More info page for Poohill and Annapurna base camp (ABC)

 

​GETTING THERE: Return international flight to Kathmandu on days one and ten of the tour - we will provide airport transfer to and from Kathmandu international airport. (INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED)

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NEPAL IS NOW OPEN: entry is possible without quarantine for both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. The following entry procedure applies.

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• For vaccinated persons: Show Covid certificate (fully vaccinated, 2nd vaccination dose must be done more than 14 days before travel). PCR test is no longer necessary after 10.3.2022!

 

• For unvaccinated persons: Negative PCR test for entry (not older than 72 hours before departure).

• Completion of an online health questionnaire from CCMC Nepal.

• Upon entry in Kathmandu, a Corona rapid test may be taken at the airport. Visas on Arrival are available now for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Update for unvaccinated persons Unvaccinated travellers are also allowed to enter Nepal without quarantine from March 14, 2022. It requires a negative PCR test, see above.

 

Important: Entry requirements are valid as of today and may change at short notice. We will update you as soon as we get the new information.

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Nepal launched the Online visa application system in January 2014. For more information and updates, please visit the department’s official website: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

 

VISA ON ARRIVAL: The good news is that entry requirements for Nepal are quite simple and straightforward for most travellers. Indian nationals do not need a tourist visa to visit the country, and most other tourists can obtain a 15, 30, or 90 day visa upon arrival. This also applies to visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, and most other Western European countries.

 

When you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will need to fill out an arrival card and have your photo taken at one of the automated registration machines - to save time, you can do this in advance online (this must be done less than 15 days before your arrival). If you wait until you arrive in Kathmandu to do this, expect the process to take over an hour and you will have to wait in line for a long time.

 

Once the paperwork is done, you will need to pay a visa fee at the counter of US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days. Children under the age of 10 do not need to pay for their tourist visa unless they are US citizens. Various currencies are accepted as payment, but it is advisable to bring small bills. Finally, go to the immigration counter with your arrival form, payment receipt and passport and enjoy Nepal.

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 Visa Requirements:

• A valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background.

• Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar, and Japanese Yen.

• Credit card payment, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fees. The following visa fees have come into effect from 17 July 2019 (as per the Nepal Government’s decision made on 26 May 2019. Source: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/post/notice-regarding-visa-fee-updates

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AFTER THE TRIP: We arrive back in Kathmandu on day nine to relax and wind down from the trek; included are one night's accommodation and airport transfers on day ten. If you wish to stay longer, you can book extra nights at your own expense.

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PLEASE NOTE: Minimum numbers of 6 are required for this trip to go ahead; please hold flight booking international flights until six weeks before departure. 

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TRAVEL INSURANCE: You must provide a copy of your international travel insurance. When making the final payment for this trip please reply to the confirmation email with your payment confirmation and a copy of your international travel insurance.

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WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR: Our trips are gender-inclusive; if you are young at heart and free-spirited, you are perfect for our adventures! In saying this, the average age of our groups is 20-55 years old.

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IMPORTANT!! PLEASE PACK LIGHT: Please note: that each person will have a baggage allowance of 10kg on the hike carried by our porters. Anything over this weight allowance will have to be carried by the individual. If you wish to store language at the hotel in Kathmandu, We can be arranged at an extra expense. Please pack a cloth bag to pack your hiking gear for the porter. Each porter will carry 20kg. 

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TIPPING: While we pay fair rates to our Nepalese team, tipping is very much a part of the Nepalese culture. Assuming the experience was excellent, a good rule of thumb when trekking is to tip the equivalent of $5 - $10 per day for your guides and $3 to $6 per day for porters. 

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WHAT DOES THIS INCLUDE:

 

Includes:

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ABC

• Eleven nights' accommodation

• Three Days( breakfast only) Kathmandu and Pokhara

• Eight days 3 x meal + hot drinks per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) on trek

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POONHILL

• Nine nights' accommodation

• Three Days( breakfast only)

• Seven days 3 x meal + hot drinks per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) 

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BOTH

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• Airport pick-up and drop-off (for domestic and international flights)

• Domestic return flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara

• English-speaking local Mountain Guide

• Daily yoga and meditation practice with an experienced yoga teacher

• 1 x porter per 2 people (each porter can carry up to 20 Kilos)

• Transport from Pokhara and return

• First Aid Kits

• TIMS Card: Entry into Annapurna conservation area.

