Lumbini Tour with Poonhill TrekLumbini Tour with Poonhill Trek

Lumbini Tour with Poonhill Trek

  • Duration10 Days
  • Route Grade Comfort Travel
  • Starting City Kathmandu
  • Ending City Kathmandu
Price fromUS$675US$875
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Lumbini Tour with Poonhill Trek map

Overview

This Lumbini tour with Poonhill Trek is a 10-day cultural tour with a short 3 days hiking excursion to Poonhill in Annapurna foothill. It moves from the stupas and monasteries of the Kathmandu Valley to Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini, then north to the hill town of Palpa before climbing into the Gurung ethnic village of Ghorepani near Poonhill. Activites include cultural sightseeings, a thangka painting session, monastery meditation, and a two-day village-to-village hike.

Trip Info

Duration

9 Nights / 10 Days

Destinations

Kathmandu → Lumbini → Palpa → Pokhara → Ghorepani → Ghandruk → Pokhara → Kathmandu

Starting Point / End Point

Kathmandu to Kathmandu

Accommodations

Hotels in Kathmandu, Lumbini, Palpa, and Pokhara; mountain lodges in Ghorepani and Ghandruk

Max Altitude

3,210 m (Poon Hill)

Country

Nepal

Trip Grade

Easy, with three moderate walking days

Activities

Buddhist heritage sightseeing, a thangka workshop, monastery meditation, and a two-day village walk

Trek Distance

Approximately 18–20 km on foot over Days 6 and 7 combined

Physical Demand

Easy overall. The two walking days run 5–6 hours each on maintained trail and stone steps, with an early pre-dawn start on Day 7. No prior trekking experience is required

Best Season

Autumn (September–November) and Spring (March–May)

Group Size

Available for private groups

Required Permits

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) for the Ghorepani–Ghandruk section

Itinerary Overview

  • Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,330 m), transfer to Hotel Mudita in Boudhanath, and enjoy a welcome dinner.

  • Day 2: Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, a thangka workshop, monastery meditation, and an evening butter-lamp ceremony.

  • Day 3: Fly to Lumbini (150 m), visit the Maya Devi Temple and the Sacred Garden, and cycle the Monastic Zone.

  • Day 4: Kapilavastu and the Peace Pagoda, Ramagrama Stupa; drive to Palpa (1,343 m) for the night.

  • Day 5: Drive to Pokhara (827 m), visit the old town and the World Peace Stupa.

  • Day 6: Drive to Banthanti, walk through terraced villages to Ghorepani (2,850 m).

  • Day 7: Sunrise at Poon Hill (3,210 m), walk on to Ghandruk (1,940 m) for a Gurung village visit.

  • Day 8: Descend to the roadhead, drive back to Pokhara, and have a free afternoon.

  • Day 9: Fly to Kathmandu, visit Patan's Buddhist courtyards, and have a farewell dinner.

  • Day 10: Departure.

Why you will love this Tour

  • Three Buddhist Landscapes in One Trip: Kathmandu Valley stupas, Lumbini's birthplace monuments, and mountain villages with their own Buddhist and animist traditions all sit inside a ten-day window.

  • A Working Thangka Studio, Not Just a Shop: The thangka session in Boudhanath is a hands-on workshop with a working painter, rather than a quick stop in a souvenir gallery.

  • Two Distinct Sunrise Moments: The Sacred Garden at dusk in Lumbini and the Himalayan panorama from Poon Hill at dawn give the trip two very different high points.

  • A Real Village Walk, Not a Token Stroll: Days 6 and 7 cover actual trail distance between Ghorepani and Ghandruk, through terraced fields and a Gurung settlement, rather than a short roadside detour.

  • A Wellness Stop Built In: The Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa in Pokhara gives the group a chance to rest, with an optional spa treatment on Day 8 before the final leg home.

 

Accommodation & Meals Overview

You'll stay in comfortable hotels in Kathmandu, Lumbini, Palpa, and Pokhara, with mountain lodges (a step up from basic tea houses) in Ghorepani and Ghandruk. Full board is included on the two walking days and in Lumbini and Palpa; hotel nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara include breakfast only, aside from the welcome, farewell, and specified dinners.

