Annapurna Balcony Trek (12 Days)

Annapurna Balcony Trek. Trekking 8 days of magnificent walk, not so difficult, that lets you to come closer to high Himalayan peaks. The panorama of snow-capped peaks reaching as high as 7000m and sometimes even as high as 8000m cuts your breath short. Along the hills and through the cultivated terraced fields and forests you will come across a variety of ethnic villages and will find from closer look the well-preserved culture and tradition of the mountain people. An authentic trek where the lofty mountains accompany you for 8 days.
Out of many identified trekking trails, Annapurna Balcony Trek is the trail identified and developed by traveler himself. The trail passes through many major VDCs and holds immense potential of trekking and hiking activities. Annapurna Balcony Trek offers vegetation and indigenous lifestyles and culture of the local.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel

Day 02 : Kathmandu sightseeing and Trek preparation.

Day 03: Kathmandu to Pokhara.

Day 04: Drive to Nayapul (1050m)and trek to Tikhedhunga (1577m)

Day 05: Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani (2850m) 6hours walk

Day 06: Early in morning, Excursion to Poon Hill (3200m) and trek to Tadapani (2616m)

Day 07: Tadapani – Chhumrung (1950m)

Day 08: Chhumrung – Ghandruk(1900m)

Day 09: Ghandruk to Nayapul to pokhara.

Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu:

Day 11: Kathmandu sightseeing and shopping

Day 12: Last day of Yours Trip.

Detail Itinerary

Day 01:  Arrival Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel

You will be welcomed by the boss of  company at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1300m).After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our company display board at the arrival gate. You will be transfer to Hotel. After check in, you will visit our office; meet your trekking guide as well as other participants. Later in the evening we will organize a “Welcome Dinner” at an excellent Touristic Restaurant where you will enjoy  with a fine meal. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 : Kathmandu sightseeing and Trek preparation.

Full day of sightseeing in the very famous capital, Kathmandu.We will be visit the famous heritage sites in Kathmandu.

Morning:

We will start from your hotel by a morning walk in the blocked alleyways of Kathmandu. Your first contact with the smiling Nepalese people.We begin to cross the nice area of Thamel, full of nice shops, bars and restaurants.

We will see during this walk many temples and stupas: it will be for you the beginning of religious lessons, making the difference between Buddhists stupas and Hindu temples. You will discover with a great surprise how these two religions live together.

We will make a stop at Thahiti Tole, then in front of Kathesimbhu stupa. Always meeting statues and local shops (suits, spices, incenses, and so on) and listening the noise of bells (and of horns), we will see Asan Tole with wonderful Hindu temples.Then Indra Chowk and Pyaphal Tole.After 2 hours of walk and of wonder, we will arrive at Durbar Square.

All the most important monuments of the city are in this area. You will be filled with wonder by all these numerous such majestic and so ancient temples registered in the Heritage of the UNESCO. It is possible to spend hours, sat on the walk of one of these monuments, admiring architecture, considering the animation of places, dreaming.We will take lunch at the top of a restaurant, with a great plunging view .

Afternoon.

You will begin the afternoon by another walk in the streets of Kathmandu, to look at the real face of this city, with local buildings and narrow streets.Then we will arrive at Swayambunath Stupa (Monkey Temple). It is said that Swayambunath Stupa is more than 2,000 years old, and it symbolizes knowledge. At the summit of this hill, the painted eyes on all four sides symbolize the all-seeing power of Buddha. It is an important Buddhist place where pilgrims from all over the world.

From this place we can have a wonderful panoramic view on all the capital. So great at the end of the day, with the sunset.We will come back hotel by bus.

Evening: Time for you to prepare the trek and we introduce in front of you our crew members. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Kathmandu to Pokhara.

Today after breakfast, we start our drive to go Pokhara. It takes six hours drive. Better to hold on the left pane of the vehicle to enjoy the sceneries through the route. Upon arrival in Pokhara.Evening we will have the pleasure of Mt Machhapuchhare and its shadow in Phewa lake.  Overnight at hotel.

 Day 04: Drive to Nayapul (1050m)and trek to Tikhedhunga (1577m)

After having a nice breakfast drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (42km). It takes one hour half by private vehicle. Today the drive gives you wonderful chance to see the view of full of Pokhara valley with Annapurna and Fishtail in background. Start walk from Nayapul, After half-hour walk stop for lunch at Birethanti. After having lunch we will walk easily for two hours following the Bhurendi Khola,you will meet Gurung Village, people are busy in their field. The nature is pretty to see. As soon as you reach to Bhuk Deurali the trail leads you up hill towards Tikhedhunga . Over night at Tikhedhunga in lodge.

