Annapurna Panorama and River: The carefully designed twelve-day itinerary combines the thrill of white-water rafting with the breathtaking experience of viewing the mountain panorama from the Poon Hill viewpoint.
After a sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, we will start the adventure with a scenic 25-minute flight to Pokhara, Nepal’s second most popular tourist destination nestled beneath the snow-crested Annapurna Massif.
From Pokhara, we will reach the Poon Hill viewpoint (3210m) after a three-day trek for the spectacular Himalayan panorama extending from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna and Machhapuchhre.
Upon returning from the trek, we will drive to Damauli for a two-and-a-half-hour journey from Pokhara to start the rafting experience on the Seti River, originating at the southeast slopes of Machhapuchhre Mountain and flowing south.
The Seti River passes through stunning jungle scenery, green hills, and valleys. It is an excellent river for bird watchers and those interested in the abundance of nature found on this trip. This normally gentle river has plenty of small and straightforward rapids. During the monsoon months, the intensity of the rapids increases and attracts a radically different set of rafters. The Seti is an ideal trip for those wanting to experience some of the stunning river scenery in Nepal without the intensity of complex or challenging rapids. It is also very well suited for family trips, and this relatively small volume, blue, and warm water, is a “warm-up” river for intermediate Kayakers.
Annapurna Panorama and River Equipment lists
- Daypack above 40 liters. (Must be waterproof)
- Down jacket (rental available)
- Warm sleeping bag (rental available)
- Sun head, gulf cap, sunglasses, headlamp, and torchlight.
- Ear-muffs, sun Lotions/sun cream.
- One pair of liner gloves is thin wool and synthetic.
- Cotton t-shirts, Synthetic t-shirt.
- Two Long sleeve polyester or synthetic lightweight for sunny days.
- One Soft-shell jacket water & wind resist.
- One swimming dress.
- Inner clothes as your requirement.
- Liner socks, woolen socks.
- Proper trekking shoes.
- Imodium or Pepto Bismo capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Diamox for altitude sickness. The guide will help you to take it.
- One small personal-sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as moleskin, bands, anti-infection ointments, muscle relief ointments.
Important Note:
Your safety is of paramount importance to us at the Female Guide Holiday. We have the absolute authority to cancel the trip or change the itinerary, when deemed necessary or when we have reason to believe your safety is at stake. Weather conditions, the health condition of a group member, natural disasters, and such, can contribute to changes in the itinerary when traveling in remote mountainous regions. In these extreme situations, we kindly request that you offer your full cooperation to the trusted leader of the group appointed by the Female Guide Holiday. However, we assure you that we will make every effort to keep to the above itinerary.
Itinerary
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where our representative will warmly welcome you and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Meals: NO
After breakfast, we will depart from the hotel for a full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, also known as the "city of glory." Our first stop will be Durbar (Palace) Square, the heart of religious and cultural life in the area. This location is filled with old temples and holds historical significance with its impressive Newari architecture. Some of the key sights to see include Kal Bhairav, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap, and Kumari Ghar, which is home to the Living Goddess. Following this, we will visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world, majestically situated on a hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley.
Our next destination will be Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This vast temple complex is located next to the sacred Bagmati River. Please note that only Hindus are permitted to enter the temple courtyard, but tourists can view the temple from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River.
To conclude our tour, we will visit Boudhanath, a Buddhist Stupa known to be one of the largest in the world. This grand structure stands tall, with four pairs of eyes, each facing the four cardinal directions, symbolizing the watchful guidance for righteous behavior and human prosperity.
Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner
After having breakfast at the hotel, we take a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu Airport to Pokhara. In Pokhara, you have an entire day for leisure activities. Meals: Breakfast
After having breakfast, we will drive 41km (25 miles) to Nayapul to begin our trek. We'll start with a steep trail leading from Nayapul down to a bridge over a small stream, which will take us to Birethanti, a large and prosperous village. At the ACAP Checkpost in Birethanti, we will need to present our ACAP permit and TIMS Card before taking the left branch of the trail on the west side of the bridge. We will then follow the trail through the main streets of Birethanti, passing through bamboo forests, a large waterfall, and a swimming hole, until we reach Sudami, which is located beyond a pasture used by caravans. From there, we will steadily climb up the side of the valley to reach Hille. About 15 minutes above Hille, we will arrive at Tikhedhunga. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
This is a 4-6 hour trek that starts by crossing the Tikhedhunga Khola on a suspension bridge. Then, the trail drops and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola on a large bridge at 1520m. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase, which is said to have more than 3300 steps. It continues to the large Magar village of Ulleri (2080m), climbing gently through pastures and cultivated fields. The trail then makes its way through deep forests, passing a hamlet of Banthanti. After crossing magnificent oak and rhododendron forests, the trail passes through two sparkling clear streams, a small ridge, and another stream before making a final climb to another Magar village of Nangathanti (2460m). About an hour past this village, we reach Ghorepani, where we can see eight different species of Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendron, in the hillsides below Ghorepani. Meals provided are Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
After about an hour's climb in the morning, we will reach Poon Hill, which is a viewpoint for the spectacular Himalayan panorama. The view extends from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna to Machhapuchhre and includes Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Tukuche (6920m), Nilgiri (6940m), Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8091m), Hiunchuli (6441m), and Tarke Kang (7193m). We will return to Ghorepani for the night stay. Meals provided will include Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Retracing our way back down, we trek to Tikhedhunga and then continue to Nayapul, from where we will drive back to Pokhara. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
We drive for two and a half hours to Damauli. Once the rafts are rigged, we will set off down the Seti River. We will spend all of our time within its forested canyon. The rich vegetation we see is a remnant of the vast forested area that once covered the middle hills of Nepal. Travelling by raft is a perfect way to view undisturbed wildlife and enjoy bird-watching. When we stop for lunch, we will have time to explore, take photographs, swim, or relax. Later in the afternoon, we will encounter a small but technical rapid at Sarang Ghat. The Sarang Ghat village is a colorful middle hill village occupied by two ethnic groups, Gurungs and Magars. For the night stay, we will set up a camp below the village on the left bank of the Seti River. Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
We arrived at Gaighat, the take-out point of the Seti River rafting adventure, where we'll be enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After returning from Devghat to Kathmandu, we will drop you off at the hotel. This is a leisure day, so you can take the opportunity to buy gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening, you are invited to join a farewell event where you can review great photos and share experiences from the trip. Meals provided will include breakfast and a farewell dinner.
Say your goodbyes to Nepal and the friends you made throughout your journey. Our representative will pick you up 3 hours before your flight departs and transport you to the airport. If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drives at national parks, rafting, mountain biking, or tours to Tibet, India, or Bhutan.