Days

Location

Hotel/Lodge

Nights

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 1–2

Kathmandu (Boudhanath)

Hotel Mudita

2 Nights

Included (Day 2)

Included (Day 2)

Welcome dinner (Day 1)

Day 3

Lumbini

Buddha Maya Garden Hotel

1 Night

Included

—

Included

Day 4

Palpa (Tansen)

Hotel Sri Nagar

1 Night

Included

—

Included

Day 5

Pokhara

Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa

1 Night

Included

—

—

Day 6

Ghorepani

Mountain Lodge

1 Night

Included

Included

Included

Day 7

Ghandruk

Mountain Lodge

1 Night

Included

Included

Included

Day 8

Pokhara

Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa

1 Night

Included

Included

—

Day 9

Kathmandu

Arya Boutique Hotel or Hotel Mulberry

1 Night

Included

—

Farewell dinner

Day 10

Departure

—

—

Included

—

—

Note: Hotels are subject to availability; a similar-standard property will be arranged if the listed one is unavailable. Mountain lodges in Ghorepani and Ghandruk are twin-share with attached or shared bathrooms depending on the property.

Cost Includes

Cost Overview

This 9-night, 10-day tour includes airport pickup and drop-off, the Kathmandu–Lumbini and Pokhara–Kathmandu domestic flights, private vehicle transfers throughout (including the Palpa–Pokhara and Ghandruk–Pokhara legs), an English-speaking guide, and hotel accommodation as listed. Meals are included as noted in the meal plan, along with the welcome dinner, farewell dinner, and full board on the two walking days.

Cost Includes:

  • Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu

  • Kathmandu–Lumbini and Pokhara–Kathmandu domestic flights

  • Hotel accommodation as listed, including breakfasts and taxes

  • Meals as specified: welcome dinner, farewell dinner, and full board on trekking days

  • Private vehicle transfers throughout, including Palpa–Pokhara and Ghandruk–Pokhara legs

  • English-speaking guide for sightseeing and the Ghorepani–Ghandruk walk

  • Thangka workshop session and monastery meditation session

  • ACAP permit for the Ghorepani–Ghandruk section

 

Cost Excludes:

  • International airfare to and from Nepal

  • Nepal entry visa fee

  • Meals not specified in the itinerary

  • Travel insurance, including trip cancellation and emergency evacuation

  • Optional spa treatment at Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa

  • Alcoholic and bottled beverages

  • Entrance fees to monuments and heritage sites

  • Tips for guide and driver (customary)

  • Personal expenses and shopping

Itinerary

On arrival in Kathmandu you're met at the airport and driven roughly 8 km to Hotel Mudita in Boudhanath, on the eastern edge of the city. Boudhanath's stupa, one of the largest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short walk from the hotel, and its surrounding lanes are lined with monasteries, monk residences, and thangka ateliers. In the evening the group gathers for a welcome dinner with a direct view of the stupa, timed to coincide with the evening circumambulation when the dome is lit and the courtyard fills with pilgrims and residents doing their evening kora.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Mudita, Boudhanath. Welcome dinner included.

  • ActivitiesAirport transfer, hotel check-in, welcome dinner with stupa view
  • Trip HoursTrip Hours: Approximately 1–2 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

The day is spent on foot and by car across Kathmandu's core Buddhist sites. The morning starts at Boudhanath itself for a slower, closer look at the stupa's mandala layout and the surrounding gompas, before moving to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa known locally as the Monkey Temple and one of the oldest religious sites in the valley. A thangka painting workshop in the afternoon gives a hands-on look at the mineral pigments, iconography, and mandala geometry used in traditional Buddhist scroll painting. Later, a meditation session is held with resident monks, and the day closes with an evening butter-lamp ceremony, one of the more visually striking devotional practices in Tibetan Buddhism.

Accommodation & Meals: Same hotel, Boudhanath. Breakfast and Nepali-style lunch included.

  • ActivitiesBoudhanath, Swayambhunath, thangka workshop, monastery meditation, butter-lamp ceremony
  • Trip HoursApproximately 7–8 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

A short domestic flight (roughly 30 minutes) takes the group to Bhairahawa, with a transfer on to Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Maya Devi Temple marks the site of the Buddha's birth according to tradition, standing beside the sacred pond and the Ashoka Pillar. The Sacred Garden around it is quiet and deliberately undeveloped. In the afternoon, a bicycle ride through the International Monastic Zone passes monasteries built by Buddhist communities from more than a dozen countries, each in its own national architectural style. The day ends with a sunset meditation session inside the garden precinct.