Day 05:  Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani (2850m) 6hours walk

After morning breakfast trek start to Ghorepani. It takes six hours walk. Today, starting walk quiet three hours is serious up hill through village and terrace. After one and half-hour walk you will get chance to view Annapurna South (7219m) and Himchuli (6444m). That view does not move away from your eyes for another one and half-hour. The place named Banthanti is our lunch stop for that day just before the forest walk. After lunch walk throuth Rhododendron, Bamboo, Pine forest makes your walk more interesting even you chance to see  white Monkeys and birds around. The walk that feel little bit difficult but that is great experience and good for next day because next morning the Poon Hill (3200m) is great view point for 12 peaks including Dhaulagiri (8167m), very close view of Annapurna South (7219m), Machhapuchhre (6993m) and other more peaks. Specially the spring season is very great time to visit because the forest with colorful Rhododendron flowers makes you proud feeling. Overnight at lodge.

Day 06:  Early in morning, Excursion to Poon Hill (3200m) and trek to Tadapani (2616m)

Today wake up early in the morning, after having Tea continue one hours walk up to Poon Hill at Sunrise time observe the fantastic view, take photos, have great experience and back to Ghorepani. In Ghorepani we have a warms breakfast and continue walk towards Tadapani. The trail leads up hill for one  hours through jungle that walk provides you great view of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Himchuli and Fishtail. After Reaching Gurung Hill (3290m) the trail goes down to Deurali (3100m) and Banthanti the lunch spot of tha day, most of the walk day is through  Jungle. After having lunch at Bhanthanti another one hour to go up hill to Tadapani. It is also another wonderful view point. The town of Tadapani is small newly build business center with 10-12 lodges. Overnight at Lodge.

Day 07:  Tadapani – Chhumrung (1950m)

After breakfast trek start from Tadapani to Chhumrung (1950m). it takes five hours walk. Today,the trail steep down to Kyuru Khola. Crossing a suspension Brodge, we will stop for lunch at Gurung Village. After lunch we have to walk gradual up and flat way to Chhomorong Village. At Chhomorong you will fine only Gurung ethnic. Overnight at lodge.

Day 08: Chhumrung – Ghandruk(1900m)

After having breakfast,trek start from Chhumrung to Ghandruk(1900m). it takes four hours walk. This day,we will be by down broad trail to Kyamnu Khola,crossing the river. You climb steep up to Deurali Bhanjyang. Then stop for lunch. After lunch trek to Ghandruk Village. This is village has more then 350houses. Ghandruk Village lies in front of Annapurna Himalayan. They have own culture,traditional dresses and living style is very intresting to know. Overnight at Lodge.

Day 09: Ghandruk to Nayapul to pokhara.

After breakfast, today, we trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul then drive to Pokhara. We walk 4 hours to reach Nayapul.The trek is downhill all the way to Birethanti. We step onto a staircase paved with stone slabs, curving in and out of the village and then terraced farms. It keeps going down almost without breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. By the time we arrive at Birethanti(1100m), where we will stop for lunch. Some of us would feel like having made a downhill marathon. But our marathon is not over yet. From Birethanti, a half-an-hours walk takes us to Naya Pul. The journey on foot comes to end at Nayapul. Then we drive from Nayapul to Pokhara with local Bus. It takes one hour drive. Hotel near the lake. Overnight at Guesthouse

Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu:

After breakfast, Till afternoon, you may take an optional sightseeing tour as most of the popular destination of Pokhara including David’s fall (Patale Chango), Mahindra Cave, World Peace Stupa, enjoy adventure activities such as boating, paragliding etc.

Afternoon drive back to Kathmandu. It takes approximately 6 hours.

Overnight at Kathmandu hotel.

Day 11: Kathmandu sightseeing and shopping

After breakfast, we will take local bus to go Pashupatinath. it takes 40 minutes then we visit Pashupatinath. This temple, classified in the heritage of the UNESCO, is very famous among the Hindus of the whole world. We discover the ghats where take place in the rituals of cremation, according to Hindu tradition, along the sacred river Bagmati. This river throwing itself into the Ganges, a cremation in this place get the same symbolic value as in Varanasi. Stakes and bodies are orientated northward, towards the Himalayas, which is the cradle of the Hindu Gods. Don’t take pictures: meditate simply some minutes in the sense of this earth life, and impregnate you with this ambience, so strange according to our Western values.

 

The access to the Golden temple is only reserved for the Hindus, but it is possible to discover it on the bank of opposite, easy sat on one of the terraces. Both footbridges which cross this river allow to achieve a big series of stone terraces, adorned with dozens sanctuaries of Shiva. We will cross there surely numerous sadhus.

