When it comes to trekking, it’s hard to beat Nepal. The stunning Annapurna range is famous across the world for a reason and this itinerary, which has been designed specifically for families, will take you through its foothills. The memories of the epic landscapes will last a lifetime, as will the lessons learnt while interacting with the locals and walking from village to village. There’ll be many opportunities to experience the incredible Nepali culture, as well as plenty of family time on the trails and in the comfortable, atmospheric lodges along the way.

The itinerary will see you travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara by plane before heading into the Annapurna range. You’ll generally walk 4–6 hours per day before transferring back to Pokhara and its gorgeous alpine scenery. Phewa Tal, in the Pokhara Valley, is instantly recognisable. Ending in Kathmandu, your family will have a final opportunity to explore the many religious and cultural sights and perhaps try their hand at bartering in the local markets. Let’s hope they’ve been listening in maths class!

Day 1 | Kathmandu

Welcome to Kathmandu, Nepal’s mountainous capital and one of the world’s legendary cities. Your family will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, located in the heart of the city. Kathmandu is a marvellous mixture of ancient temples, colourful markets and warm locals, with more World Heritage Sites than any other city in the world. Once your leader has briefed you on your upcoming trek, they’ll take you out on the town to enjoy a traditional Nepali dinner – the perfect way to begin a family adventure in Nepal.

Day 2 | Kathmandu – Pokhara – Upper Ghandruk | Walking time: 2 hours

Rise early to catch a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The flight is short – only 25 minutes – but your family will remember the views of the main Himalayan chain for years to come. After arriving in the stunning Pokhara Valley, you’ll be transferred by private vehicle to Naya Phul then taken by 4WD up the terraced hillsides of the Modi Khola Valley.

Along the way, you’ll be treated to superb views of Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail Peak) and Annapurna South, eventually arriving at Kimche (1630 m) for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll walk a well-defined path that contours through fields of wheat to the village of Ghandruk. Your lodge for the evening is located just above the main village and boasts fantastic views of Annapurna South, Macchapuchhare and Gangapurnga mountains.

Day 3 | Upper Ghandruk – Tadapani | Walking time: 4 hours

It’s an easier walk today as you depart the village of Ghandruk and its terraced hillsides to enter forests of oak and rhododendron. It’s a particularly beautiful part of the trek, with the trail crossing over streams and passing by small waterfalls. There are no villages along the trail; however, there are a few traditional teahouses at Baisi Kharkha that provide drinks and a place to rest. You’ll be rewarded with fine views of a number of mountains throughout the day, including Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal, before reaching your overnight stop at Tadapani in time for lunch. This village is perfectly situated to take in memorable views at both sunset and sunrise.

Day 4 | Tadapani – Ghorepani | Walking time: 5 hours

Brave the chilly morning to witness an unforgettable sunrise as the surrounding peaks are lit up in gleaming white. Even if some of your family are not morning people, they won’t want to miss this opportunity. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast then descend from the village to a small stream to begin a series of ascents and descents through rhododendron forest. You’ll first reach Bhantanti, a group of small hotels, for an early lunch before continuing to climb through forest to reach the open ridges at Deurali (2980 m). After a quick tea break, you’ll continue climbing to a ridgeline, from where there are spectacular views of the Dhaulagiri massif, before descending to your overnight stop of Ghorepani.

Day 5 | Ghorepani – Tirkedunga | Walking time: 6 hours

By now, your family will be begging to wake up for sunrise and this morning’s is just as impressive as the others. You’ll watch the sun peak over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges from the world- famous Poon Hill (3210 m). It’s possible to see three 8000-metre peaks if conditions are clear, as well as a sea of smaller snow-capped mountains. It’s one of the highlights of the entire itinerary and worth making the effort to head uphill by torchlight. Afterwards, you’ll return to the lodge for breakfast before making a leisurely start to descend to Nangethanti, walking through a beautiful rhododendron forest.

The afternoon will see your family trekking through the forest to arrive in Ulleri, a small village, before a steep descent leads to the Bhurungdi Khola River. Here, you’ll cross a small suspension bridge to reach Tirkedunga. After settling into your lodge, there’ll be plenty of time to explore the village or perhaps visit the local school, where your kids may be able to play some football or games with the local students.

