NEW ADVENTURE! Easy rafting and trekking in the heart of the serene Annapurna Range

Get up close to the Annapurna Range’s sacred peaks and intimate trails without giving up a good night’s sleep. Our lodge-to-lodge trek starts each day from the area’s most comfortable accommodations and takes us to some of the best vistas in the entire region—elevated encounters with the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, sweeping views of the entire Annapurna Range. Hike beside terraced hillsides, through subtropical forests covered with tree orchids, rhododendrons, and magnolias, visit small mountain hamlets, and sleep in lodge rooms that look out on the mountains.

In addition, explore this truly unique and untouched topography by rafting along the Seti River. Local guides and porters welcome us into their homes, providing an intimate, insider’s view of regional highland culture. Very few tourists ever come here: you will know what it really means to get away. A serene float (no big whitewater!) takes us from Damauli down to the Seti River Camp, where the safari-style tents are large and include attached bathrooms, and where virtually nothing stands in the way of an unspoiled encounter with teeming natural landscapes and remote village life along the banks.

Activities

4 days of moderate hiking and 1 1/2 days of easy rafting

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy short, moderate hikes with magnificent mountain views
• Visit the homes of our guides and immerse yourself in highland culture
• Hike off-the-beaten-path trails that only locals and MTS know about
• Float down the serene Seti River

Duration: 10 days Start Location: Kathmandu End Location: Kathmandu

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Kathmandu

  Arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

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  Day 2 : Pokhara (2,800') to Dhampus (5,000')

  Morning transfer to the airport and fly westward about 100 miles to Pokhara. From Pokhara, we'll walk along a terraced hillside to the village of Dhampus. ( 2 hours hiking)

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  Day 3 : Majgaun (4,620')

  Hike through the village of Pothana, where many Tibetans traders live and sell their souvenirs, to the village of Majgaun. Explore the picturesque villages of Tanchok and Patleket. (4 hours hiking)

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  Day 4 : Modi River Valley and Birethanti (3,750')

  Descend to the Modi River Valley through villages and terraced mountainsides. Optional hike to the village of Birethanti and a waterfall. Our lodge for the night overlooks the scared (and unclimbed) Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhre as it is locally known. (2 hours hiking, additional 2-hour optional walk)

• Day 5 : Pokhara (2,800')

  Hike down to Naya Pul and meet our vehicle for a transfer to Pokhara. Explore a Tibetan refugee camp on the way, then spend the afternoon at Tibetan shops or canoeing in Pokhara. (1 1/2 hours hiking, 1 1/2 hours driving)

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  Day 6 : Seti River Camp

  Drive to put in location and raft down the Seti River to our deluxe safari-style camp.

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  Day 7 : Rest Day

  Rest day to relax or hike through surrounding forests and villages.

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  Day 8 : Kathmandu

  Enjoy a morning of rafting before driving to Bharatpur for your flight to Kathmandu. (2-3 hours rafting, 1 hour driving).

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  Day 9 : Kathmandu

  Morning tour of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free afternoon for relaxing, shopping, or sightseeing.

• Day 10 : Depart Kathmandu

  Depart Kathmandu or join us for an extension trip to India, Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia.

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  Yak & Yeti Hotel

  Kathmandu, Nepal

  A 5-star deluxe oasis in the heart of Kathmandu, the Yak & Yeti is the perfect blend of contemporary international standards and time-honored Nepali tradition. Guests will find refuge among antique fountains, gilded temples and emerald gardens, while enjoying a state-of-the-art gymnasium, spa, shopping arcade, atrium, tennis courts and swimming pools.

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  Shangri La Village

  Shangri~La Village, Pokhara is a discreet, compact resort which is a 5 minute drive from the airport and 3km from the Phewa lake, with 65 meticulously designed rooms surrounded by spacious landscaped gardens and a panoramic view from every room.

• Santuary Lodge

  Birethanti

  Lodge is built in traditional style. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. Gas is used for cooking, re-cycled briquettes for firewood and solar panels provide hotel water. For electricity, we use generators.

• Gurung Lodge

  Majgaun

  Lodge is built in traditional style. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. Gas is used for cooking, re-cycled briquettes for firewood and solar panels provide hotel water. For electricity, we use generators.

• Basanta Lodge

  Dhampus

  Lodge is built in traditional style. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. Gas is used for cooking, re-cycled briquettes for firewood and solar panels provide hotel water. For electricity, we use generators.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

photo credits: ©Christopher Bettencourt