Then we take the hill up, in the middle of monkeys’ cloud. We go down towards the imposing temple of Guhyeshwari, where only the Hindus can visit it.

After the crossing of a small hanging bridge, we walk to another site of worldwide heritage: Boudhanath. During this walk, we can see the various lifestyles and styles of houses of this city. We also cross numerous shops: here is the true life of the inhabitants of the capital!

After 30 minutes, we arrive at Boudhanath, which is the seat of the Tibetan community having run away in Nepal in 1959″,. Millions of Buddhists visit every year this sacred place. Will be possible to us remain insensible to the extraordinary charm of this very spellbinding place!

This large esplanade is encircled with many shops and thirty Tibetan monasteries with marvelous gilding. Let’s make turn at pleasure mills, the smallest and the biggest! Which extraordinary vision to see all these believers, young people and old, turning continuously around imposing stupa, by singing mantras, by lighting lamps with oil, and by prostrating itself.

This Stupa, of 100 meters of circumference, was undoubtedly constructed at origin in the 7th century. This huge mandala is of an absolute favor. The dome whitened persistently in the lime constitutes the plinth of the gold arrow (to 13 degrees) adorned with the fabulous eyes of Buddha. Every thing makes an absolute harmony.

It is possible to enter inside the surrounding wall of the Stupa and to walk on one of the terraces.

We take lunch in Boudhanath, on the terrace of a panoramic restaurant, with plunging view on the Stupa and you will be again fascinated by the eyes of Buddha which encircle you at all times! Here is a celestial environment for you!

In the afternoon, leisure to go shopping in search of different gifts for your family and your friends, in Boudhanath and in Thamel.

In the evening, we perform a “farewell dinner” with all members of this walking.

Night at hotel of Kathmandu.

Day 12:  Last day of Yours Trip.

It’s time to enjoy a bit of Kathmandu and the ultimate view of the great mountains! Free time in Kathmandu and transfer to the airport two hours before departure of your flight home, after a final goodbye! On the way back, you’ll have time to plan a new adventure in Nepal, that country so magical!

Detail Itinerary

Day 01:  Arrival Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel
You will be welcomed by the boss of  company at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1300m).After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our company display board at the arrival gate. You will be transfer to Hotel. After check in, you will visit our office; meet your trekking guide as well as other participants. Later in the evening we will organize a “Welcome Dinner” at an excellent Touristic Restaurant where you will enjoy  with a fine meal. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 : Kathmandu sightseeing and Trek preparation.

Full day of sightseeing in the very famous capital, Kathmandu.We will be visit the famous heritage sites in Kathmandu.

Morning:

We will start from your hotel by a morning walk in the blocked alleyways of Kathmandu. Your first contact with the smiling Nepalese people.We begin to cross the nice area of Thamel, full of nice shops, bars and restaurants.

We will see during this walk many temples and stupas: it will be for you the beginning of religious lessons, making the difference between Buddhists stupas and Hindu temples. You will discover with a great surprise how these two religions live together.

We will make a stop at Thahiti Tole, then in front of Kathesimbhu stupa. Always meeting statues and local shops (suits, spices, incenses, and so on) and listening the noise of bells (and of horns), we will see Asan Tole with wonderful Hindu temples.Then Indra Chowk and Pyaphal Tole.After 2 hours of walk and of wonder, we will arrive at Durbar Square.

All the most important monuments of the city are in this area. You will be filled with wonder by all these numerous such majestic and so ancient temples registered in the Heritage of the UNESCO. It is possible to spend hours, sat on the walk of one of these monuments, admiring architecture, considering the animation of places, dreaming.We will take lunch at the top of a restaurant, with a great plunging view .

Afternoon.

You will begin the afternoon by another walk in the streets of Kathmandu, to look at the real face of this city, with local buildings and narrow streets.Then we will arrive at Swayambunath Stupa (Monkey Temple). It is said that Swayambunath Stupa is more than 2,000 years old, and it symbolizes knowledge. At the summit of this hill, the painted eyes on all four sides symbolize the all-seeing power of Buddha. It is an important Buddhist place where pilgrims from all over the world.

From this place we can have a wonderful panoramic view on all the capital. So great at the end of the day, with the sunset.We will come back hotel by bus.

Evening: Time for you to prepare the trek and we introduce in front of you our crew members. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Kathmandu to Pokhara.

today after breakfast, we start our drive to go Pokhara. It takes six hours drive. Better to hold on the left pane of the vehicle to enjoy the sceneries through the route. Upon arrival in Pokhara.Evening we will have the pleasure of Mt Machhapuchhare and its shadow in Phewa lake.  Overnight at hotel.

