You will be picked up at the airport by one of the Volunteer World Nepal staff and driven to your Kathmandu host family or a hotel. Here you will be welcomed into the family, be given your own room and be provided with all your meals while in Kathmandu. This will be your home during your orientation and volunteering in Nepal. With easy bus routes into town and the surrounding countryside, this quiet and safe suburb is the perfect base for your time in Nepal.
Day 02: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation:
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Baudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at the Volunteer World Nepal office. Overnight in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 03: Drive to Besishahar – Syange:
After an early breakfast, you are driven along the main Prithvi Highway to Besishahar (185km) which takes about 6 hours. Along the journey, you see some spectacular scenery of river valleys and high mountains. Meals: Lunch & Dinner.
Day 04: Syange – Tal – Bagarchhap – Chame Trek:
The path heads north of the village on an exposed trail past pastures to a ridge, before descending into a green valley and a suspension bridge over the Kimrong Khola. After lunch, the trail climbs out of the valley through stands of rhododendrons and oak forest, winding around the hillsides to Chhomrong with closer views of the giant peaks above. Overnight at Lodge in Chhomrong. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 05: Chame – Pisang Trek:
After breakfast, we trek to Pisang. we pass through Chame you trek up to Telekhu (2840m) to then continue with a pleasant and mostly level walk through a forest to Brathang (2950m). After the trail turns a corner here, you see your first dramatic view of the Paungda Danda rock face. This is an enormous curved slab of rock that rises over 1500m from the river. You cross back again to the south bank of the Marsyangdi on a suspension bridge at 3080 meters and then start up the long gentle climb over a ridge through blue pine forests. The trek from here is fairly level as it heads to the upper part of Manang valley to Pisang. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 06: Pisang – Manang Trek:
Trekking up to the Tibetan-style village of Bryaga (3500m), you follow the valley floor. Here you see houses stacked one on top of the other, each with an open veranda that is formed by the neighbour’s rooftop. The gompa, perched on a high crag overlooking the village, is the largest in the district and has an outstanding display of statues. You continue through a very arid landscape that is dominated by curious cliffs of yellow rock that have been eroded into dramatic pillars alongside the trail. In the afternoon you have increasingly imposing views of Annapurna II, III and IV. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 07: Rest day at Manang:
Today is the day for familiarisation. There are plenty of things to do in this attractive village. In the centre of the village, don’t miss the little cultural museum. There are lots of walks that you can do, exploring the glacial lake, walking down to visit a monastery, or exploring the old part of the village. You might like to hike slightly higher to Khangsar, a 200-meter ascend. However, it is important to have a relatively restful day to allow your body to acclimatize to the higher altitudes and thinning air. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 08: Manang – Yak Kharka – Letdar Trek:
As we know more we go higher, our days become shorter. We start our day by walking through fields of barley and apple orchards, you follow the river through a steep, narrow gorge to enter the upper Manang district. In this cold, arid climate, wheat, barley, buckwheat and potato crops are limited to one crop per year and villagers depend on their herds of yaks, goats, cows and horses. Trekking slowly upwards to Thorung La, we will leave the large trees behind and see vegetation consisting mainly of scrub juniper and alpine grass. You pass some high meadows where horses and yaks graze. After we reach Yak Kharka (kharka means meadow or pasture), we might see herds of blue sheep, a kind of deer) grazing on the steep slopes. After passing Yak Kharka it takes about an hour to reach Letdar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 09: Letdar – Thorong Phedi – High Camp Trek:
It is another short and relatively easy day to get used to the high altitude before we have to cross the highest point in the trek, and possibly the highest point you have been on in your life. From Letdar you continue climbing along the east bank of the Jarang Khola to Thorung Phedi. This is a rock-strewn meadow that is surrounded by vertical cliffs. Blue sheep and even snow leopards can be sometimes seen in this valley. Hovering high in the skies you may see lammergeyers and Himalayan griffons circling around above you. As you cross the high yak pastures, you see snow-capped mountains all around you. The scenery is completely different up here. You leave behind the rivers as you climb up into the quiet alpine areas. Again the mountain views are stunning. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: High Camp – Muktinath Trek:
As you make the long descent of about 1600m, you are accompanied by outstanding views of Dhaulagiri in the distance across the valley. Eventually, the trail becomes less steep and you enter pastures and cross meadows to Muktinath a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and from here spring water flows from a rock face from 108 spouts (108 is a sacred number to Buddhists). Below Vishnu’s statue runs a trickle of water with pale flames caused by natural gas. There are shrines to Shiva and his consort and Padmasambhava as well as numerous chortens and the surrounding poplar grove that supposedly sprang from the staffs of the 84 Siddhas. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Muktinath – Jomsom Trek:
The walk to Jomsom is mostly downhill with dramatic landscapes along the way. You walk down in the morning, to avoid the strong winds that blow up through the river gorge in the afternoons. The Kali Gandaki is home to Thakalis, Gurungs and Magars.
Day 12 Drive from Jomsom – Pokhara:
The descent to Tatopani follows the increasingly narrow valley, through one of the world’s deepest river gorges, past the beautiful Rupse Chaharo waterfall, with fantastic views along the way and the lure of hot springs at the end. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 13: Drive back to Pokhara – Kathmandu:
After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. This will be a journey along river banks with wonderful views of hills and the rural Nepalese lifestyle. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. You can spend the evening leisurely, perhaps catch up on some last-minute shopping and celebrate dinner together with the Volunteer World Nepal staff. Overnight at Kathmandu. Meals: Dinner.
Day 14: Farewell Friend and Departure/Fly back to Home:
Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Volunteer World Nepal representative will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way to home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
