Annapurna Luxury Trek, Lodge to Lodge

5.01 reviews

Five short days of walking between four luxury lodges in the Annapurna foothills, with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre in view throughout and a highest point of 1,950 m.

Duration: 10 days
Grade: Easy
Max altitude: 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
Start and end: Kathmandu
On the trail: 3 to 5 hours a day
Best season: Mar to May, Oct to Nov
Accommodation: Luxury lodges
Meals: All meals on the trek
Group size: 4 to 12
Getting there: Fly to Pokhara

Annapurna Luxury Trek, Lodge to Lodge Overview

Five short days of walking between four luxury lodges in the Annapurna foothills, with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre in view throughout and a highest point of 1,950 m.

A Himalayan trek without altitude concerns

The highest point of this trip is Ghandruk, at 1,950 m, which is lower than many European ski resorts and below the height at which altitude sickness becomes a consideration. The trek is designed around this. On our other treks you need to manage your acclimatisation; on this one you walk between four lodges in the Annapurna foothills with the high peaks directly above you. Altitude is not a reason to turn back on this route.

What luxury means on this trail

At Ghandruk, Jhinu, Tolkha and Dhampus there is a purpose-built lodge with proper beds, private bathrooms, reliable hot water and meals prepared in a proper kitchen. On the higher treks, this level of comfort ends at around 4,000 m because no lodges of this kind have been built higher up. On this route it is available throughout, because the whole trek lies within the altitude range where these lodges exist.

Close mountain views

Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre rise directly above the ridge you walk along, so from Ghandruk and again from Dhampus you can see a wall of snow-covered peaks from a terrace below 2,000 m. The size of the view does not depend on your altitude, and the Annapurna foothills show this more clearly than anywhere else in Nepal.

Who this trip is for

Travellers who want to see the Himalaya without an endurance challenge, families with children, people with knee problems, those with ten days rather than three weeks, and couples who want comfortable accommodation at the end of each day. It is not a substitute for Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp. It is a good trip that also happens to be easy.

Key highlights of the Annapurna Luxury Trek, Lodge to Lodge

Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre from the terrace at Dhampus
A night in the Gurung village of Ghandruk
Natural hot springs on the Modi Khola at Jhinu Danda
Two nights by the lake in Pokhara, and the UNESCO sites of the Kathmandu Valley

Itinerary

You are met at the airport and driven to a five-star hotel. In the evening we brief you on the trip over dinner. The briefing takes about twenty minutes rather than an hour, because there is no altitude plan to explain and no equipment to weigh.
Altitude
1,400 m (4,590 ft)
On foot
None, arrival day
Night in
Five-star hotel, Kathmandu
Meals
Dinner
Swayambhunath above the city, Pashupatinath on the river, Boudhanath and its stupa, and Patan Durbar Square in the afternoon. Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one day, with a guide who can explain the religious art, in a private car, with entry fees included.
Altitude
1,400 m (4,590 ft)
On foot
Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
Night in
Five-star hotel, Kathmandu
Meals
Breakfast
A 25-minute flight over the hills to Pokhara, where the trekking crew joins us, then a private vehicle to the road head beyond Nayapul. From there it is ninety minutes to two hours uphill to Ghandruk, a Gurung village of slate roofs and stone lanes directly below Annapurna South.
Altitude
1,950 m (6,400 ft)+550 m
On foot
1½–2 hrs
Night in
Luxury lodge, Ghandruk
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A long descent through terraces and forest to the Modi Khola, losing most of the height gained the day before. Twenty minutes below the lodge are natural hot pools beside the river. It is a memorable day, and a reminder that walking downhill is not necessarily easy.
Altitude
1,070 m (3,510 ft)−880 m
On foot
4–5 hrs
Night in
Luxury lodge, Jhinu Danda
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Back up out of the river gorge and along the hillside through Landruk, walking between villages and rice terraces, with the valley opening out below and the mountains above. A steady day with more ascent than descent.
Altitude
1,570 m (5,150 ft)+500 m
On foot
4–5 hrs
Night in
Luxury lodge, Tolkha
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The shortest walking day, to the ridge at Dhampus, the main viewpoint of this trek. From a terrace at 1,650 m you can see Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre and Lamjung Himal along the skyline, and the afternoon is free to watch the light change on the mountains.
Altitude
1,650 m (5,410 ft)+80 m
On foot
3–4 hrs
Night in
Luxury lodge, Dhampus
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Two hours down to the road at Phedi, then a short drive to Pokhara, arriving in time for lunch by the lake. The afternoon is free: you might have a massage, take a boat out, or relax by Phewa Tal.
Altitude
800 m (2,620 ft)−850 m
On foot
2 hrs
Night in
Five-star hotel, Pokhara
Meals
Breakfast
A boat trip across Phewa Tal to the Tal Barahi temple, then Davis Falls and the Gupteshwor cave below it. The morning is the time for a mountain flight along the range or a tandem paraglide from Sarangkot, both of which are optional extras rather than included.
Altitude
800 m (2,620 ft)
On foot
Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
Night in
Five-star hotel, Pokhara
Meals
Breakfast
The short flight back over the foothills, a free afternoon in Thamel for any last shopping, and a farewell dinner with a Nepali cultural programme in the evening.
Altitude
1,400 m (4,590 ft)+600 m
On foot
None, flight day
Night in
Five-star hotel, Kathmandu
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to the airport for your international flight. If you are continuing to Chitwan or Bhutan, your next trip starts here instead.
Altitude
-
On foot
None, departure day
Night in
No overnight
Meals
Breakfast

