A cultural trek into Annapurna is a short, colorful trek into the foothills of the Annapurna mountain region. Annapurna culture trek trail runs through beautiful mountain valleys, jungles, streams, waterfalls, and, most importantly, diverse ethnic groups and their distinct cultures.
From any corner during your trek, you can glimpse the tantalizing views of the Himalayan peaks. During this Annapurna culture trek, the major cultural groups you visit are Gurung, Magar, and Brahmin. Along with this, other minority groups are also living in the region to enhance your cultural trekking experiences. In a very short time span on the trek, you can experience the colorful culture of these people and meet Buddhists and Hindus living in harmony. The main occupations here are agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism business, and "Gurkha soldiers"—the world-famous brave soldiers working under the British, Indian, and Singaporean governments.
Arrive Kathmandu. At the airport our friendly representative will be waiting to receive you and transfer to your pre-booked hotel. After you complete check-in formality at the Hotel and taking short rest, we introduce you to the market of Thamel, where you can eat your supper, change money, buy some stuffs from supermarket, or buy trekking gears. Later we take you to our office for the trip briefing. Overnight at your hotel. Delay of any kind will postpone the events for next day according to feasibility.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and drive to airport for a flight to Pokhara in the latter morning. You fly to Pokhara – small beautiful city situated in the lap of the Annapurna massif – parallel to the central Himalayas in which you can enjoy the view of the Langtang range, Gorkha Himal massif, Lamjung Himal, and Annapurna. Arrive Pokhara and enjoy the rest of the day exploring lakeside and surrounding.
You start the day with a short drive to Phedi after breakfast. From this starting point, leaving the highway, you start to walk steep uphill to Dhampus. The first section is in the forest comparatively steep, and the latter stretch is gradual mixed with shorter steep section through the village and farming terraced field. You reach to the beautiful village of Dhampus from where the view of Annapurna and Fishtail is stunning. Enjoy your lunch, and continue for another two hours to Pothana. This stretch is also beautiful in the jungle. Pothana, small hamlet in the jungle is peaceful place to relax, and enjoy the nature. Overnight at lodge.
After breakfast, walk in the tranquil trail in the jungle which is comparatively flat at first. There is a option to climb up to Deurali and descend to Kharka and continue to Landruk which was only trail decades back before the motorable road to Landruk was constructed. We stop in Landruk for lunch, and other places for tea or water with short break. After lunch, the trail descends steeply through terraced fields to the Modi Khola River. We cross the bridge, then start a steep climb of about 2 hours to reach to Ghandruk. You can see wild beehives hanging on the side of a cliff near the bridge. Ghandruk is the one of the big village of Gurung (popular ethnic group from the western region of Nepal who serves in Gurkha regiments in India, UK, Brunei, and Singapore) settlement with a close-up view of Annapurna and Machapuchare to the north. Overnight at lodge.
This is the end of the trekking. After breakfast and enjoying the view of the Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Fishtail close up, you descend to Ghandruk Bensi and then walk to Nayapul along the river Madi. And from Nayapul drive to Pokhara for about an and half hour and arrive buzzing Pokhara to enjoy your rest of the day.
You drive back to Kathmandu – some 206 kms and takes seven hours – or take a flight according to your interest. If you are driving, you drive through beautiful bending mountain highway which stretches along the river and passes through beautiful landscape. Once in Kathmandu we will transfer you to your respective hotel and you will be given free time to wander around. Overnight will be spent in hotel.
This list outlines the required things to bring during the trekking tours. There are various selections and brands that you can choose as per your interest. All required trekking equipments can be bought or even hired easily at a reasonable price in Kathmandu.
General
Upper Body - Head / Ears / Eyes
Body
Lower Body – Legs
Feet
(Our guide will carry first aid kit bag during the trek. We still recommend you to bring your personal first aid kit as you feel it necessary).
Miscellaneous
All garments should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture-resistant plastic bags.