Day 36 Besisahar (810 m)-Ghalegaun (2078 m) 6 hrs

This is a beautiful day! You climb up till a pass of 1600 m, and from there onwards you have  amazing views on the Himalayas, which are suddenly very close.

At the end of Besisahar main street, at the Hotel Mt Kailash, go left, passing Mongolian Guesthouse. At the end of the street (where it makes a sharp turn to the left), take the small trail going straight. Go right when you arrive at the dirt road. After 15 min take the stairs at the left side of the road. Here the climb to the pass begins. After 15 min there is a T, go right here and at the Y 50 meter further ahead go left and up. You are climbing through terraces. At your right you can see the snowcapped Himalaya. In the distance in front (and above) of you, you can see the pass you have to cross. After about ½ hr you reach the dirt road, which you follow for 20 min. When it makes a sharp U turn to the left, take the trail to the right side of the road going up. You are entering the forest now, with some rhododendron as well. It is a steep climb for about an hour to the pass at 1600 m, the Ogle Banjyang. Just after the pass you have an amazing view on the Himalayas, among which Lamjung Himal, Manaslu and Himal Chuli.

Cross the soccer field and enter the village of Baglung Pani (1606 m). There are 2 restaurants here, and one also offers simple accommodation; Hilltower Hotel and Restaurant.

Follow the trail through the village and go right at the end. Follow the trail going flat (don’t take the trail going down) and continue on the dirt road through the forest. At your right you have great views to the Himalayas again and at your left you see a beautiful green valley. After 15 min you pass the village of Rapasingh (1624 m) and after another ½ hr the village of Kapurgaon (1600 m). Enter the village and after the village continue on the stone stairs going up. The trail continues going up slowly, going through the forest, crossing a dirt road once and a while. After about 1 ½ hr it arrives at the village of Ghalegaun (2078 m).

Ghaulegaun is a very beautiful Gurung village. There is no hotel, but they established a homestay programme, in which 32 houses participate. The homestays are very nice, mostly in a small separate house, which is nicely decorated and with beds with quite good mattresses, soft pillows and clean sheets. It is a model tourist village, as they call it, and probably because of that it is also surprisingly clean. There is no waste lingering around, like you see too many times. Besides of all this, Ghalegaun offers a stunning view to the Himalayas. You can see a large range: in the far west Machapuchhre, Annapurna II, and further to the east Lamjung Himal, Namuna Pass, Manaslu, Himal Chuli, Nadi Chuli (also called Doctor Harko Himal) and Buddha Himal.

The homestays are coordinated by one office, Dirga Ghale is the contact person. His mobile nr is: 9846193067. Ghalegaun is part of a homestay trek, in which also the villages Ghan Pokhara, Bhujung, Pasgaun and Siurung participate.

Day 37 Ghalegaun (2078 m)-Pasgaun (1650 m) 6 hrs

Another day with beautiful mountain views and nice Gurung villages.

You leave Galegaun via the dirt road leading westwards. After 15 min you pass the village of Nayun (2047 m), part of Ghan Pokhara VDC. After another 5 min, you arrive at a Y of 2 dirtroads, plus a stairs going up to Ghan Pokhara. Take the left going down. It is easy walking through the forest. After ½ hr the road turns into a trail, but they are working on it. The trail is Nepali flat, sometimes going up and sometimes going down. You have a beautiful view over a “sea of hills”, the green hills are stretching out in front of you like waves of a sea. After another ½ hr the trail starts descending via stone stairs to the gate of Bhujung (1800 m; 10 min). 10 min after the gate there is a Y, take the right going down here.

Bhujung (1641 m) is another Gurung village, and is part of the homestay trek mentioned above. Bhujung is a bit bigger than Ghalegaun, but has fewer households participating in the homestay programme: 25 households offer homestay facilities. The coordinator of the homestay programme here is Tul Bahadur Gurung, 9846089997, 993661311.

Follow the trail down through the village, and continue going down on stone stairs, all the way to a suspension bridge at 1343 m over the Midim Khola ( ½ hr). Next to the suspension bridge is a community owned micro hydro plant, which provides energy to 340 households.

