Annapurna Base Camp Trek & Bhutan Tour - 20 Days

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by one of the Himalayan Trekkers’ representatives with your nameplate. Then, you will be escorted to your assigned hotel which is usually located in the city center. Once you have checked in at your hotel, you could take a rest and be fresh before you head out for a brief walk around the streets of Thamel.  

Following breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our full-day Kathmandu sightseeing by visiting Bouddhanath Stupa which is one of the largest stupas in the world. This iconic structure holds great religious and cultural significance for both Buddhists and visitors alike. This stupa stands as a symbol of peace, harmony, and enlightenment and serves as a focal point for pilgrims. You could find monasteries, unique shops, and rooftop cafes around the stupa that create a vibrant atmosphere. 

Our second stop would be the famous Hindu site, Pashupatinath Temple which is just 15 minutes drive from Bouddhanath Stupa. Pashupatinath Temple serves as the seat of Lord Shiva. The temple is also one of the four major Hindu Pilgrimage Sites in the world where thousands of devotees visit every single day to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. Other than the religious side, you could also see the craftsmanship of Nepal looking at the pagoda-styled temples and structures. The cremation ghats where open-air cremations of the Hindu followers are done and the evening aarti ceremony might be very interesting to you. 

From Pashupatinath, we will head towards today’s last spot for sightseeing which is Patan Durbar Square. This former royal palace turned into a museum offers you historical significance, architectural splendor, and cultural richness. Out of three Durbar squares in Kathmandu Valley, Patan Durbar Square is especially known for its stunning architectural marvels. The craftsmanship of the Newar artisans can be seen in the complex’s surrounding monuments and structures. They are renowned for their carved wooden struts, pagoda-style roofs, and ornate metalwork.

After we complete our sightseeing in Patan Durbar Square, we will return to the hotel.  

Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek journey begins with a drive to Pokhara which is the gateway to the Annapurna region. The drive goes along the Prithivi Highway and Trishuli River most of the time. And once we reach a place called Mugling, we will drive alongside the Marshyangdi River for a bit. If the weather is clear, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu, and Annapurna can be seen as soon as we start going down from Kathmandu. 

After we reach Pokhara, we will check in at the hotel and rest for a bit. Then we will go to Phewa Lake for boating. We will also visit Taal Barahi Temple which lies in the middle of the lake. After spending some time at the temple enjoying the surrounding views and the aarti ceremony, we will boat back to the lakeside. Afterward, you could take a walk at the lakeside or head back to the hotel. 

After breakfast, we will leave Pokhara and drive towards Nayapul from where we will start our Annapurna Base Camp Trek.  Once we reach Nayapul, we will start our trek following the trail along the Modi Khola River. Our trek passes through small villages such as Birethanti and terraced filed before reaching Tikhedhunga. From Tikhedhunga, our trek further carries on to the uphill stone stairs and goes through Sudame and Hile villages. Once we reach Ulleri, we check in and rest. 

We begin the day with a hot cup of tea and a slowly rising sun. Then after breakfast, we begin our today’s trek to Ghorepani. Most of today’s trek will go through the dense and beautiful rhododendron and oak forest. The view of Annapurna, Machhapuchre, and Hiunchuli from the way is wonderful. 

After a day-long trek through nature, we will reach the beautiful village of Ghorepani from where you can savor the mountain views. You will see Annapurna South, Dhampus Himal, Nilgiri, Tukuche, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and a few of the Dhaulagiri ranges. 

Today’s sunrise tour will wake us up before dawn and let us climb to Poonhill which is a famous hill in Nepal for observing the mesmerizing sunrise over the White Mountains. We will also be blessed with amazing views of many mountains including a few of the highest mountains in the world such as Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri. Other Himalayas are Dhamphus, Nilgiri, Dhampus, Gangapurna and others. 

After we enjoy the peaceful time at Poonhill, we will descend back to Ghorepani and have breakfast. Then our real Annapurna Base Camp Trek begins with a trek to Tadapani through the lush forests. The trail offers the scenic beauty of the landscapes and the mountains. Once we reach Tadapani, we will be once again blessed with the views of the Himalayas. 

Following our breakfast in Tadapani, we will begin our trek to Chhomrong today. Our route passes through the terraced farms and characteristic village homes in Chulie. The vibrant flowering blossoms of the rhododendron forests add color and interest to your walk during the spring season. Before arriving in Chomrong, we first cross the lovely Ghandruk Village and then descend steeply to the Kimrong River. 

We will have breathtaking views of Fishtail and Annapurna South from the route. Then we will slowly ascend to the Gurung village of Chhomrong, which offers stunning views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

The path for today begins with a stone stairway that descends for nearly an hour to the Chhomrong Khola on the steep stone stairs. Then we will cross a suspension bridge, after which we will spend an additional two hours ascending a second flight of stone stairs. We will arrive in the small town of Sinuwa after that, where we will stop for a while to take in the breathtaking scenery. Then we leisurely walk through a tranquil bamboo, oak, and rhododendron forest for about two hours, we will reach our today’s destination bamboo. 

After breakfast at the teahouse in bamboo, we will start our trekking through bamboo and rhododendron forests. We will pass by the settlements such as Dovan and Himalaya Hotel and reach the destination, Deurali which is located at the base of the Modi Khola Valley

We begin our hike after breakfast by trekking toward Machhapuchre Base Camp (MBC) located at an elevation of 3700 meters that offers picturesque views of Machhapuchre (Fishtail), Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and other peaks. 

