Upon arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be treated to the mesmerizing views of high-standing mountains surrounding hills and the Kathmandu valley. After completing your customs and formalities at the airport, head to the terminal, where our representatives will greet you at Friendship World Trek. They will transfer you to your hotel or homestay based in Kapan/ Thamel, situated 5 km away from the airport.
After taking some rest at your homestay/ hotel, you can visit our office which is nearby. In the evening, enjoy the lively streets of Kapan/ Thamel and enter the different shops, cafes, and pubs. Devour the authentic Nepali dishes offered to you in the welcome dinner.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
After having breakfast, as suggested by your guide, you will head out to complete all the necessary documentation for the tour. We will collect our Tukuche Peak climbing permit from the respective authorized office. Also, as it is a climbing trip, you would require warm clothes and adequate trekking gear to carry along. Hence, you can visit a nearby trekking store to hire or purchase the necessary equipment on this day.
Later in the day, we will drive to the nearest landmarks listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square located in Basantapur/ Freakstreet. Explore its courtyards, temples, Hanuman Dhoka Museum, and status of high historical and cultural significance. From thereon, visit the Swayambhunath Stupa located in the city’s western outskirts, from where a panoramic view of the city can be seen. Alternatively, you can visit Boudhanath stupa, one of the largest stupas in Nepal located on the northeastern end of the city. Pashupatinath Temple is another site worth high significance for being one of the most renowned Hindu temples worldwide.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, we will carry our belongings and head to the bus stop to take a ride to Pokhara City, located west of Kathmandu. The ride takes you alongside the Trishuli river on the Prithvi Highway. The long tour is certainly worth it as you get to relish the views of mountains, hills, and rivers flowing swiftly. From the snaky bends at Naubise to the views of adventure sports enthusiasts enjoying their rafting experiences, it is very exciting.
Upon reaching Pokhara city, you will be transferred to your hotel near Lakeside. After relaxing for a while, you can freshen up and head out to the lively streets of Pokhara. The major highlight of the city is most certainly Phewa Tal (Lake). The semi-natural freshwater lake is surrounded by shops, cafes, bars, and pubs on all sides. You can witness the beautiful setting sun in the evening. Depending on when you arrive, you can also hire a bicycle and ride around the lake.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Pokhara.
Today, you will take a drive to Tatopani in the west of Pokhara. The three to four hours scenic drive will take us through the Baglung- Pokhara highway. You will pass by the Set Gandaki River in the initial phase; you will progress to Kushma, then follow the Kali Gandaki River on the latter part of the drive before eventually reaching Beni. Beni Bazaar sits in the confluence of the Kali Gandaki River and Myagdi River and is a largely touristy area as many treks in the Annapurna region start from there.
The drive will continue from Beni alongside the Kali Gandaki River to Tatopani, following some lush green forest on the way. Tatopani village’s name has been derived from the Nepali word for ‘hot spring.’ After the tiring drive, take a rest and interact with the locals in the evening.
Overnight stay in Tatopani
After having breakfast, pack your belongings and begin your trek along the swiftly flowing Myagdi River to Ghasa. You will be passing by some charming villages on the way. You will be leaving behind the more facilitated shops and stores of Tatopani, so stock up on some supplies if possible. After crossing green pastures and forests in between, you will be passing by the Rupse Waterfall on the way. You can also make a brief stop at the Satyawat and Shiva temples.
You will reach Kopchepani where you can take some rest and have some food. There will be an ascend of over 1,000m/3,280ft on this day, so brace for the stone steps. There are untouched lush forests and giant rocks stacked on top of each other in some areas, resulting from rock slides from the steep slopes. Following the river, you will reach Ghasa.
Ghasa is a beautiful village that is significant for being the home to all six Himalayan pheasants, including The Himalayan Monal, the national bird of Nepal. The transitional village is green and full of nature.
Overnight stay in Ghasa
Ahead of us, we have a six hours trek to the village of Larjung. Starting from Ghasa, the green path takes us to Kalopani to the northwest, following the Kali Gandaki river. Kalopani is translated to ‘black water,’ which is derived from the fact that it is from here that the Kali Gandaki river changes its color to a darker shade as it gushes down to the south. From here, the wonderful views of Annapurna I peak can be seen distinctly.
As we head further up north, we reach Larjung village. It is a large village that gives a taste of the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Upon reaching the village, you can rest and then do some sightseeing if you are up for it. The best places to visit are the Guru Sangpo cave, which is considered historical and religious. If time permits, then opt for a short hike to Bhuturcho lake and Sekung Lake. There are also important shrines of Gauchan and Tulachan in the village. One of the most notable festivals in Larjung is Lha Phewa, translated to ‘Coming of the Gods,” which is celebrated every 12 years by the ethnic Thakali tribe. Overall, Larjung is an interesting, culturally woven village in the Annapurna region.
Overnight stay in Larjung.
