The Royal Trek is a perfect fit for those trekkers who don’t have much time to spare yet want to enjoy the nature at its finest. As such, this trek enables the trekkers to enjoy the marvelous work of nature, through the lushness of the Rhododendron forest and through the grassy land as they spend their days appreciating the beauty that this trek throws at us.

In the early 1980s, Prince Charles and his companions explored this trekking route, hence, giving it the name ‘the Royal Trek’. In this journey, we will get to witness the marvel of nature. The great white mountains can be seen at their finest as we traverse across the beautiful terrace farmland and through the jungle. The views of the glorious Mt. Macchapuchhre (6,993m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,157m) as well as the view of the Lamjung Himal, Langtang Lirung and the Annapurna ranges welcomes you in this epic journey.

This short yet naturally blessed trek to western Nepal has been increasing in popularity among those people who want to utilize the already little time they have. Being overshadowed by other big trekking routes, this trek is less crowded and perfect for those who want to trek away from crowded areas.

The abundance of culture along with the natural aesthetic scenery makes this trek a rare gem. As we pass through several of the Gurung villages, it gives us time to learn about their lifestyle and culture. The blend of culture and nature gives the royal trek a royal feel.

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

The Royal trek enables the trekkers to enjoy the immensity of nature under a stipulated time. So, if you want to enjoy the nature at the shortest amount then this is the trek for you. The Royal trek takes us to the western Nepal as we traverse through the low altitude farmland and ethnic villages in the area while enjoying the marvelous view of the mountains in the backdrop.

It’s a pleasant walk through the meadows and occasional ups and down the hills that make this trek an easy and enjoyable one. Perfect for the beginner trekkers, the Royal trek takes it simple yet conserves the purity of the nature that everyone can enjoy. Add that to the peace and less crowded trail and this trek becomes an experience.

Walking through the meadow has never been so satisfying with the view of the Himalayas to accompany you. The thick forests provide us with the shade and the rivers provide us the tranquility of nature. The villages are abundant in number and the people are as friendly and welcoming as they could ever be. Interacting with Gurung people and enjoying their unique culture and tradition adds more to the already excellent trek.

The trek starts as we drive from Kathmandu to Lake city of Pokhara. Then we drive to Bijayapur and start our trek. We walk through the farmland and ascend to Kalikasthan. Following that route, we reach Chisapani from where the mystic peaks of the western Himalayas shine in their full glory. We also walk alongside the rivers and down the hill; we reach Begnas Lake – one of the most famous lakes in Pokhara region. Then we drive back to Pokhara and return to Kathmandu. Along with nature, we also get to visit two of the most popular cities of Nepal- Kathmandu, and Pokhara. Visiting the temples and monasteries in Kathmandu and enjoying the Lakes and live music in Pokhara acts as a great compliment to the trek.

Although the best time for taking on this trek is either Spring (March-May) or Autumn (November – December), the route is open all around the year. However, we don’t recommend trekking during the rainy season. The trail becomes muddy and slippery making it impossible to carry on. Similarly, the cloud will obstruct the view of the mountains.

This trek is not only to enjoy the nature but also to contribute to the society. The expense that you will incur in this trek indirectly helps the marginalized people in the rural area of Nepal. Volunteer’s Initiative Nepal will contribute a portion of your expense towards developing their living standards. There are still many people in Nepal who don’t have access to the basic facilities including a good food, proper sanitation, a roof to live under and good education to prepare for the future. VIN aims to help these people gain what they couldn’t. The money will be used to create the infrastructure of development giving these people the necessary pieces of stuff they need and make their life more sustainable and worth living.

Highlights

Trek to the world-famous place in Nepal and world
One of the most popular trekking destinations globally.
Winters are extremely cold and harsh, making trekking challenging.
Witness lush meadows, thick rhododendron forests, and vibrant valleys.
Immerse yourself in natural beauty, culture, and unique traditions.

Day 1 :

Arrival in Kathmandu:

You will arrive in Kathmandu – the capital city of Nepal via Tribhuvan International airport. Upon your arrival, you will be transported to your hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, you might have lots of time to stroll around the city by yourself. The narrow streets and maze-like street of the city may be confusing, but the bustling and ever busy crowd will keep us company. Thamel is the tourist hub of Kathmandu. The nightlife of Thamel is one of the coolest in the country with various bars and restaurants and people out on street. It’s something worth checking out. You can also enjoy the delicious Nepal cuisine while you are at it.

