Nepal Trekking, Rafting and Safari is the longest and most varied trip in the mountainkick tour portfolio. Nineteen days covering five distinct experiences in sequence: heritage sightseeing in Kathmandu and Nagarkot, Trishuli River whitewater rafting with a riverside camp, three days in Pokhara including the Sarangkot sunrise, a four-day Annapurna trek finishing at Poon Hill (3,210m / 10,535ft), a spiritual half-day at Lumbini, a full Chitwan wildlife day, and a return to Kathmandu for a final heritage visit and farewell dinner.
The trekking circuit covers the classic Annapurna foothills route through Ulleri, Ghorepani, Tadapani, and Ghandruk. It is rated moderate and is accessible to first-time trekkers with reasonable fitness, though the stone-step climb from Nayapool to Ulleri and the longer ascent to Ghorepani are genuinely steep. The payoff is Poon Hill at sunrise, the western Himalayan panorama: Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Manaslu in a single view from 10,535 feet.
The trip is also the only one in the portfolio that includes river rafting. The Trishuli River section runs grade 2-3 rapids over two days, finishing with a riverside camp overnight. It sits between the Nagarkot sunrise visit and Pokhara, making the route feel purposeful rather than a series of disconnected highlights.
Tour Highlights
Your trip begins at Tribhuvan International Airport. A mountainkick team member transfers you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of the day is free to settle in or walk through Thamel. Your guide will brief you on the full 19-day itinerary.
Duration: Arrival day | Activity: Airport transfer and orientation
Points of Interest:
A guided day at two of Kathmandu’s most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites before the evening drive to Nagarkot. Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River is one of the holiest Hindu shrines in South Asia. The cremation ghats and the movement of pilgrims along the riverbank make it unlike anything else in the Kathmandu Valley. Boudhanath Stupa is the great white dome on the eastern edge of the city and one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites outside Tibet. Prayer wheels line the circumference, butter lamps burn at the base, and the cafes on the upper ring road look directly over the stupa. By evening, a short drive takes you to Nagarkot Hill Station for the sunrise the following morning.
Duration: Full day plus evening transfer | Activity: Cultural sightseeing and mountain station arrival
Points of Interest:
Up early for the Nagarkot sunrise. On a clear morning the view runs the full breadth of the Himalayas: Annapurna in the west, the Khumbu peaks and Mount Everest in the east, with Bhaktapur laid out below in the valley. After breakfast, visit Changunarayan Temple on its forested hilltop above Bhaktapur. Nepal’s oldest temple, dating to the 4th century, has stone and woodcarvings that have barely been matched in the valley in the 1,700 years since. Continue to Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the best-preserved medieval city in the Kathmandu Valley. The 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola Temple, and the pottery square nearby represent the peak of traditional Newari craftsmanship. Return to Kathmandu for the night.
Duration: Early morning viewpoint plus half-day sightseeing | Activity: Sunrise viewing and cultural exploration
Points of Interest:
A three-hour scenic drive to Charaundi, where the rafting section begins. With your guide’s safety briefing complete, you launch onto the Trishuli and navigate grade 2 and 3 rapids through gorges and river valleys to Kurintar. The Trishuli is Nepal’s most popular rafting river for good reason: the rapids are genuinely exciting, the scenery is strong throughout, and the grade is well-matched to first-time rafters. Camp overnight on the riverbank.
Duration: 3-hour drive plus full day rafting | Activity: Whitewater rafting and riverside camp
Points of Interest:
A final morning on the river before loading into the vehicle for the four-hour drive to Pokhara. Arrive at the lakeside area by evening. Phewa Lake and the Annapurna range are ahead of you. The contrast from the river camp to a Pokhara lakeside hotel is one of the better moments in the itinerary.
Duration: Morning rafting plus 4-hour drive | Activity: Final rapids and transfer to Pokhara
Points of Interest:
A guided day through Pokhara’s cultural and natural sites. Bindabashani Temple is a significant Hindu shrine on a hilltop with good mountain views across the valley. Old Pokhara City has traditional architecture rarely seen in the lakeside tourist zone. The Seti River gorges cut through the middle of town at an unexpected depth; the river is almost invisible until you are standing directly above it. The Gorkha Museum covers local history and the Gurkha military tradition. Close the day with a boat ride on Phewa Lake to the small island temple of Barahi.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Cultural sightseeing
Points of Interest:
The World Peace Pagoda sits on a ridge above the lake with a genuinely 360-degree view: Annapurna one way, Pokhara and Phewa Lake the other. The Tibetan Refugee Camp below the pagoda is one of the most accessible places in Nepal to see traditional Tibetan carpet weaving and craftsmanship still practiced at scale. Gupteshwor Cave has impressive limestone stalactites and a religious shrine inside. Devi’s Falls, where the Pardi Khola stream drops into an underground tunnel, is the kind of site that looks ordinary on a map and then surprises you when you’re standing next to it.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Cultural sites and natural wonders
Points of Interest:
An early drive to Sarangkot for the sunrise. At 5,400 feet directly above Pokhara, Sarangkot faces the full Annapurna massif: Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Manaslu in a single view while Phewa Lake spreads below. Return for breakfast and spend the rest of the day at your own pace, resting before the trekking section begins tomorrow.
