It’s active but well-paced and achievable, with time to take it all in as you go.
Day 1 – Welcome to Nepal
When you arrive in Kathmandu, your driver will be waiting to take you to your small-scale, characterful hotel. Once you’ve had time to freshen up after your flight, your Nepal adventure can begin. Head out for a short stroll to get your first feel for the city and find somewhere to eat. We would recommend one of the many rooftop restaurants in Thamel, where you can try your first Nepalese thali.
Day 2 – Kathmandu city tour with local guide
Today you’ll explore Kathmandu with a local guide. Begin at Kathmandu Durbar Square, where medieval temples and palaces create a lively focal point of the old city. From here you’ll visit Swayambhunath, the valley’s oldest temple, known for its resident monkeys and sweeping views. Continue to Pashupatinath Temple, one of Nepal’s most sacred Hindu sites, before ending at the impressive Boudhanath Stupa, the spiritual heart of the Tibetan community in the city. Find a spot to sit and watch pilgrims and locals circle the stupa, and soak up the spiritual atmosphere.
Optional: Wellness experience
Step away from the buzz of Kathmandu and slow things down with our AVATA Wellness package. This well-balanced experience combines yoga, a relaxing massage and a sound bath healing session, rounded off with a nourishing three-course dinner. Ideal if you’re arriving after a long flight or looking for a calm end to your trip, it’s an easy way to reset and feel refreshed without committing to a full retreat.
If this sounds of interest, ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Day 3 – Trekking across the Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu – Namobuddha – Dhulikhel
Duration: approx. 1.5 hours drive and 3 hours trekking
Altitude 1,600m
After breakfast, you’ll leave the bustle of Kathmandu behind and drive to the sacred hilltop site of Namobuddha, which means ‘Worship to the Buddha’. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the valley, especially for Tibetan Buddhists. The bright white dome of the stupa is surrounded by rainbow prayer flags, set against the distant peaks of the snow-capped Himalayas.
Take some time to soak up the peaceful surroundings before setting off on your first hike. The trail winds gently through forest, terraced fields and small villages as you walk towards Dhulikhel. It’s an easy introduction to trekking in Nepal, with wide views across the hills. Dhulikel is a beautifully preserved Newari town made up of traditional stone houses reaching 4-5 storeys high. Traditionally, they’re home to large families with often as many as 50 relatives all living under one roof. You’ll stay in a small hotel on the outskirts of town with great views of the surrounding mountains. The views are particularly beautiful at sunrise.
Day 4 – Trekking across the Kathmandu Valley
Dhulikhel – Nagarkot
Duration: approx. 6 hours trekking
Altitude 2,195m
Today is your longest, and most challenging trekking day, but also one of the most rewarding. It’s a scenic hike along fertile terraces, passing through rural settlements. On clear days, the Himalayan peaks stretch out in front of you as you make your way towards Nagarkot, the highest point in the Kathmandu Valley. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at your hotel. Relax and be rewarded by panoramic views of the Himalayas as the sun sets.
Day 5 – Trekking across the Kathmandu Valley
Nagarkot – Changu Narayan – Bhaktapur
Duration: approx. 3 hours trekking and 1 hour drive
Altitude 1,400m
This morning, you’ll descend on foot towards Changu Narayan, home to one of Nepal’s oldest Hindu temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the temple complex and its surroundings, you’ll continue by car to the beautifully preserved medieval town of Bhaktapur.
Your afternoon is free to wander through Bhaktapur’s atmospheric squares and narrow alleyways. Throughout the town you’ll find medieval buildings with beautiful wood carvings and, as the town is largely pedestrianised, it feels like a huge open-air museum. You’ll sleep in a traditional-style hotel right in the historic heart of the city.
Day 6 – Travel from Bhaktapur to historic Patan
After a quiet night in Bhaktapur, you can enjoy a lazy breakfast on the rooftop terrace of your guesthouse. Looking out over the square, you’ll see the locals passing by with wooden carts, selling flowers and chatting on the temple steps. After breakfast, your driver will take you to historic Patan where you’ll spend the night in a cosy heritage hotel.
Patan is known for its many ancient squares, where rice is laid out to dry and children run around with rustling paper kites. Seemingly untouched by time, it’s like stepping into a medieval time-warp. Your afternoon is free to stroll around.
Day 7 – Travel from Patan to peaceful Pokhara
After breakfast, travel with your driver from Patan to Pokhara. As you approach, you’ll see the Annapurna Mountains appear on the horizon, including the most striking landmark, Machapucchre, and Fishtail Mountain. With its relaxed atmosphere, Himalayan views and lakeside setting, Pokhara is the perfect place to slow down and soak up Nepal’s scenery. You’ll stay in a comfortable hotel near the centre, within walking distance of Phewa Lake.
