An exhilarating adventure of breathtaking views at over 5,000m; soaring through the air as you glide in Himalayan thermals; and negotiating the 3+/4 graded rapids in the holy river of Kali Gandaki. We have teamed this action-packed adventure with exploring the ancient cities of Nepal with their magnificent temples and traditions.

Exploring through the narrow bustling streets of Kathmandu is the start of our adventure as we marvel at the ancient architecture and observe the venerable traditions. Leaving the magnificent ancient cities behind we head to the mountains. Our route to Mardi Himal, the long rising ridge and its summit (5,588m) that forms the southwesterly slope of Mount Machhapuchhre, takes us through forests and above the tree lines to enter the wilderness territory as we go beyond 4,500m, where the great ice fields and blue glaciers of Annapurna Base Camp lie below. Around us, in an arc from east to west, are a dozen or more glistening snow-­‐capped giants with Annapurna I being the highest of them all -­‐ a view that is almost impossible to equal. Conquering this wilderness territory and the incredible proximity of 5 of the highest mountains in the world leaves one feeling they have explored. Our adventure continues at height as we paraglide in the Himalayan thermals before heading over  60km downriver for  non-­‐stop adrenaline-filled rapids through one of the world’s deepest river canyons between the Annapurna Range and Mount Dhaulagiri.

 At Kathmandu International Airport, you will be met by a Trek Nepal representative and transferred to your hotel. There will be a full tour briefing in the evening 

The day begins with a walking tour of Kathmandu City, formerly known as Kantipur, -­‐ the City of Glory. The City retains many ancient traditions which we will observe as we walk around the narrow streets and plazas during our visit to two of the seven World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Durbar Square and Swayambhunath -­‐ more commonly known as the Monkey Temple after the tribe of monkeys that guard the temple, with its all seeing eyes of Buddha looking over the entire valley. We will drive to Patan for lunch, which will be followed by a guided tour. Patan, also known as Lalitpur -­‐ the City Of Fine Arts, is located 5km south east of Kathmandu, and it is home to the finest artisans. This World Heritage Site has retained its charm with narrow streets, brick houses, well-­‐preserved temples and monasteries and over 1,200 monuments. It is believed the city was built in the 3rd century BC, lacks the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. Our tour includes visits to the following sites: Durbar Square, Krishna Temple and Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, the Golden Temple of Lord Buddha. Time permitting, ending our time here with a visit to the Tibetan Handicraft Centre 

Our sightseeing tour today takes us to three of the seven World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley. We start our visits at Pashupatinath Temple, which is situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is also known as ‘The Temple of Living Beings. It is the holiest Hindu Temple in Nepal and is regarded as the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva in the world. The existence of this temple dates back to 400 AD. The magnificent temple is built in the Nepalese pagoda style and is richly ornate with beautiful carvings, gold-covered roofs, and silver-covered doors, and within houses the sacred linga of Lord Shiva.

Leaving behind the lively and hectic temple and its market stalls we head to another energetic and sacred place of worship, Bouddhanath Stupa. Located 7km east of the city Bouddhanath Stupa, also known as Khasti Chitya, is the largest stupa in Nepal. It lies on the ancient trade route from Tibet to Kathmandu, and for centuries Tibetan merchants have rested and prayed here. Today, it is the holiest Tibetan temple outside of Tibet. Pilgrims, both Tibetans and Sherpas, gather daily to complete a kora (ritual circuit) of the stupa. A stupa has been standing on this site since the 5th century and in 1979 it became a World Heritage Site. It is designed on the mandala – the Buddhist cosmos.

In the afternoon we drive to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon – the City of  Devotees.  Once the capital of  Nepal during the great  Malla  Dynasty  (12-­‐15th century), it is renowned for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal, and stone artwork. We will explore the four main squares, i.e. Durbar, Taumadhi, Dattatreya, and Pottery, during our visit to the main attractions including the Golden Gate, Palace of 55 Windows, Lion's Gate, and Nyatpola temple, the tallest of its kind in Nepal, Bhairab Temple, and Dattratraya Temple.

We drive out of the Kathmandu Valley following the Prithvi highway, which descends to the scenic and tranquil town of Pokhara. En route, we will have outstanding views of the Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges of the Himalayas, along with river valleys, terraced fields and local villages. Pokhara is set on the banks of Phewa Tal (lake) beneath the Annapurna range, which create a spectacular backdrop for this serene town. On arriving you are free to explore the town, take a boat out onto the lake, walk up to the peace pagoda, or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere by the lake.

To reach the start point of our trek we take a short drive west of Pokhara to Phedi. The trek starts with the climb of a steep stone staircase as we follow the main trail to Dhampus. From here, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South reveal their magnificence with spectacular views. Continuing upwards through pastures and forests we reach the Gurung

  village of Pothana, where we stay the night. From here we have stunning views of Annapurna ll (7,937m), Annapurna lll (7,555m), Annapurna lV (7,525m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Lamjung (6,983m) and Macchapuchhre (6,997m).