Annapurna Community Trek: Impact in the highlights of Nepal

Hike up through the forest to Danda Katteri where you stop for lunch. Overlooking the valleys, this is a great place to meet some of the local people and admire the views. After lunch, it is a leisurely walk to Nangi (2300m), the main village where you will spend the night. Here you may visit the school and observe the activities of the students from outside only. It is not encouraged to visit inside the classrooms. Here you may visit local cottage industries – as villagers making paper from locally grown plants and also visit some income generating projects. (please note: these visits depend on weather, seasonality and local holidays).

Depending on the number of guests, your trekking guide will help to arrange for you to cook lunch in the tea house kitchen together with the host. If this is not possible, you will enjoy their cooking instead. You will also visit the houses where kiwi have been planted and when in season you can help to harvest the fruit and of course, taste them as well.

You climb through the forest with stunning views of the mountains. Upon the top of Mohare Danda, you can see the Himalayas stretching as far as the eye can see, with close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail Mountain) and Dhaulagiri. Surrounded by forest, do not be surprised if you meet yaks grazing nearby. There is no village here but there is the highest wireless internet relay station in Nepal, providing internet to the remote villages for schools and health posts that use telemedicine, linking up with hospitals in Kathmandu to provide better healthcare in the villages.

Today, you can witness a stunning sunrise over the mountain ranges, including the renowned Mount Fishtail, Dhaulagiri I, Dhaulagiri II, Tukuche, South Annapurna, and Nilgiri, among others.
After breakfast, you will gradually descend through a lush rhododendron forest, with a scenic backdrop and an opportunity to explore the local flora and fauna. The forest is home to the national flower of Nepal, Rhododendron which are indigenous to the Himalayan region, in addition to other plant species such as Oak and Bamboo.

On this last day of your trek, you will descend through pastoral lands adorned with beautiful landscapes and lush vegetation. After a pleasant trek, you will arrive at Narchyang Community Homestay, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by the locals and a delicious lunch will be served by local families. Narchyang is a Magar village situated in the foothills of the Annapurna range who follow their own culture and speak their own language- Magar Kura. Magar people are recognized for their simplicity, innocence, and bravery. After you are assigned to your host family and a short break the host family will take you on a short hike to Narchyang Waterfall which is just opposite to the homestays.

The homestay offers a plethora of activities, from interacting with the friendly locals and learning about their culture to hiking and exploring the hidden wonders of the place which include the enchanting Narchyang Jharana (waterfall). During your stay, your gracious hosts will guide you on hikes and excursions to the untouched Lek region, showcasing the beauty of the village, their traditions and lifestyle.

Wake up to a warm breakfast, prepared by your host family before you move to a short tour of the village with the hosts. Most of the houses are surrounded by their own vegetable gardens and farm fields from where they source their ingredients directly for meals. We will help out a little bit with some daily chores. The mountains can still be seen closely from the village and you can see the locals being busy with their daily activities.
Shortly thereafter, you will be transferred to Pokhara driving along the Beni-Jomsom highway, which runs alongside the rapidly flowing Kali Gandaki River. You can take the rest of the day off or you can choose to walk along the nearby lake.