Gentle Trekking & Luxury Lodges, Annapurna Foothills

Day 1 - Fly London to Kathmandu

Depart London on your overnight flight to Kathmandu.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Kathmandu. Group transfer to hotel.

On arrival in Kathmandu you will be transferred to the Dwarika's Hotel, a luxurious and stylish hotel built in a traditional palace style and furnished with Nepalese antiques, carvings and statues. The hotel has a pleasant courtyard garden with a swimming pool, bar and several restaurants. The Toran restaurant serves very good continental, Indian and Nepalese food while the flagship Krishnarpan is a superb restaurant for a special occasion where you can enjoy a multi course menu of real Nepalese food served in delightful surroundings. Dwarika's is a peaceful haven away from the noise and pollution of the city and is an excellent place to unwind.

Overnight: Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu

Day 3 - Fly to Pokhara. Trek to Lodge at Birethanti, 1,015m/3,330ft - 4 hours.

This morning you are transferred to the domestic airport for the short flight to Pokhara, 827m/2,730ft, Nepal's second city. This is an exciting flight in its own right passing over the terraced Himalayan foothills, with views of the main range to the north, overlooked by the stunning spire of Machhapuchare, known as the 'Fish Tail Peak. The town of Pokhara is the start point for treks to the Annapurna region, Mustang, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. From Pokhara, the lodge at Birethanti is situated to the north-west towards Dhaulagiri and the start of the Kali Gandaki Gorge. You first drive along the fertile Seti River valley before the road winds up into the mountains to a place called Dhawa, which you reach after one hour. Your walk will follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley. This route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where your lodge is located. The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhre, as it is locally known. Lunch is at the lodge and afterwards you can spend time relaxing in the attractive gardens, surrounded by darting birds and extravagantly-coloured butterflies. Alternatively, you may take an optional guided afternoon hike to the nearby village of Birethanti and its waterfall. The Lodge is on a spur overlooking the River Modi, about twenty minutes from the village of Birethanti. It has a comfortable central lounge and dining area, with a reference library. After a three-course supper around the large dining table, it's off to bed, lulled to sleep by the rushing waters of the Modi River.

Overnight: Sanctuary Lodge, Birethanti

Day 4 - Trek to Himalaya Lodge, Ghandruk, 2,012m/6,600ft - 5-6 hours.

After breakfast you leave the lodge and walk briefly back along the Modi River valley, before beginning the long climb to Ghandruk. The steep steps lead across fertile terraces and up into forests of rhododendron and oak. All around are the friendly people of the foothills, tilling the fields with their buffalo-drawn ploughs and sharing your path with their cattle and flocks of multi-coloured goats. The trail gives splendid views across the terraces to the River Modi far below. Each village passed gives a fascinating glimpse of Nepalese life - with families using traditional tools to pound corn, weave cloth, re-thatch their roofs and build neat dry-stone walls and houses. After three hours, you pass through the village of Kimche, 1,554m/5,100ft; here you will have a spectacular view showing the height you have gained since leaving the river bank.

You continue your trek to Ghandruk and there are plenty of level sections where you can look down over the terraces and villages far below as hawks swoop and soar on the air currents rising from the valley. After two more hours you reach the welcoming arch of Ghandruk and a final climb, winding through the village streets, leads up to the Himalaya Lodge. Sitting on its terrace lawn, encircled by mountains and with a refreshing glass of lemonade in your hand, you can congratulate yourself on reaching the highest part of the trek. You will have been given a bag of snacks such as a sandwich, fruit and chocolate to munch on during your walk and will have a more substantial late lunch of hot soup and fried rice when you arrive at the lodge.

The lodge is constructed around a 19th Century Gurung village house, with a dining room and reception area, where you can sit around an open fireplace, and a pleasant bedroom wing with a covered verandah. All around are clues to the village's connections with the Gurkha people and soldiers.

Overnight: Himalaya Lodge, Ghandruk

Day 5 - Day in Ghandruk.

You wake up this morning with tea and coffee served in the garden and can watch the sunrise over Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna and Machhapuchare - the 'Fish Tail' mountain.

After enjoying a relaxing breakfast and the glorious views from the Himalaya Lodge, your guide will take you on an exploration of this mountain village and the surrounding countryside. You will trek through the forest before reaching a small temple with incredible views. You'll then return to the Lodge via an open hill side and passing though the old village. After lunch, you can further explore the village of Ghandruk, which is a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha soldiers. The women of Ghandruk maintain a local industry of weaving traditional Nepalese rugs. Your maximum altitude will be about 2,400m/8,000ft.

Overnight: Himalaya Lodge, Ghandruk

Day 6 - Trek to Landruk, 1,565m/5,415ft - 3-4 hours. Village walk.

After again watching the sunrise illuminate the surrounding peaks, including Annapurna South and Machhapuchare, you enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the lodge lawn. You then start your day's trek crossing the valley to the village of Landruk which you see across and slightly below the level where you are now. Leaving Ghandruk, the trail descends steeply through terraces to the banks of the Modi River. Here, you'll be at the base of the cliffs where the famed honey hunters of Nepal climb on ropes to collect the honey. You then cross the Modi Khola by a sturdy suspension bridge from where you start a climb up switch backs and steps to reach the village of Landruk. From Landruk you will have more glorious views of the Annapurna range. Today's walk is about 4 hours and you arrive in time for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon your guide will take you to explore around this interesting mountain village.

