12 Day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking, Meditation, and Yoga Holiday in Annapurna Region, Nepal

Trip overview

This retreat is satisfying yet time-efficient because you only need to allocate less than a couple of weeks for to participate. A long and steep section on a stone staircase to Ulleri is the only much strenuous section of the trek. From the dense and colorful rhododendron forests to the pleasant landscapes, from traditional villages to the modern settlements, and from the panoramic view of the Himalayas to the relaxing yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing each day on the trail, this retreat provides you a diverse experience.

Starting from the exploration of the medieval city of Kathmandu, this retreat provides you with the opportunity to know better the hills of Nepal, the locals dwelling there and marvel at the beautiful and diverse natural surroundings. With the benefit of yoga and meditation each day, you will start the actual trek from Nayapul and head on to Tikhedhungga in the first section of their actual physical trek in the region.

From the settlement of Birethati at the confluence of Modi and Bhurungdi Rivers, the adventure progresses in the trail along the Bhurungdi River. Through the dense rhododendron and moss-covered forest to Pine and bamboo forest, trekkers traverse through the villages of Ulleri along the steep and long stone steps and move further across some suspension bridges, ups and downs of the trail, and panoramic views of lofty peaks including Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu Peak, Ganesh Himal Peak, Fishtail Mountain as well as several unique settlements before reaching Ghorepani.

Further ahead of this ancient trade stoppage of Ghorepani, the trail advances to Tadapani after a short trek to the Poon Hill for breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas. Through the famous Gurung settlement of Ghandruk, some summer settlements, terraced hills, and quaint scenery, you shall trek back to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu concluding the short yet enriching treks in the Annapurna region.

This retreat also includes some community involvement activities in the semi-modern town of Ghandruk and cooking class in Kathmandu to add more variety to the experience of trekkers. This is an easy to moderate trekking experience in the Annapurna region which is designed for explorers who have limited time and yet aspires to observe and experience the real face of beautiful Nepal.

Best preferred in the seasons of March to May and September to December, this trek can provide you with some very memorable experiences if you join the professional team of Nepal Trekking Planner. The itinerary of this trekking expedition can be adjusted considering your needs. You are offered the best to satisfy your need for adventure, entertainment, and diversity.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 meters / 4,430 feet)

After your arrival in Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, you shall be greeted by Trekking Planner’s representative and escorted to the hotel of your stay by the office representative. Get rest to your jetlagged body after a long travel to this majestic nation! After you get some refreshment and rest in the hotel, you shall have, later in the afternoon, a session of yoga, yogic breathing, and meditation that is sure to make you livelier, refreshed, and prepared for this trekking experience in the Annapurna region. You shall end the day with a welcome dinner in an authentic restaurant. Stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 02: Cultural and historical tours in Kathmandu

After getting refreshed early in the morning with yoga and meditation, you shall get prepared. Today, you have a full day guided sightseeing tours to the Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage sites and other ancient heritages in Kathmandu; the sightseeing shall include excursion probably to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Pashupatinath Temple beside the other heritages, thereby creating a combination Hinduism and Buddhism in this sightseeing.

While the Pashupatinath Temple, abode of the supreme Lord Shiva and located on the bank of holy Bagmati River represents the faith of Hindus all over the world, the stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are the epitome of Buddhism in this nation which is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as monkey temple due to the holy monkey living in the north-west part of the temple, is a fourteenth-century stupa and one of the oldest and largest stupas in Nepal.

Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest of its kind in the world and hosts several other smaller stupas besides the evidence of rich Tibetan-Buddhism through the architecture, arts, and artifacts. Later in the afternoon, there will be a pre-trip meeting with your trekking guide in the hotel where you shall be provided with necessary information for the trekking and where you shall have the opportunity to clarify your queries regarding the trek with the guide.

Trekking Planner’s office representative will also brief you regarding our trek as well. Finish the day with another session of yoga and meditation in the evening. Overnight will be in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Kathmandu - Pokhara (820 meters / 2,690 feet or about 7 hours’ drive)

Today, after an early morning session of the yoga and meditation, your guide will come to pick you up and transfer you to the tourist bus station for your day drive to lakeside city of Pokhara through the scenic countryside. Travelling on the Kathmandu - Pokhara highway, you will drive past the scenic landscape, waterfalls and river, rural settlements, and twisting road overlooked by the majestic Himalayas far away before reaching the beautiful and diverse city of Pokhara.

On your arrival in Pokhara bus station, a hotel representative of Pokhara will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. After a refreshment in the hotel, your guide will take you on the walking tour around the marvelous Phewa Lake. The surrounding area of the lakeside blends in the influence of modern lifestyle with the preservation of local culture and heritages. After exploring the beautiful city of Pokhara you shall stay overnight at a hotel in Pokhara and have the second session of yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing before calling it a day.

Note: You can also fly to Pokhara on a flight of around 35 minutes over the vast landscape and with the view of the lofty Himalayas and lush green hills and valleys.