After having breakfast, begin your trek to Marpha village, which is on the north of Larjung. The quaint and beautiful path along some green and some dry terrain will follow the Kali Gandaki River on the side. You will cross the swiftly flowing river via a suspension bridge and head to Saura, where you can stop for tea. The path will open up to views of the amazing Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain in the world. There are small villages with patches of apple trees here and there with some pine trees in the forested areas along the route.
Marpha is an interesting village in the Mustang district heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhist culture and traditions. You will spot many prayer flags and small chortans in this village that seem to be stuck in time with their authentic stone houses and straw roofs. Some homes are also built on high cliffs. Apples are a popular product here, and having a fresh one right out of the tree will get you amazed. You can also try out the famous sea Buckthorn juice, which is also grown here. The village is also home to Tibetan refugee camps and Tibetan settlers. If you reach early, you can visit Chhairo, a monastery near the riverside with art craft dating more than 300 years.
Overnight stay in Marpha.
A five-hour trek awaits us today with a visit to the most famous locations in the Mustang district. There are no complaints about climbing to a higher altitude as you’ll be passing lush forests with amazing views.
Yak Kharka translates to “alpine pastures,” which are suitable for Yaks to graze. Locals bring their yaks to feed during the plush pasture season, but during the dry season, the place is silent. You will experience stronger winds as you head higher. There are a couple of facilities in Yak Kharka, from safe drinking water to a Bakery! Imagine having a piece of cake at this high altitude. The tents are set up at Yak Kharka by the team, so you can enjoy food and hot drinks after settling down.
Overnight stay at Yak Kharka.
Acclimatization is very essential in higher altitudes to avoid mental and physical illness that may arise due to altitude sickness. Also, proper acclimatization is the key to reach our target, a summit of Tukuche Peak. Thus, today we will take a day rest at Yak Kharka. There are a couple of good hike options from Yak Kharka that are considered best for acclimatization.
Meals: All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, we get ready for a short day trekking. Our trail climbs gradually as we trek through harsh alpine vegetation. Our climb can be very tiring, so resting every now and then helps in restoring energy. We will trek until we arrive at a good camping site at 5,150 meters where we will set up our Base Camp. Our Sherpa crew will quickly set up the camps and start making necessary preparations for setting up camps at higher altitudes.
Meals: All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
11 Days climbing towards Tukuche Peak Tented Camp
For several days we keep on doing climbing training practices with proper acclimatization. Our Sherpa team will do all the hard works from setting up the camps, provide healthy meals and fix the routes for reaching the summit. Following the instructions are given by our experienced climbing experts we make a gradual climb. Several camps will be set up above the base camp. In fact, weather conditions play a significant role in predicting and planning our summit climb attempt. Fully equipped with all the climbing gears and properly acclimatized we will tackle several technical climbing sections and climb to conquer the summit of Tukuche Peak. Once at the top we are rewarded with amazing close-up views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain ranges and other surrounding high peaks. We will spend short quality time at the summit.
After successfully achieving the summit of Tukuche Peak, we begin our return journey by retracing our steps on the same trail that descends downhill for a few hours. With great views of high mountain valleys and surrounding high peaks, we will arrive back to Yak Kharka for our overnight camping.
Overnight stay in Yak Kharka.
Meals: All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
5-6 hrs Trek Lodge
The last day of our trek starts from Yak Kharka as we follow the main trail that descends for a rather long time to reach the village of Marpha. From Marpha our trail is a rather pleasant and moderate walk all the way back to Jomsom. This is a celebration day after successful completion of Tukuche Peak Expedition with Friendship World Trek team.
Meals: All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today we will take an early morning scenic flight from Jomsom back to Pokhara. After landing at Pokhara you will be transferred to the hotel. We will spend the rest of the day sightseeing and explore around Pokhara. Boating at Fewa Lake, visiting sacred caves and waterfalls, sightseeing around the city can be the best way to spend your day in Pokhara.
Meals: BB Plan
After having breakfast, pack up your belongings and take a drive back to Kathmandu. Following the Prithvi Highway, the road passes through vast pastures, terraced fields, green hills, and swiftly flowing Trishuli. As you reach Kathmandu city, you will be transferred to your homestay/ hotel in Kapan/ Thamel.
After relaxing for a while, explore the streets to buy souvenirs like Dhaka caps, arts and crafts, thangka paintings or any other things from local shops. You can enjoy a much-desired multi-cuisine meal or an authentic Nepali dinner from a variety of restaurants.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu
The time to bid farewell is here, as this is your last day in Nepal. Our representatives will transfer you to the Tribhuvan International Airport after a hearty farewell depending upon your flight schedule. There are certainly stories of the Dhampus peak climbing experience and the views of the amazing Annapurna range of mountains that you will share with your friends and family. If these memories prompt you to travel along with us again shortly for a similar adventurous journey, please contact us again