 Day 04: Drive to Nayapul (1050m)and trek to Tikhedhunga (1577m)

After having a nice breakfast drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (42km). It takes one hour half by private vehicle. Today the drive gives you wonderful chance to see the view of full of Pokhara valley with Annapurna and Fishtail in background. Start walk from Nayapul, After half-hour walk stop for lunch at Birethanti. After having lunch we will walk easily for two hours following the Bhurendi Khola,you will meet Gurung Village, people are busy in their field. The nature is pretty to see. As soon as you reach to Bhuk Deurali the trail leads you up hill towards Tikhedhunga . Over night at Tikhedhunga in lodge.

Day 05:  Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani (2850m) 6hours walk

After morning breakfast trek start to Ghorepani. It takes six hours walk. Today, starting walk quiet three hours is serious up hill through village and terrace. After one and half-hour walk you will get chance to view Annapurna South (7219m) and Himchuli (6444m). That view does not move away from your eyes for another one and half-hour. The place named Banthanti is our lunch stop for that day just before the forest walk. After lunch walk throuth Rhododendron, Bamboo, Pine forest makes your walk more interesting even you chance to see  white Monkeys and birds around. The walk that feel little bit difficult but that is great experience and good for next day because next morning the Poon Hill (3200m) is great view point for 12 peaks including Dhaulagiri (8167m), very close view of Annapurna South (7219m), Machhapuchhre (6993m) and other more peaks. Specially the spring season is very great time to visit because the forest with colorful Rhododendron flowers makes you proud feeling. Overnight at lodge.

Day 06:  Early in morning, Excursion to Poon Hill (3200m) and trek to Tadapani (2616m)

Today wake up early in the morning, after having Tea continue one hours walk up to Poon Hill at Sunrise time observe the fantastic view, take photos, have great experience and back to Ghorepani. In Ghorepani we have a warms breakfast and continue walk towards Tadapani. The trail leads up hill for one  hours through jungle that walk provides you great view of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Himchuli and Fishtail. After Reaching Gurung Hill (3290m) the trail goes down to Deurali (3100m) and Banthanti the lunch spot of tha day, most of the walk day is through  Jungle. After having lunch at Bhanthanti another one hour to go up hill to Tadapani. It is also another wonderful view point. The town of Tadapani is small newly build business center with 10-12 lodges. Overnight at Lodge.

Day 07:  Tadapani – Chhumrung (1950m)

After breakfast trek start from Tadapani to Chhumrung (1950m). it takes five hours walk. Today,the trail steep down to Kyuru Khola. Crossing a suspension Brodge, we will stop for lunch at Gurung Village. After lunch we have to walk gradual up and flat way to Chhomorong Village. At Chhomorong you will fine only Gurung ethnic. Overnight at lodge.

Day 08: Chhumrung – Ghandruk(1900m)

After having breakfast,trek start from Chhumrung to Ghandruk(1900m). it takes four hours walk. This day,we will be by down broad trail to Kyamnu Khola,crossing the river. You climb steep up to Deurali Bhanjyang. Then stop for lunch. After lunch trek to Ghandruk Village. This is village has more then 350houses. Ghandruk Village lies in front of Annapurna Himalayan. They have own culture,traditional dresses and living style is very intresting to know. Overnight at Lodge.

 Day 09: Ghandruk to Nayapul to pokhara.

After breakfast, today, we trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul then drive to Pokhara. We walk 4 hours to reach Nayapul.The trek is downhill all the way to Birethanti. We step onto a staircase paved with stone slabs, curving in and out of the village and then terraced farms. It keeps going down almost without breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. By the time we arrive at Birethanti(1100m), where we will stop for lunch. Some of us would feel like having made a downhill marathon. But our marathon is not over yet. From Birethanti, a half-an-hours walk takes us to Naya Pul. The journey on foot comes to end at Nayapul. Then we drive from Nayapul to Pokhara with local Bus. It takes one hour drive. Hotel near the lake. Overnight at Guesthouse

Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu: 
After breakfast, Till afternoon, you may take an optional sightseeing tour as most of the popular destination of Pokhara including David’s fall (Patale Chango), Mahindra Cave, World Peace Stupa, enjoy adventure activities such as boating, paragliding etc.

Afternoon drive back to Kathmandu. It takes approximately 6 hours.

Overnight at Kathmandu hotel.