What's included

Airport transfers & ground transport
Licensed English-speaking guide
Accommodation throughout the trip
All permits & national park fees
Meals as per the itinerary
Four-star hotels in Kathmandu, upgraded from three
Single ensuite room wherever the route has one
One porter per traveller rather than one between two
Domestic flights in place of the longest road transfers
Down jacket and sleeping bag provided
Farewell dinner in Kathmandu

Not included

International flights
Travel & rescue insurance
Tips & personal expenses
Nepal entry visa (on arrival)

Dates and prices

Start date
22 Nov 2026
End date
1 Dec 2026
Available
12 places left
US $1,867
Per person
Start date
17 Oct 2027
End date
26 Oct 2027
Available
12 places left
US $1,967
Per person
Start date
28 Mar 2027
End date
6 Apr 2027
Available
12 places left
US $1,967
Per person

Route map

The trail from start to finish, at a glance.

Packing list

No strict weight limits

There is no Lukla flight and no helicopter, so there is no 15 kg limit and nothing is weighed. The Pokhara flight allows 20 kg of checked baggage plus hand baggage, which is more than most people bring. Your porter carries up to 20 kg, and on a five-day walk your bag is unlikely to be close to that. Pack for two cities and five days of easy walking, and bring a good camera.

Sun hat with a brim, and a warm hat that covers your ears
Two buffs or neck gaiters
Sunglasses, category 3. The sun is stronger than the temperature suggests
Head torch and spare batteries
Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm with sun protection

Three or four merino or synthetic base layers, no cotton
Two mid layers; fleece is enough
A light down or synthetic jacket for the evenings
A waterproof jacket and trousers that pack small
Two pairs of trekking trousers, one lined
Underwear for four or five days, washed along the way

Light gloves, and a warmer pair for the mornings
Trekking boots with ankle support, already broken in. This is essential
Four pairs of wool trekking socks
Camp shoes or trainers for the evenings
Gaiters, if you are trekking in winter or early spring

Duffel bag for the porter, 20 kg maximum. We provide one
Daypack, 30 to 35 litres, with a rain cover
Dry bags or thick liners. Rucksacks do not stay waterproof for long on a Himalayan trail

Sleeping bag rated to minus 10°C. We provide one
Silk or cotton liner, for warmth and hygiene
Earplugs. Teahouse walls are thin plywood

Personal first aid: blister plasters, tape, painkillers, rehydration salts
Any medication you take regularly, in its original packaging
Water purification: tablets, a filter, or a SteriPen
Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
Throat lozenges. Most people develop a dry cough at high altitude

Passport valid for six months, plus two photocopies
Four passport photographs for permits
Travel insurance certificate showing trekking cover to your maximum altitude
$100 to $150 in small notes. The last cash machine is in Pokhara

A sleeping bag. There are duvets at every stop, and we do not provide one for this trip
A down jacket. A fleece and a light waterproof jacket are enough every night on this route outside December and January
Crampons, gaiters or snow poles. There is no snow on this trail in the seasons we run it
Water purification beyond a backup. Filtered water is free at all four lodges
Altitude medication. The route is not high enough to need it

Pokhara flights

You fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back, 25 minutes each way, into an airport on flat ground. Unlike Lukla, these flights are rarely disrupted for long.

