Day 1 – Welcome to Nepal
You’ll begin your Nepal journey in the lively capital city of Kathmandu. On arrival at the airport 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
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.
Day 3 – Travel to peaceful Pokhara
After breakfast, you’ll be collected by your driver and driven to Pokhara (a journey of approx 6 hours). As you approach Pokhara, you’ll see the Annapurna Mountains appear on the horizon, including the most striking landmark, Machapucchre, and Fishtail Mountain. You’ll stay in a comfortable hotel near the centre, within walking distance of Phewa Lake. Here, you’ll find everything from small bistros to colourful restaurants, serving local cuisine and some of the best Western food in Nepal.
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. 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. A taste of things to come…
Day 4 – Start your Annapurna trek
Trek difficulty: Easy to moderate
Duration: approx. 3.5 hours drive and 4 hours trekking
Altitude 822m
This five-day trek shows you a quieter side of the Annapurna region, walking through small villages, forests and open ridges with impressive mountain views. You’ll stay in community-run teahouses and homestays giving you a close-up look at daily village life, far from the busier trekking routes.
After breakfast, you’ll leave Pokhara behind and drive for around 3 hours to Galeshwor. After lunch, the trek begins with a crossing of the suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki River. From here, you’ll walk through quiet countryside, passing traditional villages and terraced fields with mountain scenery slowly unfolding around you. After around 3 – 4 hours on foot, you’ll arrive in Baskharka, a small Magar village known for its orange farming. This first day is a gentle introduction to trekking life and offers a warm welcome into rural Nepal. You’ll sleep in the village and enjoy a home-cooked meal.
Day 5 – Trek to Nangi
Duration: approx. 6 hours trekking
Altitude 1,520m
An early start takes you uphill towards Nangi village. The trail winds through rhododendron and pine forests, with regular glimpses of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges along the way. You’ll pass small settlements such as Danda Kateri, stopping for lunch en route. The walking today is steady and rewarding, with changing landscapes as you climb higher. By the afternoon, you’ll reach Nangi, a traditional Magar village surrounded by green hills. This community-focused village is known for its local initiatives and welcoming atmosphere, making it a great place to connect with daily life.
Day 6 – Trek to Mohare Danda
Duration: approx. 7 hours trekking
Altitude 3,300 m
After breakfast in Nangi, you’ll start the climb towards Mohare Danda (Mohare Hill), one of the highlights of the trek. The trail leads through dense forest and higher terrain, gradually opening up to wide Himalayan views. Along the way, you’ll cross the Him Pal Pass (3,098m), where you’re rewarded with panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Continuing on, you’ll pass waterfalls and cross several small bridges before reaching Mohare Danda (Mohare Hill). Sitting south of Poon Hill, this viewpoint is known for its peaceful setting and sweeping views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, especially at sunset.
Day 7 – Trek to Narchyang
Duration: approx. 5 hours trekking
Altitude 1,400 m
Today you’ll descend from Mohare Danda towards the village of Narchyang. The walk takes around six hours and leads downhill through fields, forest and patches of farmland. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of peaks such as Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli, with the landscape gradually becoming more lush as you lose altitude. The trail links areas often combined with Khopra and Mohare routes, but remains quieter than the main trekking paths. By the afternoon, you’ll reach Narchyang, where you’ll spend the night in a local homestay.
The homestay at Narchyang is part of a Nepali Community Homestay project in which local women open up their homes to visitors. This innovative social enterprise supports a network of community homestays throughout Nepal. Not only does this allow tourists to learn more about the Nepali people and gain a better understanding of the local customs, but also provides these women with a much needed source of income. All the Home Stays are run by the local women; an initiative to empower all the women of the town.
Day 8 – Trek to Tatopani – Pokhara
Duration: approx. 30mins trekking and 5 hours drive
Altitude 1,190 m
A short and easy walk brings you from Narchyang down to Tatopani, taking around half an hour. Here, you can soak your legs in the famous natural hot springs — a well-earned reward after several days on the trail. Tatopani sits on the main Annapurna Circuit, making it noticeably busier than the villages you’ve passed through. After some time to explore the bazaar, you’ll travel via Beni 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.
Day 9 – Travel to Chitwan National Park
After breakfast, travel with your driver to Chitwan National Park (a journey of approx 5 hours). Located in the Terai – the subtropical lowlands of Nepal – Chitwan is home to several deer species, mugger crocodiles, wild elephants and over 500 species of bird. It is also one of the best places to spot the elusive Asian rhino in the wild.
You’ll stay in a lodge on the edge of the park, run in collaboration with the local Tharu population. When you arrive, we’ll arrange an orientation walk through Tharu farmland and tall elephant grass. Meet a local family for tea, enjoy sunset views over the jungle, and return to the lodge for dinner. In the evening, there’s a Tharu cultural performance of traditional music and dance.