After a short break at MBC, we will rise towards the North West along a narrow ridge that branches out from the mountain pass to the mountainside with numerous terraced fields displaying peaceful meadows. Once we arrive at Annapurna Base Camp, we will find some amazing stunning landscapes, and grand panoramic vistas of snow-capped summits like Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Singhachuli, Glaciers, and more peaks.

In the evening, we can hike a bit to witness the sunset as well as the well-known Annapurna Glacier and the Annapurna Range, including Hiunchuli and other peaks. 

Rise early to observe the nearly vertical south face of Annapurna I bathed in the sunrise. Then we will eat our breakfast while enjoying the unmatched beauty of the 360-degree Himalayan views from Annapurna Base Camp. Now that we have reached our destination successfully, it is time to return. We will descend following the same route we ascended. We will trek till Bamboo today. 

From Bamboo, we will descend through the bamboo and rhododendron forests. After a few hours, we will reach Jhinu Danda which is famous for its natural hot springs. You can relax and rejuvenate in the hot springs once we check in at the teahouse. 

Following our breakfast, we will leave Jhinu Danda village and start the downhill trek to Pothana village. We will walk through the lush woodlands of rhododendron, small traditional villages with wonderful landscape scenery, and terraced farms. We will reach Pothana, a beautiful small village where we can enjoy the small traditional villages and warm hospitality of locals. 

Today marks the end of our Annapurna Base Camp trek. After enjoying our breakfast, we will start our walk towards Phedi. We will pass by the famous Dhampus village on the way where we will make a short break to enjoy the views closely for one the last time. Then, upon we reach Phedi, the car which will be waiting for our arrival will transfer us to Pokhara. You could spend the remainder of the as per your interest. 

After breakfast, we will leave Pokhara and head back towards Kathmandu. The drive goes along the same route which we used to get to Pokhara. Once in Kathmandu, you can go shopping at the markets in the Thamel area, Ason, or Indrachowk. Back at your hotel room, you can prepare for the trip to Bhutan that starts the following day.

After breakfast, our representative will pick up you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for the flight to the Paro International Airport. 
Upon arrival in Paro, you will be greeted by our Bhutanese representative and escort you for the guided sightseeing of Paro city. The first destination we will head towards is the National Museum of Bhutan named Ta Dzong. The museum houses an amazing array of both old and modern Thangkas that is under 3000 items of artworks there portraying Bhutan's most important saints and gurus, as well as fascinating celebration masks.

Likely, after lunch, we take a short walk to the Rimpung Dzong often described as the fort with heaps of Jewel. It is a castle built in the 17th century to safeguard Paro Valley, is located in the suburbs of Paro City, and offers stunning views and a sense of inner serenity.

We will also visit Khichu Lhakhang, the oldest monument in Bhutan. Kyichu Lhakhang, surrounded by fields, flowers, and hills, houses the eight-year-old Sakyamuni Buddha statue, historic relics, exquisite murals, and various Buddhist scriptures, among other things.

If time permits, we will explore the Drugyal Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort) which was built around the mid-17th century in memory of the Bhutanese victory over the Tibetan invaders. In the evening, stroll around the streets of the markets and get familiar with the surrounding there. 

Early morning breakfast and we start our hike to Taktsang Monastery also known as Tiger's Nest Monastery. Famous for its significance and location, it was built in the 17th century where the Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava (the founder of Mahayana Buddhism in Bhutan) was believed to be flown on the back of the Tigress and meditated for years.

It clings to the 900 meters cliff, 3120 meters above sea level at the upper Paro Valley offering the best view of the Paro Valley itself and the history and significance of the monastery. We take our lunch in a cafeteria located halfway down the hill and head toward our hotel. 

After reaching Paro ground, we grab our luggage from the hotel, check out, and drive to the capital, Thimphu. You can explore the streets and markets in the evening.
NOTE: For the uphill hike to the Taktsang Monastery, you can hire a horse to carry you to the middle of the route at an additional cost. For the uphill hike to the Taktsan

Thimphu is recognized for its scenic Bhutan dzong, fresh air, and friendly locals, all of which are surrounded by undulating mountains. 

The Thimphu sightseeing begins with a visit to the Late King's Memorial Chorten with its gorgeous paintings and complex structure. Followed by, are visits to the National Library, the largest holding of Buddhist literature in the world. We will also discover the Folk Heritage Museum where a diverse collection of farm equipment, tools, and household items showcase the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle. 

A hand-made Paper Factory is also a subject of matter to visit in Thimphu where you can learn to make the papers by hand and color with a wide range of pigments. The School of Arts and Crafts is also the best place to learn more about traditional textile and handicraft making and Bhutan’s history. 

After we finish exploring Thimphu, we will head toward the former capital of Bhutan, Punakha City while traversing the picturesque Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters) and taking in the expansive Himalayan views. We will pay Chimi Lakhang, a well-known temple in the nation also known as the fertility temple, a quick visit on the way. 
Once we are in Punkha, we will tour the Punakha Dzong, a work of art and the most stunning dzong in all of Bhutan.

We will start our journey to Paro in the morning after breakfast. A couple of hours of the journey goes through the winding road with lush green forest and small settlements. We will arrive at Paro for Lunch. In the evening, you could spend time around the local market.

After breakfast, one of our representatives will transfer you to the Paro International Airport for your flight to your onward destination. You could either fly back to Kathmandu or to other places such as Delhi, Bagdogra & Kolkata in India, and Dhaka in Bangladesh. But it is important to look at the schedule before booking the flight because there are no regular flights, except from Paro to Kathmandu. So, once you fly to any of these cities, you could book a connecting flight to your onward destination.