Accommodation & Meals: Buddha Maya Garden Hotel, Lumbini. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesFlight to Lumbini, Maya Devi Temple, Sacred Garden, cycling the Monastic Zone, sunset meditation
  • Trip HoursApproximately 4–5 hours of sightseeing, plus the flight and transfer
  • Max Altitude150 m (Lumbini)

The morning is given to the Peace Pagoda and a visit to Kapilavastu, the site of the ancient Shakya kingdom's capital where Siddhartha spent his early life before renouncing the palace. The ruins here are foundational rather than dramatic, but they place the Buddha's early biography in an actual location rather than in scripture alone. In the late afternoon the group visits Ramagrama Stupa, one of the few sites believed to still hold an original, undisturbed portion of the Buddha's relics, before driving on to Tansen in the Palpa hills for the night.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Sri Nagar, Tansen, Palpa. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • Activities:

  • Trip Hours:

  • Max Altitude: 1,343 m (Palpa/Tansen)

  • ActivitiesPeace Pagoda, Kapilavastu ruins, Ramagrama Stupa, drive to Palpa
  • Trip HoursApproximately 3–4 hours of sightseeing, plus a 3–4 hour drive to Palpa

On arrival in Kathmandu you're met at the airport and driven roughly 8 km to Hotel Mudita in Boudhanath, on the eastern edge of the city. Boudhanath's stupa, one of the largest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short walk from the hotel, and its surrounding lanes are lined with monasteries, monk residences, and thangka ateliers. In the evening the group gathers for a welcome dinner with a direct view of the stupa, timed to coincide with the evening circumambulation when the dome is lit and the courtyard fills with pilgrims and residents doing their evening kora.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Mudita, Boudhanath. Welcome dinner included.

  • ActivitiesAirport transfer, hotel check-in, welcome dinner with stupa view
  • Trip HoursTrip Hours: Approximately 1–2 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

The day is spent on foot and by car across Kathmandu's core Buddhist sites. The morning starts at Boudhanath itself for a slower, closer look at the stupa's mandala layout and the surrounding gompas, before moving to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa known locally as the Monkey Temple and one of the oldest religious sites in the valley. A thangka painting workshop in the afternoon gives a hands-on look at the mineral pigments, iconography, and mandala geometry used in traditional Buddhist scroll painting. Later, a meditation session is held with resident monks, and the day closes with an evening butter-lamp ceremony, one of the more visually striking devotional practices in Tibetan Buddhism.

Accommodation & Meals: Same hotel, Boudhanath. Breakfast and Nepali-style lunch included.

  • ActivitiesBoudhanath, Swayambhunath, thangka workshop, monastery meditation, butter-lamp ceremony
  • Trip HoursApproximately 7–8 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

A short domestic flight (roughly 30 minutes) takes the group to Bhairahawa, with a transfer on to Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Maya Devi Temple marks the site of the Buddha's birth according to tradition, standing beside the sacred pond and the Ashoka Pillar. The Sacred Garden around it is quiet and deliberately undeveloped. In the afternoon, a bicycle ride through the International Monastic Zone passes monasteries built by Buddhist communities from more than a dozen countries, each in its own national architectural style. The day ends with a sunset meditation session inside the garden precinct.

Accommodation & Meals: Buddha Maya Garden Hotel, Lumbini. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesFlight to Lumbini, Maya Devi Temple, Sacred Garden, cycling the Monastic Zone, sunset meditation
  • Trip HoursApproximately 4–5 hours of sightseeing, plus the flight and transfer
  • Max Altitude150 m (Lumbini)

The morning is given to the Peace Pagoda and a visit to Kapilavastu, the site of the ancient Shakya kingdom's capital where Siddhartha spent his early life before renouncing the palace. The ruins here are foundational rather than dramatic, but they place the Buddha's early biography in an actual location rather than in scripture alone. In the late afternoon the group visits Ramagrama Stupa, one of the few sites believed to still hold an original, undisturbed portion of the Buddha's relics, before driving on to Tansen in the Palpa hills for the night.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Sri Nagar, Tansen, Palpa. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • Activities:

