Swiss Group 2023 March/April

Nepal – Pokhara – Chitwan + Ghoreapani Trek

29th March 2023 – 14th March 2023

Team Members

• Mr. Heinz Muehlemann
• Ms. Bettina Dorig
• Ms. Edith Wunderlin
• Ms. Ursula Helene Frishknecht
• Ms Verena Antonia Luthi
• Margrit Liliean Omlin
• Mr Sajan Budathoki
• Mr. Markus Karl Zumofen
• Ms. Brigitte Troug

Crew Members

• Padam Bahadur Shrestha: Guide
• Nima Shrestha: Guide
• Santa Bahadur Gurung: Porter
• Bipin Gurung : Porter

Day 1: Arrival in the Kathmandu

As soon as the guest arrived to the kathmandu airport, we welcome them with flowers and good wishes. There are many of us who were ready for them to welcome. Our next stop after the arrival was on the Bonfire Restaurant we was open by the local families helped by our Swiss guest. We had a delicious lunch in the restaurant, it was too early to checking in the hotel so we went to the Kapan Monastery the short hike that we usually do. It is always great to be up in the monastery. After that we came back to the Bonfire and slowly went to the Hotel . Beautiful day with the delicious Lunch.

Day 2 : Patan, Bungamati and Khokana

Hike to Khokana and Bungamati is always one interesting and short hike. The hike is alnost about 2.5 hrs from Bungamati. After the hike we went to one of the very good restaurant to have our Lunch. After that we went to Patan for the sight seeing, it is one of the oldest Newari Town which is enlisted in the UNESCO world heritage sites.During our sight seeing in the Patan, singing bowl is always one of the interesting activites that we do. At the evening we went to the Samsara Garden for our dinner.

Day 3 : Flight to Pokhara

Actually we did a small change in the todays plans, we were supposed to go by land to Pokhara bu t we decided to take the flight instead of the vehicle because the highway from Mugling to Pokhara is under construction and it will take us about 4.5 hrs from Mugling to Pokhara in the bumpy road which will be very stressfull for our guest. Our flight was delyaed by 1 hours, around 1:30 pm we reached to Pokhara as soon as we were in the Pokhara we had our lunch and later around 3:30 pm we went to the Hotel for checking in. After the check-in we had free time for our dear guest and before separting we have already briefed each other for the next day.

Day 4: Hike to Kalikaisthan/ Drive to Deurali and further trek to Deurali.

Topday after the breakfast our group with Padam, Sajan, Sant, Bipin, Brigitte and karl headed towards the Ghoreapani trek whereas we stayed here in the Pokhara for another 3 nights. As the Trialthon game was going on the road was blocked so need to walk for another 10 min to the street number 4. It was nice to see the South Asian game here in the Pokhara. The hike was easy and we made it on the time as well. We had packed lunch for the lunch. Luckily we espcaped the heavy rainfall. Everything was on perfect time.

Whereas for the other group, everything went super as well, despite they need to walk on the rain for half an hour. They had the lunch on the Potana and later in Deurali for the overnight.

Day 5: Hike to Begnas Lake/ Trek to Landruk

View in the morning was great today for both trekking and the sight seeing group.

For the group of sight seeing we started at the same time like yesterday at 9:00 am. We drove to the Begnas Bazar and started our hike. The hike was short and sweet. It was about 3 hours in total. The weather was great. We had our lunch in the Sarita Guest House. We all ate Veg dal bhat for our dinner. after that we took a boat to the other side of the Begnas and went back to the hotel. Lots of things has changed in this hiking trail.

For the Trekking group it was the Lunch Camp so they were right in time to the Landruk. Luckily they were not in the rain and everything went super. The group are great.

Day 6: Hike to Shanti Stupa/ Trek to Ghandruk

After the breakfast we started our hike to the Shanti Stupa from the Hotel. It was nice and sunny day, also the weather was super clear. Every one was doing great. We finished our hike in an around 3.5 hours with all the water break and Shanti Stupa. After reaching to to the Taal Pari we took a boat and then went to the other side of the Lake for our Lunch. After the lucnh as our itinerary the guest had a free time and we met at the evening accordingly for the lunch.

Whereas to the trekking group, everything was going super as well. The hike today was to the Ghandruk and it was the Lunch Camp as well. Around 12:00pm, they were already in the Ghandruk. Santa, Bipin, Sajan and Padam with the guest were doing superb.

Day 7. Drive to Bandipur/ Trek to Tadapani

So, around 9:00 am we started our drive to the Bandipur, as the road was under construction it took us long time than we expected. But the guest enjpoy the drive as well. We had a Tea break in between and in one of the place we were also stopped for around 40 min because the road construction. Around 1:20 pm we reached to the hotel and after that we had our beautiful Lunch and some break. At 4:00 pm we made a short walk to the highest point of the bandipur and also had some snaps with our dear guest.

On other hand for the trekking group today the destination was Tadapani, It was a short and easy hike as well. It was also the Lunch camp for the other group. Glad the group reach on time and later it was raining again.