In the early evening, your driver will collect you from your hotel and take you up to Sarangkot viewpoint (1,600m), about a 30-minute drive above Pokhara. If you like, you can pause at Lake Phewa along the way. Sarangkot offers some of the best panoramic views in the region, and as the sun begins to set, the views open up to the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, with the distinctive peak of Machhapuchhre rising sharply between them.
Day 8 – Free time in Pokhara
Today is free for you to explore Pokhara at your own pace. Take a walk down the main street, lined with a colourful jumble of shops and stalls selling everything from prayer flags to trekking gear. Here, you can stock-up on items that you may need for your trek. You’ll find waterfalls, caves and Tibetan villages scattered across the nearby hills. Fancy more of a thrill? Try paragliding from the Sarangkot viewpoint, with glorious views over the Himalayan peaks and shimmering lake.
Day 9 – Start your Poon Hill trek
Trek difficulty: Easy to moderate
Duration: approx. 3 hours drive and 4 hours trekking
Altitude 2,050m
This six-day trek in the Annapurna foothills is a brilliant introduction to hiking in Nepal, combining big Himalayan views with village life and forest trails. Along the way, you’ll sleep in small teahouses, share the trails with locals going about daily life, and enjoy a mix of steady climbs and gentler ridge walks with wide valley views.
You’ll leave Pokhara behind and drive into the foothills, passing small villages, rivers and terraced farmland on the way to Hile. This is where you start your trek and, spoiler alert, it’s a bit of a leg day! Be prepared for a challenging yet rewarding ascent to Ulleri. The trail climbs steadily up a long staircase of stone steps through fields and scattered houses until you reach Ulleri, a Magar village high above the valley. It’s a tough but satisfying first walk, and the mountain air and views over the hills make it worth it. You’ll sleep in a simple teahouse tonight.
Day 10 – Trek to Ghorepani
Duration: approx. 6 hours trekking
Altitude 2,880m
You’ll continue climbing today. The trail leads you through cool rhododendron and oak forests, a peaceful stretch where you’ll hear birds and pass the occasional waterfall. Small villages appear along the way, with teahouses where you can rest with a cup of tea. It’s a steady uphill walk as you gain height towards Ghorepani, set on a ridge surrounded by forest. If the skies are clear, you may already catch your first big Himalayan views here.
Day 11 – Sunrise at Poon Hill & trek to Tadapani
Duration: approx. 2 hours Poon Hill hike, then 5 hours trekking
Altitude 2,525m
It’s an early start, but for good reason. Before dawn you’ll embark on the 1 hour hike up to Poon Hill. Sitting at an altitude of 3,210m, it offers one of the best viewpoints in the Annapurna region. As the sun rises, the peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri light up in shades of orange and gold. It’s a magical moment. After heading back down for a well-deserved breakfast, you continue trekking towards Tadapani. The trail is moderately challenging, rolling up and down through dense forest, with occasional clearings revealing mountain views. It’s a full but rewarding walking day.
Day 12 – Trek to Ghandruk
Duration: approx. 3 hours trekking
Altitude 2,010m
Today you descend towards Ghandruk, one of the prettiest villages in the region. The path winds through forest and farmland, with regular views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare on clear days. Ghandruk is a traditional Gurung village with stone houses and narrow lanes, and you’ll have time to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. It’s a shorter walking day, giving your legs a bit of a break.
Day 13 – Trek to Dhampus
Duration: approx. 6 hours trekking
Altitude 1,650m
After breakfast, leave Ghandruk and follow trails through terraced fields, forest and small rural settlements. This is a great day to see everyday life in the hills, as farmers work the land and children walk to school along the same paths you’re using. There are some gentle climbs along the way, but nothing too extreme. Your destination is the traditional village of Dhampus, that sits on a ridge with wide views across the valley and, if the weather’s kind, the Annapurna range once more.
Day 14 – Trek to Phedi & drive to Pokhara
Duration: approx. 2 hours trekking & 1 hour drive
Altitude 1,760m
The final morning of your trek starts with a downhill walk through forest and farmland towards Phedi. As you descend, the big mountains slowly give way to rolling green hills. When you reach Phedi, your driver will be waiting to take you back to Pokhara. By the afternoon you’re back by the lake – a good spot to relax, have a proper coffee (or a chilled beer) and let it all sink in after your days in the mountains.
Days 15 & 16 – Return to Kathmandu & depart
Have a leisurely breakfast and a final stroll around lake Phewa before being transferred by private car back to Kathmandu. You’ll spend a final night in Kathmandu before being transferred to the airport the following day for your international flight home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
From Misty Valleys to Snowy Peaks - In Style accommodation
If you’re after a bit more comfort, you can upgrade to our ‘In Style’ accommodation in Kathmandu, Patan and Pokhara. These stays are a step up in terms of comfort and design, with a more personal feel or a distinctive style, while still keeping that authentic, local character.
If you’d like to upgrade your itinerary, simply select the ‘In Style’ option below. Please note that during the Poon Hill trek, you’ll stay in locally run teahouses