Poon Hill & Lower Mustang Trekking Holiday - 14 Days
POON HILL & LOWER MUSTANG TREKKING HIGHLIGHTS:
- Trek along the world’s deepest canyon – the Kali Gandaki.
- Immerse yourself in the Nepalese culture and sleep in local tea houses.
- Meet the Thakali families and experience the warm Nepalese hospitality. The Thakali, one of the most famous trading communities in Nepal, have converted their charming homes into trekkers' lodges.
- Enjoy the relaxing hot springs at Tatopani.
- Stunning sunrise over towering peaks in Poon Hill.
- Impressive suspension bridges swinging high over rivers.
- Breathtaking vistas and spectacular views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna II and many other peaks.
- Visit Muktinath, a famous sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists.
- Embark on a scenic mountain flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and enjoy the spectacular views of the Annapurnas.
- Explore Pokhara, Nepal’s adventure capital.
Note: Our expert local guides are professional license holder Trekking Guides and have years of trekking experience. They are highly trained, uphold the highest safety standards and have an excellent knowledge of the Himalayan mountains. You can rest assured that you will be in safe hands.
Day 01. WELCOME TO NEPAL | TREK BRIEFING
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our friendly representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying your name. He will then drive you to your hotel.
Depending on your time of arrival, you are free to relax or explore the city.
In the afternoon/evening, we will conduct a pre-departure briefing.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02. DRIVE TO POKHARA
Overnight in Pokhara.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 03. DRIVE FROM POKHARA TO NAYAPUL AND TREK TO ULLERI (1960m) | ≈ 5 hours
After breakfast, we will drive to Nayapul. We will meet our porters and enter the Annapurna Conservation Area. We will cross few suspension bridges before reaching Tikhedhunga. Then, we will climb steep stone steps up to Ulleri, an ancient village of stone houses.
Overnight in Ulleri.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 04. TREK TO GHOREPANI (2874m) | ≈ 5-6 hours
Enjoy a stunning sunrise with spectacular views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.
After breakfast, we will continue our trek through the rhododendron forest and climb the stone steps up to Ghorepani.
Overnight in Ghorepani.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 05. POONHILL SUNRISE VIEW (3210m) AND TREK TO TATOPANI (1190m) | ≈ 7-8 hours
We will wake up around 4 am, and begin our hike to Poonhill at 4:30 am sharp (≈ 1 hour hike). Witness the spectacular Poonhill sunrise over towering peaks. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna II and many other peaks.
We will hike down and enjoy a well-deserved breakfast. Then, we will continue our trek to Tatopani. In the afternoon, we will enjoy Tatopani's natural hot springs. Don't forget to bring your swimsuit!
Overnight in Tatopani.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 06. TREK TO GHASA (2010m) | ≈ 5 hours
We will trek along the Kali Gandaki up to Ghasa, a typical Thakali village. On the way, we will stop at Rupse Chhahara, known for its beautiful waterfall.
Overnight in Ghasa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 07. TREK TO TUKUCHE (2580m) | ≈ 5-6 hours
We will hike up to Kalopani, a village well-known for its spectacular views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I. Then, we will continue our trek to Tukuche, one of the most important Thakali villages in the Lower Mustang region.
Overnight in Tukuche.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 08. TREK TO MARPHA (2680m) | ≈ 2 hours
Today will be a short and easy day on a mostly flat trail. We will travel to the lovely stone village of Marpha, known as the apple capital of Nepal. In the afternoon, we will hike to a local distillery to see the process of Marpha Apple brandy.
Overnight in Marpha.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
We will hike to Kagbeni, the main gate to the Last Forbidden Kingdom. In Kagbeni, you will witness the great views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Tukuche peaks, and the Kali Gandaki (the deepest canyon in the world). Visit of Kagbeni and Tiri.
Overnight in Kagbeni.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 10. TREK FROM KAGBENI TO MUKTINATH (3710m) AND BACK TO KAGBENI | ≈ 7 hours
Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will start your trek to Muktinath, via Jharkot. Along the way, you will witness stunning views of mountain ranges. You will enter Muktinath. Temples and religious shrines are the major attractions of this holy place. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. In Muktinath, if you have the courage to do so, you can follow Hindu devotees and take a holy bath under the 108 chilled fountains (Muktidhara).
Then, we will trek back to Kagbeni.
