Pokhara Luxury Tour with Annapurna Heli Ride - 7 Days

You are warmly welcomed by the Himalayas across the skyline as you touchdown at the Tribhuvan International Airport. An Access Nepal team member receives you and then escorts you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Upon checking in, you have some time to rest and recover from jetlag. Later, a short meet-and-greet orients you regarding your upcoming trip. You’re in for a treat with an authentic Nepali dinner accompanied by a cultural program later in the evening.

A short flight of about 25 minutes gets us to Pokhara. The flight over the green hills and scattered settlements beneath is interesting. As you approach Pokhara, the mountains form a constant backdrop for this scintillating city, also known for adventure, diverse culture, and hospitality. A leisurely tour is up for the day.

Bindabasini Temple on the northern side of Pokhara is perched on a small hillock in the ‘Purano Bazaar’ or old market. The temple is ideally located and offers some quietness with striking mountain views. The old market in this typical Newar settlement bears slight resemblances with that of Kathmandu.

A place tucked away from the city’s hustle yet relatively accessible is the Matepani Monastery. As you drive along the forested road, the colorful monastery emerges with sweeping views of Mt. Fishtail and the city. The monastery is home to young monks who practice Buddha’s teachings, fitting to the serenity of the place. The meticulously designed murals on the interiors are a treat and so is the garden outside.

The Annapurna Heli tour is the quickest way to experience the proximity to the Himalayas at the Annapurna sanctuary or the Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m). Another alternative would be roughly a week’s trek. Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Annapurna IV (7,525m), Annapurna South (7,219m), and Gangapurna (7,455m) are the prominent peaks that can be witnessed from incredible closeness as we swoop past. Other peaks such as Tilicho (7,135m), Nilgiri North (7,061m), Machhapuchchhre (also popular as Fishtail) (6,993m), and Hiunchuli (6,411m) also make the place heavenly. The thrilling Pokhara to ABC helicopter ride starts from Pokhara airport and we enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city before heading north towards the Himalayas. The scenic view of hills, forests, gorges, rivers, and typical villages all make the ride thrilling. A round trip takes roughly over an hour. Keeping in view the fragility of the ecosystem in the Annapurna region, touring helicopters are not permitted to land here. We would land further from the Annapurna sanctuary, at the hilltop of Kori Himal (3,800m). In addition to the view of Annapurna II 7,937m and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) 6,993m, an incredible view of Mt. Manaslu (8,156m) and Lamjung Himal (6,988m) can be witnessed from up here which is a bonus! The ground time would be for only about half-hour since ascending quickly to an altitude of 3,800 meters can induce acute mountain sickness.

Back in Pokhara, we have lunch and rest. A laidback tour is in store for the second half of the day. The Fewa lake spanning about 4.5 square kilometers is a major place of attraction in Pokhara. The freshwater lake is fed by the Harpan river and offers multiple options for relaxation and enjoyment. Boating in the Fewa lake and a visit to the island shrine of Tal Barahi mark the highlight for the afternoon. If you’re up for it you may also have time to ride a bike along the perimeter of the lake or visit the hill village on the other side of the lake.

We begin our Pokhara day tour with the recently opened hilltop destination of Pumdikot. It is located at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, opening up to a panoramic view of the Annapurna mountain range, Pokhara city, together with numerous lakes and the valley around. The drive here from Pokhara takes less than an hour. While the location itself is a major incentive to visit this site, the idol of Lord Shiva, measuring about 50 feet tall, and sitting on a dome structure about 55 feet high also adds a religious-spiritual vibe to it. World Peace Pagoda can also be seen below, which is our next destination. One of the 80 peace pagodas in the world, this 115 feet white dome-shaped pagoda sits atop the Anandu Hill. The structure itself is quite fascinating with two tiers and houses idols associated with important life events of Gautama, the Buddha. The view up here is also breathtaking.

Davis Fall or locally ‘Pataale Chango’ (waterfall to the underworld) is up next. The waterfall originates at the Fewa Lake and runs about 100 feet below ground level through the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave. The entrance to the cave is on the other side of the road. The thunderous sound that it generates as it whirls underneath is quite impressive. Gupteshwor cave with an enshrined idol of Shiva is also a must-visit. Numerous small idols and the cave structure itself are quite interesting. This Pokhara trip package also includes the International Mountain Museum. It is a one-stop information center for anything related to mountaineering, the highest mountains of Nepal and the world, flora, and fauna, and the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous mountain people.

The final evening of the tour in Pokhara.

We leave Pokhara for the hilltop town of Bandipur in the morning. About three hours road trip on the Prithvi Highway and about a half-hour uphill drive gets us to this once prosperous town along the India-Tibet trade route. Initially a Magar village, it was later inhabited by the Newars from Bhaktapur. The stone-paved alley with traditionally-designed houses facing each other and a few temples at the town center, reminiscent of a rich heritage are worth an exploration. Bandipur strikes a perfect balance of activities and quietness. A few viewpoints around the hills make for good mini-hikes as well. Located at an elevation of 1030m, the northern horizon opens up to an unobscured view of the Annapurna and Manaslu range.

Mornings are a feast for the eyes at Bandipur. The sunrise with delightful views of peaks such as Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, and Dhaulagiri leave you mesmerized. After breakfast, we resume our journey back to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway. The drive lasts about 4 hours mostly along the Trishuli River and a climb along the serpentine roads while approaching the valley of Kathmandu.

The final evening of the tour ends with a farewell dinner.

You’re dropped off at the airport in time to catch your flight. Goodbye and hope to see you again!