Day 04: Pokhara - Nayapul - Tirkhedhunga (1,570 meters / 5150 feet or about 2 hours drives and 3 - 4 hours walks)

Early in the morning, you shall have the first session of yoga and meditation for today in this yoga trekking and get started for the day. The trekking in this beautiful and diverse region starts today after you drive to the starting point of Nayapul from Pokhara on a drive of about 2 hours with your guide and porters on the well road of approximately 45 kilometers.

En-route, you will pass through some village with great scenery form Naudanda, Kanre, and Lumle before reaching the small settlement of Nayapul. After you arrive at Nayapul, the adventure begins from the warm sub-tropical region with Tikhedhunga as the destination for today. You start your walk from Nayapul by following the Modi River upstream to Birethanti, a village situated at the confluence of Modi River and Bhurungdi River.

Further on the trail, you follow the eastern bank of Bhurungdi Khola and reach to the settlement of Tikhedhunga after a trek of a couple of hours with the scenery of waterfall and high green forest. Intermittently, you shall also trek on the trail marked by stone staircase, the landscape with moss covered trees, and forest adorned with colorful rhododendron. Lunch will be served somewhere on the way at the tea houses before you reach to Tikhedhunga. The first yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing session in the trekking region are today in Tikhedhunga. Stay overnight at the tea houses.

Day 05: Tikhedhunga - Ulleri - Ghorepani (2,780 meters / 9,121 feet or 5 - 6 hours’ walks)

With the village of Ghorepani, the traditional stoppage of traders, and their horses as the destination for today, you shall start your trek for today after the breakfast in the hotel of your overnight stay and another session of yoga, yogic breathing, and meditation. The trek shall begin with the steep trek through the stone paved staircase before you reach Ulleri after trekking for a couple of hours with several breaks in between to catch your breath.

Ulleri is famous for the wonderful view of the Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre, and Hiuchuli Mountain beside the beautiful greenery and lush hills and valleys. The trail ahead of Ulleri is gradual that moves ahead in winding fashion through the cool shade of pine and rhododendron forest that has some ups and downs in store for the trekkers. After passing through the other villages of Banthati and Nangethati, you shall reach the Ghorepani village inhabited in majority by the Magar community.

This village provides an excellent view of Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and other sibling peaks besides the well-preserved Magar culture. The final session of our refreshing yoga and meditation session shall make the evening detoxicated after a long trek. Overnight Stay at a tea house in Ghorepani.

Day 06: Trek to Ghorepani - Tadapani (2,660 meters / 8,727 feet or 4 - 5 hours’ walks)

Trekkers today shall leave the beautiful Ghorepani before the day breaks and after your regular yoga session, armed with your backpacks on their back and lights on your hands along with excitement in your mind for witnessing one of the most memorable sunrises of this entire trek. After an uphill trek of around 45 minutes to reach the Poon Hill, trekkers witness this remarkable natural phenomenon.

Named after the ethnic group Poon, the residents of Ghorepani and surrounding area, Poon Hill provides the tantalizing view of the sunrise over the stunning mountains from west Dhaulagiri, Annapurna ranges and a unique mountain Mount Fishtail following the tantalizing view of Manaslu to Ganesh Himal to the east ranges of mountains. After enjoying this spot that provides the view of wide range of high mountains, you will return to Ghorepani for the breakfast.

The trek after breakfast continues through the forest covered with pine, bamboo and rhododendron trees, short ups and downs, and the lush vegetation with the occasional view of the mountains before reaching the settlement of Tadapani. Lunch will serve on the way at the teahouses. You will end your day with another session of yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing. Stay overnight at the tea houses.

Day 07: Tadapani - Ghandruk (1,990 meters / 6,529 feet or 3 - 4 hours’ walk)

In a trail that takes you through one of the world’s largest rhododendron forests, you will trek with the Gurung village of Ghandruk as the destination. The regular session of yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing starts your day while the trek starts from the settlement of Tadapani. You will trek for around an hour in a gradual path before reaching the Bhasi Kharka, a summer settlement for the animal herders and locals.

From this point, you will have a descend to the Ghandruk village with the occasional view of the Mount Annapurna ranges and unique Fishtail Mountain and passing through the forest creeks and smaller streams wherein the white-faced monkeys are seen swinging from one tree to the next. Ghandruk, also referred to as the ‘Switzerland of Nepal’ by some adventurers, is a semi-modern town and the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary.

One of the biggest towns of this trek, Ghandruk is famous for being a living museum of Gurung culture and tradition, small market and uniquely arranged houses, panoramic views of the Himalayas, and the stairs that weave through the village like a game of chutes and ladders connecting the house and market. You will be reaching Ghandruk at lunch time and for the night stop with enough time to explore the village and Gurung culture. You will complete the day with another session of yoga and meditation. Overnight will be in Ghandruk.

Day 08: Local community involvement activities

Today, you shall be devoting yourselves in the philanthropic activities in this beautiful semi-modern town. To feel refreshed for the entire day, you will continue your regular yogic session in the morning. The volunteering activities shall begin after your breakfast. You can find the volunteering activity that suits your interest; from being a guest teacher in the local school to the spending time helping the local craftsmen in their work and from assisting the disadvantaged members of the community with learning of their unofficial task and skills to sharing your ideas on solving social and other issues of the village; you can choose any activity you wish to do.