Day 2 :

Sightseeing in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is known as the city of temples and blessed with the culture and religious richness. As such, there are over a thousand temples in the valley alone. There are three durbar squares- the palace of the ancient kings as well as monasteries other places that we can visit. Today, we will visit some of these sites. Pashupatinath temple is the holiest temple for Hindu where we worship Lord Shiva- the God of destruction in Hindu Mythology. Then we move to the monkey temple – Swoyambhunath on the top of the hill. Moving on, we will also visit Boudhanath which is the largest stupa in the world. Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath temple is famous among the Buddhist pilgrims and is almost always flooded with Nepalese and tourist alike. At Basantapur, we will also visit Kathmandu Durbar Square– this is a once- royal palace for the King of Kathmandu. Although this is currently being renovated we can enjoy the temples around the area and enjoy feeding the pigeons. Reaching back hotel, you will be briefed about the trek. Get the preparation done for the next day.

Day 3 :

Kathmandu – Pokhara (823m)

We take our breakfast to our hotel and prepare to drive all the way to Pokhara– yet another tourist destination. This is a long ride as we pass various cities and villages. However, the view of the hills and the white waters is something to be reckoned with. The terraced farmland along with the winding roads in the Prithvi Highway makes this road trip a memorable one. Reaching Pokhara, we will rest our luggage at the hotel. After a shower, we can roam around the Lake City. There’s lot of things we can do, from boating in the silent Fewa Lake to cycling in this clean city. 8 hours of drive. BLD included.

Day 4 :

Pokhara – Kalikasthan (1,370m)

First of all, we will drive to Bijaypur and start our trek from there. It’s a short trek to Kalikasthan from Bijaypur. Trekking through the cultivated terrace field, we can enjoy the incredible view of the hills and the vast farmland. We cross the river and slowly ascend to Kalikasthan. The enamoring view of the Annapurna Range and Mt. Kanchanjunga can be enjoyed as we walk through the plain grassland. We can also rest on the giant Banyan tree near Archale village before reach Kalikasthan. It’s an easy day walk for today. 1-hour drive. 4 hours of walk.

Day 5 :

Kalikasthan – Syanglung (1,730m)

It’s another peaceful walk through the mountain ridge and grassland with the view of the ice giants. Along the way, we pass through Thuloko village. Going through the Rhododendrron forest we can enjoy the birds chirping. We will also come across the stone steps within the forest. Pass the forest and we get views of the Annapurna range and the Lamjung Himal. After a steep climb, we will reach the Gurung village of Syanglung with a marvelous view of the entire Lamjung Himal. 6 hours of walk. BLD included.

Day 6 :

Syangglung – Chisapani (1,550m)

As we walk through several of the Gurung settlement, it will give us a chance to experience their lifestyle and culture. Through the Sal and Rhododendron forest, we will enjoy the lushness and verdure of the thick woods. From there, we will descend down from the hill and walk through the open field. Its steep ascend to Chisapani from where we can see the enamoring panoramic view of the mountains. The view of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range including Annapurna II, IV and Gangapurna become clearer. 6 hours of walk. BLD included.

Day 7 :

Chisapani – Pokhara

We start our day by descending down through the hill. The view of the magnificent Rupa Lake can be seen from up there. Then we ascend through the grassy ridges to Sundare Danda. Then, we again climb downhill to the other side of the hill and reach Begnas lake– also known as the freshwater lake. Boating in this lake is an amazing experience as we reach the center of the lake, full of still clear water. Take some great pictures of you boating and then we drive back to Pokhara. At the evening we can stroll around Lakeside and enjoy the live music in one of the several bars and restaurants. 4 hours of walk. 1 hour of drive.

Day 08 :

Pokhara – Kathmandu

After our breakfast, we board the bus and drive back to the capital city. Throughout the trip, we can enjoy the same beautiful countryside, filled with terrace farmland, rivers, and the giant hills. The winding road takes us through many of the small towns in the highway that we stop by for lunch. Reaching the hotel, you can take a nice shower and enjoy the Thamel area. It’s a good time for souvenir shopping as well. 8 hours of drive. BLD included.

Day 09 :

Departure

It’s the end of the marvelous journey. You will be escorted to Tribhuvan International Airport where you will wait for the flight departure while looking back at some of the great moment you had on this amazing trip.