See also Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar

Day 2 Half Day Sightseeing – Kathmandu Valley (1330m)

This morning a sightseeing tour will be arranged, taking in the key attractions in and around Kathmandu. These include Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupathinath and Durbar Square. In the afternoon you have time to explore Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur and the lesser-known towns that dot the valley on foot, by bicycle or trishaw. The area has an amazing range of fascinating highlights, whatever our interest. Excellent bookshops, extensive markets, and novelty and handicraft shops contrast with fantastic centers of cultural and spiritual significance. Kathmandu has more World Heritage sites than any other city in the world.

Day 3 Drive to Besi Sahar - Trek to Ngadi (900 m)

After an early morning departure from Kathmandu, we’ll take five-hour private bus ride to the trailhead at either Besi Sahar or to a point a bit further on depending on road conditions. Today’s hike will be warm, but pleasant as we traverse rice terraces and subtropical forests into an area known as the “Middle Hills Region.” We’ll cross several suspension bridges over the course of the day, but the one at Bhulbhule is noticeably long. We will have fantastic views of Manaslu today, at 8156 meters, it’s the world’s eighth tallest. A gentle uphill will deliver us to the lovely village of Ngadi, home of many picturesque shops, cobbled streets and the teahouse in which we’ll spend our first night in the Himalaya.

Day 4 Trek to Chamje (1450m)

From Ngadi we will climb to Bahundanda, which literally means "hill of the Brahmins" and it is the most northerly Brahmin settlement in the Marsyangdi Valley. Our hike will likely be very warm as we approach Bahundanda, situated high up on a ridge. The trail descending the village is quite steep and crosses a stream at the bottom of a small waterfall. As is often the case with trails in the mountains, once you reach the bottom, it almost immediately climbs again and this one traverses the hillside high above the river. We’ll hike through the Marsyangdi Valley which forms a steep V-shape and we will follow the winding mountain path down through Syange, the unofficial end to the “Middle Hills.” Outside Syange, the trail climbs steeply and the path is cut into the sheer cliff-face some 200-300m above the riverbed. We will pass through the village of Jagat and will climb up through forested land to a fabulous waterfall just before Chamje, our home for the night.

Day 5 Trek to Danagyu (2290m)

After descending to the river and crossing a suspension bridge, we will begin a steep climb to some small teahouses at Sattale. This is a nice place to stop for a drink as the path will soon climb multiple switchbacks to the top of the hill. Once at the top, the view is well worth the effort. The view of Tal below us on a wide plain by the river is breathtaking and will likely be one of your favorites on the trip. Tal is enclosed by cliffs and surrounded by waterfalls and the level ground preceding it is comforting after seeing the harrowing mountain paths we’ll have just traveled. Beyond Tal and the ACAP checkpost, the valley narrows and the path becomes high and winding and in many areas is carved from the rock. Beyond the small village of Karte, we will be welcomed by more exposed trail walking before the path drops again to the river. Many of the entrances to villages in this area will be marked with elaborate chortens at each end, Dharapani’s is no exception and it marks the strength of Tibetan influence in the area. Upon leaving Karte, we enter the Dudh Khola ('milky river') Valley, which originates from the south face of Manaslu. The Marsyangdi will then veer to the left and Annapurna II (the world’s 16th highest mountain) will become visible ahead. We will pass through Bagarchhap and uphill to Danagyu, a Tibetan village with prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. After today’s hike, you’ll be glad to have reached this place - the home to many apple and peach orchards.

Day 6 Trek to Bhratang (2840m)

Shortly after leaving Danagyu, we’ll pass a spectacular waterfall, where we turn left and head up three forested ridges to Koto. After an hour of lovely, open forests, we reach a clearing at the top of the trail and a charming Tibetan teahouse where we will stop for a break. From here, we get another chance to look back at views of Manaslu. This area is rich in culture and many local farmers certainly look more Tibetan than Nepali. Corn, buckwheat, millet, barley and potatoes are all raised in the region and there is enough rain and warmth here to produce two crops a year. A casual walk of slightly more than an hour brings us to the local administrative center of the Manang District, Chame. From here we are blessed with stunning views of both Annapurna II and Annapurna IV. We’ll follow a mostly level path through a huge apple orchard to Bhratang, where we’ll rest for the night.

