Annapurna Luxury Lodge Trek
Experience Overview
Experience the beauty of the Annapurna Mountains from the relative luxury of cosy mountain lodges. Take on a short trek in the Annapurna range - witnessing some of the highest peaks in the world - before delving into Chitwan National Park, in search of the one-horned rhino. At the end of the day, recoup with stays in characterful lodges, surrounded by mountain or jungle vistas, and unwind with complimentary happy hour drinks or around cosy fires under the stars.
Kathmandu - Explore the fascinating temples and bazaars of Nepal's ancient capital.
Pokhara - Relax and enjoy the stunning lake with far-reaching views of the snow-capped peaks.
Chitwan National Park - Explore the sprawling national park on the lookout for one-horned Rhino and other wildlife.
Highlights
Comfort trekking staying in Ker and Downey luxury lodges|Enjoy magnificent views of the snowcapped Annapurnas|Explore Kathmandu, Pokhara and spot rhino in Chitwan National Park
Trip Details
Product Code: 20374
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Bus4WD
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Explore Worldwide
Supplier Code: LAN
Starts: Nepal
Finishes: Nepal
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
- Explore Tour Leader
- Driver(s)
- Local Guide(s)
- Porter(s)
- Safari Guide(s)
Accommodation
- Hotel Shanker
- Hotel Sarowar
- Sanctuary Lodge
- Himalaya Lodge
- La Bee Lodge
- Gurung Lodge
- The Lake Side Retreat
- Kasara Resort Chitwan
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,950 ($412 /day)
Itinerary
Our tour starts today in Kathmandu, the busy, colourful and chaotic capital city of Nepal.s Our tour leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 5 pm. For those that wish, there is the chance to enjoy a group dinner afterwards. There are no other activities planned for today. If you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will leave any essential information and details of the best time to catch up with them at the hotel reception. If you'd like to receive an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). You should allow at least 45 minutes to reach our hotel in central Kathmandu as traffic congestion in the city can be bad. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, if you'd like to get a head start on exploring, our hotel is located a short walk from the lively Thamel area. Home to a multitude of outdoor gear, souvenir shops, great bookshops and a huge variety of restaurants, it's a fun place to wander.
After breakfast this morning, we'll set out on a walking tour with a local guide, visiting the bazaar and temples of Old Kathmandu. Much of the day-to-day life of the city takes place in the local bazaar, a fascinating mix of people selling spices, rickshaw drivers honking their horns and the ever-present sacred cow wandering amongst it all. In the afternoon, we'll visit the temple of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal, as well as Buddhanath, the largest stupa in the country and a destination for Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal.
We'll set off after breakfast, leaving the Kathmandu Valley behind to drive to Pokhara, a journey of around ten hours, due to ongoing road construction. We'll stop for lunch at a typical Nepali roadside cafe along the way. Pokhara is smaller and more relaxed than Kathmandu and is beautifully situated on the banks of Lake Phewa from where, on a clear day, there are superb views of the snowcapped Annapurna range, including Machhapuchhre - the famous 'Fishtail' mountain. In the afternoon, our tour leader will brief us on what to expect from our trek on a day-to-day basis. They'll also make sure we're all properly equipped for the days to come.
This morning, we'll depart Pokhara and drive to Dhawa where the trek starts (a one-hour journey). Our walk will follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurna with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley. We will be served with a hot lunch on arrival at the lodge. The route then drops to follow the Modi River Valley where the first of our comfortable Mountain lodges, Sanctuary Lodge, is located. The lodge was constructed in the traditional mountain style by local artisans and has a beautiful garden where you can enjoy magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed peak Machhapuchhre, or Fishtail Mountain as it's more commonly known because of its shape like a fish's tail. Today's 7-kilometre/4.4-mile walk is expected to take around three and a half hours with a total descent of 460 metres/1,509 feet.
After breakfast, we'll leave the lodge walking out through the outlying farms following the Modi River Valley. Soon we begin to climb out of the valley and 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 and a hot lunch is served on arrival at the lodge in the early afternoon. Himalaya Lodge affords magnificent close-up views of the surrounding Annapurna mountain range. It also overlooks the settlement of Ghandruk with its whitewashed, stone-tiled houses clustered closely together on the valley side. Populated by the Gurung ethnic group, Ghandruk is a popular recruitment location for the Gurkha soldier regiment of the British Army. Today's 9-kilometre/5.6-mile walk is expected to take around five and a half hours with a total ascent of 850 metres/2,789 feet.