Flying to Pokhara

The flight from Kathmandu takes 25 minutes and lands at a full-sized airport on flat ground at 830 m, unlike the airstrip at Lukla. Weather delays do happen, but they are usually measured in hours rather than days. On the Everest treks a closed airstrip can cost three days of an itinerary; here, the worst case is that you drive instead and arrive the same evening.

Travelling by road

The drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes six to seven hours on the Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli river. Some travellers prefer to see the countryside, and because nothing on this trip depends on the timing, it is a reasonable alternative to flying. It also saves the cost of the flight, which we refund to you. Let us know which you prefer when you book.

The changing trailhead

Treks used to start at Nayapul, but the jeep track now runs well beyond it, which shortens the first afternoon. We drive as far as the road is passable on your dates and start walking from there. In practice, day 3 involves ninety minutes to two hours of walking, uphill, wherever the road ends.

The Annapurna mountain flight

The scenic flight that some itineraries include on day 3 is a flight along the Annapurna range from Pokhara, not the transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It takes an hour and depends on the weather. We list it under optional extras rather than including it in the price, because in clear October weather the view from Dhampus on day 6 is better, and free.

Accommodation

Lodges on the trek

The four nights on the trail are spent in purpose-built luxury lodges at Ghandruk, Jhinu Danda, Tolkha and Dhampus. Each has twin or double rooms with proper beds, a private bathroom with a hot shower, and meals prepared in the lodge kitchen. The Ghandruk lodge is in a Gurung village, the Jhinu Danda lodge is above the hot springs, and the Dhampus lodge is on a terrace facing the Annapurnas. Because the whole route stays below 2,000 m, the same level of comfort is available throughout, unlike on the higher treks.

Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara

In Kathmandu and Pokhara you stay in five-star hotels, in deluxe rooms with a private bathroom and a bath. The Pokhara rooms face the lake.

9 nights, and where

Where	Nights	Type	Room	Bathroom
Kathmandu	3	Five-star hotel	Deluxe double or twin	Private, hot water and a bath
Ghandruk	1	Luxury lodge, Gurung village	Twin or double	Private, hot shower
Jhinu Danda	1	Luxury lodge above the hot springs	Twin or double	Private, hot shower
Tolkha	1	Luxury lodge	Twin or double	Private, hot shower
Dhampus	1	Luxury lodge, facing the Annapurna range	Twin or double	Private, hot shower
Pokhara	2	Five-star hotel, lakeside	Deluxe double or twin, lake view	Private, hot water and a bath

Kathmandu
Nights
3
Type
Five-star hotel
Room
Deluxe double or twin
Bathroom
Private, hot water and a bath
Ghandruk
Nights
1
Type
Luxury lodge, Gurung village
Room
Twin or double
Bathroom
Private, hot shower
Jhinu Danda
Nights
1
Type
Luxury lodge above the hot springs
Room
Twin or double
Bathroom
Private, hot shower
Tolkha
Nights
1
Type
Luxury lodge
Room
Twin or double
Bathroom
Private, hot shower
Dhampus
Nights
1
Type
Luxury lodge, facing the Annapurna range
Room
Twin or double
Bathroom
Private, hot shower
Pokhara
Nights
2
Type
Five-star hotel, lakeside
Room
Deluxe double or twin, lake view
Bathroom
Private, hot water and a bath

Heat, hot water, power and signal

Heating: The lodges are between 1,000 m and 1,950 m, where nights are cool rather than cold, so rooms have blankets and a heater on request, rather than a single stove in the dining room as in a high-altitude teahouse. In December and January, ask for the heater.
Hot shower: Private, en suite and included at every stop, without exception.
Charging: Free, in your room, at every stop. Bring a plug adapter; a power bank is not needed.
Wifi: Included at all four lodges and in both cities, and usually good enough for a video call. The connection at Ghandruk is the weakest.
Phone signal: Ncell and NTC cover the whole route. You can buy a SIM card at Kathmandu airport.
Water: Filtered water is provided free at every lodge. Please refill your bottle rather than buying bottled water.
Bedding: Proper beds, duvets and mattresses throughout. No sleeping bag is needed on this trek, and we do not provide one.
Laundry: Included: same-day in Pokhara and next-day at the lodges.

