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Complete Spectacular Annapurna (8,091m) and Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail) 6,993m
Rhododendron backwoods (Nepal national blossom)
Most noteworthy access of trek Chisapani 1,520m
Aryan, Gurung and Magar Culture
Excellent Gurung Community town
Audacious most elevated Point Highest Access of Trek: Chisapani 1,520m
Learn the Nepali way of life, culture, people, Mountain views, landscape, and festivals.
Royal Trek Overview
The Royal Trek is undoubtedly the easiest and shortest in the Annapurna Region, making it ideal for beginners starting their trekking journey.
The Royal Trek received its name in 1980 when Prince Charles of Wales, future King of England, embarked on this trail. With spectacular views of mountains such as Annapurna (8,091m), Machapuchare (6,993m), and the Langtang range, this trek truly lives up to its royal name.
However, it is not just the magnificent mountains that will keep you enthralled on this journey; it is also perfect for those who want to experience local village life and the spiritual culture deeply rooted in the region. With stopovers in local settlements, visits to hidden monasteries, and insights from local guides, this trek will give you a true taste of authentic Nepal.
This short but fulfilling route begins in Pokhara (200km west of Kathmandu) for those without the time for a long and strenuous trek. You will walk through communities and vividly built hillside rice field terraces until you reach Kalikasthan (1370m). You will follow the trail along the mountain ridge to reach Syaklung (1730m), Chisapani (1550m), and then return to Pokhara. The best time to enjoy The Annapurna Royal Trek is in the Nepali Autumn (From September through to December) and in the Winter (December through to February).
This trek is available as a private or group trek. As with all our packages, this one is fully customizable, with a personalized travel and accommodation plan available upon request. If you would like to learn more about the itinerary options, trek costs, trek difficulty, or any other details, please don’t hesitate to contact a friendly member of our team. Or, if you would like to read about what it’s like to experience this adventure, check out our Annapurna Royal Trek Blog.
And don’t forget – if you like the sound of this trek, but it isn’t quite what you had in mind, then why not check out one of the other treks from our wide range, like the Annapurna Khopra Ridge Trek? Or get in touch – and we will help you to find your perfect Everest Trekking Package!
Royal Trek Itinerary
Day
01
Kathmandu Drive tourist bus to Pokhara
Today we take a 6-7 hour tourist bus. Driving through the hills and local villages on the bus is an exciting way to begin your adventure in Nepal and see what the country offers. Then once we arrive in Pokhara, you can explore its beautiful lake and enjoy the excellent bars and restaurants surrounding it.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact
Details
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodations
Hotel
Highest Altitude
1,400 m / 4,593 ft
Day
02
Pokhara to Kalikasthan
Today, we finally begin our trek! After a lovely breakfast, we can wave goodbye to Pokhara and drive for an hour to Bijayapur Khola to begin the 4-5 hour walk. The trek begins flat, passing through paddy fields and crossing a river. It then starts to ascend as we head towards Kalikasthan, where we can explore and rest for the night.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact
Details
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodations
Teahouse
Trek Distance
8 km / 5 miles
Highest Altitude
1,650 m / 5,413 ft
Trek Duration
4hrs
Day
03
Kalikasthan to Syaklung
Today is our first insight into rural Nepali life, as we begin by walking through several traditional villages. After taking in some of the local cultures, we continue along the ridge of a mountain, allowing us to see views of the Lamjung Hima and Annapurna. We then pass through forests filled with rhododendrons before stopping for the night in Syaklung.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact
Details
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodations
Teahouse
Trek Distance
9 km / 5.6 miles
Highest Altitude
1,780 m / 5,840 ft
Trek Duration
5hrs
Day
04
Syaklung to Chisapani
Today is full of ups and downs. We start with a trip through the Gurung Village, where we can interact with the Gurung community and experience their life in the mountains. We then continue through more rhododendron forests and walk under the shade of Sal trees, before the walk increases in difficulty. We have a 400m descent, before embarking on a 600m ascent to reach the resting point for the night, Chisapani. However, the climb will be worth it when we get the best viewing point to observe the Himalayan panorama.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact
Details
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodations
Teahouse
Trek Distance
12 km / 7.5 miles
Highest Altitude
2,170 m / 7,119 ft
Trek Duration
6hrs
Day
05
Chisapani to Pokhara
Today is the last day of our trek. It begins with a downhill descent to Tpatal and then sharply inclines to Sundare Danada. From here it’s only a short walk, and a pleasant boat ride, to return to Pokhara. Here you can reflect on your accomplishments and rest well in Pokhara‘s beautiful surroundings.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Fact
Details
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accomodations
Teahouse
Trek Distance
15 km / 9.3 miles
Highest Altitude
2,170 m / 7,119 ft
Trek Duration
5hrs
Day
06
Pokhara to Kathmandu Drive
It’s time to wave goodbye to the beautiful city of Pokhara and drive back to Kathmandu. On arrival, you are free to spend the rest of your day enjoying the excitement of the Capital – either taking a rest or exploring the city’s nightlife for the final night of your trip.