Take the trail passed the micro hydro house. The trail climbs up slightly and then goes down for a while. After 20 min you cross a small wooden bridge (1314 m). After 20 meters there is a Y, take the right trail. Soon the climb to the pass starts. In the beginning you walk through the fields, passing the village of Komagaon (1675 m). You can see Bhujung high on the slope at the other side of the river. After about 1 hr you enter a beautiful rhododendron forest. It is still one more hour to the pass at 2082 m. From the pass you have a beautiful view to the Himalaya, among which the Manaslu, Himal Chuli and Nadi Chuli.

The trail goes down again. After about 40 min you reach a Y at a resting place, take the right going down here. After about 15 min you reach the entrance of Pasgaun (1690 m). The trail continues and leads down through the village. Pasgaun is also participating in the homestay programme. Contact Tul Bahadur Gurung from Bhujung, 9846089997, 993661311.
There is a nice Buddhist monastery in Pasgaun, Karma Thugje Chhyoling Buddha Gompa.

Day 38 Pasgaun (1650 m)-Yangjakot (1450 m) 9 hrs

This route is different than the GHT trail indicated on the map of Himalaya Maphouse. On that route there are no villages along the way, so this is only possible with a fully organized camping trek. If you want to stay and eat in a guesthouse, the route described here is a good alternative. It is possible to get to Siklis in 2 days. The first day is a very long day however, with a total distance of over 22 km and a total ascend of 2339 m. You can choose to stay in Bhachok or Warchok earlier on the route.

In Pasgaun follow the trail going down in the village. Just out of the village, there is a Y, take the left going flat (indicated by signboard to Bagaincha). You pass the gate of Pasgaun and go down steeply towards the Rudi Khola (river) which you can already see far below you. Again you have a beautiful view over a “sea of green hills”, stretching out in front of you one after another. Close to the river you arrive at a T, go left here. After 1 to 1 ½ hr you reach a small bridge (822 m) over a tributary of the Rudi Khola. After crossing you can choose between a stairs going up and a trail going flat, take the trail going flat. You arrive at the small settlement of Bagaincha (815 m) and just after Bagaincha you cross a suspension bridge (812 m). After crossing the bridge, there is a Y, take the left which is going down at first and then flat (follow signboard to Thumsikot). You are walking on a flat trail through the fields now, but after about 10 minutes the trail starts to climb on a stone stairs. After about ½ hr you pass the first houses of Rabaidada (1003 m). Shortly after there is a Y, take the right going up. Ten minutes later there is another Y, again take the right trail going up. After another 5 minutes you arrive at the village of Rabaidada (1100 m). Go straight (don’t take the trail going left and down). Shortly after the village, there are 2 Ys, take the right going up both times. The trail is slowly going up, going through the fields. About ½ hr after Rabaidada you reach at a big tree with a resting place. From here the trail is mostly flat. When there are Ys, always choose the flat trail. You are walking through the forest now, going Nepali flat.  After about 45 min (at 1200 m) there is a Y, take the smaller trail going left and flat (not the bigger one going up).  2 min after there is another Y, take the right going up here. After about 20 min you arrive at the village of Nagidhar (1232 m).

Nagidhar is a small Gurung village. There is one restaurant and 6 homestays. The owner of the restaurant is also the coordinator of the homestays: Prem Bahadur Gurung, 9846355706.

From Nagidhar take the trail going straight and flat, high on the slope. After about 10 min there is a Y, take the left going down. After another 5 min there is another Y, just before a resting place. Take the right which is going flat at first and then going down via stone steps. A bit later another stairs is joining, continue on the same stairs. After about 15 min the path is arriving at fields; there is another Y here, take the right, flat stone path, which a bit later is also going down. This brings you in a couple of minutes to a small bridge (973 m) over the Bardi Khola, which you cross. After crossing the trail goes to the left. After 2 min go left, from the trail and cross the river (964 m) stone hopping, and go left again. After about 10 min you arrive at a tiny settlement, Sundar Besi  (976 m). The trail starts climbing now, at first slowly, but soon quite steeply via stone steps. After about ½ hr you enter the forest. 10 min later, there is a Y, take the right going up.

