Walking the Annapurna Foothills

13 days
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Small Group Tour
This walking holiday is a superb introduction to the pleasures of Himalayan teahouse trekking. Enjoy a gentle four-day trek in the quieter foothills of the Himalaya among traditional villages and beautifully terraced fields with spectacular views of the Annapurna range. Kathmandu - Explore the temples and bazaars of Nepal's capital Chitwan National Park ...
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$2,866
From$2,330
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • This walking holiday is a great introduction to the pleasures of Himalayan teahouse trekking
    • Relax after the moderate grade 4-day trek in the friendly lakeside town of Pokhara
    • Look out for a wide variety of animal species and the rare one-horned rhino in Chitwan National Park

What's this trip about?

    This walking holiday is a superb introduction to the pleasures of Himalayan teahouse trekking. Enjoy a gentle four-day trek in the quieter foothills of the Himalaya among traditional villages and beautifully terraced fields with spectacular views of the Annapurna range. Kathmandu - Explore the temples and bazaars of Nepal's capital Chitwan National Park - Spot a wide variety of animal species and the rare one-horned rhino Pokhara - Relax after the trek in this friendly lakeside town

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityKathmandu
End CityKathmandu

Travel Themes

  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

  • Asia
  • China
  • Nepal

Attractions

  • Bhaktapur
  • Chitwan National Park
  • Durbar Square
  • Kathmandu
  • Manaslu
  • Pokhara
  • Tibet

Activities

  • Trekking

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu

The trip starts today in Kathmandu, the busy, colourful and chaotic capital city of Nepal. Your Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting at 5 pm. For those that wish, there is the chance to go out together as a group for dinner a...

Day 2 Walking tour of old city

After breakfast we will have a full briefing by the Tour Leader on the trekking days ahead, followed by a chance to visit a local hire shop to pick up any last-minute equipment still needed. Following this, we then have a walking tour of the city, visiting the bazaars...

Day 3 Drive to Kurintar; optional whitewater rafting along the Trisuli River

We make a morning departure to drive out of the high Kathmandu valley and descend to the foothills where we overnight at a riverside hotel in Kurintar at the much lower altitude of about 262 metres/859 feet. As we leave the valley, on clear days we will have views of ...

Day 4 Drive to Kande via Pokhara; trek to Badauri (1661m)

This morning we head first to Pokhara (840 metres/2,756 feet). Pokhara is smaller and more relaxed than Kathmandu and is beautifully situated on the banks of Lake Phewa. There are superb views from here of the snowcapped Annapurna range,including Machhapuchhre - the f...

Day 5 Hike with panoramic mountain views to Panchase Bhanjyang (2100m)

After breakfast our walk takes us mostly through mixed oak and rhododendron forest to the high point of the trek - Panchase Danda 2,500 metres/8,202 feet. The summit has panoramic views of all the Annapurna peaks as well as 8,000 metres/26,248 feet Dhaulagiri to the w...

Day 6 Trek through forest and meadow to Bumdi (1500m)

Our walk today is through a largely uninhabited area on a less major trail. We will spend some time in forest but will also pass several open meadows specifically cleared to graze water buffalo. In the spring you can look out for rhododendrons and white orchids in blo...

Day 7 Trek back to Pokhara (850m) via Peace Pagoda

We're now coming back into a much more inhabited area and pass many cultivated fields and several settlements. There are lots of cherry trees in blossom here in November. We pass the chhettri village of Pumdi with its distinctive houses to reach the white dome of the ...

Day 8 A free day in Pokhara to relax and explore

The day is free to explore the interesting town of Pokhara. You could make an optional visit to Tashiling, a thriving village of Tibetan refugees with its own schools and monastery, where you can watch Tibetan carpets being made. Alternatively hire a boat to visit a small temple on an island in Phewa Tal. There will also be time for some souvenir shopping.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 9 Drive to lodge near Chitwan National Park; briefing and village walk

Today we drive to the flat lands of Nepal's Terai region where we stay just outside of Chitwan National Park. Once a private hunting ground, Chitwan is now a National Park with thick tree cover and tall elephant grass sheltering a wealth of animals. We'll be briefed t...

Day 10 Full day of activities in Chitwan National Park

Throughout your stay you will be kept busy except for a couple of hours around lunch time when you can read or relax in the shade. Activities in the park include a jeep safari searching out Chitwan's famous rare one-horned rhino, bird watching, jungle walks and a dugo...

Day 11 Drive to Kathmandu

Today we drive back to Kathmandu. Due to ongoing roadworks this journey is taking longer than usual, possibly up to eight hours.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 12 A free day in Kathmandu with various optional trips available

Today has been left free with the opportunity to make various optional excursions which your Leader can help arrange. One option is to visit the Newari town of Bhaktapur in the eastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley. Also know as Bhadgaun or the City of the Devotees, ...

