DAY 1: KATHMANDU (4265 ft / 1300 meters):
Upon arrival you will be met and assisted by a Ker & Downey representative and transferred to the Gokarna Forest Resort. This Resort features an ayurvedic health spa and an 18-hole golf course. The resort is just a 15 minute drive from Boudhanath and 25 minutes from the airport yet feels a world apart from the crowded city. It is located on a hill top which was once the private hunting grounds of the Royal Family. There will be a briefing on our program. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk through the surrounding forest and visit hidden temple.
O/N Gokarna Forest Resort
DAY 2: TREK TO SANCTUARY LODGE: (3750ft/1150m)
After an optional early morning flight to Mount Everest, we
fly to Pokhara (3300 ft /1000 m). We’ll have a briefing
at the Ker & Downey head office before we transfer by
road with guides & porters to our trek start point {1-hour}.
Our walk will follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of
the Annapurnas with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley.
This route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where Ker
& Downey's Sanctuary Lodge is located. The lodge has magnificent
views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhre,
as it is locally known. A picnic lunch is provided with a
late afternoon arrival at the Lodge. (Trek time 3-4 hours).
Overnight Sanctuary Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 3: TREK TO HIMALAYA LODGE, GHANDRUK. (6,600ft/2,012m).
After breakfast, we leave the lodge walking out through the
outlying farms following the Modi River Valley. Soon we begin
to climb out of the valley & up towards the mountains.
The trail passes through small hamlets, terraced rice fields
and forests with spectacular views of the surrounding valley.
Snacks are provided along the trail. Hot lunch is served on
arrival at the lodge in the early afternoon. (Trek time 5-6
hours). It is from this lodge that there are magnificent close
up views of the surrounding mountains.
Overnight Himalaya Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 4: HIMALAYA LODGE:
We wake up this morning with tea and coffee served in the
garden and watch the sunrise over Annapurna South, Annapurna
1, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and the Fishtail. After enjoying
a relaxing breakfast and the glorious views from the Himalaya
Lodge, our guide will take us on an exploration of this mountain
village and the surrounding countryside. Ghandruk was once
a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha soldiers.
The women of Ghandruk maintain a local industry of weaving
traditional Nepalese rugs.
Overnight Himalaya Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 5: TREK TO SANCTUARY LODGE, BIREHTANTI: (3750ft/1150m)
After breakfast, we leave the Himalaya Lodge walking out through
the village of Ghandruk. Buffaloes and goats graze in the
surrounding fields and you may have to make way for the donkey
and mule trains that convey goods to and from the Gurkha settlements.
You may also meet some of the trekkers coming down from or
heading up to the Sanctuary itself. We continue descending
for about 2 or 3 hours until we reach Shauli Bazaar. From
here, we follow along the Modi River until reaching the Sanctuary
Lodge. We’ll have lunch at the lodge followed by another
opportunity to walk to the village of Birethanti. Or you may
choose to spend the afternoon relaxing by the river bank.
(Trek time 4 hrs).
Overnight Sanctuary Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 6: TREK TO GURUNG LODGE, MAJGAUN: (4620ft/1,400m)
Following a leisurely breakfast, we leave the Sanctuary lodge
& trek to Ker & Downey's Gurung Lodge. The lodge is
built along the lines of a traditional Nepalese village. Every
room has spectacular views of the surrounding valley and mountains.
Trek time to the Lodge is just 2 hours. After lunch at the
lodge, you will be escorted to the local village of Tanchok.
There will be a talk at a local house, now made into a museum.
The contents of the house illustrate how the local people
live, together with the tools and implements of day to day
traditional village life. There will also be a visit to the
school and should there be more than 6 guests, the school
children will visit the lodge and perform a number of local
dances and songs typical of the region.
Overnight Gurung Lodge (B, L, D)
DAY 7: TREK TO BASANTA LODGE, DHAMPUS (5000 ft / 1525 m).
This morning we start out trekking through the unspoiled village
of Patlekhet. Our walk takes us through sub-tropical forests
that include tree orchids, rhododendrons and magnolias. Along
the way, we will stop at the village of Pothana where many
Tibetan traders live and sell their souvenirs. After about
3 1⁄2 hours, we arrive at the Basanta Lodge. From the
lodge, there are sweeping views of the entire Annapurna Range.
After lunch at the lodge there will be an optional walk through
the old village of Dhampus. Overnight Basanta Lodge (B, L,
D)
DAY 8: TREK TO POKHARA (3300 ft /1000 m)
After breakfast, we depart along the ridge & descend through
the wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor.
Trek time 1 1⁄2 hours. We then transfer by vehicle to
the Shangri-La Village Resort in Pokhara (30 minutes). On
the way back to Pokhara, the vehicle can stop on request at
the Tibetan refugee camp where you will have time to explore
the temple complex. We’ll arrive at the Shangri-La Village
in time for lunch. The rooms at the Shangri-La are filled
with ethnic touches. Surrounding the rooms are spacious, landscaped
gardens, water features, a swimming pool and stunning views
of the surrounding mountains. The rest of the afternoon is
free to explore the lakeside where most of Nepal’s Tibetan
curio shops are located.
Overnight Shangri-La Village Resort (B, L, D)
DAY 9: This morning we fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we’ll visit Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist Stupa in Nepal and a great place for last minute shopping. From here, we transfer to the hotel with the rest of the day free. Overnight Gokarna Forest Resort (B)
Day 10: Transfer to international airport for your departure
(B)
Beinhaltet ist
Two nights' accommodation at the Hyatt Hotel:
Deluxe rooms
Daily Breakfast
Welcome dinner
One nights' accommodation at Shangri-La Village
Resort, Pokhara:
Deluxe rooms
Full Board
Six nights' accommodation in Ker & Downey's
Lodges. Featuring:
Solar heated showers, flush toilets and electricity
All meals, snacks, drinking water, tea and
coffee while on trek
All laundry while on trek
Evening Happy Hour including soft drinks and
local alcoholic
Services of qualified Ker & Downey guides
and porters
The loan of Ker & Downey Trek Pack, which
includes duffel bags, daypacks, hat and scarf
(these items you may keep) walking stick, poncho
Down jackets, warm hats and gloves are provided
in the lodges
A comprehensive group First Aid Kit, carried
by your guide
Sightseeing in Kathmandu:
Boudhanath and Pashupatinath
All internal air and land transfers in Nepal
All permits
Use of trained guides throughout your trip
Sacred Mountain Trek excludes:
International air, departure taxes,
insurance, gratuities, Mount Everest Flight, beverages
with meals