Day 7 Trek to Pisang (3200m)

It's a beautiful walk from Bhratang to Pisang, through woods with wonderful views of the peaks soaring above us. When the trail rounds a bend, we get our first view on the jaw-dropping Paungda Danda rock face, a dramatic, curved slab of rock standing 1500 meters above the river. Today’s is a short day, so we'll have the afternoon in Pisang to explore the village, with it's Tibetan mani stones and gompa, perhaps taking a walk up to Upper Pisang for amazing views of Pisang Peak, Annapurna II and Annapurna III.

Day 8 Trek thru Ngawal - the High Route - to Manang (3500m)

Today's trail is one of the most scenic along the Annapurna route and is one seldom taken. We start the morning with a steep ascent to Upper Pisang and another longer and steeper one to Gyaru, an old, atmospheric village just off the main Annapurna trail. Another two or three hours brings us to Ngawal - it's a spectacular hike, during which we really feel that we are heading up into the mountains. Ngawal is a wonderful, old village of cobbled streets, prayer wheels, decorative water-spouts and beautiful architecture and was obviously a hub of religious activity in previous times. We’ll be sure to stop in here for a nice lunch before continuing back out on the trail toward incredible Braga.

Braga is an old Tibetan-style village of about 150 partially deserted houses. We will have time to explore the historic village, with its large, old gompa perched colorfully above the stacked houses. The gompa has an elaborate collection of thangkas and statues estimated to be up to 500 years old. Braga also has an impressive collection of traditional architectural details, so keep your eyes open for beautifully carved wooden windows and doors. The prayer wheels and chorten at the foot of Braga are fantastically painted.

From here it’s a short walk past a series of unique and colorful chortens to Manang, a village of 500 or so flat-roofed houses and the headquarters for the region. Manang is an interesting village packed with trekkers, bakeries and lodges. The village is dominated by high peaks - Annapurna III and Gangapurna tower over it and a dramatic icefall sits just across the river. There is an old gompa on the edge of town, many local teahouses, some winding streets worth getting lost on and an opportunity or two to sample some of the local chhang and rakshi. There is a 3 o'clock lecture on altitude by the Himalayan Rescue Association for anyone interested.

Day 9 Rest Day in Manang (3500m)

Today is our acclimatization day, with lots of options; a long day-hike to the Ice Lake, a visit to the 'Hundred Rupee Lama' at the cave gompa above Manang, a two-hour hike to Milarepa's cave across the river from Braga, the HRA talk, or a tour of Manang's many bakeries. Manang is also the place to buy a yak head, if you’re so inclined, so… A hike up 300 meters or so for acclimatization is recommended, but nothing too strenuous is required. Our guest house will be a sunny and warm place to gaze at the peaks in the afternoon.

Day 10 Trek to Letdar (4300m)

Today’s not a long day, but we gain some serious altitude, so we will concentrate on taking it slowly. En route, we will undoubtedly be passed along the trail by galloping Manangi horses, saddled with wonderful (and expensive) Tibetan wool saddle blankets, with bells jingling as they gallop by. We will have left the land of trees below now and will be hiking through only scrub juniper and alpine grasses from this point to the Thorong La. We climb past Tengi and Gunsang to Yak Kharka, and then in another hour we’ll arrive in Letdar, where we stay at an alpine-style guest house with continued spectacular views.

Day 11 Trek to Thorung Phedi High Camp (4700m)

An easy two or three hour walk will get us up to the Thorung La Base Camp Hotel at Thorung Phedi, where we will stop for an early lunch…think light lunch, because it’s another hour or so hiking straight up that gets us to the lodge at High Camp, where we will plan to stay the night. The idea is to get to bed early in preparation for an early morning start the next day – high pass day! If someone in the group is having altitude issues, we can spend the night at the lower-down Thorung Phedi Base Camp Hotel, as it too is a nice spot to spend the afternoon. What this will mean is that we’ll have an earlier departure the next morning and that the next day will be slightly longer.