Duration: Early morning plus leisure | Activity: Sunrise viewing and rest
Points of Interest:
A one-hour drive to Nayapool, where the trek begins. The trail to Ulleri is the most demanding section of the four-day circuit. The ascent follows a long staircase of hand-cut stone steps through terraced farmland and rhododendron forest. It is steep but well-maintained, with rest stops and tea shops along the way. Ulleri sits at around 6,600 feet above sea level and the views back down the Modi Khola valley open up well on the final approach.
Duration: 1-hour drive plus 4-5 hours trekking | Activity: Trek start and first day climb
Points of Interest:
Another long stone-step ascent, five to six hours to Ghorepani at 9,416 feet. The forest thickens as you climb through rhododendron and oak; in spring the rhododendrons bloom red along the entire route. Ghorepani is the staging post for Poon Hill and one of the most-visited trekking villages in Nepal. Arrive before dark, eat well, and sleep early. Poon Hill leaves at dawn.
Duration: 5-6 hours trekking | Activity: Mountain forest trek
Points of Interest:
The alarm goes off before dawn. The hike to Poon Hill summit takes around an hour from Ghorepani; the trail is well-marked and most guesthouses send their guests out at the same time. At 10,535 feet, the sunrise over the western Himalayan range is one of the finest viewpoints in Nepal: the full sweep from Dhaulagiri (8,167m) across Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre (6,993m). Return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then trek onward to Tadapani through rhododendron forest on a ridge trail that stays high enough to maintain mountain views throughout.
Duration: Dawn summit plus 4-5 hours trekking | Activity: Sunrise summit and ridge forest trek
Points of Interest:
A shorter day, three to four hours descending through mixed forest and open hillside to Ghandruk. At 6,398 feet, Ghandruk is one of the largest Gurung villages in the Annapurna region and the most culturally rich stop on the circuit. The Gurung museum covers the history of the community and their relationship with the Annapurna range. The monastery and the local temple are both worth a visit. The views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli directly above the village are outstanding, and the local food, dal bhat from a family kitchen rather than a commercial kitchen, is better here than anywhere else on the trek.
Duration: 3-4 hours trekking | Activity: Village descent and cultural exploration
Points of Interest:
An easy two-to-three-hour descent to Nayapool and a one-hour drive back to Pokhara. Arrive at the lakeside by early afternoon. The rest of the day is free.
Duration: 2-3 hours trekking plus 1-hour drive | Activity: Final descent and return
Points of Interest:
A six-hour drive southwest brings you to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Buddhist pilgrims from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka all come here, and the Sacred Garden holds a calm that is hard to find elsewhere in Nepal. See the Maya Devi Temple at the exact site of the birth, the Ashoka Pillar from 249 BCE, and the international monastery zone where each Buddhist nation has built its own temple.
Duration: 6-hour drive plus evening exploration | Activity: Pilgrimage and spiritual exploration
Points of Interest:
A five-to-six-hour drive east from Lumbini brings you to Chitwan National Park on the Terai plain. The landscape shifts from the flat spiritual calm of the Lumbini gardens to subtropical floodplain and forest. Your jungle lodge sits inside the national park boundary.
Duration: 5-6 hours drive | Activity: Transfer
Points of Interest:
One full day in Chitwan. The morning jeep safari covers the park’s grasslands and sal forest; one-horned rhinos are commonly spotted and tigers, while rarer, are always a possibility. A guided jungle walk with a naturalist covers the park’s ecology, animal tracks, and plant life at a slower pace. The afternoon Rapti River canoe is excellent for gharial crocodiles, marsh muggers, and river birds. The evening ends at a Tharu cultural village with a traditional dance performance; the Tharu have lived alongside this jungle for generations.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Wildlife safari, jungle walk, canoeing, and cultural visit
Points of Interest:
A five-to-six-hour drive returns you to Kathmandu through the Terai plains and up into the valley. Arrive by evening and check into your hotel.
Duration: 5-6 hours drive | Activity: Transfer
Points of Interest:
A final morning of sightseeing in Kathmandu. Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur is the most refined collection of Newari temple architecture in the valley; the former Malla royal courtyard is quieter than Kathmandu Durbar Square and the metalwork and stone carving in the surrounding temples is exceptional. Swayambhunath Stupa on its hilltop west of the city offers a 360-degree view of the Kathmandu Valley and a genuinely peaceful atmosphere despite the famous monkey population. In the evening, mountainkick hosts a farewell dinner: traditional Nepali food and a cultural show to close out nineteen days.