• Permit Card

 

Excludes:

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• Extra drinks, snacks

• Tips for guide and porter

• Travel Insurance

• International Flights

• Trekking gear and yoga mat

• Anything on the packing list

 

Packing list

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• Supportive hiking daypack (preferably with water bladder)

• Sunglasses and hat 

• One pair of shorts 

• One pair of comfortable hiking pants for the end of every day

• T-shirts

• A warm long, sleeve shirt

• Comfortable socks & underwear (Some tea houses have fire pits, and you can hand wash & dry your clothing and dry by the fire.)

• Comfortable hiking boots

• Lightweight travel yoga mat

• Waterproof jacket

• Extra warm, lightweight down jacket

• Head-torch / flashlight

• Microfiber towel

• A sleeping bag liner (blankets will be provided for extra warmth) sleeping bag will be provided however, you may choose to bring your own.

• First aid kit (ibuprofen, band-aids, Imodium, toilet paper, sunscreen, hand sanitiser)

• Bug spray & sunscreen

• lip balm

• Camera

• Local currency

• swimwear for hot springs

• Plastic bag for wet clothes

• Snacks (along the way, you can buy Pringles, chocolate bars and biscuits, but they are $$)​

• Photocopy of passport ( required for TIMS permits)

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ABC: Please bring extra warm clothing for ABC. It can get extremely cold at night, high in high elevations.

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Please note:  Be mindful of our porter's 10kg limit per person on the trek. Anything over 10kg should be left at the Kathmandu guesthouse and can be pickup upon return. 

 

Our team brings along a basic first aid kit, but we recommend you also carry the following :

Ibuprofen painkillers, Diamox for altitude sickness, personal prescriptions as required, diarrhoea tablets, rash cream, basic toiletries, wet wipes, and hand sanitiser. Women, please remember sanitary wear as tampons and sanitary pads may not be able to be purchased at the guest houses. 

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SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

 

You will know that we love dress-up if you have seen the YAMA Instagram @yamamovement. Because we have limited space for packing on this trip, we will make the theme simple (Bring a funny hat). You can also purchase some incredible and outrageous beenies in Kathmandu city. 

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ITINERARY

 

 

 

Poonhill

 

 

 

Day 01 - Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport

 

You will be greeted and transferred to Shankar hotel Kathmandu for a Meet & Greet and overnight stay. The city of Kathmandu sits at 1400m above sea level and is buzzing with life; the local people will always greet you with a smile and have a very kind and welcoming nature. You will have some free time to explore and discover Kathmandu's incredibly diverse and historic city on day one.

 

Walking time: No walk on this day

Elevation: 1400m 

Terrain: City

 

 

Day 02 - Kathmandu to Pokhara to Tikhedhunga

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Departure time - 6.30 am domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara 

(25min flight). Drive to Nayapul (1577m) 2.5-hour drive

 

From Pokhara city, we will travel via Jeep for approximately 2.5 hours to Nayapul. From here, the Poon Hill journey on foot begins!

The first stretch of the journey is an easy walk on a dirt road along a beautiful river. Here we will see glimpses of the mystical Himalayan peaks and lush green mountain surroundings.

We will be passing local villages while taking in the Nepalese mountainside life and culture. Day 1 is a four-hour trek that ends at Tikhedhunga Tea House, where we will be staying the night. This guest house is a quaint and comfortable space, situated at 1527m. We will have a warm lunch and then stretch out our muscles with a yoga class catered explicitly to long-distance walking. Yoga will be followed by sunset meditation and dinner.

 

Walking time: 4 hours

Elevation: 1480m 

Terrain: Gentle inclines, well-defined paths, riverbank trails.

 

 

Day 03 -Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani

 

We will wake up for sunrise meditation to prepare the body and mind for a day of uphill walking, followed by a delicious mountain breakfast.

Day three begins with a steep climb to Ulleri, a village at the height of 2,070m. The track continues to ascend slightly from this point as we pass by oak and rhododendron forests, home to langur monkeys and musk deer. We are eventually making our way to Banthanti at 2,250m.

From this point, we will walk to reach Nangethanti situated at 2,460m. With just one hour further to walk from Nangethanti, we will reach Ghorepani (2,840m).