Meals

Breakfast

Porridge, Tibetan bread, eggs, chapati, pancakes, tea or coffee

Lunch

Dal bhat, fried rice, noodles, soup, momo, and potato dishes

Dinner

Dal bhat, pasta, thukpa, curry and rice, soup to start

Tea

Black, milk, lemon, ginger, or masala. Included at every stop.

If you eat differently

Vegetarian: Easy throughout. Dal bhat is vegetarian and is the best dish on the menu.
Vegan: Manageable with notice. Tell us when you book so the guide can order in advance.
Gluten free: Rice, dal, potatoes and eggs are safe. Bread, noodles and momo are not, and cross-contamination in a teahouse kitchen cannot be ruled out.
Halal: There is no certified halal kitchen on the route. Vegetarian food is the practical option.
Meat: Available. Note that meat is carried up to the lodges for two days without refrigeration.

A typical day

6:00

6:30

7:00

8:00

12:00

13:00

15:30

17:00

18:30

20:30

6:00Tea in your room, and a bowl of warm water to wash in
6:30Pack, and put the duffel outside your door for the porter
7:00Breakfast together in the dining room
8:00On the trail. The guide sets a steady, slow pace
12:00Lunch at a teahouse on the route, about an hour
13:00Two to four hours more, depending on the day
15:30Arrive at the lodge, tea, check in, wash, and rest if you need to
17:00Oxygen saturation and pulse taken, and written down
18:30Dinner, and the guide briefs you on the next day
20:30Bedtime. At 4,000 m most people are asleep by nine

Difficulty and preparation

The main physical demand of this trek is stone staircases. If you can walk for four hours, including going up and down stairs, you are ready.

The easiest trek we offer, and the only one with no altitude risk.

1 of 5

Three to five hours of walking a day for five days. The longest day is under five hours, and no day is much longer than the one before.
Nothing above 1,950 m, so no acclimatisation, no rest day and no risk of altitude sickness.
Stone staircases are the main demand. The descent to Jhinu on day 4 drops nearly 900 m, and walking down stairs is what people feel the next morning.
A porter carries your bag. You walk with a daypack for water, a warm layer and a camera.
No ropes, no crampons, no exposed sections, and no snow on the trail in the seasons we run the trek.

Getting ready, week by week

Written for somebody who walks a bit and does not train. If you already run or cycle regularly, start partway through. Nothing here needs a gym.

Trek

6 weeks before, stage 1 of 4

Hill walking

Two or three walks a week of an hour or more, including at least one on hilly ground. If you already walk regularly at weekends, you have already completed this step.

Weather by month

These are foothill temperatures rather than mountain ones. The figures below are for the ridge where you sleep, between 1,000 m and 2,000 m, and they are mild in every month the trek runs.

Best
Good
Hard
We do not run it

March

Best

Day on the ridge: +21°C
Night on the ridge: +8°C
Night at Ghandruk: +6°C

The rhododendron forest above Ghandruk comes into flower. Very good walking conditions.

Averages from Nepal DHM station data for the Annapurna foothills between 1,000 m and 2,000 m. Unlike the high treks, the coldest row on this table is still above freezing.

Guides and porters

Your guide

A senior government-licensed guide leads every departure and stays with you for all ten days, in the cities as well as on the trail. On less expensive Annapurna trips, a city driver usually hands you over to the trekking guide at Nayapul. There is one porter per traveller. On a trek this gentle, the main benefit of the porters is that you can walk without a heavy load and enjoy the views.

Porters and luggage

Each porter carries a maximum of 20 kg, which is your duffel bag and one other. This is below the 25 kg limit set by the trekking association and well below the loads you will see on the trail. If your bag is overweight, the load is divided rather than added to. Porters carry the main luggage, not daypacks: you carry your own water, camera, jacket and snacks for the day.

