Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Beni which takes about eleven hours. As you
climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to quickly descend again to the
Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its junction with the Marsyangdi
River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up through heavily terraced
fields and small hill towns to the Seti River that takes you directly
into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara is tourist's paradise
with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes,
caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus along with mountains. You can
observe views to the north across the hills and Phewa Tal (lake) to the
white peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The drive from here
goes through uphill into zigzag road all the way to Naudanda. It then
descends through zigzag road up to Nayapul with views of Annapurna
South, Fish tail, green hills, terraces and villages. To reach Beni,
your drive moves along the bank of Mardi river. This is one of the
picturesque road journeys.
Day 02:
Trek from Beni to Maldhunga (1300m.) which takes about six hours. Start
Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of the white part of
the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and chilling but
spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.
Day 03: Trek from Maldhunga to Darbang and it takes about five and half hours.
This day you trek gently ascend for early one hour passing through
jungles with varieties of oaks, rhododendron and so on. You can hear
the chirping of the local birds then your trails follow quite flat land
passing through stream at one place. The way you trek is muddy road
crossing villages at some of the places. Darbang is a small village
mainly inhabited by Magar and Limbus. There is a beautiful camping
site. You can find small local shops with minimal supply.
Day 04: Trek from Darbang to Takum which takes about five hours. This day also
you trek ascend through narrow path for early one hour. Now you go
along the flat land passing through jungle with varieties of
rhododendrons, oaks and Christmas trees at some distance. After you
cross a small stream, your trails suddenly begin to follow ascend path
until you reach Takum. There is a government school before you enter
Takum, a small village. Here you camp behind the school located in
central Takum. You find a Hindu temple where the villagers go to submit
their offerings.
Day 05: Trek
from Takum to Muri and it takes about six hours. You start trekking to
descend trails for early one hour passing through jungle. Then you
follow steeply ascent path and before you approach Muri you pass along
the flat land until you reach Muri. This is a small village mainly
inhabited by Gurung and Rai, one of the ethnic communities of Nepal.
There are situated beautiful hotel offering attractive services to
tourists guests who visit this particular area. You are here quite
captivated by a Buddhist monastery.
Day 06: Trek from Muri to Baghar (2080m.). Descend a gentle slope, and cross a
rocky stream. Descend a path amid terraced fields to Dhora khola. Cross
the river and climb to the right up the mountainside to Ghorban dhara.
The view from this pass is fine, for the first time you can see
Ghustung south (6465m). Follow the right bank path past Naura where you
begin to ascend the mountainside. After climbing for a short while,
take a path that traverses the steep grass-covered hill. The Myagdi
khola assumes a steep-walled V-shape as the traverse ends and a high,
winding path climbs the steep, grassy slope. The steep slope will not
tolerate any missteps but the path is well-constructed with a great
number of zigzag stone step paths. At last the long climb ends, and you
enter a traverse to the right-here you must also beware of falling into
the gorge of the Myagdi khola. Soon you descend through a forested
area, emerging to a ridge snout where bagara (2080) is visible. Descend
through terraced fields to this mountain village where you camp in
people's yards or the terraced fields.
Day 07: Trek from Baghar to Dobang (2520m.) and it takes about five hours. Here
you leave the villages behind and the trial becomes increasingly
challenging.
Day 08: Trek from Dobang to Upper Vungini or Italian Base Camp (3660m.)
Day 09: Rest day for acclimatization
Day 10: Trek from Upper Vugini (Italian Base Camp) to Glacier Camp and it takes
about four hours. After crossing the first glacier, probably using a
rope in a couple of tricky spots, you climb onto the main glacier. The
surroundings are spectacular which makes up for the rough and dangerous
trail. You may also use a rope on this section. This is a particularly
tough day. You camp on the glacier rubble.
Day 11: Trek from Glacier Camp to Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4740m.) which takes
about five hours. Soon the rough rubble gives way to the smooth ice of
the white part of the glacier. You climb steadily to the rough and
chilling but spectacular Dhaulagiri Base Camp.
Day 12: Trek from Dhaulagiri Base Camp to French Col (5010m.) - Hidden Valley
and it takes about four hours. Getting off the glacier above the base
camp often requires rope climbing. Once over the steep moraine walls we
reach gentler, less strenuous country. After a breathless climb to the
top of French Col (5300m,) the views of Hidden Valley open out. The
broad valley is reminiscent of Tibet and Ladakh and so are the
temperatures (at least -20ºC at night).
Day 13: Trek from Hidden valley (5200m.) to Yak Kharka (3680m.) and it takes
about seven hours. You traverse avalanche-prone slopes and then take on
the steep descent to Yak Kharka. This day you trek through bare land
for some distance.
Day 14: Trek from Yak Kharka to Marpha (2670m.) which takes about five hours.
More steep descent leads to Marpha. The way is not much covered with
trees. En route you can see some yak herds and sheep herds as well.
Marpha is a small town mainly inhabited by the mixed community of
Buddhist and Hindus as well. You can a visit a monastery. In and around
the monastery, you can see the many walls and prayer flags hanging.
Day 15: Trek from Marpha to Kalopani (2530m.) which takes about six hours. Your
trail stretches at almost flat level through forests to Kalopani, a
Thakali village and the southern-most limit of Tibetan Buddhism. En
route, you find Larjung which is situated near Dhaulagiri Glacier. The
first part of the trek passes through the windy area covered with pine
forests, rhododendron forests and birches are seen. At Kalopani, you
are quite amazed at the panoramic view of Annapurna I (8091m.),
Dhaulagiri I (8167m.) and Tukuche peak (6920m.).
Day 16: Trek from Kalopani to Tatopani (1189 m.) which takes about six and half hours. The trail descends steeply upto Rukse Chhahara (Rukse Waterfall) which
is amazing to look at. There is situated the deepest gorge of the world
between two mountains Annapurna I (8091m.) and Dhaulagiri I
(8167m.) facing each other near Rukse Waterfall. The trail
again descends slightly to Tatopani through different human
settlements. You can enjoy the hot spring at Tatopani as the word
Tatopati is termed after the natural hot spring situated at the bank of
the Kali Gandaki river. It is popularly believed that taking
bath in Hot Spring helps you to get rid of skin diseases.
Along this, it gives you physical and mental refreshment as well.
Day 17: Trek from Tatopani to Beni and it takes almost five hours and drive
from Beni to Pokhara by bus which takes four and half hours.
Day 18: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist mini bus that takes about
seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to
Damauli,, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal's first
Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you
could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields,
vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life
activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to
capital city. You can also fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu which takes
about 25 minutes.