On arrival at Kathmandu Airport received by our guide and staff with transportation to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu at Thamel, an exciting place in Kathmandu, after checking in your rooms join with the group for Khair Lake Around Annapurna Trekking briefing provided by our guides or leaders.
Evening includes group welcome dinner in a pleasant authentic Nepalese Restaurant with culture programs with your dinner.
Morning starts with drive on tourist coach or smaller vehicle as group size for overland journey that takes you away from Kathmandu valley, heading into low warmer areas with views of snowcapped mountains. As drive continues on busy main highway past farm villages and town then heading Nepal Mid-West to reach at scenic Pokhara city.
At Pokhara transfer to nice hotels by the serene lake Phewa with views of Annapurna and Manaslu mountain range with towering peaks of Machhapuchare ‘Fish Tail’.
(Options by air 30 minutes of scenic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara).
From Tirkhedhunga with steep uphill on stone paved steps to reach at Ulleri village, and then on gradual winding trail to reach at Ghorepani as walk leads into lovely alpine woodland of rhododendron and pine trees.
After a great pleasant walk within cool shade of woodland reaching at Ghorepani village, where next early morning hike takes you at Poon Hill, Ghorepani home of Poon people of Magar origin tribe, an ethnic hill tribes of Nepal famous as Gorkha soldiers in UK-India and other foreign countries. This village with many good lodges offers marvelous views of Dhaulagiri-Tukuche-Nilgiri’s and Annapurna Himalayan mountains.
Early morning before breakfast, hike up for an hour on top scenic Poon Hill at above 3,210 m our highest spot of this wonderful trekking.
From Poon Hill catch striking sunrise views of panorama of mountains which includes Dhaulagiri-Tukuche-Nilgiri’s-Annapurna Fang (Vara Shikar) Annapurna range of peaks with majestic Machhapuchare Himal 'Fish Tail' the unclimbed and virgin peaks of Himalaya.
View includes Mt. Manaslu with Lamjung extending towards Ganesh Himal due east horizon, after a marvelous photo session head back to Ghorepani for breakfast and carry on trekking uphill into beautiful woods of rhododendron trees with views of mountains.
After Poon Hill and Ghorepani walks descend within forested areas to reach at Chitre village facing grand views of Dhaulagiri Himalaya.
With short break and possible lunch stop at Chitre downhill to a stream and then a short climb to reach at Sauta farm village for overnight stop.
Starting with a slow gradual morning walk on off beaten trail passing farm fields and scattered villages, trekking north leading through enchanting serene rhododendron and bamboo forest, then a slow climb into woodlands following the route to Khair ridge, walk leads by a small stream then with an uphill through meadow and summer pastures to Chistebung for overnight stop, a small place with few small huts serving as tea-houses.
Today’s walk for few hours to our final destination at Khair also called Kopra ridge, from this place gaining more altitude leaving behind the tree lines only for alpine bushes and shrubs, around this place chances of seeing some wildlife like Himalayan Thar, the Danphe Pheasant (National Bird of Nepal). Morning after few hours of scenic walk finally reaching at overnight stop at Khair or Kopra ridge, a scenic picturesque spot with awesome scenery of surrounding green landscapes along with stunning views of Mt. Dhaulagiri massive range and Vara Shikar (Annapurna Fang), Annapurna South which towers directly from this wonderful spot.
A grand wonderful spot for a rest or free day, being here will be an awesome experience for sporty and energetic optional hike to holy lake at Khair Lake located 4,247 m. which is long and strenuous walk, but worth the views, the site of religious festival occasion held annually around the month of August and September. Villagers from the surrounding area assemble here to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and bathe in the icy waters, sacrifices of sheep and goats as offering.
After a great time around Khair Lake and Khopra ridge, morning walk leads to a long descend towards east through grazing lands in the middle of rhododendron forest, from Khair a long downhill walk reaching back to tree lines and towards our overnights stop at Dobato a summer pasture a grazing land for the local Sheppard’s with striking views of Annapurna South and Mt. Machhapuchare.
From Dobato on downhill to Tadapani, a small place with number of lodges for trekkers to stay, here stopping for refreshing break with views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare peaks, a pleasant walks on gradual path leads you to dense cool forest and then descend towards farm areas and well tended terrace fields above Ghandruk village with fabulous views of Annapurna Himalaya range.
After a refreshing stops with views downhill to main large village at Ghandruk for lunch and overnight stop. Ghandruk an interesting large Gurung village with many good lodges facing views of peaks and beautiful landscapes, here time to explore around this impressive village of Gurung the hill tribes of Annapurna Himalaya where men folks are famous as Gurkha soldiers in foreign infantry with British and Indian armies.
The Gurung people are farmers and cattle herder of age-old profession interwoven with Buddhism religion and as well practices their ancestral rites of Bon sect (pre Buddhism) worshipping nature and mountains as holy spirits.
Our last day of walk from Ghandruk leads you back at scenic Pokhara, as morning walk leads to a long descend past Kimche farm village to reach at the base of a hill around warmer low farm areas.
A pleasant walk on long downhill, from here following raging Modi River past nice Bhirethati village to reach on the road-head at Nayapul for exciting few hour drive to Pokhara by its serene Phewa lake.
Morning taking an exciting overland journey back to Kathmandu on route witness Nepalese country farm life as drive leads past farm villages and towns and then reaching at Kathmandu around afternoon, time for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
Today, last day in amazing Nepal with great experience and fond memories of excellent adventure on Khair lake around Annapurna trekking, as per your time for International flight, our guide and staff transfer you to airport for your final departure homeward bound or to your next destinations.
