Poonhill and Mulde Peak Sunrise Trek

Altitude above sea level: 1,302 m

Driving Time: Approx. 30 minutes, depending on traffic

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International airport, our representative will be awaiting you to cordially welcome you with great hospitality. The representative will be displaying the “Nepal Sanctuary Treks” placard outside the airport terminal.

You will be then escorted and transferred to the hotel in our private vehicle. Further, you will be given a brief description of the activities that will take place during the upcoming trip and a preliminary briefing on hygiene and safety by our representative.

Altitude above sea level: 1,302 m

Tour Duration:  Approx. 8 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Meal: Breakfast

9:00 AM: After breakfast, we start our guided cultural tour around Kathmandu Valley. On this cultural tour, you will experience the numerous colors, sounds, and tastes of authentic Kathmandu and its surroundings. Our experienced tour guides will tell you all you need to know and answer all your curiosities regarding those sites.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

You will head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square, also called Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. This ancient site used to be the residence of the Nepali royal family and administrators. It incorporates an architecturally extraordinary complex of ancient palaces, temples, courtyards, and shrines dating from the 15th to the 18th century.

The prominent sites of Kathmandu Durbar Square are Kumari Ghar or the house of the living goddess.  Kasthamandap is a huge rest house that is said to have been built with the wood from a single tree and is the source of which Kathmandu valley got its name. Other sites around Kathmandu Square are the ferocious Kal Bhairab – the red monkey God- Hanuman, hundreds of erotic carvings, temples, and statues dedicated to different deities.

Swayambhunath:

Swayambhunath (monkey temple), is the magnificent ancient religious architecture and center of faith of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its lofty white dome and dazzling golden spire are visible from far and wide. Swayambhunath is the ideal place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal. In the shadows of the imposing structure and besides the integrated architecture can be found the daily surge of devotees faithfully offering their prayers to the gods. Upon arriving at the top, you can hear the Buddhist song “Om Mani Padme Hum” resounds everywhere. The candles and the aromatic fragrance of incense that burns constantly create a serene vibe and enormous prayer wheels which encircle the stupa.

PM: Boudhanath

Then we drive towards Boudhanath.  From the moment you step into the sanctuary, you’ll immediately feel the spiritual energy that comes from the place. Boudhanath is one of the biggest stupas in Nepal, built in the 5^th century and listed on the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1979. The surrounding area is a central spiritual hub of Tibetan life and culture in Nepal. You can see the beautiful dome-shaped structure stupa surrounded by brilliant colorful prayer flags. It is believed that prayer flags convey mantras and prayers into the universe while fluttering in the wind. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.

You can witness monks draped in maroon robes rolling the prayer wheels, burning incense, and flickering butter candles. Moreover, it’s fascinating to see the people feeding grains and maize to hundreds of pigeons around stupa areas. The devotees turn the prayer wheels & chant, which is humbling to see such dedication to their beliefs.

Delight in the serenity as you hear the Buddhist mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ being chanted by devotees, alongside the echo of music streaming out from the nearby shops.

Pashupatinath

Moving on, you will visit the Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the bank of the Bagmati River. The word Pashupati means “the king of animals” and the temple is famous for its monkeys. You will be visiting the Pashupatinath area to indulge in a spiritual journey.

Pashupatinath is more than just a religious destination. It is a combination of religion, art, and culture. The temple, spread across 246 hectares of land, abounds in temples and monuments. Hundreds of rituals are performed here every day. You will get to witness people performing the religious ritual and funeral pyres burning at open-air cremation. Also witness elaborately dressed holy men meditating outside the temple and pilgrims placing offerings at the shrines.

After touring around prominent sites, you will be transferred safely back to your hotel.

Altitude above sea level: (1,960 m) Ulleri

Flight duration: KTM-PKR 25 minutes approx.

Driving Duration: PKR-Birethathi 1 hr. approx.

Hiking Duration: 4 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Teahouse lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Pokhara. From Pokhara you will be driven to Birethathi from where the trek begins. Today’s trail is rewarded with lush countryside, rice paddies, and a crystal-clear river. Along the way, you pass through picturesque villages – Sudame, Hile, and Tikhedhunga – getting a glimpse at the local rural way of life.

You start the first part of the trek to Hille via Birethanti. You cross a couple of steel bridges and reached Birethanti and your first TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) checkpoint.

Following the main trail of Birethanti, pass by a small waterfall and continue until you reach Sudami where you will stop and have lunch.

Further, you follow an easy slight uphill terrain to Hille following the Bhurungdi Khola River.   Then ascent gradually along the side of the valley until you reach Tikhedhunga. Thereafter, continue a path with an interminable climb of 3,200 steps that will lead you to Ulleri.