Day 12 Trek to Muktinath (3800m)

We’ll be up early for the three or four hour walk to the top of the Thorung La at 5416m, where we’ll be treated with spectacular views over Mustang and the surrounding peaks. The descent is as demanding as is the ascent to the top of the pass, so we’ll all appreciate a cup of chai and a snack at a local tea house at Chabarbu, at the bottom of the descent. From there, we’ll hike another 1-1/2 hours to lower Mustang, which we have actually reached just after the pass, and to the serene temple complex of Muktinath.

Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus alike and is situated in a tranquil grove of trees. The village contains a wall of 108 waterspouts in the shape of cows heads spouting sacred water, the Jwala Mai temple houses a perpetual spouting flame and the pagoda-styled Vishnu Mandir all make up the auspicious combination of earth, fire and water. We will stay just five minutes down the trail from Muktinath at Ranipauwa.

Day 13 Trek to Kagbeni (2800m)

This morning we’ll trek along a wonderful trail through more Mustangi villages, where we will feast on delicious apples and see the traditional back-loom weaving techniques being practiced by local women. Half an hour down the trail, Jharkot is an old Mustangi village with a mystical, medieval feel to it. It contains a Shakya gompa which is a traditional medicine center and incredibly photogenic whitewashed houses and streets. Further along the trail at Khingar, we might stop in for a visit at the local school. The scenery here is truly wonderful with soft lighting, patchworks of fields, peaks overhead, villagers out plowing the fields, horses tethered next to the houses and apple trees providing texture to the landscape. After a steep descent, we will reach the windy Kali Gandaki (called the Thak Khola by the locals) river valley where it intersects the Jhong Khola and the last village in lower Mustang, the oasis of Kagbeni. Here mud-packed houses, prayer wheels, narrow, stone streets, covered alleyways, chortens and an old brick-hued gompa dominate the village and guard the river intersection. Kagbeni is reminiscent of old Mustang and those who want to venture further can wander across the river to Mustangi villages officially "off limits" but easily accessible.

Day 14 Trek to Jomsom (2680m)

We’ll have a nice morning's walk down the Kali Gandaki riverbed, looking for saligrams along the way, to Jomsom, the administrative center for the region. The Kali Gandaki valley gets incredibly windy in the early afternoon, so it’s important for us to arrive before noon. It is from here that we’ll hope to catch a flight back to Pokhara tomorrow. Again, the valley gets incredibly windy and we will hope for divine intervention in order to get our flight out on time tomorrow. Jomsom is a wonderful place to call an end to the trekking part of our trip and you can be sure we’ll have a beer or two here with dinner.

Day 15 Fly to Pokhara (850m)

We will hope to catch our short, early morning flight back to Pokhara, a lovely shoreside village on gorgeous Phewa Lake. From Pokhara, 6997 meter Machhupuchhare looms very large over the landscape. We’ll spend the day taking in the sights and shopping and the night in a nice guest house with hot showers. We’ll get a meal at a good restaurant where the beers are really cold, the food delicious and the atmosphere great.

Day 16 Fly to Kathmandu (1330m)

We will wake very early and catch the first flight out of Pokhara. We should arrive back to our hotel in Kathmandu by noon and have the remainder of the day to relax, shop, whatever. We’ll plan to have a group celebration dinner at a local Thamel eatery.

Day 17 Kathmandu/Bangkok

Most flights leave Kathmandu around 2pm, so if there’s last-minute gift shopping to do, do so early in the day. We’ll head to the airport around 11am. The flight to Bangkok takes about 3-1/2 hours - our overnight layover in Bangkok will give you the opportunity to take in a round of kickboxing, view the unusual sights on Patpong Rd or just relax with a Thai massage. We will have an early morning departure flight back to the States.

Day 18 Arrive in USA