Day 10 – Wildlife spotting in Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is incredible at dawn when the early morning light sweeps across the plains and shimmers on the rivers. At sunrise, you’ll set off on a canoe trip and guided walk through the jungle, gliding down the Rapti river in a wooden canoe. With any luck, you’ll see crocodiles sunning themselves on the shore as the sun rises. Back on dry land you’ll begin a jungle walk, hiking along narrow paths through the forest and crossing plains carpeted in tall grass. Be sure to listen for rustling in the leaves – you never know when a rhino might appear!
Day 11 – Travel to historic Patan
This morning you’ll leave the lowlands behind and travel east to Patan, just across the river from Kathmandu (around a 15-minute drive), where you’ll spend the night in a cosy heritage hotel.
Patan is known for its ancient squares, where rice is laid out to dry and children run through the alleys flying paper kites. With its carved temples and timeworn courtyards, it feels almost untouched by time – like stepping into a living medieval city. The rest of your afternoon is free to wander at your own pace.
Day 12 – Fly to Bhutan and travel to Thimphu
This morning you’ll begin the next leg of your journey, travelling from Nepal to Bhutan. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Kathmandu and transferred to the airport for your flight with Druk Air to the Land of the Thunder Dragon. The flight takes around an hour, with Himalayan views on clear days.
On arrival in Paro, you’ll meet your driver and guide, who will accompany you throughout your time in Bhutan. From here, it’s a scenic 45-minute drive to the laid-back capital, Thimphu. After checking into your hotel, head up to the impressive Buddha Dordenma, one of the largest seated Buddhas in the world. From its hilltop setting, you’ll have sweeping views across the valley and surrounding forested hills. Continue to the Traditional Medicine Institute, where age-old remedies are still prepared using local herbs, before visiting the peaceful Zilukha Nunnery, where the sound of chanting often drifts through the air. If time allows, end the day with a relaxed stroll through Thimphu’s market area for a glimpse into everyday life.
Day 13 – Travel to Punakha via the Dochula Pass
After breakfast, set off on the scenic three-hour drive to Punakha. You might not immediately associate Bhutan with rice paddies and fruit trees, but that’s exactly what makes the Punakha Valley so special, thanks to its milder climate. You’ll travel there via the prayer-flag-lined Dochula Pass at 3,100 metres, known for its 108 chortens set against sweeping Himalayan views. After a photo stop, continue down into the lush Punakha Valley, where you’ll spend two nights in a traditional hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you could take a stroll along the river before dinner.
Day 14 – Explore the Punakha Valley
Today you’ll explore the Punakha Valley with your guide. A highlight is the impressive Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful in the country, with colourful towers and whitewashed walls set between green rice fields and two rivers. Depending on your interests, you could visit the Temple of the Divine Madman, built in honour of a Tibetan monk known for his unconventional way of teaching Buddhism – expect a rather unusual blessing involving a wooden phallus. Another option is the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, built to bring peace and harmony, with wide views across the valley.
Day 15 – Travel to Paro
After breakfast you’ll retrace your journey through the valleys of Bhutan and over the Dochula Pass to the peaceful town of Paro, where you’ll spend the next two nights. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the impressive Paro Dzong. Once built to defend the valley from invading forces, this monastery fortress is now one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture, with its whitewashed walls, intricate woodwork and commanding position above the river.
Archery is Bhutan’s national sport and an important part of local culture. Across the country, you’ll often see people gathering at village archery ranges, especially during festivals and weekends. This afternoon we will arrange a quick detour to the archery grounds for an archery lesson. Using a traditional handcrafted bow and arrow, you’ll learn the basics from a local instructor before trying your luck yourself. The Bhutanese make it look so easy!
Day 16 – Trek to Tiger’s Nest
After an early morning breakfast, you’ll begin your hike to the most famous monastery in Bhutan, the Tiger’s Nest. Built on a 3000-metre high cliff above the Paro Valley, it’s a must-see. You’ll reach the monastery on foot as you follow the winding path between pine trees and past the spinning prayer wheels. Around halfway you’ll find a small cafe with the views of the monastery. It’s a good place to stop for a tea break before your final climb.
Finally, you’ll reach the waterfall and hundreds of steep steps leading up to the monastery. If you’d like to go inside, you’ll have to leave all your belongings in a deposit box at the entrance and take your shoes off. Your guide will share the legends about Guru Rinpoche and the tigress and tell you how this fascinating place was built. It’ll take about one hour to trek back to the starting point where your driver will be waiting to drive you back to your Paro hotel.
Days 17 & 18 – Depart Bhutan and overnight in Kathmandu
Your epic Himalayan adventure draws to a close as you fly from Paro back to Kathmandu (Nepal). Due to flight timings you’ll typically need to spend a night in Kathmandu before catching your international flight back to the UK. We will arrange your hotel and airport transfers. Time for one last plate of momos!
Accommodation