Altitude above sea level : (2,750 m) Ghorepani

Hiking Duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you ascend steeply and then climb gradually until you reach Nangethathi.  This trail offers you a breathtaking view of Machhapuchhre or Fish Tail (6,997 m.), Hiunchuli (6,441 m.), and the Annapurna (7,219 m) South on the way.

Continue the climb until you start noticing more densely populated houses- Ghorepani. It is believed that the village was named Ghorepani as in the past it used to be a resting place for merchants where they found water for their horses, from where the name became ‘Ghora’ horse and ‘pani’ water.  This village is different from other towns with distinctive blue roofs and houses. It is also a gateway to the most important point of the trek – Poon Hill.

Altitude above sea level: Poonhill (3,210 m), Dobato (3,420 m)

Hiking duration: Ghorepani-Poonhill 45 minutes, Poonhill-Ghorepani -40 minutes approx. Ghorepani-Dobato- 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Tea house lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start out with an early morning wake-up call and start your pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill. Once you are at the top, you will be greeted with clear panoramic views of several snow-capped mountains and peaks like Gangapurna, Annapurna South Mountain, Annapurna- I,  Dhaulagiri,  and the Hiunchuli with a magnificent sunrise.

After soaking in mesmerizing views, you will return downhill to Ghorepani for breakfast. Then you follow the ridge at the beginning. Further, hike through a bit narrow and uphill, downhill, and fairly level trail. If you happen to trek during spring, then you can see the rhododendron blooming along the trail.

About 45 minutes hike from Deurali, you start to ascent steep uphill to the Mulde Peak Ridge. Once you get to the top of the ridge, the down-the-valley view is absolutely awe-inspiring. The vantage point provides an incredible eyes level panorama mountains views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung, Fishtail & Gangapurna, and diverse landscapes of the surrounding valley. After savoring the mountain vistas and breathtaking sceneries, you take downhill to Dobato.

(Optional: If you wish to witness the sunrise and mountain views, then you also can hike towards Mulde View Point the next day morning.)

Altitude above sea level: (1,970 m) Ghandruk

Optional Sunrise hike; (3,637 m) Mulde Peak

Hiking Duration: 5 – 6 hours approx. 

Accommodation: Tea house lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will start early morning hiking towards the Viewpoint from where you can witness the marvelous Annapurna Himalayan peaks such as Machhapuchhre, Annapurna south, Hiuchuli, Annapurna Fang, Annapurna III, and neighboring peaks. After enjoying the views, you trek down to the lodge for breakfast and leave for Ghandruk.

You take a gradual descent to Tadapani through the mystical rhododendron, oak, and pine forest. On the way, you might encounter a troop of Langur Monkeys. After a lunch break in Tadapani you hike downhill further to Ghandruk.

Ghandruk is a major settlement of the Gurung, an ethnic group of Nepal. Exploring around this village gives you a glimpse of the local way of life in Nepal’s mountains, especially that of the Gurung people. From here, you have an incredible panorama of the surrounding Annapurna massif. Also, it is a famous Gurung village with terraces and offers splendid views of sunrise and sunset. After arriving, you can stroll around to explore the large old-style village, visiting a cultural museum and monastery.

Hiking Duration: Approx. 4 hours

Driving Duration: Syaulibazaar-PKR approx. 1.5 hrs.

Accommodation: Mount Kailash Resort or similar

Meals: Breakfast, and Lunch

Early morning starts with the superb view of the Annapurna range and adjacent snowy peaks smiling towards us. You will have a hearty breakfast in Ghandruk and admire the sunshine and mountain views.

Then you set off on today’s trek, passing small villages and scenic rice fields to reach Syaulibazaar. Once you arrive, you’ll meet your private jeep transfer waiting to take you back to Pokhara.

Check-in at the hotel and spend some time at leisure exploring Pokhara. You can either visit caves and pagoda or hire a boat that takes you to Tal Barahi, a temple that sits on a small island in Phewa Lake.

Altitude above sea level: (1,302 m), Kathmandu

Flight duration: 25 minutes approx.

Accommodation: Hotel Tibet or similar

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you take a short flight back to Kathmandu. Check in at the hotel and spend some time at leisure. You can spend your leisure time shopping for souvenirs for your beloved ones or simply relax after an exhausting but momentous adventure.

Driving Duration HTL-APT: Approx. 25-30 minutes depending on traffic

Meal : Breakfast

It is time to fly back home, keeping all the terrific experiences of Nepal in mind. Make sure you reach TIA airport on time, as you should check in 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight. If you wish to stay a few more days, there are still plenty more places to explore around Kathmandu valley.