Siklish Trekking - 16 Days

We pride ourselves on creating new and innovative treks that break away from the norm. For this camping trek we venture into rarely visited valleys deep within the Annapurna range.

Traditional Gurung villages away from the tourist trail offer a cultural experience that is all to often missed on the more popular trails. Walking through untouched primary forest is a rare joy anyway, but in the foothills of Nepal it is exhilarating.

We start from Pokhara heading due north towards the holy mountain Machapuchare. Our ridgeline route offers wonderful views of the Annapurna and Manasulu ranges. Climbing though oak, rhododendron and bamboo forest we follow ancient trails to the Madi Khola valley and stay in the villages of Sikles, TangTing and Bhujung.

The trail follows the high alpine summer grazing route the shepherds use to herd their flocks above the treeline. The views from the ridges of the endless blue foothills as they roll southwards is unsurpassed anywhere in the Kingdom.

This new trek offers a truly captivating village experience where we get to see the real rural Nepal. We camp at unique sites, eat the local dishes and witness daily life unfold around us. We also get to see a side of the Himalayas rarely seen.

Itinerary outline

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer at hotel and welcome Dinner

Day 02: By Bus: Kathmandu to Pokhara (6 to 8 hrs depending on road conditions) by air 25 minutes. Camp near Begnas Tal

Day 03: Begnas Tal to Baral: From the lake at about 3,000 ft/909m, the trail meanders along a low ridge with superb views. We pass several villages, some selling fish smoke over open fires. From the ridge, we descend to the Modi Khola (river) which has its heads waters at the base of the Annapurna Glacier.

Day 04: Baral to Chyamarang: An easy day's walk, ascending to 4,000ft/1,212m as we follow the valley of the Modi. The Annapurna summits come into view above the foothill ridge tops. We pass villages, farms and scattered forests.

Day 05: Chyamarang to Siklis: We gain another 1,000ft/303m, crossing the Modi Khola and then climbing, steeply at times, to the hillside village of Siklis.

Day 06: Siklis to Hoga: The ascent takes about seven hours, the views becoming constantly more spectacular. Hoga is still under 10,000ft/3,030m, but the Annapurnas and Lamjung Himal (22,744ft/6,892m) are right in front of us.

Day 07: Layover day at Hoga: This can be a rest day or an opportunity for an ambitious day hike to the foot of the Annapurna IV Glacier (2 or 3 hrs. from camp). The trail is steep and difficult at times, but well worth the effort. The altitude at the view point is about 11,000ft/3,333m, so there should be no worry about mountain sickness. Return to camp at Hoga.

Day 08: Hoga to Chipli: A long trekking day, first descending to Siklis. Leaving the gorge of the Modi Khola, we climb west about 5 hrs to Chipli. The walk is not too arduous as the altitude in Chipli is still about 5,000ft/1,515m.

Day 09: Chipli to Burijung Khola: A long day of steady climbing to a ridge top at about 9,000ft/2,727m and then a long descent to the gorge of the Seti Khola. We will camp two hours short of Burijung Khola (midway down the ridge). Here, we have a spectacular panorama of Machhapuchhare.

Day 10: Burijung Khola to Bharaburi: This involves a steep ascent from low farm lands to rhododendron forests. We have good views of Machhapuchhare (22,942ft/6,952m from our camp at 6,000ft/1,818m.

Day 11: Layover day at Bharaburi: Another chance to rest and relax or climb a ridge for better views of the Himalayan crests.

Day 12: Bharaburi to Chisopani: We backtrack down to the Seti Khola, by passing Burijung Khola and carry on along the banks of the river to Chisopani ("Coldwater").
Note:The walk is about 5 hours.

Day 13: Chisopani to Pokhara : A relatively easy six-hour day of level walking along the Seti to the lovely Pokhara valley. Transfer to hotel in Pokhara.

Day 14: Fly from Pokhara: Transfer to hotel

Day 15: Free day in Kathmandu for shopping and other activities

Day 16: Transfer to Airport for departure

Cost Includes:  

• Completely camping trekking with full board i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Twin sharing tented accommodation and camping equipments and Kitchen equipments
• Mattress, Toilet tent, shower, Dinning tent, dinning tables, chairs etc.
• All entrance fees
• All necessary transportations
• Airport pick up/drops on private vehicles
• First aid kits
• All government taxes and official charges.
• Kathmandu valley Guided city tour
• 2 nights hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast 
• 2 night hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
• Guide, Assistant Guide, Cook, assistant cook and Porters
• Accidental and medical Insurance of Nepalese staffs
• Road transport/ one way flight as well. 
• Personal equipment such as sleeping bags/ jackets (if you do not have we can arrange within US $1.00/day for two items).

Cost Non-Includes: 

• Lunch & Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara 
• Rescue/ emergence and insurance cost 
• Beverage and hard drinks and alcohol
• Nepal entry visa fee and airport tax during the departure.
• Personal equipments and personal expenses.
• Tips (usually people can keep US $2/day in total for tips and donation which is good amount) 
• In case of natural calamities i.e. political unrest, cancellation of flight due to weather, landslides etc the extra charge should be born by themselves.

For More Information: info@ecotrek.com.np