Day 13 Trip ends in Kathmandu

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kathmandu. There are no activities planned for today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,330
Price per day$179
Last Updated: 5/15/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
06 Oct 2024
18 Oct 2024
$2,350
$440
9 spots left
03 Nov 2024
15 Nov 2024
$2,410
$440
10 spots left
17 Nov 2024
29 Nov 2024
$2,330
$440
15 spots left
09 Feb 2025
21 Feb 2025
$2,450
$460
16 spots left
09 Mar 2025
21 Mar 2025
$2,450
$460
14 spots left
05 Oct 2025
17 Oct 2025
$2,450
$460
16 spots left
02 Nov 2025
14 Nov 2025
$2,450
$460
16 spots left
16 Nov 2025
28 Nov 2025
$2,450
$460
16 spots left

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Explore!.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
6,883
Great
2,289
Average
386
Disappointing
121
Terrible
58
W

Wendy

May 2024

Written on

Walking the Annapurna Foothills

Done a few trips with explore..always have great experiences.always been taken care of.always come back for more.alwsys hard to decide where to go next because total...

A

Anna

May 2024

Written on

Walking the Annapurna Foothills

A great trip, that really gave you a taste of treking in Nep...

E

Elaine

Mar 2024

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Walking the Annapurna Foothills

You see all aspects of Nepal , from the busy city of Katmandu to the bea...

S

Stephenjohn

Mar 2024

Written on

Walking the Annapurna Foothills

The tour guide and other staff were excellent

M

Michael

Nov 2023

Written on

Walking the Annapurna Foothills

Excellent tour guide. Everything in itinerary provided. A proper introduction to Nepal as a whole not just the Himalayas. Whitewater rafting great fun, treks exci...

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Accommodations were fantastic, all had useable amenities and staff was very quick to help with any issues. A nice variety of stay as well without sacrificing comfort...

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Gill

May 2024

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Simply Japan

A fabulous tour round some of the most beautiful places- from big city buzz to majestic snow capped mountains, small guesthouses and smart hotels. Our tour leader h...

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The Inca trail tour was amazing and beyond my expectations. The trek was harder than I expected but it was a fantastic experience overall. Toilet facilities on the t...

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Tour Operator

Explore!

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About Explore

We've been taking small groups on adventure vacations for over 41 years. Our authentic adventure travel experiences explore the sights and culture of a country, with hand-picked accommodation that balances comfort and location. Our average group tour size is just 11; perfect for meeting new people and getting to the heart of our destinations. Explore is one of the world's most trusted adventure travel companies with over 350 trips to more than 100 countries. We are passionate about travel and have developed a wide range of unique activities and adventures which give our customers an unforgettable experience with a team of award-winning Explore leaders. With Explore, you'll get to see your destination from a whole new perspective that takes you away from the typical well-trodden tourist track. You'll have the chance to meet, dine and stay with local people, rest in authentic accommodation with other like-minded explorers and travel to must-see destinations with a unique Explore twist. From family holidays to trips for solo travelers; cycling tours to wildlife safaris; trekking on mountains or exploring miles of scenic coastline, there is something for every kind of traveler with Explore. We will provide our expert knowledge, exciting itineraries and outstanding service as part of our sustainable travel experiences which take you under the skin of the country you're visiting for the adventure of a lifetime.


Why we love this operator
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Famous for our expert local guides that help ease the unknowns of adventure travel while bringing a unique richness and spontaneity to each and every

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Logistics

Transportation & Flights

Bus, 4WD,

Transportation & flights

Bus, 4WD
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Naturalist(s), Porter(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Nepal: An entry visa is required by UK, New Zealand, Australian, US & Canadian citizens and can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu Airport and various international border crossings between Nepal and its neighbouring countries. This currently costs $30 USD for a 15 day visa, $50 USD for a 30 day visa and $125 USD for a 90 day visa. All visas are issued as multiple entry visas and are valid from the date they are issued. There have been reports of lengthy delays when completing the form to obtain the visa at the airport, especially during peak times. We therefore recommend that you fill in the visa information prior to arrival using the following link: http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/. This will produce a receipt with a reference number, which you will need to print off and produce on arrival to obtain the visa. Please note if you are filling in the form before you arrive, please do so only within 15 days of arrival as application forms are only stored for a maximum of 15 days. Whether you are filling in the form on arrival or before, a passport-sized photograph for immigration is required along with the exact cash. Payment must be made in cash, UK sterling and US dollars are both accepted. If you are ineligible for the visa on arrival or wish to obtain a visa before you travel, please refer to your nearest Nepal embassy. Trekking Permits: A Trekkers Information Management Sytem (TIMS) card and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit will be applied for on your behalf by our local agents in Kathmandu. In order to facilitate this please bring a copy of your passport and two additional passport-sized photos. Your tour leader will collect these at the start of the trip.
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and Japanese encephalitis. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Although not compulsory, travellers may wish to take immunisation against meningococcal meningitis. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 12
  • Dinner : 5
  • Lunch : 6
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
explore-RT

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