This trek is our best-selling experience so far. It combines the rugged terrain of the mountains with the white-water rapids of the Kali Gandaki River, perfect for thrill-seeking adventurers and those who want to get up close and personal with the mountains without having to walk too far! We start by making the famous trek up to Poon Hill. Situated at a cool altitude of 3,210 meters, we are treated to a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Annapurna range. For most people, just being there in that moment can be life-changing. After soaking up the mountains, it’s time to descend to Tatopani, where we will be enjoying the volcanic hot springs and recharging ourselves for an exhilarating rafting journey back to Pokhara along the rapids of the great Kali Gandaki River.
Day 0 – Meet in Pokhara
We will meet in a designated hotel in Pokhara during the evening. Here we will brief you on the upcoming adventure and answer any questions you may have. The trip includes a welcome dinner and a night's stay in the hotel.
Day 1 – Pokhara – Nayapul – Ulleri
We will hit the open road nice and early out of Pokhara, and after an approximately 2-hour jeep ride, we will reach Nayapul where we will stretch off and begin our trekking. It’s a short distance but quite a steep climb up to Ulleri, often considered the hardest part of the trek, but for us, it has always been the best way to start the trek because it makes everything else seem a lot easier!
Day 2 – Ulleri – Ghorepani
This day of trekking is nice and easy. We will traverse through the huge rhododendron forests up to Ghorepani, stopping off for lunch on the way and taking in all the views.
Day 3 – Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Tatopani
This day is exactly why we do what we do. We will begin the day before sunrise and hike up some 45 minutes to Poon Hill by torchlight in order to catch the sunrise. We will be leaving all our gear at Ghorepani, so the hike is a lot easier on the legs, so don’t worry! After catching the sunrise and basking in awe of the mountains (the snowy peaks turn pink in the light of the rising sun), we will descend back to Ghorepani for our breakfast before we set off on a steady descent through gorgeous valleys and villages until we arrive at Tatopani. A rewarding dip in the volcanic hot springs should have us all feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the rapids!
Day 4 - Rafting down the Kali Gandaki
We start with a short jeep drive to the Kali Gandaki gorge, where we can begin with a safety demonstration and instruction on different paddling techniques. After that, we set off on a wild day rafting the Little Brother (-4) and Big Brother (+4) rapids. Our first overnight camp will be made at Thulo Dhunga River Beach.
Day 5 - Rafting continued
After breaking camp the next day, we refresh the paddling skills learned yesterday before heading straight into a full day of rafting, starting with the Morning Rapid (4). After lunch beside the river, we continue our adventure downstream to White Sands Beach Camp.
Day 6 - Back to Pokhara
On the 3rd morning, we leave our beach camp and tackle the final rapids of the Kali Gandaki. We then paddle gently downstream with plenty of opportunities for swimming. We arrive at our takeout point at Mirmi and after packing up and a picnic lunch, we depart by bus to Pokhara. We aim to arrive back in Pokhara around 6 pm, where we will all group together for a BBQ party with live music from local bands and a big farewell! One last night at the hotel is included in the package.
