Your adventure begins with a touchdown at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. After clearing immigration and customs, our airport representative will greet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to your hotel in Patan, on the south side of the Kathmandu Valley. Leaving the busy airport, you'll head into Patan's historic streets, famous for their temples, courtyards, Newari architecture, and skilled artisans.

After checking into your heritage or boutique hotel, take time to rest and recover from your journey. If you arrive early, you might enjoy a short walk around the neighborhood or simply relax at the hotel.

Later, you'll meet your guide and fellow trekkers for a trek briefing. Your guide will discuss the route, daily walking conditions, altitude, weather, local customs, accommodations, camping facilities, and other important considerations for the trek. In the evening, join a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali cuisine. It is a relaxed introduction to Nepal and an opportunity to meet the people you will share the journey with.

Overnight: Heritage/Boutique Hotel, Patan
Meals: Welcome Dinner

Begin your morning with a guided heritage tour of Patan, one of the oldest cultural centers in the Kathmandu Valley. Visit Patan Durbar Square and wander through historic lanes, courtyards, bihars, temples, and shrines. Along the way, stop at local artisan workshops to see the traditional metalwork, woodcarving, and craftsmanship that make Patan unique.

After the sightseeing tour, continue with a local food experience by stopping at several places around the old city to taste traditional Newari dishes, snacks, and sweets. Rather than a single sit-down meal, the experience takes you to some of Patan's lesser-known local food spots.

After lunch, you have the afternoon free to get ready for your trek, do some shopping, or relax at the hotel. If you need last-minute trekking gear, let your guide know, and they will help you find a good outdoor shop.

Overnight: Heritage/Boutique Hotel, Patan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for a short flight to Pokhara. On clear days, the 25-minute scenic flight offers aerial views of the mountains, including Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Annapurna.

Upon landing at Pokhara International Airport, you'll drive west toward Tatopani in a private vehicle. The route passes through Baglung and Beni, then follows the Kali Gandaki River into the Myagdi Valley. After leaving the busy highway, the road narrows and becomes rougher, winding through steep hills and small villages.

By afternoon, you'll arrive in Tatopani, a village in the subtropical Myagdi district. Check into your teahouse and rest after the long drive. In the evening, visit the natural hot springs that give Tatopani its name.

Overnight: Teahouse/Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will catch a 4WD and drive from Tatopani to Hum Khola. The road winds through rough mountain terrain and remote valleys in Myagdi. The drive passes small settlements, steep hillsides, and several hydropower construction sites before reaching Hum Khola, where the motorable road ends.

From Hum Khola, begin walking along the trail toward Sadhi Kharka. The route follows the river through a rugged mountain landscape, with forested slopes and waterfalls along the way. As you gain altitude, the surroundings grow quieter and more alpine.

After about four and a half hours of walking, you reach Sadhi Kharka, a seasonal grazing area used by local cattle herders. Your camping crew will set up tents at the best available campsite while the kitchen team prepares dinner in the dining tent.

Overnight: Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, you will leave Sadhi Kharka and head deeper into the remote mountains toward Busket Mela. After breakfast, you will begin a gradual climb to Gupha Phant, a small seasonal shelter known for its overhanging caves. Along the way, you will pass cascading waterfalls and temporary shelters used by local cattle herders.

The surrounding cliffs grow more rugged as you gain altitude. On clear days, you may catch your first glimpse of Tilicho Peak rising between the cliffs. You'll continue through quiet, isolated terrain until you reach Busket Mela. The camping crew will set up tents at the best available campsite. With only a few temporary shelters nearby, Busket Mela is one of the most remote overnight stops on the trek.

Overnight: Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After leaving Busket Mela, the trail climbs steadily through a rugged alpine landscape of rocky slopes, waterfalls, glacial terrain, and streams. You might spot mountain wildlife such as Himalayan thar and mountain goats along the way. As we approach Panchakunda Lake, the landscape grows more barren, with rocky paths and sparse vegetation.

After about five hours of steady walking, you'll arrive at Panchakunda Lake. The campsite sits beside calm glacial waters at 3,960 meters, surrounded by rocky mountains and snowy peaks. This is one of the trek's most scenic and remote campsites.

Panchakunda means "Five Ponds" in Nepali. In the past, this place had five separate glacial lakes, each with special religious significance for Hindu and Buddhist communities. Today, the ponds have merged into a single large glacial lake. Local elders still share stories about how each pond once represented a different element: blood, milk, copper, purity, and gold.

Take the afternoon to rest, explore the area around the lake, and prepare for tomorrow's hike to Annapurna North Base Camp.

Overnight: Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the highlight of the trek. Starting from Panchakunda Lake, you'll make a short, steep climb to Annapurna North Base Camp at 4,190 meters. The trail crosses rocky moraine that may be icy or snowy, depending on the weather.

At the base camp, you'll stand among some of the tallest peaks in the Annapurna region, including Annapurna I, Annapurna Fang, Tilicho Peak, Nilgiri, and Khangsar Kang. The site is also known as French Camp, named after the 1950 French expedition that explored this side of Annapurna during their historic summit of Annapurna I.

After spending some time at the base camp, you'll head back to the campsite at Panchakunda Lake to collect your things. Then you'll follow the same trail back to Sadhi Kharka, where you'll spend the night.

Overnight: Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, follow the trail back from Sadhi Kharka toward Hum Khola. As you head downhill through pine and rhododendron forests, the scenery grows greener as you approach the lower valleys.

Upon reaching Hum Khola, hop into a 4WD vehicle for the drive back to Tatopani along the rugged mountain road through the Myagdi Valley.

Once you arrive in Tatopani, check into your lodge. After a few nights in remote tented camps, look forward to a relaxing evening. Take a hot shower, reconnect to the internet, and call or message your family. If you wish, visit the natural hot springs and enjoy a relaxing dip in one of the pools to ease your tired muscles after the trek.

Overnight: Teahouse/Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, drive from Tatopani toward Beni, following the Kali Gandaki River through the lower Myagdi Valley. The road gradually leaves the quieter mountain villages behind as you approach Beni, an important trading town and the main road junction for the region.

From Beni, continue along the main highway toward Pokhara, with views of terraced hills, river valleys, and scattered settlements.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, check into your hotel and enjoy a comfortable afternoon at leisure. You can relax at the hotel, walk along the lakeside, or explore some of Pokhara's finest restaurants and cafes.

Overnight: Hotel, Pokhara
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you'll head to Pokhara Airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The 25-minute flight offers another chance to enjoy sweeping views of the Himalayas, including the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport, our representative will meet you and take you back to your heritage hotel in Patan. After checking in, you can rest, take a hot shower, or catch up on laundry after your trek. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax or take a final walk through the historic streets of Patan. You can revisit a favorite spot, browse local shops, or simply enjoy the slower pace of the old city before your departure tomorrow.

Overnight: Heritage/Boutique Hotel, Patan
Meals: Breakfast

Your Annapurna North Base Camp adventure comes to an end today. Depending on your flight time, you can take a final walk around Patan and enjoy a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe. Our representative will meet you in the lobby 3 hours before your flight and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport.

Before leaving, make sure you have all your belongings and travel documents. On behalf of the entire Patan Adventure team, thank you for choosing to travel with us. We wish you a safe journey home and hope to welcome you back to Nepal for another Himalayan adventure.

Meals: Breakfast