Overnight in Kagbeni.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 11. TREK FROM KAGBENI TO JOMSOM (2720m) VIA EKLE BHATTI (≈ 3-4 hours) | VISIT JOMSOM AND THE DHUMBA LAKE
After a filling breakfast, you will trek to Jomsom via Chhanche Lhumba, also known as Ekle Bhatti (“Lonely Pub”).
Then, we will visit Jomsom surroundings and the beautiful Dhumba Lake.
Day 12. FLIGHT FROM JOMSOM TO POKHARA*
Scenic mountain flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Free time in the afternoon.
*The mountain weather in Nepal is always unpredictable and the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara may be delayed or canceled due to the bad weather. If our flight is cancelled, we will drive to Pokhara (full day drive).
Overnight in Pokhara.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 13. POKHARA TO KATHMANDU
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Meals: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner.
Day 14. DEPARTURE
After a fun-filled trip, our journey ends. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your trip. We will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport. If you have time and would like to extend your stay in Nepal, we would be happy to offer our recommendations.
Meals: Breakfast.
Please note: This itinerary is intended to be a guideline; local conditions and weather may necessitate slight itinerary variations. We strongly advise allowing 1 contingency day in case of unforeseen circumstances.
- Rucksack or duffle bag.
- Daypack.
- Swimsuit (for the hot springs!).
- Outdoor clothing: Outdoor clothing should be tough and comfortable. Wearing several thin layers is better than a few thick layers.
- Trekking boots, trainers & sport sandals. Lightweight socks and med-heavy wool socks.
- Trekking shirts.
- Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder with Water Purification Tablets. We recommend LifeStraw, an advanced water filter bottle.
- Trekking Pants & Shorts.
- Lightweight thermal pants.
- Fleece jacket.
- Down jacket.
- 1 waterproof jacket.
- Gloves.
- Scarf.
- Sun hat.
- Balaclava.
- Trekking poles.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Flashlight.
- Sleeping bag.
- Wash kit & Travel towel.
- Medicine (in particular, diarrhea medication): Isotonic Powder/ Basic First Aid Kit/ Diamox/ Oximeter / Ibuprofen for general aches and pains/ Imodium or Pepto Bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Copies of important documents (passport, vaccination certificates, travel insurance), air tickets & extra passport photos.
- Power adapters.
- Padlocks.
- Camera with extra cards and extra batteries.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
*THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE.
What’s included
- Pre-departure support.
- Airport pick-up & drop-off (private vehicle).
- Experienced and government licensed English-speaking trekking guide.
- Porter service (2 members : 1 porter).
- All ground transportation (tourist bus: Kathmandu to Pokhara / Pokhara to Kathmandu | private vehicle: Pokhara -> Nayapul).
- Domestic flight: Jomsom to Pokhara.
- Accommodation: 3-Star Hotels on twin sharing basis in Kathmandu and Pokhara & lodges during the trek.
- Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan).
- Trekking permits.
- First aid kit/s including a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen during your trek.
- Trekking map for the group.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu.
- All government taxes, VAT and service charges.
What’s NOT included
- International flights.
- Excess baggage fees (domestic flight).
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except farewell dinner in Kathmandu).
- Tips for porters, guides & others.
- Personal climbing boots, clothing & equipment.
- Personal expenditures, all bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, nutri-bars, etc.
- Medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs.
- Visa fees.
- Travel and rescue insurance.
- Anything else not specified in the ‘what’s included’ section above.
Accommodation:
Kathmandu: 3-Star Hotel.
Pokhara: 3-Star Hotel.
During the trek: Lodges.
The rooms in the lodges (tea houses) on the Poon Hill and Lower Mustang trek are simple but comfortable. Hot water for showers are not always available. Most of the tea houses have basic access to electricity (power outages are common at high altitudes) and WiFi is not always available. The rooms do not have heaters; bring a sleeping bag with you for the nights at high altitudes. Toilets are sometimes outside the rooms; tea houses do not always provide toilet paper (at least, not always for free); do not forget to bring a couple of rolls with you.
Meals:
Kathmandu: Breakfasts & Farewell Dinner.
Pokhara: Breakfasts.
During the trek: Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners.
Health:
Good level of fitness.
Good walker in good health.
Experience:
You should be able to walk for 4 to 8 hours in a day.
You are required as a condition of booking to have an adequate travel insurance.
Please note: Before your arrival, we will send you a complete detailed brochure regarding Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and how to prevent it. Please read this brochure carefully.
Our local trekking guides are highly experienced in preventing, recognizing and treating altitude sickness. They will monitor your health closely during your trek. A proper acclimatization is not only essential but also a necessary life-saving measure.