Staff pay and insurance

Salary, insurance, food and lodging for every guide and porter are included in the price you pay, and are not collected separately on the trail. Every member of the team is insured for altitude and helicopter evacuation on the same terms we require of you. Paying fair wages and insurance through the trip price is how we ensure our porters are properly equipped and not overloaded.

Tipping

Tipping is customary but not compulsory, and it never replaces wages. For this trip, $100 to $150 per traveller for the whole team is usual, given together on the last evening rather than daily. Your guide will not ask for a tip, and would prefer that it is not given in front of the group.

Responsible travel

Drinking water

A traveller drinking bottled water uses around 20 plastic bottles on this trip, and every one has to be carried in and carried out again. Boiled water is available at every lodge for one or two dollars a litre, and we encourage you to use it. Bring purification tablets or a filter as a backup.

Waste

We carry out everything we bring in that is not food. The Annapurna foothills, including the Gurung villages of Ghandruk and Dhampus, have a waste problem, and we make sure we do not add to it.

Supporting local communities

The lodges are family businesses in the villages you pass through, and the guides and porters live in this district. The ACAP fee funds the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, a conservation trust rather than a government department, which runs the micro-hydro schemes, the waste schemes and the lodge standards on this route. Almost all of what you pay is spent within a few days' walk of the trail. This is one reason to book with a Nepali operator rather than a foreign one that subcontracts the trek locally.

Local customs

Ask before photographing anyone. When you meet a mule train, stand on the mountain side of the path, not the side with the drop, and let it pass. Monasteries welcome visitors, but they are places of worship: remove your hat and shoes, and if a service is taking place, wait.

Booking and payment

How to book

Write to us or send a message on WhatsApp with your dates. Please include the size of your party in your first message: this trip runs for four or more people and the lodges are small, so for October dates availability depends on beds rather than price.

Deposit

A deposit of 30 per cent secures your dates, and the balance is paid when you arrive in Kathmandu, in cash or by card. At the same time, we ask for a copy of your passport, your insurance certificate and any dietary or medical information.

Payment

You can pay by bank transfer, or by card through a secure link. Card payments carry the bank's fee of about 4 per cent, which we show you before you pay. The balance in Kathmandu can be paid in US dollars, pounds, euros or Nepali rupees.

Cancellation

If you cancel more than 30 days before departure, your deposit can be transferred to any other date or trip we run, with no time limit. If you cancel within 30 days, the deposit is retained, because the permits, flights and crew have been booked by then. If we cancel for any reason other than weather, we refund everything you have paid.

Private and group departures

For a party of five or more, private and group departures cost the same. A private departure runs on your dates at your pace and can be arranged for one person. A group departure runs on the dates in the table above. Most travellers book privately, at no extra cost.

Late bookings

Three weeks' notice is enough for most of the year. October and early November are the exception, because lodge rooms rather than flights are limited: there are only four lodges, each with a few dozen rooms. For an October departure we need three months' notice.

Optional extras

Priced per person, arranged before you travel, and none of them included in the price above.

Annapurna mountain flight
$215
1 morning
A one-hour flight along the range from Pokhara, with a guaranteed window seat. Best taken on day 8, when you already know the names of the peaks you are looking at.
Paragliding at Sarangkot
$95
1 morning
A tandem flight from the ridge above Pokhara, twenty to thirty minutes over Phewa Lake. Pokhara is one of the best places in the world for paragliding, and day 8 has time for it.
Poon Hill extension
from $340
+2 days
Two extra days to add the Ghorepani ridge and the sunrise from Poon Hill at 3,210 m, joining this route at Ghandruk. This is the only option that takes the trek significantly higher.
Kathmandu Valley in depth
$140
1 day
Bhaktapur, Patan and Boudhanath with a guide who can explain the religious art, and a private car. Day 2 already includes a shorter version of this tour.
Chitwan luxury safari
from $690
+3 days
Travel to the lowland jungle to see rhinos, staying in a lodge rather than a camp. It combines well with this trip, as neither is physically demanding.
Single room throughout
$390
A room to yourself in both cities and at all four lodges. Unlike on the high-altitude treks, every stop on this route can provide a single room.

