Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, you will be greeted by a representative from Naata Trek and Tours holding a placard bearing your name, after which you will be dropped off at your hotel. In the evening, you will have an authentic Nepali dinner hosted by Naata Trek and Tours.
Royal Trek
Royal Trek Highlights
- Hike along the trail that Prince Charles and even Mick Jagger walked
- A cultural immersion into the lifestyle of Gurung people living on the trail
- A relatively short and easy trek
- Clear views of the three highest mountains in the world in Annapurna (8,091 meters), Manaslu(8,156 meters), and Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters)
- Stop at the popular lake city of Pokhara, a famous tourist hotspot.
Royal Trek Overview
Prince Charles probably loved it……What about you?
Royal Trek is one of the shortest treks along the foothills of Annapurna, north of the Pokhara Valley. It is named so because Prince Charles of England and his 90-person entourage explored this route in the early eighties.
The Trek is a four-day loop through the Himalayan foothills starting from Bijaypur Khola and ends up at a scenic Begnas Lake 30 km west of Pokhara city, where we charter a boat and drive back to Pokhara. Although the Trek is shorter, it provides excellent opportunities to experience this region’s diverse mix of people and cultures. With the history in itself, the Royal Trek ‘walks the talk.’ The Trek begins in the lake city of Pokhara, which is as Royal as possible. During the Trek, we pass through charming Gurung hamlets whose hearts are as Royal as the Prince’s. Throughout the Trek, we can enjoy the sceneries and stunning views of the eloquently built hillside rice terraces, the royal Annapurna range, Machhapuchre(fishtail), and Langtang Mountain views.
The Royal trekking trip best suits those constrained time-wise but urged to trek encircled by the beautiful Himalayas. The Royal Trek allows us to capture the traditional lifestyles of the tribes whose ancient religious practices and cultures have remained unmarred by time. The Royal trek is less crowded than trekking in other Annapurna regions, which allows us to be close to nature.
It is a complete camping trek without the facilities of hotels or lodges. And no better teacher exists than the ‘Camping Trek in the Mountains.’
Itinerary
Today, we will start our sightseeing tour after breakfast. We will visit several historical and cultural sites, mostly UNESCO world heritage sites such as the Durbar squares, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath. In the evening, your trek guide and other team members will brief you about your Trek ahead. In the evening, you can buy some essential gear for your Trek.
We will start our drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara early in the morning. It takes us approximately 8-9 hours to reach the lakeside city of Pokhara. The tourist hub is popular among travelers for its view of Annapurna and several other mountain ranges, as well as for boasting several lakes. You can stroll around the lakeside and enjoy drinks in the nearby pubs. We stayed the night in Pokhara.
We have breakfast and drive to Bijayapur Khola, a short one-hour drive. The Royal Trek begins from here, and the trekking trail starts with a walk through paddy fields. Then, we cross a river and start ascending to Kalikasthan. It is a small Gurung village providing stunning views of the Annapurna mountains. We will explore the town and stay the night at a local guesthouse.
Maximum
Altitude :
1,370 meters
Walking
Distance :
4-5
Driving
Distance :
1-hour
We have a hearty breakfast and begin our Trek by walking through villages. We walk along the ridge of the mountain, and along the way, we will see views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. If you visit during the Spring season, you will also be greeted by colorful rhododendron forests. We stayed the night in a local guest house.
Maximum
Altitude :
1,730 meters
Walking
Distance :
5-6 hours
Our day starts after breakfast. As we walk through the Gurung village, we will get to see the local lifestyle. After reaching the Trek’s midpoint, we descend 400 meters and ascend around 600 meters, after which we reach our destination for the day in Chisapani. The place is the best vantage point for viewing the Annapurna range. You can also see Mount Dhaulagiri, which is to the west of Annapurna. We stayed the night in a local guesthouse.
Maximum
Altitude :
1,550 meters
Walking
Distance :
5-6 hours
Today’s Trek offers a chance to view two famous lakes in Pokhara. We begin trekking with a descent to Rupa Tal (lake). We then climb up for about 200 meters and arrive at Sundare Danda. Another 15-minute downhill walk takes us to the beautiful Begnas Tal. We enjoy boating on the lake for about an hour, after which we drive to Pokhara, where we stay the night. You can spend the evening strolling around the lakeside.
Maximum
Altitude :
850 meters
We have a long yet scenic drive ahead of us today. It takes us 8-9 hours to reach Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you can stroll around the Thamel area and do some last-minute souvenir shopping.
Maximum
Altitude :
1400 meters
Our trip ends today. A representative from Naata Trek and Tours will escort you to the international airport for your journey back home.
Included in the Cost
- Airport pickup and drop in a private vehicle
- 5-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast camping accommodation during the trek
- Welcome and farewell dinner programs
- All ground transportation on a private vehicle
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu)
- Guided city tour of Kathmandu in a private vehicle
- Entrance fees for sightseeing
- An experienced, English speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
- Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
- Staff costs including salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation
- Down jacket and sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion)
- Naata Travel & Adventures trekking bag, t-shirt and trekking map (which are yours to take)
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS)
- Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
Not Included in the Cost
- Nepalese visa fee (Bring accurate USD cash and two passport size photographs)
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Excess baggage charges
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porter, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc)
- All other not mentioned in cost includes section
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Trip Information
History of Royal Trek
The Royal Trek was named after Prince Charles and his 90-person entourage, who had followed this route shortly before his marriage to Princess Diana in 1981. Prince Charles and the famous musician Mick Jagger have also done this trail. It was renowned because Prince Charles had traversed it. It gained massive popularity after that. However, due to the emergence of new trails and after the trails of Royal Trek have been turned into dirt tracks, they don’t boast the same popularity as before.
Meals throughout trekking
The meal options on this Trek are pretty limited. Unlike other trekkers in the Annapurna region, which has few visitors, the meals are mainly restricted to authentic Nepalese cuisine, such as dal bhat (rice, lentil, and curry) and dumplings.
Accommodation During Trek
Accommodation on the royal trek route is in local guesthouses, as there are no luxury offerings. The rooms are shared among 2-3 people, and the bathrooms are common as well. However, you can stay in 2-3 star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, depending on your liking.
Elevation and Altitude
The highest elevation we gained on this trip is just 1730 meters at Syaklung. This royal Trek is short and easy compared to other trekking areas in Nepal. You need to have decent stamina to complete this short Trek.
Permit for Royal Trek
To do this Trek, you will need an ACAP permit and a TIMS card. The TIMS card contains all the travelers’ information, including the trekking destination. This helps track the trekkers’ movements and helps in case of unforeseen events. The TIMS card can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board, TAAN office in Maligaon, or Pokhara.
You will also require the ACAP permit, which you can obtain from the Nepal Tourism Board or Pokhara.
The best time for Royal Trek
The ideal seasons to do the Royal Trek are spring and autumn. The autumn and spring seasons bring good weather and clear skies, pleasing the mountains’ views. However, as we don’t gain much elevation, this Trek can also be done in the winter and summer. In the winter, the nights and mornings are rather cold, and you had better bring warm clothes. The summer and monsoon seasons coincide; thus, there will be abundant leeches on the trail, and the roadways can also be prone to landslides.
Things to Carry while Trekking
It depends on the time of year your visit is. If you are trekking in the winter, thick down jackets, woolen socks, hats, and gloves are essential. You also need to carry thermals, high-drying T-shirts, sunshades, and trekking poles. Having a couple of trekking poles can take your trekking experience to a whole other level.
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