  • Trip Hours:

  • Max Altitude: 1,343 m (Palpa/Tansen)

  • ActivitiesPeace Pagoda, Kapilavastu ruins, Ramagrama Stupa, drive to Palpa
  • Trip HoursApproximately 3–4 hours of sightseeing, plus a 3–4 hour drive to Palpa

On arrival in Kathmandu you're met at the airport and driven roughly 8 km to Hotel Mudita in Boudhanath, on the eastern edge of the city. Boudhanath's stupa, one of the largest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short walk from the hotel, and its surrounding lanes are lined with monasteries, monk residences, and thangka ateliers. In the evening the group gathers for a welcome dinner with a direct view of the stupa, timed to coincide with the evening circumambulation when the dome is lit and the courtyard fills with pilgrims and residents doing their evening kora.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Mudita, Boudhanath. Welcome dinner included.

  • ActivitiesAirport transfer, hotel check-in, welcome dinner with stupa view
  • Trip HoursTrip Hours: Approximately 1–2 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

The day is spent on foot and by car across Kathmandu's core Buddhist sites. The morning starts at Boudhanath itself for a slower, closer look at the stupa's mandala layout and the surrounding gompas, before moving to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa known locally as the Monkey Temple and one of the oldest religious sites in the valley. A thangka painting workshop in the afternoon gives a hands-on look at the mineral pigments, iconography, and mandala geometry used in traditional Buddhist scroll painting. Later, a meditation session is held with resident monks, and the day closes with an evening butter-lamp ceremony, one of the more visually striking devotional practices in Tibetan Buddhism.

Accommodation & Meals: Same hotel, Boudhanath. Breakfast and Nepali-style lunch included.

  • ActivitiesBoudhanath, Swayambhunath, thangka workshop, monastery meditation, butter-lamp ceremony
  • Trip HoursApproximately 7–8 hours
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

A short domestic flight (roughly 30 minutes) takes the group to Bhairahawa, with a transfer on to Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Maya Devi Temple marks the site of the Buddha's birth according to tradition, standing beside the sacred pond and the Ashoka Pillar. The Sacred Garden around it is quiet and deliberately undeveloped. In the afternoon, a bicycle ride through the International Monastic Zone passes monasteries built by Buddhist communities from more than a dozen countries, each in its own national architectural style. The day ends with a sunset meditation session inside the garden precinct.

Accommodation & Meals: Buddha Maya Garden Hotel, Lumbini. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesFlight to Lumbini, Maya Devi Temple, Sacred Garden, cycling the Monastic Zone, sunset meditation
  • Trip HoursApproximately 4–5 hours of sightseeing, plus the flight and transfer
  • Max Altitude150 m (Lumbini)

The morning is given to the Peace Pagoda and a visit to Kapilavastu, the site of the ancient Shakya kingdom's capital where Siddhartha spent his early life before renouncing the palace. The ruins here are foundational rather than dramatic, but they place the Buddha's early biography in an actual location rather than in scripture alone. In the late afternoon the group visits Ramagrama Stupa, one of the few sites believed to still hold an original, undisturbed portion of the Buddha's relics, before driving on to Tansen in the Palpa hills for the night.

Accommodation & Meals: Hotel Sri Nagar, Tansen, Palpa. Breakfast and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesPeace Pagoda, Kapilavastu ruins, Ramagrama Stupa, drive to Palpa
  • Trip HoursApproximately 3–4 hours of sightseeing, plus a 3–4 hour drive to Palpa
  • Max Altitude1,343 m (Palpa/Tansen)

A scenic drive brings the group down from the Palpa hills into Pokhara, on the shore of Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range visible on clear days. The afternoon covers the old quarter of Pokhara and its temples, including the World Peace Stupa on the ridge above the lake, built in 1973 by Japanese Buddhist monks as one of over 80 such pagodas worldwide dedicated to world peace. The evening is free, a chance to settle in before two walking days ahead.

Accommodation & Meals: Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa, Pokhara. Breakfast included.

