Royal Trek

Overview

Royal trek is one of the short treks along the foothills of Annapurna in the north of Pokhara valley. It got the name after Prince Charles along with his entourage of 90 people walk the trail in early eighties. Beside Prince Charles the trail also has the footprints of Mick Jagger. An iconic example of offbeat type of trek, Royal trek was named after Prince Charles along walk the trail in early eighties and offers meaningful cultural experiences endowed by fine blend of people.

The trek begins from Kalikasthan ridge which situated 25km away from the Lake city of Pokhara. The trail winds through the beautiful Gurung hamlets and terraced farm fields with Annapurna and Lamjung Himal in the backdrop. The trek ends at Begnas Lake which is situated 30km west of Pokhara.

Royal trek staying with distinctive features allows every trekker a chance to capture and experience the traditional lifestyle of the Gurung ethnic community whose religious practices and traditions have remained unchanged from past many generations. Beside other trekking trail in Annapurna region Royal trek’s route is less crowded so you can get a closer view to the nature, culture and lifestyle the area has to offer.

Itinerary Detail

Royal Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
Our local representative will be receiving you in Tribhuwan International Airport and transfer to the hotel room. Get freshen up in the hotel and come to our office to finalize the formalities. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Today we will visit some of the world heritage site located in Kathmandu which includes Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa and Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Pokhara(823m); 7hours of drive
Early in the morning catch a drive to a beautiful lake city of Pokhara. The drive takes most of the morning and early afternoon leaving evening time to explore Pokhara. Pokhara is an ultimate tourist destination offering threshold of natural and cultural heritage sites which includes lakes, caves, temples, stupas and awe inspiring mountain vista. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Drive to Bijaypur Khola and Trek to Kalikasthan(1370m); 5hours
Early in the morning catch a drive to Bijaypur Khola from Pokhara. From Bijaypur Khola we will start the trek through the rice fields and ascend through Rakhigaon to Chautara which has a resting place under a large papal tree. Witnessing the dumbfounding panorama we will climb the trail through Brahmin and Chhetri to Kalikasthan. We will set our camp above the village which offers the scenic vista of mountains, Begnas Lake and Pokhara city.

Day 5: Trek to Syaklung(1730m); 6hours
We will start the walk through villages along the mountain ridge which offers the panoramic view of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. Crossing different villages and Rhododendron forest we will halt the day’s trek at Syaklung. Stay overnight at guesthouse in Syaklung.

Day 6: Trek to Chisapani(1550m); 6hours
We will continue the walk through the Gurung village witnessing the local lifestyle and the dense forest of Rhododendron and Sal forest. As we come to the end of the trek we will come through 400m descent and then 600m ascent ultimately taking us to Chisapani. Chisapani is the best view point for Himalayan panorama where you will see Dhaulagiri to the west of Annapurna. Stay overnight in guesthouse.

Day 7: Trek to Pokhara
Today we walk down to Rupatal and make a climb of 200m to Sundare Danda. With a 15min of walk from here we will reach to Begnal Tal where we can enjoy boating. After this catch a ride back to Pokhara and explore the city.

Day 8: Drive back to Kathmandu
Witnessing the villages, terraced slopes, green hills and furiously galloping Rivers we will retrace our path back to Kathmandu. We will arrive Kathmandu in the evening. In the remaining time you can do some family shopping.  Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Farewell
Drive to airport at the time of departure for your onward flight.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Teahouse accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• All meals enroute and boiled water in mountain
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all expedition staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trip Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd. has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and staying in comfortable, well-run lodges along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of travelling abroad and trekking is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal at the lodges and hotels. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

We have chosen lodges and hotels where the food is of the highest quality. Their experienced local cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at the lodges where we are staying, while lunch and tea breaks will be taken at a suitable lodge or teahouse along the day’s route.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise wildpath adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek

Days on the trek start early. After dressing, head to the lodge restaurant for a nutritious and appetizing breakfast, along with a steaming mug of tea or coffee. After packing up your bag for the porters and your daypack, you’ll head out for another day’s adventure. We will trek for a couple of hours, then stop for a welcome tea break at a lodge. Generally we trek for a couple more hours after tea and then we will stop for lunch at a teahouse , often at a scenic spot. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the village where we will spend the night. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal, take a shower (sometimes hot, sometimes not) or simply relax. After a delicious dinner, there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to your bed for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a trek

TheTrekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to ThirdPoleTours. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. wildpath adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to ThirdPoleTours when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. ThirdPoleTours reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu , river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with wildpath adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Sneakers or Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (wildpath adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine
• And if your pack is still light:
• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.