Duration: 9 Days
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The Royal Trek is one of the easiest, shortest, and culturally rewarding treks situated in the Annapurna region. The name Royal came to be so because Prince Charles and his 90 person escort had explored this route in the early eighties. Since then, the trail has been regarded as one of the best to explore the cultural diversity of the region along with getting some visually pleasing mountain views. Taking you through terraced farmlands, rhododendron forests, and several ethnic settlements all along the journey, you get to relish the panoramic views of the Annapurna range, Mt. Langtang, and Mt. Fishtail. The trek also provides you with a great prospect to get insight into the culture, customs, and way of life of the diverse villages of Nepal. Perfect for travellers with less time in hand, the Royal trek traverses through the tranquil nature and enriching culture of the Annapurna region in a short period.
The 9 days journey of the Royal trek begins with a scenic drive to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. From Pokhara, the trek begins following a short drive to Vijayapur and then a hike to Kalikasthan. You'll explore and cross through several villages like; Syanglung and Chisapani during the trek. The trek officially ends at Begnas with peaceful boating around the lake. You'll get to witness and experience the uniqueness of the traditional village lifestyles that have remained unchanged for thousands of years during the trek. Visually, pleasing, and culturally enriching, the Royal trek is a gem of the Annapurna region which remains an off-beaten trail till day as only a few embark their way here.
Travellers can expect some light physical activities.
Narayan Baniya (nature pathfinder) and Sumir Gyawali (yoga teacher) guide me in this adventure. Actually they manage perfectly my short time and all the noisy burocratic thinks like documents or Covid control. They makes me feel safely and had care of me since the moment I reserved .. now I’m at home and still feel the power of their experience, friendship and good nature. They makes me “enter” in the Nepali lifestyle, from metropolitan Kathmandu until the top of the mountain were the vibes are soo deep. Their good vibes are compatible with all, Sumir had a clinical yogi eye and Narayan the calm you need to arrive over the clouds.. it was like a day dreaming and I never forget this experience out of time. Thank you Antonio
A great & well organised experience. I highly recommend Himalayan recreation to anyone planning to trek to the Annapurna Basecamp. Everything from start to finish was all taken care of, taking away all of the stress of organisation so that I could focus on enjoying the trek. Ashok was very responsive on whatsapp at all times and was able to adapt the tour when circumstances changed. For example, when my flight to Pokhara was cancelled, Ashok arranged for a friendly driver to take me all the way there by private car instead (I did have to wait 1.5 hours for the driver, but traffic in Kathmandu is difficult). My guide Santosh and porter Bal were very friendly and accommodating and were good company during the trek. They have the English skills required to answer the majority of questions, particularly relating to the trek. Overall, a very good experience. The trek itself is very beautiful. It has everything, including rural villages with rice terraces, bamboo forests, and epic mountains. The accommodation is basic but everything you need for a trek (much better than camping). The weather forecast is inaccurate - I enjoyed decent weather despite the forecast being constant rain/thunder. I found the difficulty to be much easier than others state, and could have completed the trek in 5-6 days. Almost anyone with a decent level of fitness would be able to complete this trek (adjusting the duration to accommodate).
The Annupurna Poon Hill Trip is a lovely trek through the lower elevations of the Annupurna range of the Himalayas. Starting from Pokhara, a 90 minute drive in a taxi drops us off at the beginning of the trek and then goes up from there. My guide, Raj, was absolutely awesome and provided a lot of great information about the area during our trek over the several days that this trek takes place. The second day of the climb takes us to the small town of Ghorepani, and then an early climb the next morning to Poon Hill. I went on this trip in the 2nd year of the virus. According to my guide, the number of travelers was still way down from pre-pandemic years. So, in one way, it is a great time to travel since you will have most of the trails to yourself. The tea houses are also pretty empty. The negative side to this is that there are limited menu items and several places didn't have WiFi. There are a few recommendations I would make about this trip. The first is the ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara. I took the bus and regretted it about halfway there. While the distance is only 200 km, it took about 8 hours on the bus. If I were to do this again, I would have opted for a 30 minute flight. It costs more, but is so worth it. Second, make sure you bring toilet paper with you on the trek. The tea houses I stayed in during my trek didn't have any. So, bringing a roll of your own is a huge help. And speaking of bathrooms, most of the toilets along the route are not the western style sit-down toilets. Rather they are the hole in the grounds. So, make sure to use the bathroom before leaving the tea house since the next western-style toilet isn't until the next guest house, which could be a half day hike away. Finally, if you have time after the trek, spend an extra day in Pokhara. It is much more interesting than Kathmandu. Otherwise, the trek was wonderful and the folks at Himalayan Recreation did a great job in staying in touch, picking me up at the airport when I arrived in Nepal, and provided excellent service all the way through.