The royal trek is one of the few treks in Nepal that can be done throughout the year (unlike the famous Everest Base Camp trek). There are no restrictions for any travel season in this lower region of Annapurna.
Royal Trek
Travellers to Nepal claim that March to May and August to December are the best times for the Royal Trek. Along with unleashing the true beauty of the mountain, Spring and Autumn are also the times when the flora’s colour and fauna’s activities take your heart away. The picturesque foreground of tropical and temperate forests makes a perfect setting.
Summer, specifically June and July, marks the onset of the monsoon in Nepal. People have yet to acknowledge the beauty of the after-rain view. It’s the time when the animals in the Annapurna Conservation Area are at their most vibrant, and the fresh flush of grass makes everything look green.
Winter, specifically January and February, is marked by heavy snowfall, revealing the most breathtaking views of the mountains. Although it’s a bit cold, Royal Trek in Winter is magical. The mornings are warm enough to stroll around, and the days are cool enough for the hike. That’s perfect. Simply put, MyEverestTrip arranges this Royal Trek throughout the year, and you can travel whenever you wish.
Annapurna Royal Trek difficulty
Oh, that’s not something you need to worry about. Royal Trek is a short and very easily achievable trek. Even the newbie with no prior trekking experience can make it to the top and back in no time. It’s one of the easiest treks in Nepal to the Himalayas. The Royal Annapurna Trek trek difficulty has been graded “Easy.” Yet, it would help if you were physically and mentally fit to achieve such distance. We have discussed some challenges Royal Trek might encounter on the trek.
Royal Trek camp trek distance and duration
MyEverestTrip neatly Royal trek package is nine days long. However, the actual Annapurna Royal trek duration is only four days long. The trail from Pokhara to Chisapani is about 45 km. Covering this duration in 4 days is no big deal. You will walk for 4 to 5 hours daily and reach the homestay before evening.
The royal trek is challenging due to the distance.
The Royal elevation Syaklung (1730 m) is the highest point during the journey. This is not a very high-altitude trek (like Annapurna Circuit Trek), and altitude sickness is not a big deal here.
However slim, the risk of altitude sickness while trekking to Nepal cannot be ignored. If the symptoms worsen, you might have to climb to a lower altitude. That’s why travel insurance is needed before booking your Royal Trek package. Also, some other cardio exercise preparation before the trek is beneficial.
Internet, electricity and telephone facilities
MyEverestTrip manages a luxurious Nepal Royal tour for you. You will get Wi-Fi with good speed in all the places during the trek. On the highway or during that time, you can use 4G mobile internet. The mobile data are affordable and work well for your social media connection. You can issue NTC or NCell sim cards that are available anywhere you need them, and the cards cost only $1.Our tour guide to Nepal will also help you get your SIM card. Next, you won’t have any issues with the electricity. All the rooms will have plugs to charge your phone. We can also set our devices on the bus if we travel on a tourist bus.