After another 5 min you reach the gate of Bhachok, another Gurung village (1314 m). Follow the trail going up through the village. You arrive at a T, go right (north) here, and after 1 min at a Y, go left and up here. At the end of the village is another gate, follow the trail going flat in northwestern direction.  After 20 meter there is a Y, take the right going flat. The trail enters the forest and is going Nepali flat at first and later climbs via stone steps. After about 45 min you arrive at a stupa (1407 m) and big tree with a resting place. Go right here. You are walking Nepali flat in the forest, high on a slope. After about ½ hr you reach another Gurung village, Warchowk (1363 m).

After Warchowk, you arrive at a dirt road, which you follow for 5 min, till you see a trail at the right side of the road. The trail is going down and after about 15 min enters a beautiful forest. After another 20 min you reach a small suspension bridge (1029 m) over the Bhujung Khola. After crossing the bridge, the trail climbs up steeply via stone stairs to 1327 m (45 min). After this the trail goes down first, but then starts climbing again, but more slowly. After 5 min there is another Y, take the right going flat at first and then up. After another 5 min, at the next Y, take the left going down. A few min later, stone steps climb into the Gurung village of Yangjakot (1450 m).

Yangjakot is quite spread out. At the beginning there is one small lodge, Rock on Restaurent and Lodge. 10 min beyond is another small guesthouse, without a name. Besides there is a community owned campsite in Thumakodanda, close to Yangjakot.

Day 39 Yangjakot (1450 m)-Sikles (1945 m) 6 hrs

In Yangjakot follow the dirt road in northern direction. After 1 min, there is a pipal tree at you left, take the trail going down here. Cross the dirt road and continue going down. After 1 min there is a Y, take the left, which are stairs going down. After about 10 min there is another pipal tree, take the trail going flat here (and not the stairs). After a couple of meters you also arrive at stairs. The trail becomes Nepali flat and goes for a while through the forest.

After another 40 min there is another Y, take the left going flat (and not the right going up). After 15 min you pass the village of Kusku (1070 m) and from here the trail goes down steeply again via stairs, passing the village of Jyaudu (886 m; 20 min). Just after the village you cross a suspension bridge (870 m). After the bridge, you go right on a dirt road. It is easy flat walking now. After about 15 min you arrive at the small village of Sabi and the ACAP check post (876 m). Here you have to present your ACAP entree fee ( NPR 2000 to be bought in Kathmandu or Pokhara, at the entrance you have to pay double fee).

Cross the small suspension bridge (885 m) just next to the office and go left. The trail is following the Madi Nadi (Madi River) upstream, which is at your right. After about ½ hour you pass a few houses, and shortly after this the trail goes down with a few steps and continues on the river beach. In front of you, you can see the Lamjung Himal (6983 m) and Annapurna II (7937 m) to the left of it. The trail continues on the river beach most of the time till Sondha (1054 m; 1 ½ hr). In Sondha are 2 small restaurants, which serve dahl bath.

After Sondha the trail continues for a short while on the river beach, before going back into the fields. After about 20 min you pass the settlement of Sikles Phedi (1108 m). After the village is a suspension bridge (1143 m) over a tributary of the Madi Nadi River. After crossing the bridge, the trail starts to climb steeply via stone stairs. Soon you see the Madi Nadi far below you. After about an hour, there is a junction, the left are stairs going up to Parche and the right trail is going to Sikles (also signposted). After about ½ hr you cross a bridge (1830 m). From the bridge it is less than 10 minutes to the entrance of Sikles.

Sikles (1945 m) is one of the biggest Gurung villages, with a population of about 2500. From Sikles you have a beautiful view of Lamjung Himal (6983 m) and Annapurna II (7937 m). It is stil off the beaten trek: while the whole Annapurna Area gets more than 80,000 international tourists per year, Sikles gets about 700. There are a couple of guesthouses in Sikles: Namasté Guesthouse, New Sikles Hotel and Guesthouse, Home’s Home, Dudh Pokhari Guesthouse, Hotel Chautari. Besides, there are a few homestays and camping possibilities.

Day 40 Sikles (1945 m)- Ghalekharka (1674 m) 6 hrs

This is a beautiful walk, all the way through the forest, which is mostly rhododendron forest. In springtime when the rhododendrons are blooming it is even more beautiful. There are no villages or shops along the way, so bring a lunch pack and plenty (at least 2 liter) of water.

Walk out the village passing the basketball field. Follow the dirt road for a few minutes, till you see a small trail going up at the right side of the road. You enter a beautiful forest. After about 10 min, after a resting place, there is a Y, take the right trail going down.