Other Annapurna treks

4 versions of this journey. They use the same guides and the same lodges; what changes is the length, the comfort and how much of it you walk.

Annapurna luxury trekYou are here
The trek described on this page. Four luxury lodges, nothing above 1,950 m, and five short days of walking.
10 days$1,967
Annapurna Base Camp
The same foothills, followed by eight more days up the gorge to 4,130 m, staying in ordinary teahouses. Harder, higher, longer and less expensive.
14 days$1,287
Annapurna Circuit
The full traverse over the Thorong La at 5,416 m. A demanding trek and very different from this one.
16 days$1,387
Everest Base Camp luxury, heli return
A luxury trek in the Everest region, where the comfortable lodges end at 4,410 m but the trek continues higher.
12 days$3,187

Reviews

Exceptional5.0 out of 5Reviews from Tripadvisor

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Showing 10 reviews from 901 on Tripadvisor

Amazing trip

May 2025, Tripadvisor

We booked the luxury Annapurna trek for 11 days as a solo couple. It was the most amazing experience. Rajan was very prompt and knowledgeable with my questions when scheduling the trip. He met us at the airport and checked us into our hotel then handed us off to our guide Narayan. He was incredible. I can’t compliment him enough. His knowledge alone was worth the trip. He was very attentive and helped us through every step. He also took me on added small hikes to different places once we reached our destinations and to the market for spices when we finished our trek. Our porter Jaya was extremely helpful and filled in with any language barrier issues I had. I can’t recommend this company strongly enough. I look forward to booking with them again.

Matt SRead on Tripadvisor

Nepal November 2014

November 2014, Tripadvisor

Hi, Wow me and my mate had a fantastic time in Nepal and made so many friends both in Katmandu and trekking. A big thanks to all at Hotel Friends Home in Katmandu superb service. A big thanks to Kumar, Binisha, Manoj and Sabi from Earthbound for making our Nepal visit so special we hope to visit again soon. All hotels on the trek were excellent.

dean sFelixstowe, United KingdomRead on Tripadvisor

Trip of a lifetime

April 2014, Tripadvisor

What an amazing trip! We took a 10 day trip, 5 trekking in the Annapurna region. Being in our 60's I was somewhat concerned about MY ability to succeed. However, our guides and porters made it possible. We were a very diverse group of 10 and by the end of the trek we were all friends. On the first day one of our porters Ramjee Bhatta stayed behind to bring up some luggage that had been lost in route to Kathmandu. He covered in a couple of hours what had taken us all day. With a smile on his face. The accommodations on trek, while spartan, were totally adequate and quite comfortable. The food was much better than I expected. I have done a fair amount of travel and this was one of my best experiences. It is difficult for me to put into words how life changing this trip was. Imagine 5 days without seeing a vehicle with wheels? All transport being on foot. And yet we had internet service at night. Meeting people from all over the world and still being in contact with them 7 months later. Not only did we experience incredible landscape beauty and physical challenges, we made friends. Ramjee was among those making this happen. Not only did he carry our bags he was more of an assistant guide, told us about his culture and was a great cheerleader. I would highly recommend making this trek.

Like2travel23Summerfield, North CarolinaRead on Tripadvisor

Excellent Tsum Valley Trek

October 2014, Tripadvisor

I took a trip to Nepal in October 2014, including a trek of Tsum Valley and another couple of weeks split between Pokhara and Kathmandu. Rajan at Earthbound Expeditions managed every aspect of my trip perfectly -- from the day tours to the hotels, jeep transports, internal flights, and an excellent local guide from the Tsum Valley. He was flexible when I wanted to make changes to my itinerary in the middle of the trip, and he met with me personally several times during the Kathmandu portion of my trip. I could not have asked for a better experience. I chose Earthbound Expeditions because a co-worker has used the company three times previously for her trips/treks in Nepal, Bhutan and India. The people I trekked with in Tsum have also used Earthbound twice before, and this was their third time. That says it all. Thank you, Rajan!

Daphne97401Read on Tripadvisor

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the 16 questions travellers ask us most often. If your question is not here, contact us and we will answer it.