Duration: Half day sightseeing plus farewell dinner | Activity: Cultural sightseeing and celebration
Points of Interest:
After breakfast, mountainkick transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport. Nineteen days: two UNESCO heritage cities, a Himalayan hill station, two nights on the river, three days in Pokhara, four days in the Annapurna foothills, the birthplace of the Buddha, a wildlife park, and a full view of the western Himalayas from 10,535 feet.
Duration: Departure day | Activity: Airport transfer
Points of Interest:
In Kathmandu:
Three-star hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
Daily breakfast included
Modern amenities including WiFi, electricity, and hot showers
Upgrade options available to 4-star or 5-star luxury hotels
In Nagarkot:
Three-star hill station hotel
Daily breakfast included
Strategic location for sunrise and Himalayan views
Upgrade options to luxury mountain resorts available
In Pokhara:
Three-star lakeside hotel accommodation
Daily breakfast included
Prime location near Phewa Lake with mountain views
Upgrade options to 4-star and 5-star lakeside resorts
In Lumbini:
Three-star hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
Daily breakfast included
Peaceful location near Buddha’s birthplace
Modern facilities with WiFi and hot water
During Trekking:
Traditional mountain guesthouses in Ulleri, Ghorepani, Tadapani, and Ghandruk
Twin-sharing rooms with basic but clean facilities
All meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Authentic mountain lodge experience with local hospitality
Shared bathroom facilities in most locations
In Chitwan:
Jungle resort accommodation inside the national park
Lodge-style rooms with natural environment setting
All meals included during your stay
Modern facilities with electricity and hot water
During Rafting:
Riverside camping with provided tents and equipment
Sleeping bags and camping gear included
All meals prepared by camping crew
Campfire experience under the Himalayan stars
General Notes:
All accommodations feature twin-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms (except trekking guesthouses)
Single room supplements available upon request
Hotel upgrades to 4-star and 5-star properties can be arranged for enhanced comfort and luxury
All properties include electricity, WiFi, and hot shower facilities (where available)
Mountain guesthouses offer basic but comfortable accommodation with authentic cultural experience
Fitness: Moderate rating. The trekking section (Days 9-13) requires four days of hiking, with daily walking times of four to six hours. The ascent from Nayapool to Ulleri and the climb to Ghorepani are both steep and long; they are the most physically demanding days. No technical climbing is involved. A reasonable base fitness before departure makes a significant difference. Good preparation: regular walking or hiking for six to eight weeks before arrival, with particular attention to stair-climbing and descents. The rest of the trip (rafting, safari, sightseeing) has no significant physical demands.
Rafting: The Trishuli River grade 2-3 rapids are appropriate for first-time rafters. All equipment is provided. Follow the safety briefing from your guide carefully. Inform your guide of any swimming limitations before launching. Waterproof bags for electronics are strongly recommended. Quick-dry clothing and water shoes or sandals work best.
Trek gear: mountainkick provides a down jacket and sleeping bag for the trekking section. You need to bring your own hiking boots (well broken-in before arrival), daypack, base layers, waterproof jacket, warm hat, gloves, headlamp with spare batteries, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Trekking poles are highly recommended for the steep descents from Ghorepani.
Altitude: Maximum altitude is Poon Hill at 10,535 feet (3,210m). Altitude sickness at this level is uncommon but possible. Stay well hydrated during trekking days. Ascend steadily, do not rush, and inform your guide immediately of any headache, nausea, or dizziness.
Temple etiquette: Dress modestly for all temple and monastery visits. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Remove shoes before entering. Ask permission before photographing people or religious ceremonies. At Pashupatinath, non-Hindu visitors may not enter the main temple building but can observe from the ghats and surrounding area.
Money: ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Limited access on the trek and in Chitwan and Lumbini. Withdraw sufficient cash before the trekking section begins. Budget $15-25 per day for self-pay meals in cities, plus cash for guesthouse hot showers, WiFi, and personal expenses. Tips for guides, porters, and drivers are customary at 10-15% of the trip price.
Medical: Consult your doctor before departure. Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and seasonal influenza. For Chitwan, consider Japanese Encephalitis vaccination due to mosquito exposure. Bring insect repellent and any personal medications.
General
We give you the power to choose the departure date that suits your group best. A private trip is a perfect solution if you can’t find a published departure date that you and your companions agree on. You can set up a private departure for most of the trips we offer.
| Travellers | PRICING FROM (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2410 |
| 2-3 | 1630 |
| 4-9 | 1320 |
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary. You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
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