NEPAL Rising to 3210m, the Poon Hill trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area will provide you with gradual climbs, a beautiful environment and a spectacular sunrise over the Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Dhaulagiri mountains. 24th Oct - 1st Nov The Himalayan Panorama trek from the Annapurna foothills to the top of Poon Hill (3,210m) is one of the most beautiful trekking routes in Nepal offering spectacular Himalayan mountain scenery, the charming settlements of Gurung with its slate-roofed houses, amazing rhododendron forests ablaze with ivory, rose, apricot and crimson bouquets and deep sub-tropical valleys all set below the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. Also known as the small Annapurna Circuit, this trek offers stunning views of the Himalayan Mountain range, including Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Machhapuchhre, also knows at the Fishtail Moutain (6,998m), and the four Annapurna peaks. Our hotel in Kathmandu is located in the tourist centre of Thamel, and there will be plenty of time to explore the bustling capital... This trip gives you the opportunity to experience the wonderful Nepali welcome, and enjoy local food, culture, and customs along the way. We will also visit Plan projects, so you can see our work first hand, and see the impact that your fundraising is having! a Plan to make difference!
Have you ever watched the sunrise from 3,210m?? We hear from last years trekkers that the closer you are to the sun, the more beautiful the sunrise is, and you can see it in the excitement on their faces (photo to the left). The only way to really know, though, is to try it yourself! The Essentials What s included? All flights (international and internal) and internal transport, accommodation, trekking guide, porters, food while trekking, trekking permit (TIMS card), Annapurna Conservation Area park permit, visit to Plan projects. What is not included? Vaccinations, tourist visa ( 25), drinks (hot and cold non-alcoholic and alcoholic), tipping (this is not compulsory but expected). Fundraising Target 3,750 Group Size 10-15 Other Info: It is possible to rent down jackets, sleeping bags, backpacks, trekking poles etc for the duration of the trek for a minimal extra cost in Kathmandu. Our trekking guides - from the Umbrella Foundation - can organise equipment in advance. Flight Information Dates Location Departure Arrival 24 Oct Dublin to Abu Dhabi 20:05 06:50 25 Oct Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu 10:00 15:50 31 Oct Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi 20:40 00:20 1 Nov Abu Dhabi to Dublin 02:15 06:50 All times are local Duration 7 Days Plan to make a difference!
Day 1: Departure from Dublin - Sat 24 Oct Leave Dublin on an evening flight to Kathmandu. Day 2: Arrival and Welcome Dinner - Sun 25 Oct We will arrive at Kathmandu International Airport in the evening and transfer to our hotel. Located in the centre of the bustling tourist centre of Thamel, Kathmandu Guest House will be our base in Kathmandu. After a welcome dinner you will receive a briefing from our guides, trekking crew and Plan Nepal about the upcoming trek and community visits, local points of interest, security and much more... For those wishing to pick up any additional personal items for the trek, one of our guides will be on hand to accompany you to the numerous trekking equipment shops in Thamel. Day 3: Kathmandu Plan Projects - Mon 26 Oct Today we will visit some Plan projects near Kathmandu, and return to the Kathmandu Guest House that evening. Day 4: Kimche to Tadapani (2,650m) - Tues 27 Oct We will fly to Pokhara (20 minutes) and then drive for 2 hours by private bus to Kimche, where we start our trek. Leaving Kimche, we will trek up through the village of Ghandruk, home to the ethnic Gurung people of Nepal. The Gurung people have their own language, dress and culture and are known for providing many of the famous Gurkha soldiers down the years. This village offers spectacular close up views of Annapurna South, Machhapurchhe and Himachuli, which you can enjoy over warm honey, lemon and ginger tea. After lunch we complete the steep ascent to Tadapani where we overnight at our guesthouse. Trek: 5 hours Accommodation: Tadapani Tea house
Day 5: Tadapani to Ghorepani (2,875m) - Wed 28 Oct Leaving the village of Tadapani we will trek through rhododendron and oak forests and the village of Deurali before reaching Ghorepani, our stop for the night. Stunning mountain views across the broad valley of the Kali Gandaki and the mountain of Dhaulgiri (8,167m) are available from Ghorepani. As we are on the main Annapurna circuit route in this village, there will be lots of other travellers passing through this ridge top settlement in both directions. Trek: 6 hours Accommodation: Ghorepani Tea house Day 6: Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3,210m) and Tirkhedhunge - Thurs 29 Oct Today we wake early, at 4am, and hike to Poon Hill with the help of our flashlights. As a reward we will get to enjoy a beautiful sunrise and panoramic views of the Himalayan range. This is the highlight of the trip and offers up spectacular views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and the famous Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) Mountain in the clear morning light. The atmosphere of this early morning hike is truly special. After relaxing at Poon Hill, we will come back down to Ghorepani and enjoy a hot breakfast before continuing on our 5-hour trek to TirkheDhunge via more rhododendron and oak forests. Trek: 6 hours Accommodation: Tirkhedhunge Tea house
Day 7: Tirkhedhunge to Pokhara - Fri 30 Oct Today is the last day of the trek and we trek out of TirkheDhunge to the village of Birethanti, where we catch a 2-hour bus back to Pokhara. The lakeside town of Pokhara is the perfect spot to relax for breakfast, before our 2pm flight to Kathmandu. We will spend the afternoon visiting a Plan project, before enjoying our final celebratory meal. Day 8: Kathmandu and return to Ireland - Sat 31 Oct We will have some free time in Kathmandu, before our flight home that evening. Just a few highlights of Kathmandu include Durbar Square where the city s kings were once crowned, Swayambhunath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Monkey Temples, the Garden of Dreams, the excellent value in the many trekking shops, and so, so much more!