  • ActivitiesDrive to Pokhara, old town sightseeing, World Peace Stupa
  • Trip HoursApproximately 4–5 hours drive, plus an afternoon of sightseeing
  • Max Altitude827 m (Pokhara)

A drive to Banthanti marks the start of the walking portion of the trip. From here the trail runs through terraced rice and millet fields and a string of small villages before climbing into rhododendron forest on the approach to Ghorepani, a settlement that sits at the junction of several Annapurna trekking routes. It's a full day on foot, moderate rather than technical, and the overnight is in a comfortable mountain lodge rather than a basic tea house.

Accommodation & Meals: Mountain Lodge, Ghorepani. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesDrive to Banthanti, walk through terraced villages to Ghorepani
  • Trip HoursApproximately 5–6 hours of walking
  • Max Altitude2,850 m (Ghorepani)

An early start, well before dawn, for the climb to Poon Hill, one of the most reliable sunrise viewpoints in the Annapurna region, with Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Machhapuchhre all visible from the summit in clear weather. After breakfast back in Ghorepani, the day's main walk continues to Ghandruk, a large Gurung village known for its stone-paved lanes and its role in Nepal's Gurkha recruitment history. A guided cultural walk through the village covers its architecture, its Gurung Museum, and everyday village life.

Accommodation & Meals: Mountain Lodge, Ghandruk. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

  • ActivitiesPoon Hill sunrise, walk to Ghandruk, guided village walk
  • Trip HoursApproximately 45 minutes up to Poon Hill, plus 5–6 hours of walking on to Ghandruk
  • Max Altitude3,210 m (Poon Hill)

The descent from Ghandruk to the roadhead is the return leg of the walk, generally easier going than the climb up, with a drive back into Pokhara to follow. The afternoon is left free, either at the lakeside or for an optional spa treatment at the hotel, a deliberate pause built into the schedule after two consecutive walking days.

Accommodation & Meals: Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa, Pokhara. Breakfast and lunch included

  • ActivitiesDescent to roadhead, drive to Pokhara
  • Trip HoursApproximately 3 hours of walking, plus a 1-hour drive
  • Max Altitude1,940 m (Ghandruk, at start of day)

A short flight returns the group to Kathmandu. The afternoon is spent in Patan, across the Bagmati River from central Kathmandu, focused on its Buddhist courtyards, including sites connected to the Ashoka stupas said to mark the city's four cardinal corners. Patan's Newar Buddhist tradition differs noticeably from the Tibetan Buddhist character of Boudhanath, and the contrast is part of the point of the visit. A farewell dinner closes out the trip in the evening.

Accommodation & Meals: Arya Boutique Hotel or Hotel Mulberry, Kathmandu. Breakfast and farewell dinner included.

  • ActivitiesFlight to Kathmandu, Patan's Buddhist courtyards, farewell dinner
  • Trip HoursApproximately 3–4 hours of sightseeing, plus the flight
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)

After breakfast, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for the international flight home.

  • ActivitiesAirport transfer, departure
  • Trip HoursApproximately 1–2 hours, depending on flight time
  • Max Altitude1,330 m (Kathmandu)
Trip Information

Trip Information

Know Before You Book

  • Visa Requirements: All travelers except Indian passport holders need a visa to enter Nepal; most nationalities can get a visa on arrival. A 15-day tourist visa is USD 30 (30-day: $50, 90-day: $125), so a 15-day visa covers this 10-day trip with margin.

  • Required Permits: An ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) is needed for the Ghorepani–Ghandruk section and is arranged by us.

  • Physical Preparation: This is an easy trip overall. The two walking days run 5–6 hours on maintained trail and stone steps, with no technical terrain. A moderate level of everyday fitness is enough; no prior trekking experience is required.

  • Domestic Flights: Two short domestic flights are included, Kathmandu–Bhairahawa (for Lumbini) and Pokhara–Kathmandu, each around 25–30 minutes and subject to weather delays, particularly in the case of low cloud cover.

  • Travel Insurance: Recommended for the trip generally, and should cover trip cancellation as well as any medical needs during the two walking days.

Accommodations, Meals & Transportation

  • Lodge Standards: The mountain lodges in Ghorepani and Ghandruk are a step above basic tea houses, generally twin-share rooms with attached or nearby shared bathrooms depending on the property.

  • Meals on the Walking Days: Full board is included on Days 6 and 7. Menu options at altitude lean toward Nepali staples like dal bhat, with less variety than in city hotels.