After contributing your bit to the people of Ghandruk who offer themselves to the service of visitors, you will return to the hotel for your stay. You will call it a day after having the evening session of yoga and meditation. Overnight will be in Ghandruk.

Day 09: Ghandruk - Pokhara (820 meters / 2,690 feet)

The trek in the Annapurna region is finally coming to an end as you descend to the city of Pokhara after having a great time in Ghandruk in the previous couple of days. On a path paved with stone, you will trek down to the starting as well as the ending point of the trek i.e. Nayapool. In a trek of around five hours to Nayapool, you will pass through several smaller settlements, view of the Himalayas, and terraced fields; interact with the locals who are with their horses and mules loaded with goods besides the lovely scenery of waterfalls and rivers, resting places under big trees, and many other attractions during the trek.

After experiencing all these attractions en-route, you will finish your trek in Nayapool (or New-Bridge) and go for a drive to Pokhara on a private vehicle only to reach the Lake City after a couple of hours. You shall have a session of yoga and meditation in the morning as well as in the evening in this day. Stay overnight at the hotel in Pokhara.

Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu about (1,350 meters / 4,430 feet or 7 hours’ drive)

After wonderful time in the Nepal Himalaya and short rest in Pokhara, today you have day drive through scenic countryside to Kathmandu in the route that never fails to attract the attention of the travelers. After breakfast and a quick session of yoga and meditation, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the bus station according to given time. Once you arrive in Kathmandu bus station, you will be received by Trekking Planner’s office representative and they will take you to the hotel.

After engaging yourselves in some activities during the day, the evening shall have another session of yoga, meditation, and yogic meditation. Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Note: You can fly to Kathmandu which takes 35 minutes.

Day 11: Cooking Class in Kathmandu

In an extra day to be spent in Kathmandu, you shall be learning some skills and utilize your time spent. After breakfast and your regular session of yoga and meditation in the morning, you will head towards Nepali meal cooking class in Kathmandu. You can learn how to cook it, how to use spice at the same time, and you may remember some Nepalese words and phrases. The taste and variety of Nepalese cuisine is outstanding from the cuisines that you shall savor all over the world.

Besides learning the culinary skills in Nepal, the warm staffs providing you with the culinary training shall also help you learn some words and phrases of local language which will surely be a learning experience for the trekkers like you. After learning the new skills and some words of rich Nepalese language, you shall return to the hotel for your stay. The evening session of yoga and meditation shall continue today as well. Overnight stay will be at a hotel.

Day 12: Fly back to home / next destination

The trek officially comes to an end. Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu for your next destination, at least three hours prior to the flight schedule. The last session of yoga, yogic breathing, and meditation shall be there in the morning before you leave for your respective destinations. Hope that the diversity of culture and tradition, natural beauty and wildlife, flora, fauna, and architectural heritages have created a special place in your memory strong enough to come for another adventure or exploration in this enchanting nation, Nepal.

One guided sightseeing tours in Kathmandu and historical and cultural excursion as mentioned in the itinerary are included in the price.

This yoga trek will take you exploring Kathmandu, Pokhara, Thikhedhunga, Ghorepani Poon Hill, Tadapani, and Ghandruk for a beautiful panoramic view of the Annapurna region in Nepal.

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Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as tea and coffee, are included in the price. One welcome dinner in an authentic restaurant is also included in your package.

• 2 guests per 1 porter with their insurance, salary, food, accommodation, and equipment
• 11 night’s accommodation
• A highly experience, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, English speaking, well trained, and government license holder guide with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport, and insurance
• All airport pick up drop off from and to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) by private vehicle
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS card)
• Cooking class in Kathmandu
• Daily yoga, meditation, and yogic breathing sessions
• Guided sightseeing tours in Kathmandu (cultural and historical) and in Pokhara with private vehicle
• Local community involvement activities
• Safe drinking water and first add kid box
• Three meals a day; breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea / coffee during the trekking
• Transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmanud by deluxe tourist bus (flight or private vehicle are available at an additional cost)
• Transportation from Pokhara to starting point to ending point to Pokhara by private vehicle
• Trekking Planner’s sleeping bag, down jackets, T-shirt, cap, duffle bags, city and trekking route maps (if necessary)

• All the international airfare from and to Kathmandu (no need to pay departure tax for international flight)
• Extra expenses due to flight delays, strikes, weather condition, or any event out of our control
• In case of extra more night accommodation, lunch and dinner in city due to early arrival and late departure as well as early back / return from mountain / trekking (due to any reason) than the given time period of itinerary
• Insurance for helicopter evacuation
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Meals during the traveling time
• Personal travel and health Insurance
• Tips to the trekking crews and drive
• Your Nepal visa fees (should bring small accurate fees in USD and 2 passport size photos)
• Your personal expenses (laundry, baggage charge, phone calls, battery recharge, bar and beverage bill, boiled or bottle water, hot and cold shower, extra porter, etc.)

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 15% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.