After a while you arrive at some meadows and if you look back, you have a stunning view of the Lamjung Himal and Sikles below you.

You enter the forest again, and you are surrounded by the sound of birds. After about 1 hr, there is a Y, next to a (second) signboard for Tara Hill. Take the left trail going flat (the right trail is going to Tara Hill, more in the north). The trail starts climbing soon and for the next couple of hours, the trail is mostly climbing gradually. You are walking through the forest, mostly rhododendron forest. Some trees are huge, and they are all covered with mosses, which gives the forest a mystical appearance.

Follow the signboards for Nyauli Karkha. After about 2 hours, you reach a deserted campsite (called ecofriendly campsite), this is Nyauli Karkha (2498 m). Follow the trail behind the main building, climbing up away from the building. The trail keeps on climbing (follow the signboards for Ghalekharka). After about 1 ½ hr, when you have reached an altitude of about 2650 m, the trail starts descending again. Most of the descend is very steep, over stone stairs. After about 1 ½ hrs you reach a campsite, which is above Ghalekharka, which you can see far below you. It is still another ½ hr descending to the Tamang village of Ghalekharka. In Ghalekharka is one (cozy) guesthouse, Samjana Cottage (tel. 9746041693, 9806762723). It has 4 guestrooms (10 beds), a dining and a small shop, including small souvenirs.

Day 41 Ghalekharka (1674 m)- Lwang (1440 m) 5 hrs

Again the itinerary described here is diverting a bit from the GHT indicated on the map of Himalaya Maphouse. As mentioned before, there is not yet one official GHT (lower) route. From Lahachok the route goes northwards, and where the GHT on the map goes to the west, this one continues going north, up till Lwang, close to Ghalel. From here the following day it goes to Landruk and Ghandruk and then continues to Ghorepani next day. This is a more interesting route than the indicated route on the map, as both Landruk and Ghandruk are very nice villages.

This day is quite an easy day, with a lot of flat walking. At the end you enter the forest and climb steeply to Lwang.

Leave Ghalekharka following the trail towards a white stupa in western direction. After the stupa, continue on the same trail (now a dirt road). It is easy walking, flat and gradually descending, through forest and fields. After about an hour, you reach at the Gurung village of Khadarjung (1333 m). Take the stairs at the right side of the road, descending through the village. After about 10 min you are back on the dirt road, which you follow to the left/descending. Within a couple of minutes you arrive at the village of Bujung Khola (1223 m). There are a couple of shops here, where you can restock your snacks. At the middle of the village, you go right and at the end of that street left. At the end of the village, there is an ACAP check post, where you have to show your ACAP entree permit, and you get an exit stamp, as you are exiting the ACAP area.

Go right at the ACAP office and keep on following the dirt road, till you see a grass field at your left, with a tractor track (about 10 min). Follow this tractor track; after about 20 meter there is a Y, go left here and after another 15 m go right at the next Y. This brings you at another tractor track. After another 30 m there is another Y, go right and down here. This brings you on a small trail, following the Seti Nadi downstream. After about 15 min you cross the Seti Nadi on a suspension bridge (1120 m). After crossing, climb the stairs and go right on the dirt road. You are walking through the fields. After about 10 min there is a Y, take the left going flat. After another 15 min you arrive at Balabhot (1127 m), a small, spread out town. At the end of the town (15 min), there is a T junction, where you go left. After another 5 min, go right, down on stairs. This gets you on a small trail, following a stream to the left of the Lasti Khola. After about 5 min you cross a suspension bridge (1082 m). After crossing, go left on the dirt road. It is easy flat walking again, with the Mardi Khola to your left. After about 5 min you pass Lahachok (1103 m). After 10 min there is a Y, continue on the same road (left fork) going flat. After another 5 min there is another Y, again take the left fork, this time going down. After another 5 min you pass a small restaurant, next to the Mardi Khola Bridge (1040 m), which is a good place for lunch.

Cross the Mardi Khola Bridge and go right/up (northern direction). You are following the Mardi Khola upstream, walking through the fields. After about 1 ½ hr you reach Lwang Ghalel / Khoramukh (1067 m). Go left here, going up on stairs. Soon you are walking in the forest again. After about 10 min there is a Y, take the rights, which are stairs again. Keep on following these stairs till you reach the Gurung village of Lwang (1441 m; 40 min).