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Ghorepani will reward you with spectacular views of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Nilgiri (6940m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and more. Here we will sleep overnight at another cosy guesthouse.

This is probably the most difficult day of the trek given that the trail only increases in elevation; however, there is no better reward than a close-up view of the Himalayas. Simply breathtaking!

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Walking time: 5 - 6 hours

Elevation: 2850m 

Terrain: Stone staircase, 3300 steps, steep inclines.

 
 

Day 04 - Ghorepani to Poon Hill

 

The most important day of the trek, we will commence walking early in the morning with a 45 min hike to Poon Hill view point and witness the dreamlike moment of the first sun rays upon the spectacular Himalayan giants. Here you will witness the art of nature in its best form with a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains illuminated by the sun's light.

From the Poon Hill viewpoint, we will be lucky enough to set eyes upon Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Mt. Annapurna I

(8,091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Mt. Nilgiri (7,040m), Annapurna South (7219m), Himchuli (6441m), Lamjung Himal (6,986m), fishtail or Machhapuchhre(6,997m), and more.

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Be camera ready for this point in our trek!

 

We will be walking back to Ghorepani to sleep once more and will wind down with yoga, meditation and a warm mountain meal.

Only a short walk on day three of the tour gives you the opportunity to rest your legs after day three 3300 steps (optional village tour is available on this day). 

 

Walking time: 2 hours

Elevation: 3210m 

Terrain: steep incline and jungle paths.

 

Day 05 -Poon Hill to Tadapani

 

Today would be used to trek to Poon Hill if the weather on day four did not permit. Since this is the highlight of the trip and one of the most spectacular viewpoints, it would be a shame to travel all this way not to see it.

If Poon Hill viewpoint were a success on day four, you would have an option to see it again or spend the day discovering local villages and other mountain trails (based on the choice of the group).

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We will trek to Tadapani to sleep, regardless of what we did in the early morning. Tadapani flaunts the stunning views of Annapurna South (7219m), Machhapuchhre (6993m) and Himchuli. You may also see some wild yak on your journey. We will spend the night at another cosy guesthouse.

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Walking time: 5 - 6 hours

Elevation: 3210m 

Terrain: steep incline and jungle paths.

 

 

Day 06 -Tadapani to Ghandruk

 

After breakfast in Tadapani, we start our hike to Gurung village in Ghandruk. We will walk for 2-3 hours through the deep forest before we reach our lunch spot. After lunch, we will explore the local village and do some cultural sightseeing. If you're lucky, you will witness a cultural dance.

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Walking time: 3 - 4 hours

Elevation: 1950m

Terrain: Descending all the way gently through rhododendron, oak and other kinds of dense forests.

 

 

Day 07 - Ghandruk to Jhinu Danda (hot springs bath)

 

After having breakfast in Ghandruk, we will head towards the Jhinu Danda hot spring. Today is about relaxing and reflecting upon the journey your body, mind and soul have just embarked on. What better way to do this than soak your muscles in a natural hot spring. The pools are built into the river bank; relax in the therapeutic hot water and enjoy a wonderful view of the river. Close your eyes and enjoy the sound of nature or enjoy a dip in the ice-cold river and return to the hot pool for the full hot and cold muscle treatment. We will stay overnight at Jhinu Danda.

 

Walking time: 5 hours

Elevation: 1780m 

Terrain: Easy walk, well-defined paths in the village area.

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Day 08 - Jhinu Danda to Pokhara

 

The final day will consist of a 2 to 3-hour walk and then you will be transported back to Pokhara via Jeep. We will spend the night at Hotel Iceland, which offers spa and massage facility, for those who wish to treat themselves after seven days of mountain trekking. It will also provide free WiFi and an outdoor swimming pool only 600m from Fewe Lake.

 

Walking time: 2-3 hours

Elevation: 1400m

Terrain: Well-defined paths, downhill, easy walk.

 

Day 09 - Pokhara to Kathmandu

 

Departure time - 12pm (25 mins flight)

Transfers back to Kathmandu Shankar hotel for overnight stay. Free day to shop and roam around Kathmandu city or relax in the hotel (breakfast included).

 
 

 Day 10 -Farewell and Final departure

 

 After breakfast, you will get a hotel transfer to  Kathmandu International Airport for the final departure. We wish you a pleasant and safe flight back home and hope to see you soon again.

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