your specialist can help you try to get a seat on the right-hand side of the plane for views of the Himalayas en-route. Upon arrival, a jeep will be waiting to drive you to Phedi where the trek begins towards Pothana. The trail ascends through forests of rhododendron, magnolia, oak, sandalwood, and pine until you reach the village called Dhampus. This is an authentic Gurung village, which gives you an opportunity to look at the magnificent views of the Annapurna ranges, as well as notable peaks like Lamjung Himal. From Dhampus, the trail continues to ascend along a stone-paved path through more forests and mossy trees (keep an eye out for orchids). Once you get to the small village of Pothana, you’ll find a range of trekker facilities including shops, teahouses, and eateries. Relax and enjoy the magnificent mountain views. Trekking time: 4-5 hours (3.5 miles / 5.6 km)Overnight: PothanaMeals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day Day 4: Trek from Pothana to Ghandruk (6,365 feet / 1,940 m) — Set out for the larger Gurung village of Ghandruk after having breakfast in Pothana. The early part of the trek is a gradual ascent for almost an hour until you get to Deurali, which passes through lush forests with splendid views of the Annapurna ranges, Manaslu, and Mardi Himal. Leaving Deurali, you'll begin a steep trek downwards to reach Tolkha, a beautiful ethnic Gurung village. To reach the next destination, Landruk, another ethnic village, the trail is a more gradual descent passing through terraces and few settlements. From here, continue a steeper descent that moves downwards to the Modi Kholariver. You'll cross an iron bridge leading you to a steep uphill that finally reaches Ghandruk with spectacular panoramas of the Himalayas. You'll stay overnight in this trekker hub with its many lodges, eateries, and shops to stock up on sundry items. Take some time to visit the Gurung museum, a tiny exhibit in an old traditional house made of stone slabs where you can learn about the history and the local way of life. Trekking time: 5-6 hours (5.5 miles / 8.9 km)Overnight: GhandrukMeals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day Day 5: Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul, Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu — Start today with an early morning breakfast in Ghandruk and then trek past small villages and picturesque rice fields to reach Nayapul. Once you arrive, you'll meet your private jeep transfer waiting to take you back to Pokhara where you'll catch a flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. You can shop for souvenirs or explore the capital's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. As for eats, here are some ideas for how to spend your last dinner in Nepal, including French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern options. Driving time: 1.5 hoursTrekking time: 4-5 hours (5.3 miles / 8.6 km)Overnight: KathmanduMeals included: Breakfast, Lunch Day Day 6: Depart Kathmandu — It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.Meals included: Breakfast

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Welcome to Kathmandu! — Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.+