We'll wake up this morning for tea and coffee in the garden while we watch the sunrise over some of the highest peaks on the planet - Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and the Fishtail. After a relaxing breakfast, and soaking up the glorious views from the Himalaya Lodge, we'll start our trek to Landruk. After leaving the village of Ghandruk, the trail descends steeply to the banks of the Modi River. We'll reach the base of the cliffs where the famed honey hunters of Nepal climb up on ropes to collect the honey from bees' nests on the cliffside. We'll then cross a strong suspension bridge to the opposite banks of the Modi. From here, it's a one-hour trek up switchbacks and steps to reach the Gurung village of Landruk which enjoys glorious views of the Annapurna range. La Bee Lodge is small and intimate, with only 12 en-suite rooms and is exquisitely perched on a cliff edge with awesome views stretching far into the distance. After lunch on arrival, we'll set out in the afternoon to explore the village and surrounding area on a guided walk. Today's 9-kilometre/5.6-mile walk is expected to take around five-and-a-half hours with a total ascent of 315 metres/1,034 feet and descent of 750 metres/2,461 feet.
After breakfast, we'll leave the Bee Lodge and trek to our final mountain lodge of the holiday, Gurung Lodge situated close by the village of Majgaun. Today's trek contours the hillside, with small ups and downs, passing through villages and farmland. We'll reach the lodge in time for lunch with the option to join an afternoon hike through the surrounding villages. Gurung Lodge has been built in the style of a typical timber and stone tribal house, set in lovely gardens with 11 en-suite rooms, a beautiful lounge and dining area with exposed wooden roof beams. Today's 9-kilometre/5.6-mile walk is expected to take around five-and-a-half hours with a total ascent of 135 metres/443 feet and descent of 300 metres/984 feet.
After breakfast, we'll set off along the ridge and descend through the wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor where we meet the road and our bus that will take us back to Pokhara. On arrival in Pokhara, the afternoon is free to relax. You can hire a boat and spend time on the lake or explore the lakeside area where many of the souvenir and clothing shops are located. Pokhara also has a great choice of cafes and restaurants serving hungry trekkers all types of cuisine from around the world! Today's 3-kilometre/1.9-mile walk is expected to take around 90 minutes with a total ascent of 210 metres/689 feet.
Today, we'll drive to the flat lands of Nepal's Terai region where we stay just outside of Chitwan National Park. Please note, due to ongoing roadworks, the drive is taking longer than usual with an approximate drive time of up to seven hours. Once a private hunting ground, Chitwan is now a National Park with thick tree cover and tall elephant grass sheltering a wealth of animals. We'll be briefed today on the variety of activities that we can enjoy in the Park and orientate ourselves on a short walk around the village. All Park activities will be accompanied by a trained naturalist guide who will help us get the best enjoyment from these excursions.
Throughout your stay, you'll be kept busy except for a couple of hours around lunchtime when you can read or relax in the shade. Activities in the park include a jeep safari searching out Chitwan's famous rare one-horned rhino, bird watching, jungle walks and a dugout canoe trip along the Rapti River. Canoeing will be dependent on the water level, floating silently down the river in a traditional dugout canoe allows us to spot many varieties of water birds. On a nature walk in the company of trained native naturalists, we'll walk along trails in the less densely forested parts of the park. An early morning bird-watching walk near the river will reveal many of the 450 bird species that can be found in the park, especially the kingfisher.
Today we'll make the journey back to Kathmandu. Please note, due to ongoing roadworks, the drive is taking longer than usual and could be up to eight hours.
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kathmandu. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Kathmandu at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).
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Tour Operator
Explore Worldwide
A prominent adventure travel company with over four decades of experience, this business that offers a comprehensive array of unique and thrilling experiences worldwide. Catering to various interests, they provide small group journeys, walking and cycling trips, solo holidays, and family adventures.