  • Room-Sharing Policy: Standard twin-share throughout; a single supplement is available at the hotels in Kathmandu, Lumbini, Palpa, and Pokhara.

  • Vehicle Transfers: All road transfers, including the longer Palpa–Pokhara and Ghandruk–Pokhara legs, are by private vehicle rather than shared transport.

Seasonal & Weather Notes

  • Best Seasons: Autumn (September–November) and spring (March–May) give the clearest views from Poon Hill and the most comfortable temperatures in Lumbini's lowland climate.

  • Winter: Workable, with colder mornings on the Ghorepani–Ghandruk walk and a genuine chance of light snow near Poon Hill.

  • Monsoon (June–August): Not recommended. Lumbini's lowland heat and humidity peak in this window, and the Ghorepani trail can be slippery with reduced mountain visibility.

  • Weather-Dependent Flights: Both included domestic flights can be delayed by weather, especially the Pokhara sector in the early morning. Travelers with tight onward connections should build in a buffer day.

Health & Safety

  • Altitude: The highest point on this trip is Poon Hill at 3,210 m, reached briefly on a single morning. Altitude-related discomfort is uncommon at this elevation but not impossible; guides carry basic first-aid.

  • Lowland Climate: Lumbini sits at around 150 m and can be hot and humid outside the cooler months; sun protection and hydration matter more there than in the hills.

  • Healthcare Facilities: Kathmandu and Pokhara have well-equipped hospitals; facilities in Lumbini and along the Ghorepani–Ghandruk walk are more limited.

  • Drinking Water: Bottled or treated water is recommended throughout.

Packing Checklist

  • Clothing: Light, breathable layers for Lumbini's lowland heat, plus a fleece or light down layer and a waterproof shell for the cooler evenings in Ghorepani and Ghandruk.

  • Footwear: Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or light hiking boots for the two walking days; sandals or casual shoes for city and temple visits.

  • Walking Gear: A daypack, a headlamp for the pre-dawn Poon Hill climb, and a reusable water bottle.

  • Documents: Passport with 6+ months validity, visa, travel insurance details, and one passport photo for permit paperwork.

  • Other: Modest clothing for temple and monastery visits (shoulders and knees covered), sunscreen, and a light rain layer outside the dry season.

Important Notices

  • Guide Requirement: An English-speaking guide accompanies the group for sightseeing and the Ghorepani–Ghandruk walk, included in the package.

  • Itinerary Flexibility: Timings on Days 6 and 7 may shift slightly with weather or trail conditions; the guide will advise on any changes.

  • Responsible Travel: Dress modestly at temples and monasteries, ask before photographing monks or ceremonies, and follow "leave no trace" practice on the Ghorepani–Ghandruk section.

Trip Preparations

  • Why does this tour combine Lumbini with the Poon Hill trek?

    Lumbini offers insight into the origins of Buddhism, while the Poon Hill trek introduces travelers to Himalayan Buddhist culture and mountain communities. Together, they provide a broader understanding of Nepal's Buddhist heritage and landscapes. 

  • It is a combination of both. The itinerary focuses on Nepal's major Buddhist sites while including a short two-day trek through the Annapurna region, making it ideal for travelers seeking cultural experiences alongside light adventure.

  • The trek is considered easy to moderate. Daily walks last around 5–6 hours on well-maintained trails and stone staircases, making it suitable for beginners with a reasonable level of fitness.

  • Yes. No previous trekking experience is required. The walking section is relatively short, and the gradual itinerary allows most first-time trekkers to complete it comfortably.

  • The tour visits Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, Maya Devi Temple, the Sacred Garden in Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Ramagrama Stupa, Patan's Buddhist courtyards, and the World Peace Stupa in Pokhara.

  • Yes. The itinerary includes a traditional thangka painting workshop, monastery meditation session, butter-lamp ceremony, and visits to active monasteries where you can experience local Buddhist traditions firsthand.

  • Most sightseeing days involve relaxed walking around heritage sites, monasteries, and towns. Apart from the two trekking days, no strenuous hiking is required.

  • Yes. Poon Hill is one of Nepal's most famous viewpoints, offering panoramic sunrise views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and several other Himalayan peaks on clear mornings.

  • Yes. The itinerary includes domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lumbini, and from Pokhara back to Kathmandu, reducing long road journeys and making the itinerary more comfortable.

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