It is a proper trek on the main trail: the same stone paths, the same Gurung villages and the same daily routine of walking from lodge to lodge as the harder Annapurna routes. It is not an endurance challenge. You walk three to five hours a day, sleep in a proper bed every night, and the highest point is 1,950 m. You walk through the Himalaya below Annapurna South, without the physical demands of a high-altitude trek.

They share the first day and then follow different routes. Annapurna Base Camp takes fourteen days, climbs to 4,130 m, uses ordinary teahouses with shared bathrooms for two weeks, and ends in a ring of high peaks. This trek takes ten days, reaches 1,950 m and is comfortable at every stop. Base Camp is the greater mountain experience, while this trek is the more comfortable holiday. They cost about the same, because the accommodation on this trek is the main expense.

Yes, and this is the only trek we offer where we say so without conditions. There is no altitude to manage, the days are short, a vehicle is never more than a few hours away, and every night ends with a hot shower and a proper bed. The one thing to consider is the stone staircases, which are hard on the knees both going up and coming down. Let us know if this is a concern and we will adjust the descent on day 4.

You need to be able to walk for four hours, including many stairs up and down. That is the only requirement. You do not need previous trekking experience, altitude experience or gym training. The training section above has four short steps, and the most useful one is stair practice.

Not as standard. The route runs through Ghandruk, Jhinu, Tolkha and Dhampus, the lodge circuit on the near side of the ridge, and does not go north to Ghorepani. Poon Hill and its sunrise at 3,210 m are available as a two-day extension from Ghandruk, listed under the optional extras above. It is the only part of this trip that takes you significantly higher, and it is worth considering if altitude was not the reason you chose this trek.

Because the hot springs are at the bottom of the valley. Ghandruk is at 1,950 m and Jhinu Danda at 1,070 m, so day 4 is a long descent to the Modi Khola and a set of natural hot pools beside the river. It is a memorable day, and a reminder that walking downhill is not necessarily easy. You regain most of the height over the following two days.

Five. Two days are in Kathmandu at the start, two are in Pokhara in the middle and at the end, and one is the flight home. This balance is intentional: the cities have the UNESCO sites and the lake, and on a ten-day trip most people want to see both.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, yes, in the usual international sense. On the trail, no. The four lodges are by far the best buildings on the ridge, with private bathrooms, reliable hot water, heating on request and a proper kitchen, and elsewhere they would be good four-star country hotels.

Almost all the way. All four lodges have wifi included, usually good enough for a video call, with Ghandruk the weakest. Ncell and NTC cover the entire route. This is a foothill trek an hour from a city, not a remote high-altitude region.

You walk in it, and at the end of the day you arrive at a lodge with a hot shower and a drying room. We only run the trek outside the monsoon, so prolonged rain is unlikely, but the foothills get more cloud than the high valleys, and an afternoon shower in April or October is normal.

Because most of the cost is accommodation and flights rather than days on the trail. Nine nights in five-star hotels and luxury lodges cost roughly ten times as much as the same number of nights in teahouses, and that accounts for most of the difference. The cost breakdown above shows the details. The trekking itself is the least expensive part of any trek, and this trip has less of it.

International flights, travel insurance, tips, lunches and dinners on the city days, and personal spending. Everything on the trek itself is covered: all meals, all lodges, the permits, the guide, one porter per person, the domestic flights and every transfer. The full list of exclusions is given further up this page.

Yes, at the prices in the group table above. The published price of $1,967 is the rate for four to twelve people, and the departures on this page run at that price. With fewer than four, the guide, vehicle and rooms are no longer shared, so the price is $2,190 each for two people and $2,680 for one.

No, you need neither, and this is the only trek we offer where that is the case. Every stop has a duvet and a proper mattress. A fleece and a light waterproof jacket are enough for every evening outside December and January, when a warm layer is useful on the terraces at Ghandruk and Dhampus.

Not for altitude, because the route is low. Ordinary travel insurance with medical cover is enough, without the high-altitude cover required for the Everest and Base Camp treks. We still require evacuation cover, as we would anywhere in Nepal, but the more expensive high-altitude cover is not needed for this route.

Three weeks' notice is enough for most of the year. October and early November are the exception, because beds are limited: there are four small lodges on this route, so October dates are usually booked three months in advance rather than three weeks.