Day 11: Kathmandu sightseeing and shopping

After breakfast, we will take local bus to go Pashupatinath. it takes 40 minutes then we visit Pashupatinath. This temple, classified in the heritage of the UNESCO, is very famous among the Hindus of the whole world. We discover the ghats where take place in the rituals of cremation, according to Hindu tradition, along the sacred river Bagmati. This river throwing itself into the Ganges, a cremation in this place get the same symbolic value as in Varanasi. Stakes and bodies are orientated northward, towards the Himalayas, which is the cradle of the Hindu Gods. Don’t take pictures: meditate simply some minutes in the sense of this earth life, and impregnate you with this ambience, so strange according to our Western values.

The access to the Golden temple is only reserved for the Hindus, but it is possible to discover it on the bank of opposite, easy sat on one of the terraces. Both footbridges which cross this river allow to achieve a big series of stone terraces, adorned with dozens sanctuaries of Shiva. We will cross there surely numerous sadhus.

Then we take the hill up, in the middle of monkeys’ cloud. We go down towards the imposing temple of Guhyeshwari, where only the Hindus can visit it.

After the crossing of a small hanging bridge, we walk to another site of worldwide heritage: Boudhanath. During this walk, we can see the various lifestyles and styles of houses of this city. We also cross numerous shops: here is the true life of the inhabitants of the capital!

After 30 minutes, we arrive at Boudhanath, which is the seat of the Tibetan community having run away in Nepal in 1959″,. Millions of Buddhists visit every year this sacred place. Will be possible to us remain insensible to the extraordinary charm of this very spellbinding place!

This large esplanade is encircled with many shops and thirty Tibetan monasteries with marvelous gilding. Let’s make turn at pleasure mills, the smallest and the biggest! Which extraordinary vision to see all these believers, young people and old, turning continuously around imposing stupa, by singing mantras, by lighting lamps with oil, and by prostrating itself.

This Stupa, of 100 meters of circumference, was undoubtedly constructed at origin in the 7th century. This huge mandala is of an absolute favor. The dome whitened persistently in the lime constitutes the plinth of the gold arrow (to 13 degrees) adorned with the fabulous eyes of Buddha. Every thing makes an absolute harmony.

It is possible to enter inside the surrounding wall of the Stupa and to walk on one of the terraces.

We take lunch in Boudhanath, on the terrace of a panoramic restaurant, with plunging view on the Stupa and you will be again fascinated by the eyes of Buddha which encircle you at all times! Here is a celestial environment for you!

In the afternoon, leisure to go shopping in search of different gifts for your family and your friends, in Boudhanath and in Thamel.

In the evening, we perform a “farewell dinner” with all members of this walking.

Night at hotel of Kathmandu.

Day 12:  Last day of Yours Trip.

It’s time to enjoy a bit of Kathmandu and the ultimate view of the great mountains! Free time inKathmandu and transfer to the airport two hours before departure of your flight home, after a finalgoodbye! On the way back, you’ll have time to plan a new adventure in Nepal, that country so magical!

Trekking price based on group participants.

Trekking Ref. No. ANN-8N

Price Per Person Price in Euro
2 to 3 Participants 840 €
4 to 6 Participants 780 €
7 to 9 Participants 680 €
10 to … Participants 620 €

“For a group size more than 10 persons, a group leader will be offered as complementary by company or if the group has own leader, he/she will be offered the trek free of cost.”

Trip Cost Includes

All airport/hotel transfers

Four nights 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast and two nights hotel in Pokhara

Welcome and farewell dinner

Accommodation during trek in lodge/guesthouse/teahouse

Two full days sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley including tour guide and entrance fees

All ground transportation as per itinerary in private vehicle

An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide), assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging

All necessary paper work and permits (National park permit, TIMS )

A comprehensive medical kit

All government and local taxes

Trip Cost Does Not Include

Nepal Visa fee (bring small denomination USD cash and two passport photographs)

International airfare to and from Kathmandu

Excess baggage charges

Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu(and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)

Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary

Travel and rescue insurance

Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, etc)

Tips for guides and porters

Note: All participants have to give a copy of their insurance, with the address, tel and fax number of insurance company. This insurance has to cover the helicopter rescue in case of accident or sickness. In case of your insurance don’t cover helicopter rescue, you have to fill a form in Kathmandu and make agreement that you will pay yourself the amount of expenses paid by Nepal Assemble Treks for your helicopter rescue or research. Without this agreement, you cannot participate in trek.


In The trek
 the guide is allowed to change the itinerary, depending of the weather, climate and the physical condition of participants. Each participant who stop his trek or make changes any form of program may not ask any money compensation to the agency.

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