This trip was the first we took with those guys. It was very nice, guide was interesting and gave us a lot information about Bhaktapur and Nepal itself. After they arranged few more trips for us. First was Chitwan national park and jeep safari. After Pokhara and paragliding. And then return to Kathmandu. It was very helpful to have someone local there who can arrange flights, pick ups, all the activities and return wherever needed. We didn't have more time, but all the time we had, they managed to organize for us, without stressing or worrying. I truly recommend them, because they are very responsible and helpful for any situation. I firstly met them in Kathmandu for our first trip and they helped us with all the others.
This is your arrival day in Nepal. One of our representatives will be at Tribhuvan International airport to greet and welcome you during your arrival time. You'll then be escorted to the hotel in Kathmandu. After completing all the check-in procedures, you are free to take a rest for the rest of the day at the hotel. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Things to look out for:
Meet and greet at the airport.
Freshen up and rest at the hotel.
It is a day for you to explore Kathmandu city. Today you'll be visiting some famous landmarks of the city which are also listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. All the places you'll be visiting today hold ancient history and showcase the beauty of Nepali arts and culture. You'll visit Kathmandu Durbar square, a famous hangout spot for both tourists and locals. Other sites you'll be visiting are; Pashupatinath Temple, the oldest and biggest Hindu shrine in the country. And, the famous stupa, Swayambhunath. After exploring all the sites, you'll be escorted back to the hotel. There, you'll have a short briefing session about the trek with your guide. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
A sacred Hindu temple, Pashupatinath.
Visit the famous stupa Swayambhunath.
Explore Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Keep in mind:
During the evening briefing session, make sure to ask freely your guides if you've confused and have queries regarding the trek.
Today, the day starts with an early morning drive to Pokhara. The drive today is very smooth and fun through scenic sights. You can get some amazing views of landscapes, hills, rivers, and scenic settlements during the drive. After the drive of around 7-8 hours, you'll finally arrive at Pokhara. Once you arrive at Pokhara, you are free to choose to rest at the hotel or go around the lakeside to explore and stroll. You can also try boating at the serene Phewa Lake. Overnight stay at Pokhara.
Long scenic drive to Pokhara.
Boating at Phewa Lake.
Explore and stroll around Pokhara.
Today, you can ask for your guide's help if you have any necessary things left to buy for the trek as it is the final city before you head to the countryside valleys.
Today, you'll first head to Vijayapur through a drive. It is a short drive of around 45 minutes from Pokhara. After the drive, you'll start the hike on foot as you head to Kalikasthan. The walk starts through flat paddy fields alongside the river. Once you cross the river, the uphill walk to Kalikasthan begins. After walking for around 4-5 hours, you'll arrive at Kalikasthan where you'll be spending the night. Overnight stay at Kalikasthan.
Short drive to Vijayapur.
Walk alongside the river.
The trek continues as you head to Syanglung from Kalikasthan today. During the walk today, you can get some spectacular views of the Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. You'll pass through several small villages and lush rhododendron forests on the way. Finally, after 5-6 hours of walking, you'll arrive at Syanglung. Overnight stay at Syanglung.
Scenic views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal.
Small villages and rhododendron forests are on the way.
Today, the trail will lead you to a village called Chisapani. The walk starts through Gurung village where you can witness the local culture and lifestyle of the Gurung community. Moving further, the trail takes a turn to a rhododendron forest and finally, after a few more ascents and descent, you'll arrive at Chisapani. From Chisapani you can get a panoramic view of the mountains. Overnight stay at Chisapani.
Witness the culture and lifestyle of the Gurung community.
Panoramic views of mountains.
This is the final walking day of your trek as you first head to Begnas from Chisapani. You'll start the walk with a downhill to Rupatal and then ascend to Sundare Danda. Another 15-20 minutes of walk will lead you to Begnas Tal where you can enjoy boating. From Begnas, you'll drive back to the hotel in Pokhara. Overnight stay at Pokhara.
You'll get back to Kathmandu today through a short flight of 30 minutes. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you'll be escorted to the hotel. You're free for the rest of the day to choose if you want to rest or explore and go shopping around the city. In the evening you'll have a farewell dinner with our team as it is your final day in Nepal. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Short scenic flight back to Kathmandu.
Farewell dinner at Kathmandu.
You'll be going back to your home country today. One of our representatives will be there to drop you off at the airport and bid you farewell during your departure time.
All ground transport in a private vehicle, including airport transfers
Three nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Pokhara
3 standard meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek
Snacks of seasonal fruits during the trek
Best available twin sharing lodge for accommodation during the trek.
Pokhara to Kathmandu by Tourist bus & Airfare from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Himalayan Recreation’s experienced, government licensed, English speaking trekking guide during the trip.
Porter services (1 porter = 2 trekkers)
All costs of staff which includes food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment’s and medicines.
Duffel bag use while trekking, Trekking map and trip achievement certificate
Required Mardi Himal Permit fee and TIMS Fee
First aid medicine kit
Farewell dinner with Cultural show in a fine restaurant on second last day.
Government taxes & office service charge
Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the above itinerary
Personal Travel insurance, which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
Personal trekking equipment or expenses
Alcoholic drinks and beverages
Tips for trekking guides, porters and drivers (tipping is expected)
Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section.