Day 6 | Tirkedunga – Pokhara | Walking time: 2 hours

An early start this morning means you’ll get the most out of a packed day. From the lodge, walk through the valley to the village of Birethanti and on towards Naya Phul. Here, your family will board a private jeep to return to Pokhara, arriving around lunchtime. The rest of the day is free. Pokhara and Phewa Tal (an alpine lake) are an amazing sight and there’s plenty to do. Perhaps you’ll take a boat ride on the lake, do some shopping at the small market stalls or explore the surrounding trails. If anyone in the family is tired, they may wish to simply relax by the hotel pool instead. In the evening, there’s an option to dine out with your local leader at one of the lakeside restaurants.

Day 7 | Pokhara – Kathmandu

Enjoy breakfast and your final views of Pokhara before transferring to the airport for the short flight to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free for shopping or further sightseeing. If you were short on time at the beginning of the trip, the Bodhnath Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist shrines in the world, while Pashpatinath is the most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal. Both are fantastic sights. In the evening, enjoy a final night out in Kathmandu to celebrate your family adventure through Nepal and the Annapurna.

Day 8 | Finish in Kathmandu

Your family’s Annapurna adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. Your leader will be on hand to assist with any onward travel arrangements and accompany you to the airport. Please note that there are options to extend your itinerary, should you wish, to include an extra day in Pokhara or a side trip to the famous Chitwan National Park to search for one-horned rhinos, crocodiles and the elusive Bengal tiger.

Chitwan National Park extension: details on request.

Visit www.wanderingtheworld.com.au for more information.

Inclusions

• 7 nights accommodation, hotels (3 nights) and lodges (4 nights)
• Private en-suite facilities in hotels (3 nights), shared facilities in lodges during trek (4 nights)
• Luggage identification tags
• Daily breakfast in hotels only
• The services of an expert English-speaking and certified Wilderness First Responder Trek Leader throughout the tour
• Porters on trek along with Assistant Guides where applicable
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure
• Emergency contact details and 24/7 local on-the-ground support
• Pre-departure and ongoing support from Australian office

Luggage, Trekking Gear & Porterage:

• Sleeping Bag: We provide a high quality a sleeping bag for use in the lodges as only a mattress and pillow are provided in the rooms.
• Sheet Liner: An inner sheet for the sleeping bag for extra warmth and your personal hygiene.
• Duvet Jacket: The jacket will mainly be worn around your lodge in the evenings rather than whilst walking during the day.
• Kitbag: A full-length zippered bag for easy stowing of personal gear and for easy carrying by porters.
• Comprehensive Medical Kit on trek

Optional Inclusions

• Single supplement for your own room
• Additional night’s accommodation before or after trip (please advise at time of booking)

Not Included

• Flights (international and domestic to the start of trek)
• Meals – ordered and paid locally to offer a greater selection.
• Travel to trip’s starting point
• Transfers not already outlined in detailed trip itinerary
• Visas
• Tipping

Trip Leader

A trek leader will accompany you on trek and will be on hand in Kathmandu. His main function is to look after your welfare. Our leaders are all experienced trekkers chosen not only for their knowledge of the Himalaya, but perhaps more importantly, for their “people skills”. They are there to ensure you have a safe, informed and enjoyable trek. All our current leaders hold internationally recognised first-aid certificates.

Sherpas/Porters

Our trekking team have many years’ experience working with our groups. They are responsible for the smooth running of the trek, guiding you during the day and preparing excellent for whilst on the trail. The porters carry all equipment and food and they are supplied with additional equipment and clothing by our Nepalese Trekking partners to ensure they are adequately protected on our treks.

Trekking Lodges

The lodges on this trek are basic, yet comfortable, with twin-share rooms. You sleep in your sleeping bag on a bed with foam mattress and pillow provided. Toilet facilities are shared and most have asian style squat toilets. All lodges can provide hot showers and a battery charging service for a small extra fee. All lodges have a comfortable dining room with heaters. Meals are nutritious with plenty of choice but the availability of fresh meat and fruit is variable.

The Trekking Day

Every day varies, according to the route that has been planned and the terrain you will be walking through. Typically, you can expect to leave around 8am, although some days may require an earlier start; your leader will keep you fully informed so that you know what is happening each day. The lunch break is generally around midday; this allows time to rest as well as giving the staff time for a break. The afternoon walk generally finishes around 3pm, so there’s time to explore the area in which you are staying.

