Annapurna Family Trek & Chitwan Safari — Self-Launched
11 days · Nepal
Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd charges £1,730
No-markup version: ~£585 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of the classic 11-day Kathmandu–Annapurna foothills–Chitwan circuit: two nights in Kathmandu's Thamel, a domestic flight or tourist bus to Pokhara, four gentle lodge-to-lodge trekking days through Dhampus, Landruk and Ghandruk (with a registered local guide and TIMS/ACAP permits bought yourself), then a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park and a return to Kathmandu. You book every piece directly — permits, lodges, guide, safari — for roughly a third of the guided group tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and assume shared twin/double rooms.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kathmandu — Thamel orientation
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Pre-book an airport pickup through your guesthouse (usually £4–7) or grab a prepaid taxi from the official counter outside arrivals (~NPR 800–1,000 / £5–6). Check into a guesthouse in Thamel. Get a local SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£3–4 for data) at the airport or in Thamel, change money at a licensed exchange, and walk the lanes of Thamel for dinner — momos and dal bhat for under £5.
🚌Airport taxi ~£5–6
🛏Thamel guesthouse, private twin room (e.g. mid-range guesthouses around £15–22/night)
- →Airport transfer to Thamel
- →Buy local SIM card and change money
- →Evening wander + dinner in Thamel
Kathmandu sightseeing + trek prep
Kathmandu
Self-guided day hitting the valley's big four. Start early at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — taxi ~£3 each way, entry ~£1.5. Then Boudhanath stupa (entry ~£1.5, great for lunch on a rooftop) and Pashupatinath (entry ~£6). In the afternoon, sort your trek logistics yourself: get your ACAP permit (~£20) and TIMS card (~£13) at the Nepal Tourism Board office on Bhrikutimandap Marg, and hire a licensed trekking guide for the 4 trekking days (direct booking via a Kathmandu agency or GetYourGuide-style listing, budget ~£25/day for the guide to be split among your group). Buy or rent any missing gear in Thamel.
🚌Local taxis around the valley ~£8 total
🛏Thamel guesthouse, private twin room
- →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
- →Boudhanath Stupa
- →Pashupatinath Temple
- →Buy ACAP permit + TIMS card
- →Hire licensed trekking guide
Kathmandu to Pokhara
Pokhara
Two options: a 25-minute domestic flight (Buddha Air / Yeti Airlines, ~£70–90 one-way booked direct, weather permitting) or the cheaper 7–8 hour tourist bus from Kantipath/Sorakhutte (Greenline or a local deluxe coach, ~£15–20 including lunch stop). Either way you arrive in Pokhara, transfer to Lakeside, and take an evening stroll along Phewa Tal. Confirm your guide meeting point for tomorrow.
🚌Flight ~£80 OR tourist bus ~£18
🛏Lakeside guesthouse/hostel in Pokhara, private twin room (~£12–18)
- →Domestic flight or scenic tourist bus
- →Evening walk at Phewa Lake
- →Confirm trek start with guide
Trek Khande to Dhampus
Dhampus
Take a local taxi or shared jeep from Pokhara to Khande (~45 min, ~£12 per vehicle, split between the group), then walk roughly 2–3 hours uphill through terraced fields to Dhampus village. Views of Machapuchare, Hiunchuli and Annapurna South open up along the way. Stay in a teahouse — double rooms with blankets around £8–12 per person, and eat dal bhat at the lodge.
🚌Shared jeep/taxi Pokhara–Khande ~£12 per vehicle
🛏Dhampus teahouse, twin room
- →Trek Khande–Dhampus (~2–3 hrs)
- →Machapuchare & Annapurna South viewpoints
Trek Dhampus to Landruk
Landruk
A gentler 4–5 hour day contouring through forest and Gurung villages to Landruk, descending toward the Modi Khola valley. Constant Annapurna South views. Overnight in a Landruk teahouse; arrive early enough to explore the village and its honey-hunter heritage.
🚌On foot
🛏Landruk teahouse, twin room
- →Trek Dhampus–Landruk (~4–5 hrs)
- →Village walk in Landruk
Trek Landruk to Ghandruk
Ghandruk
Walk down to the river and climb the stone steps up to Ghandruk (4–5 hrs, the steepest day of the trek). Drop into the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) headquarters and Gurung museum in Ghandruk (small donation/entry). Ghandruk has excellent teahouses and bakeries — a comfortable reward night.
🚌On foot
🛏Ghandruk teahouse, twin room
- →Trek Landruk–Ghandruk (~4–5 hrs)
- →ACAP headquarters & Gurung museum
Ghandruk to Pokhara
Pokhara
Walk down from Ghandruk to Shaule Bazaar / Naya Phul (2–3 hrs, mostly downhill), then take a shared jeep or local bus back to Pokhara (~£3–5). Shower, laundry, and a relaxed celebration dinner at a Lakeside restaurant (Nepali thali + beer ~£10–12). Optional paragliding or sunrise at Sarangkot can be added if you have a spare day.
🚌Shared jeep/bus Naya Phul–Pokhara ~£4
🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara, private twin room (~£12–18)
- →Trek Ghandruk–Naya Phul
- →Celebration dinner in Pokhara
Pokhara to Chitwan National Park
Chitwan (Sauraha)
Take a tourist bus from Pokhara to Sauraha/Tadi Bazaar (5–6 hrs, ~£8–12) or a shared jeep. Book a budget jungle lodge in Sauraha directly (many include full-board packages from ~£25–35/person/night with one activity). Afternoon park briefing and a guided nature walk or canoe ride on the Rapti River at sunset.
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Sauraha ~£10
🛏Sauraha jungle lodge (budget, full-board option)
- →Road transfer to Chitwan
- →Sunset canoe on the Rapti
- →Guided nature walk
Chitwan National Park full day
Chitwan (Sauraha)
Full day of jungle activities: an early jeep safari into the park (~£20–25 per person for a shared jeep, book direct at your lodge), birdwatching, and an afternoon visit to the Elephant Breeding Centre. Skip elephant-back riding — walking, canoe and jeep safaris are the ethical choice. Evening Tharu cultural dance show (~£2).
🚌Jeep safari included in activity
🛏Sauraha jungle lodge (budget, full-board option)
- →Shared jeep safari
- →Birdwatching session
- →Elephant Breeding Centre visit
- →Tharu cultural dance
Chitwan to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Morning bus from Sauraha to Kathmandu (6–7 hrs, ~£10–12) or fly Bharatpur–Kathmandu (~£80) if you're short on time. Check back into a Thamel guesthouse and spend the evening shopping for pashmina, jewellery and handicrafts, with a final dinner in Thamel.
🚌Tourist bus Sauraha–Kathmandu ~£11
🛏Thamel guesthouse, private twin room (~£15–22)
- →Return transfer to Kathmandu
- →Thamel shopping
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast at the guesthouse and a pre-arranged taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5–6). Allow 3 hours before an international departure. If your flight is late, a morning visit to Patan Durbar Square is an easy add-on.
🚌Airport taxi ~£6
🛏—
- →Airport transfer
- →Optional Patan Durbar Square visit
Self-launched vs. Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£585 | £1,730 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,145 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£585
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Annapurna Family Trek & Chitwan Safari — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £585 per person for 11 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd?+
Yes — Peregrine Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd charges around £1,730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £585 — a saving of roughly £1,145 (66%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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