Royal Trek

Trip Overview
This trek is popularly knows as Royal Trek because Britain Prince Charles did his first trek in Nepal in this area. This trek start from Kalikathan (1372m) near Pokhara and ends at Begnas lake which is about 10km from Pokhara You pass through small villages that have remarkable ethnic diversity of Nepal. The best part of the trek is there are no tea house and it is away from the crowded trail. This trek starts and ends in Pokhara though you can start from Kathamndu if you have flight in the morning. The highest elevation gain on the trek is 1830m. The southern flanks of the Annapurna-massif, bounded in the east by the Buri Gandaki river, and in the west by the Kali Gandaki river.

Near the start of the trek many Brahmis and Chettris will be met, and village will be met, and village population are often mixed. Living at lower altitudes, they farm land and provide many young men and women for government work in offices, the polices, etc. As the trek progress more villages populated only by Gurungs are encountered. They tend to live high up on relatively steep slopes, among maize and millet fields, and from these places cultivate rice fields on the valley floor.  Their cattle consist mainly of water buffaloes with which they go up in summer to pastures as high as 3800m on the southern flank of Annapurna. The Gurung following Buddhist customs and have Mongolide features. They are normally short and stocky but the women are attractive. Tribal languages differ greatly. The Gurungs togethers with Tamang, Sherpas and the Thakali speaks Tibeto-Burmese based languages whereas the Chettri and Brahmin tongues originate from the south. Now days most people spek “Nepali” the national language derived originally from the Hindi of the Rajputs.

Along the way many resting places built for weary travelers are met. These are normally stone built chautaras stepped to provide temporary resting place for the heavy loads carried on the back of porters. These resting places are built but by richer village dweller, or on the suggestion of a bahun (priest) to ensure good health and prosperity. These Chautaras are normally built round two tress specially planted for the occasion. One of these trees is a fig tree called ‘Bar” and has big leaves, the other ‘pipal’ with smaller leaves. As part of the initiation the two are married with a full religious ceremony. ‘Bar’ being the husband, ‘pipal’ the wife. Traditionally there used to be small pond  built nearby and at the same ceremony this too is ‘married’ to the chautara itself.

Many of the chautaras offer the traveler fine views of the Himalayas to the north. This trek route should offer glimpse of Dhaulagiri (8172m) to the west, and superb views of (from west to east) Annapurna South (7195m), Annapurna I (8078m), Machapuchre (6997m), Annapurna III (7195m), Annapurna IV  (7507m) and Annapurna II (7937m). Then, comes the Lamjung Himal (6985m), and to the east Himalchuli (7835m), Manaslu (8125m). With Nepal’s boundaries there lie eight out of the fourteen peaks in the world, which rise to over 8000 meters. Clearly visible on this trek are three great mountains.

How: Stopping off a Kalikathan, Chisopani

Starting Point: Pokhara

Max. Altitude: 1700 m

Grading: Easy
Treaking Seasons:
Mode of Trek: Tea house or Camping 

Highlights: On clear day the Annapurna Mountain range. Following a route prince Charles once took with a 40+ support team.

"We welcome you in Nepal for this awesome Royal Trekking during yours Nepal holidays"