Trip to Ghandruk – Annapurna Region
Trip to Ghandruk is an easy and short hiking trip to Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal for international school students. This hiking will experience the rural lifestyle and pristine nature of the Annapurna region. The major highlight of this trek is Ghandruk village. Ghandruk is the second largest settlement of the Gurung people, one of the indigenous groups in Nepal. In this village, about 270 Gurung families live in a charming cluster of slate-roofed houses surrounded by neatly terraced fields. Located at an altitude of 1940 meters/6360 feet above sea level this beautiful hamlet is framed by superb mountain views of Mount Annapurna South (7219 meters/ 23684 feet), Mount Fishtail (6993 meters/22943 feet) and Mount Hiunchuli (6441 meters/ 21132 feet).
To join this trek from Kathmandu, you will fly to Pokhara, the beautiful town in western Nepal famous as the city of Lakes.
The panoramic landscapes and varied cultures of different ethnic groups along the route make it a very popular choice for international school trips. Moonlight Nepal Company has comprehensive experience in guiding students, with a 100% safety record. This is a wonderful trek for international school students of all ages. Our guide and porters are friendly and experienced in the region and will facilitate your learning about our culture, people and mountains. Our staff’s first priority is to ensure the safety of every individual, so that international students can trek the famous route without any problems or difficulties.
After this trek in the Himalayas, students will spend time with Moonlight School where they do a 1.5 or 2 day service project including teaching a lesson, running classroom games & experiencing cultural interactions. They can also participate in service learning projects like painting classrooms, constructing a pathway or wall, building a toilet or small buildings, or planting and supporting an organic garden etc. The work can be tailored to student interests and the needs of the school.
Day 01
Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02
Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, drive to Phedi 1130m and trek to Dhampus Village
Day 03
Trek from Dhampus Village to Tolka
Day 04
Trek from Tolka to Ghandruk Village
Day 05
Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara
Day 06
fly back to Kathmandu
Day 07
Visit Moonlight School
Day 08
Visit Moonlight School and Fly back to home
Day 01
Arrival in Kathmandu
Upon arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be welcomed at the airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel by private car. After you settle into the hotel, you will have a welcome drink, followed by a briefing with your tour leader. He will discuss the trip details and co-ordinate any last minute arrangements. Enjoy your overnight stay at a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu
Day 02
Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, drive to Phedi 1130m and trek to Dhampus Village
Enjoy a breakfast and drive to Airport and flight to Pokhara and then drive to Phedi which takes about 45 minutes. The climb begins steeply for an hour and then is not quite so steep as you hike through the Rhododendron forest. We will follow a stone staircase until reaching the top of ridge, which takes about 1 hour. There we will enjoy panoramic and sunset views of world’s most scenic mountains ranges including the mountains above 8000 meters. Walking is about 3 hours. Overnight at a tea house in Dhampus Village.
Day 03
Trek from Dhampus Village to Tolka
In the morning after breakfast, we will gently climb up through the rhododendron and oak forest until reaching Pothana which takes about 1 ½ hours. We can see the excellent view of Mt. Fishtail. The trail takes another one hour climb through the rhododendron forest to a pass with views of the Mardi Khola far below and the panoramic views of Annapurna South and Himchuli to the north, and Pokhara and Phewa Lake to the southeast. When we reach Deurali, we will make a steep descent through the forests into a huge side canyon of the Modi Khola and arrive at BheriKharka, a smaller area of the large Gurung village of Bichok, far below after a one hour climb down. We will have lunch there, and afterwards will descend to the head of the valley. We will take the upper trail by crossing over a stream on the suspension bridge. Then we climb gently out of the side canyon on flagstone steps until reaching Tolka which takes about 1 ½ hours. Walking is about 4-5 hours in total. Overnight at a tea house in Tolka Village.
Day 04
Trek from Tolka to Ghandruk Village
After breakfast our regular day hike will commence again. First we will drop down to the Modi Khola riverbank nearby the Bee Hive Teahouse lodge. Then we cross the bridge and follow the trail through hill terraced fields, climbing up to Ghandruk village. Ghandruk is a nice village to hang around, with its main habitants of Gurung ethnical groups and popular Gurkha soldier family. Walking is about 4-5 hours in total. Overnight at tea house in Ghandruk Village.
Day 05
Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara
We will see panoramic and sunrise views of world’s most scenic mountains ranges including the mountains above the 8000 meters. After this we will have breakfast then leave Ghandruk. We walk down on the stone paved stone staircase for a while, viewing Landruk village just opposite side of us. After a two-hour walk down from Ghandruk village, we arrive in Syaulibazar. Then, we will follow the dirt road along the Modi Khola until reaching Birethanti which takes about 1 1/2 hours. We cross a river over an iron bridge and have our lunch there. After lunch, we continue 30 minutes further to Nayapul along the Modi Khola, where our car will meet us for our drive back to Pokhara, about one hour away. After arriving in Pokhara, we rest for while at the hotel and then visit the lake for a beautiful view of the surrounding Himalayan mountains. Walking is about 4-5 hours. Overnight at deluxe hotel in Pokhara.
Day 06
fly back to Kathmandu
Take in the panoramic views of the Himalaya from your hotel windows and balcony, including Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), Mt. Nilgiri (7040m), Annapurna south (7219m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Hunchuli (6441m), fishtail/Machhapuchhare (6998m), LamjungHimal (6986m), Tukuche peak (6920m) and Dhampus peak (6012m). Enjoy a breakfast and explore the lakeside. Around 11:30, you will fly back to Kathmandu—a thrilling flight over forests, fields and villages, with the Himalaya in the background. Spend much of the afternoon relaxing and enjoyingin Kathmandu. Stay overnight at your deluxe Kathmandu hotel.
Day 07
Visit Moonlight School
After having breakfast, you will spend time with Moonlight School where you can do a 1.5 or 2 day service project including teaching a lesson, running classroom games & experiencing cultural interactions. They can also participate in service work and a construction project like painting classrooms, constructing a pathway, wall or toilet/building block or planting and supporting an organic garden. Students and teachers will enjoy a lunch with the Moonlight children and teachers as well. Stay overnight at a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu
Day 08
Visit Moonlight School and Fly back to home
The Moonlight Nepal Trekking and Adventure team will take you to the airport for your flight home. Alternatively, if your flight is in the evening, you can spend time with the Moonlight Kids again during the day and we will drop you at the airport in the evening 3 hours prior to your departure time.
- Explore Annapurna’s most visited trail and encounter the varied cultural regions of the Himalayas
- Visit picturesque villages against the backdrop of epic Himalayan views.
- Experience the traditional local culture of varied ethnic groups and their hill-terraced farmland
- Visit the Moonlight school and do the service project including teaching a lesson, running classroom games & experiencing cultural interactions
The trip cost will vary depending on the season you travel, group size and duration of your journey. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
INCLUDE
Items that are covered in the cost of tour price.
- Airport pickups and drop offs in private vehicle
- Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast
- Teahouse accommodation during the trek
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
- Welcome dinners
- All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle
- Domestic flights as per as itinerary
- Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits
- An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader
- Porters
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS)
- Medical kit
- All government and local taxes
EXCLUDE
Items that are not covered in the cost of tour price.
- Nepal Visa fee ( bring USD cash and four (4) passport size photographs)
- International Airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Lunch and Evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara city
- Travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled water, etc.)
- Cost raise by cancellation, landslide, weather conditions, political instability, and illness will not be our responsibility since these factors are above and beyond our control.
- Tips (Tipping is expected but it is not mandatory