Meals in the Lodges

Meals – We know children can have varied preferences when it comes to eating, so no meals have been included on this itinerary.  Meals can be chosen and paid for from the menu, which have a good range of local and western choices.

Breakfast examples                                                                                                                  

Most people would start with porridge/muesli, followed by eggs, toast or local breads and tea or coffee

Lunch                                                                                                                           

This tends to be a lighter meal where you may choose a noodle dish, the old favourite chips with egg, pizza slices or perhaps a fried rice dish. Followed by juice, tea, coffee or soft drinks.

Dinner                                                                                                                        

Soup is usually the choice for most people followed by a main course of  the national dish of dahl baht rice/lentils and vegetables, steamed momo’s, rice and curry, pizza, If you are still hungry then sweets such as rice pudding, cake, apple fritters are available.

Drinking Water

Boiled drinking water is provided at the lodges. We suggest you fill your water bottle in the evening, use it as a hot water bottled through the night. You can refill at any lodge along the trail.

Single supplements are also available so you can enjoy your room with private en-suite. This supplement will apply if you are travelling alone or if there is no gender-share option. You can request a shared room through Wandering the World at the time of booking, however this is not guaranteed.

There are opportunities to upgrade to more luxurious lodgings in many places along the Camino. These are perfect for celebrating special occasions and milestones, or even to enhance your entire journey. We can recommend some very special, unique places to indulge in the Camino hospitality in spectacular style, so please ask us about these options when booking.

THE WALKING

Our Wandering the World Nepal Family trips are all guided for the safety and enjoyment of your walk.  We take into consideration the fitness of the group to determine the slow pace of enjoying the mountains of Nepal, and your guide and assistant guide will be with you every step of the way.

TRIP GRADE

Moderate to Challenging – This itinerary is carefully designed for easy-to-manage walking days that are generally approximately 6 walking hours. However, like all trekking at altitude there are challenging parts and stages due to the possibility of this acute mountain sickness.  The surfaces are fairly even with moderate ascents and descents. A reasonable level of fitness is essential.

Given you only need carry a lightweight day pack, this trip is very manageable, however regardless of your previous walking experience, the altitude can affect your comfort and therefore preparation and training make all our treks much more adaptable and enjoyable.

GROUP SIZE

Wandering the World’s guided groups have a maximum group size of 12 participants. This small group size means that we have the flexibility to stay in a wider range of accommodations, can dine together in the evenings and there are more opportunities to get to know your travelling companions.

WEATHER

The weather and climate in Nepal can vary from region to region and, of course, from day to day. Each season has its own benefits, with long, warm and sunny days in spring and early summer, while early spring and late autumn tend to enjoy cooler walking temperatures. Some sections may be too hot for walking mid-summer, while others are more likely to be wet at certain times, therefore we avoid the monsoon season. The experts at Wandering the World can discuss your preferences and guide you when you are planning your trip.

Once you’ve started your walk, the weather can play an important role in your overall enjoyment of the journey. Checking the forecast can be a great help when planning your days. If you do strike hotter weather, leaving early to avoid the warmest part of the day will make a huge difference.

24/7 SUPPORT & CARE

Your information pack will include details of local emergency contacts and international contacts. We have local, on-the-ground support to provide any assistance you may require and we’ll also check-in with your hotel at the end of each day to ensure that you’ve arrived safely.

GETTING THERE / GETTING HOME

As part of your itinerary, private airport transfers are included for your convenience from and to Kathmandu International Airport.

INSURANCE

Insurance is compulsory for everyone who travels with Wandering the World. The insurance policy must include cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. Wandering the World recommends insurance coverage for cancellation to be taken at the same time your deposit is paid, as no exception to the cancellation provisions can be made.

HELICOPTER EVACUATION

Helicopter evacuations have occasionally been required in an emergency. It is re-assuring to know that this back-up is available. Such evacuations are at the cost of the passenger evacuated. The cost is typically US5,000 to $6,000 depending on location, including service charges. It is for this reason that adequate insurance must be held by all participants on our treks. If an evacuation is effected, you will be invoiced and payment must be effected before departure, either by credit card or by reimbursement through your insurance company.

We will supply to the passenger all necessary copy invoices and supporting statements and documentation to permit the passenger to lodge their claim with their insurance company.

BOOKING AND TRAVEL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Wandering the World’s full booking terms and conditions are available upon request and will also accompany your initial invoice for deposit.