Overnight: Bee Lodge, Landruk

Day 7 - Trek to Majgaun, 1,400m/4,620ft - 4-5 hours.

Today's walk from Landruk to Majgaun snakes along the valley through small untouched villages, through farm land, terraces and forest with some rugged sections and across three rivers that all descend down to the Modi Khola below.

The start is gentle with the sounds of birds chirping and far away cockerels cock-a-doodling as you pass through villages where very few trekkers come by, it is quite untouched on this side of the valley.

After around an hour and a half you do inevitably have some steps and a section of steep descent leading down to a small river and bridge. Ascending again to around your previous level the path levels out and you can enjoy the stunning views. A little while later there is another steep descent to another small river. After you have ascended again the path becomes easy and gently winds round the hillside. Your last river crossing is on a sturdy suspension bridge which leads you onto the path into Majgaun. If you are staying at Gurung Lodge there is a quite steep walk up above the main village or to Mala Lodge around and through the village. Both lodges have commanding views down the valley and if the weather is still clear back towards Annapurna South.

After a very enjoyable walk you will be greeted by the lovely lodge staff, a glass of still lemonade and soon after, a hearty lunch, making it all even more worthwhile. In the afternoon you can visit the Himalayan cottage museum in the upper village about 30 mins walk away.

Overnight: Gurung Lodge or Mala Lodge, Majgaun

Day 8 - Trek to Damphus, 1,700m/5,577ft, and on to the roadhead at Khare Khola - 4½ - 5 hours. Drive to Pokhara.

After breakfast, you say farewell to the ever-attentive Lodge staff. Your path climbs steeply on well-placed steps up through forests of oak, rhododendron, silver birch and silk-cotton, with stone-built porter stops at convenient intervals for a welcome rest. There is a mass of bird life to look out for, as well as the incredible views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Lamjung. After about an hour, the path begins to level out and you continue more gently upwards past shady woods and grassy banks of gentian violets. Eventually, you reach the busy village of Pothana at 1,981m/6,500ft, with its guest houses, restaurants and sellers of Tibetan silverware and other souvenirs. You then descend to the village of Damphus.

You will have lunch in Damphus at the Basanta Lodge and enjoy some last close up mountain views. After lunch you start your final long descent to the Pokhara Valley road, passing through steeply terraced fields. You reach the road at Khare Khola at 1,006m/3,330ft, where a vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Pokhara. The one-hour journey takes you past a patchwork of rice fields, where farmers work with their buffaloes, surrounded by flocks of egrets.

On arrival in Pokhara you will drive to your hotel, the Fishtail Lodge, which is reached by boat or raft across an arm of Phewa Tal Lake.

Overnight: Fishtail Lodge, Pokhara

Day 9 - Morning boat ride. Afternoon at leisure in Pokhara.

It is well worth getting up early to see sunrise on the mountains, as the moment when the first flush of pink colours the peaks the view is stunning; you might ask the hotel reception to arrange an early morning call for you, so that you do not miss this. After breakfast, you will have a boat ride out onto Lake Phewa Tal. This is a very relaxing experience and gives you good views of the mountains and the surrounding countryside and you will also be able to visit a temple on a little island.

The afternoon will be free to relax in Pokhara, either at the hotel or you may venture out into Pokhara town. Along the lakeside are numerous bars and places to shop for souvenirs as well as internet cafes. There are also some nice walks in the area, or you could visit the Tibetan camps at either Hyenja or Devis Falls - which is the closest. At Devis Falls be sure to take a look at the strange gorge and rock formation as well as the cute Tibetan kids in the kindergarten. Here you may also watch carpets been woven, or elderly Tibetan ladies spinning and dying the wool. There are good opportunities here to shop for souvenirs.

Overnight: Fishtail Lodge, Pokhara

Day 10 - Fly to Kathmandu. Afternoon at leisure.

This morning you fly back to Kathmandu where you will be met and transferred to Dwarika's Hotel.

You will have the afternoon to relax at Dwarika's but you might also like to walk to nearby Pashupatinath, an important temple to the God Shiva which is just a 15 minute walk from the hotel. Pashupatinath has an important place in the lives of Kathmandu's Hindus and is one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in Nepal. The temple is set on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and this is the principle place for cremations in Kathmandu which are thought to be particularly auspicious if performed here because the waters of the Bagmati eventually flow into the sacred Ganges. You could also visit the ancient Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath which is situated not far from Pashupatinath. Here you can join Tibetan and Sherpa pilgrims as they walk clockwise round the spectacular stupa, spinning their prayer wheels as they go round. Sunset at Boudhanath is particularly atmospheric.

Overnight: Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu

Day 11 - Sightseeing and lunch in Kathmandu. Transfer to the airport and depart for London.

You will have this morning at leisure.

Your afternoon sightseeing will begin in Thamel, the main tourist area of Kathmandu, where you will enjoy lunch at a local garden restaurant. From here an English speaking guide will accompany you on a half day's sightseeing tour first walking through Thamel, the main tourist area of Kathmandu with its many bars, restaurants and internet cafes and lots of opportunities for souvenir shopping. You will then visit Kathmandu's historic Durbar Square with its many ancient temples and palaces before driving on to visit Swayambhunath, the so called 'Monkey Temple', which sits on a prominent hillock to the west of Kathmandu city and is famous for the many families of monkeys which live round the temples. Its central stupa is surrounded by many ancient temples and the whole complex is an important pilgrimage site, being sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Later there will be a group transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to London.

Overnight: In flight

Day 12 - Arrive London.