In Business Since 1981
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
A great introduction to hiking in Nepal with comfortable accommodations throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Annapurna foothills and despite me struggling at times with the pace of the treks, it was totally worth it to be up in the hilltops. The tour leader Bimal was very supportive and allowed us to walk at our own pace. I found day 3 and 4 of the trek challenging with steep ascents and descents on uneven steps but was I pleased I put in the effort! Our porter Buddha was amazing carrying over 20 kilos the whole journey and patiently waiting for us to catch up, despite his heavy load. The scenery was breathtaking, we travelled in November so views of the mountains in the morning are clear. Mountain lodges are in spectacular locations often at the top of villages, set apart. They have beautiful gardens with bright yellow marigolds ( national flower of Nepal) and their food was served by kind staff with a smile. Good mixture of Nepali and western style dishes. The lodges are very well equipped. Hot showers, duvets and comfortable beds. Forget camping ! Each lodge also has puffer jackets, hats and scarves and recovery slides in the room for your aching feet. Also, you don’t need to buy a ‘water to go bottle,’ or even carry a water bottle from home as the tour leader hands large coloured bottles of water out on day one of the trek. The porters will refresh water when required. By far the highlight of the trip for me was waking up in the mountain lodge to a hot mug of coffee and sitting outside watching the sun come up over the Annapurna mountain range. The tour is very time constrained, with three days taken up with long bus journeys but this is how the roads in Nepal are and it’s important to understand this when you travel to developing countries. With this in mind I felt the itinerary needs decompressing and I think the tour would benefit from being longer. I would suggest an extra day in Pokhara before or after the trek as you arrive there both days late in the afternoon and there wasn’t time to explore the lake properly and visit the peace Stupa/ other sights. We opted to visit the peace Stupa for sunset which was beautiful and worth the visit. It’s a long way to travel to Nepal just to trek for a few days so I chose to turn the trip in to a two week holiday. We booked some extra days to see Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan at the end of the trip which I would wholly reccommend. Nepal has some fantastic UNESCO sites with lots of arts and crafts which you don’t necessarily get to immerse yourself in on the tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/04/2024
Martin - Traveled, November 2024
This largely enjoyable trip was something of a curate’s egg, part hiking, part safari, part sightseeing. Some lovely places were visited, but at times it felt that more time was needed. Three of the ten active days (not counting the arrival day) were taken up by very long drives (9+ hours) on bumpy, damaged roads (as flagged up by Explore!) in a cramped minibus. That meant that Pokhara, where we stayed twice, was a big disappointment for me – no time to do the multiple activities which it offers. The itinerary would benefit from a full free day there. Whilst “luxury” is a relative word – don’t expect 5-star hotels – the mountain lodges were a cut above tea houses I’ve stayed in previously, being clean and comfy with ensuite bathrooms and hot showers, friendly service and excellent food, and fabulous mountain views. The hikes between them were quite tough, particularly Landruk to Ghandruk (we did the itinerary backwards) which is entirely up and down relentless, very steep, uneven, often broken stone steps, rocks and boulders – not for the faint-hearted. But each day’s hiking was worth it for the observations of local daily life and culture in the villages passed through, as well as the views. The long drive to Chitwan would have been worth it had we even seen any rhinos, let alone tigers, but (nobody’s fault) we saw mainly just deer and a few monkeys. Have realistic expectations. But the sunset canoe ride on the river was wonderful. Finally, a big thanks to tour leader Bimal , who was a lovely chap with a great sense of humour, well organised, and diligent in making sure that everyone was well looked after. And a big shout out to the incredible porters who accompanied us on the hikes, each carrying double kitbags for us all. In summary, a great trip, some testing walking through picturesque country sides with great mountain views, three uncomfortable minibus rides, and a frustrating lack of time in Pokhara.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2024
Stuart - Traveled, November 2024
Great lodges. Trekking at a reasonable degree of effort with comfortable accommodation at the end of each day. Fantastic views of Annapurna range.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/14/2024
Stuart - Traveled, November 2024
Great holiday. Itinerary excellent and varied. Brilliant tour leader. Only one problem was that the taxi booked though explore to pick us up at airport did not materialise and we had to chase it up ...it came after about 30 minutes.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/14/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
the mileage for a few days was totally off.....Need to update itinerary. Otherwise, great stays, enjoyed!!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/11/2024
caroline - Traveled, May 2024
Trekking through the foothills and remote villages passing only friendly locals busy with their daily tasks, all the time with amazing scenery.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/04/2024
Philip - Traveled, May 2024
Our Guide Su went far beyond our expectations. No question went unanswered. His broad knowledge was a fantastic benefit to our overall enjoyment. Knowledge of animal and bird life and geography of the area and peaks was best described as amazing and always delivered with a smile. The support team of 2 with Su on the trek was always on hand to assist if the going got a bit rough, with safety always at the forefront of the activity. Well done Su, and Explore for having such a valuable asset.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2024
Ashley - Traveled, May 2024
View was beautiful - trekking was enjoyable - experience unforgettable. Our tour guide Su, was amazing - very knowledgeable and prepared! Went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed or wanted!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/12/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2023
This was an excellent trip that exceeded my expectations. The accommodations were beautiful and the service at the mountain lodges was exceptional - bed tea in the mornings, hot water bottles at night - lovely. The locations and views were stunning. Our guide Su was outstanding. He knew exactly what we needed before we knew; he was knowledgeable, friendly and kind. The trekking was harder than I thought it would be, but the guides allow for all paces. There were a couple of long drives, but manageable with stops when needed. Chitwan National Park was gorgeous and again, the organisation from Su and the team made it an experience to remember. I’d strongly recommend this trip - I wasn’t disappointed with anything
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/16/2023
Karen - Traveled, May 2023
Excellent trip and the guide, Su was incredible!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/12/2023
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