However, getting a good power bank for this Nepal tour is always a good idea. So, if you want to trek in Nepal while working, the Royal Nepal trek is perfect for you.
Note: If you want a more adventurous trek in Nepal, check out Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Necessary permits and paper works
Firstly, you will need to have your passport with at least six months of validity. Upon arrival at the airport, you can apply for a tourist visa for 15, 30, or 90 days. The visa will be issued within a few minutes if you have all the documents. The visa costs are USD 30, 50, and 100, respectively.
Next, you need two kinds of permits for the Royal Annapurna Trek. The first is ACAP, an entry card to the Annapurna Conservation Area. This $30 permit (Rs 200 for SAARC countries) can be issued in Kathmandu/Pokhara or even at the entry point while you are traveling. The money goes for the management of the conversation area itself. The following permit is called a TIMS card and costs $20 for solo trekkers and $10 for group trekkers. The Royal Trek permit is issued by the government and is also applicable to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
FAQs
General
Is Solo Royal Trek Nepal possible?
Yes, a solo Annapurna Royal Trek is legally permitted for travelers. Either you travel Solo or book our Annapurna Royal Trek, Solo trek can be done without any problem. However, there’s a high risk of wildlife and the chances of getting lost along the Nepal Royal Trek route are also high. So, it’s equally important to hire a guide while you are traveling Solo.
What kind of accommodation do you get for Annapurna Royal Trek?
Royal Trek is popular homestay trekking in Nepal. Don’t know what a homestay is? It’s a small guest house owned by the locals where you can get a comfortable bed a good food in their own house. The homestay in the Annapurna Royal trek route has been recently built. So, they might have facilities like a hot shower, a shareable bathroom with a western seat, and a centrally heated dining room.
The rooms are also large enough for 2 to 3 single beds. You will get a clean mattress, pillow, and blankets. If you are lucky, the rooms shall have a mirror as well. Make sure you look for a couple of options before booking your stay. It’s important to book your room well in advance. Especially in the peak season, spring and autumn, the rooms are quickly filled, and you might miss the best ones. Or, just let your guide for the Royal Trek do the bookings as you stay back and relax.
For a camping trek in Nepal, check out our Rara Trek.
What food must you eat during Royal Trek?
Since this is a homestay trekking trail, you don’t have many options for food. The locals serve you whatever they eat and foods that are locally available. You will probably get a Nepalese Dal Bhat set with boiled rice, Spinach, veg/ non-veg curry, pulse soup, and pickles. The breakfast will either be Tibetan bread or curry with tea or Sel Roti. Set Roti is something that you must have during treks in Nepal. Khir i.e. Rice pudding can also be prepared during the trek. Dhido, Alo Tama, Momo, and Thukpa are some other local food that you can ask to prepare.
Sukuti and local alcoholic drinks are also something you can give a try.
How to get from Kathmandu to BijayapurKhola?
BijayapurKhola, a few km away from Kathmandu, is the starting point of our Royal trek. You can get a direct bus from Kathmandu to BijayapurKhola, so we need to go to Pokhara first.
Getting to and from Pokhara: Pokhara is a 200kms drive from Kathmandu. As per the Itinerary, we drive for 8 hours on Prithivi Highway. You might either choose to travel in a jeep or drive in a tourist bus. The Tourist bus is the cheapest option, while the private Jeep is more comfortable. The next option is the flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. This 25-mins flight is a luxurious option and also gives you an extra day to explore the beauty of Pokhara. The agency will book the domestic flight upon special request.
Getting To BijayapurKhola: BijayapurKhola, is about an hour of drive from Pokhara. We will take a Private Jeep to the starting point of our Royal Nepal trek. The public bus might also be available, or that’s not a comfortable option for a tourist.
How long is Annapurna Royal Trek?
This Annapurna Royal trek is 4 day of walk from Annapurna. Our full package, right from arrival from Kathmandu is 9 days long. If you are an experienced trekker, you can complete this trek in 3 days from Pokhara.
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