Day 8. Hike to Ramkot/ Trek to Ghorepani

Hike to Ramkot is one of the interesting thing to do while in the Bandipur. The total hike is about 6 hours with 12 km both way. We had a packed lunch. Bandipur is the small village with the Magar community. It was a wonderful day but quite hot. The guest enjoyed it.

Whereas the group to Ghorepani Trek started early as it was a long day for them. The started at 8:00 am and stopped in the Deurali for Lunch. Around 3:00 pm they were in the Ghorepani. Ghorepani is the main touristic attraction of the whole trek. It  was a nice weather for the trekking group as well.

Day 9. Drive to Chitwan/ Trek to Hile

We started early this morning because we didnt want to get stuck in the traffice as the road were in under construction. Before checking in the Hotel we went to visit the local family in Chitwan and also had our lunch over there. It is always interesting to meet the local family. Around 2:00 pm we were in the Hotel and at 3:00 pm we went for Nature walk, today we had an adventure, we got a chance to see the Rhino so near and our Ranger acted so smartly and get rid of the Rhino. It was really interesting to see it. After that we cam back to the Hotel and had our dinner after that the presentation.

Trekking group, they started very early today. Before moving towards the Hile, they went for the Sunrise in the Poonhill. It is the main highlight of our whole trek. It is always one of the most amazing thing to do. After that they slowly came back to the Hotel and had their breakfast and hike towards the Hile. Around 3:00 pm they were in the Hile.

Day 10: Chitwan/ Hike and later drive to Pokhara

Today we our group did a walk to the Tharu village and It was 2 hours walk. Our guide Kumar explain us alot about the Tharu culture and the way they live their life. and after that we came back to the hotel had our lunch and went to the Jungle drive to Twenty Thousand lake . We had a beautiful day in the  Chitwan.

It was the last day for our trekking group. They hiked till birethanti and after that the car was there to pcik them up. After reaching to the Pokhara we had a beautiful lunch.

Day 11: Chitwan / Hike to Shanti stupa .

We started our morning with the canoeing in the Rapti river followed by the Crocodile Breeding Center. After we finished out visit in the Crocodile breeding center, we did a jungle all the way back to the Hotel. it was really interesting thing to do. We also encoutner with the Rhino. What a wonderful and breathtaking experience it was.

Whereas for the trekking group it was hike to the Shanti Stupa. It was a wonderful hike to them as well.

Day 12: Drive to Bhaktapur / Drive to Chitwan

We drove at 8:00 am from the Chitwan to make sure that we will not get stuck in the traffic. Everything went smooth on the road. We were in the kathmandu around 3:30 pm. We were staying at the Vajra Guest house in the BHaktapur. It is a beautiful heritage hotel. We were staying for 2 nights. The next day was a Jatra in the Bhaktapur and there were lots of people who were preparing for it. There was a big wooden Chariot. The preparation was worth to watch.

Our other team was driving to the Chitwan. Around 2:00 pm they were in the Chitwan and after that they did the same program as ours.

Day 14: Hike to Changu/ Chitwan

So, after our breakfast around 9:30 am we drove to the Telkot and started our hike. It is a wonderful hike that is around 2 hours. Most of the part of the hike was within the Jungle and it was really cool. On reaching to Changu we had our lunch and also visited this UNESCO world heritage sites. It was a wonderful day with a beautiful hike.

Day 15: Drive to Dhulikhel

It was a short drive to Dhulikhel to Bhaktapur so we started around 10 am in the morning. The drive was only about 1.5 hours in total. As soon as we reached to the Dhulikhel we had our lunch and fixed a time for the Village walk. The village walk is about 2 hours, on the way we encoutnered with lots of local people and also the local families. It was beautiful walk around the village.

Day 16:Thousand Step Hike / Drive to Dhulikhel

Today we started our hike around 9:00 am from the hotel. The total hike was about 3 hours but beautiful one. The first part we need to ascend around 300 m and after that it was flat later reaching on Chautara we need to ascend another 350-400 m all the way up in the stairs. It was a nice hike through the jungle. Around 12:30 pm we finished our hike and drove back to the hotel.

The other group from the trekking  will be joining us today.

Day 17: Hike to Balthali/ Bhaktapur

We started our hike today around 9 am from the hotel. The first part we drove from khawa to the Namobudha and we were there for around 1 hours and after that we started towalk. Namobuddha is a great place to visit. The total hike was abour 3.5 hours and we had our lunch in the Blathali Village Resort. It was a wonderful hike.

The other group went to the Bhaktapur for the sight seeing. We late joined in the Balthali Village resort for the Lunch together.

Day 18: Departure day

So it is a Nepal New year today, we left early from the Hotel today because of the traffic. From the hotel we drove directly to the Boudhananth Stupa. We were there for an around 45 min and then to the Lunch place and to meet the Padma’s Family also to say the last goodbye.

Around 2:45 pm we drove to the Airport.

It was superb Trek and Tour.