Lwang is a beautiful Gurung village with a splendid view over the Mardi Khola and with the Machhapuchhre (6997 m) raising up behind it. It has a homestay programma as well, and the homestays can accommodate 40-50 people all together. Contact persons are: Him R. Gurung: 9846382738 and Dev Raj Gurung: 9846048993.

Day 42 Lwang (1440 m)-Ghandruk (2040 m) 7 hrs

This is a day with lots of beautiful views of the Annapurna range. You are entering the popular tourist trail, which is quite a difference! Suddenly there are many lodges and shops which are well stocked with all kind of snacks and necessities.

In Lwang, walk towards a pipal tree with a small temple and water tap. Take the stairs at your right here, which are climbing up through the forest. After about ½ hour you arrive at a grassy area with a resting place (1655 m). From here you have an amazing view over the Annapurna range. You can see the Annapurna South (7219 m), Annapurna I (8091 m), Hiunchuli (6441 m), Machhapuchhre (Fishtail; 6997 m), Annapurna IV (7525 m), Annapurna II (7937 m) and Lamjung Himal (6983 m) and all from quite close.

Just after the resting place, there is a stairs going up at the right and a trail going flat at the left; take the trail going flat. The trail enters the forest again and is going up gradually at first. After about 5 min you reach at a T-junction, go left. You arrive at stairs which are climbing up steeply for a while. The stairs become a small jungle trail, which is going in western direction, gradually going up. The trail is not often used, and the jungle is sometimes closing in a bit. After a bit over an hour you reach at a small house, go right here. You arrive at a meadow with may be even a better view over the Annapurnas than at the previous viewpoint. You can see the same mountains as on the previous one, but here especially the Annapurna II stands out.

The trail enters the forest again, at first going down, in northwestern direction. A bit later it starts to climb again. After about 50 min you reach a grassy area, keep to the right side of the field here. Soon you get to stairs, which climb in about 10 min to Pitam Deurali (2106 m).

Pitam Deurali is on the tourist trail, and it is almost a culture shock, after the walk on the small deserted trails through the jungle. But it is nice to take a break with a mars or snickers bar and a cold soft drink! From now on there are lodges which serve food and drinks and provide accommodation about every half hour (on average), so you can choose where you want to have lunch and where you want to stay.

From Pitam Deurali you have a beautiful view of the Annapurna South, with the Annapurna I behind it, and the Hiunchuli. From here the trail is going down through the forest to Bichuk (1814 m; 40 min). After Bichuk the trail continues descending for a couple of minutes to a suspension bridge over a small stream (1769 m). It is another 20 min to Tolka (1760 m). After Tolka you cross another  suspension bridge (1695 m) over a small stream. It is about 45 min to Landruk (1628 m), a big Gurung village. All along the way you have great views of the Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

At the end of the village, there is a junction, take the left trail (stairs) going down to the Modi Khola. The trail is descending steeply and in about 20-30 min you reach the bridge over the Modhi Khola (1320 m). Just after the bridge is the small settlement of Kyumi (1333 m) with 2 lodges. The trail climbs up as steeply as it just went down to Ghandruk. After about a bit over an hour you reach the gate of Ghandruk (1874 m). Ghandruk (1874-2050 m) is a very big Gurung village, and has plenty of guesthouses. There is an ACAP information centre, a Buddhist monastery and a Gurung Museum, which are all worth a visit. But even a bigger attraction are the Annapurna views. Annapurna South and Hiunchuli are up and close. Besides you can see Machhapuchhre, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, and a bit of Annapurna II and IV.

Day 43 Ghandruk (2040 m)-Ghorepani (2885 m) 6  ½ hrs

It is a bit long from Ghandruk to Ghorepani, but the trail is not very difficult. It is a beautiful trail indeed; you are walking in rhododendron forests most of the time, and along the way you have great views on the Annapurna range. In March/early April the trail is even more beautiful, as at this time the rhododendrons are blooming.

You leave Ghandruk in western direction, climbing up gradually through the rhododendron forest. You follow a small stream most of the way. It is about 1 ½ hour to Bhaisikharka (2497 m), which has 2 lodges. The trail continues going up through the forest. After 5 minutes there is a Y junction, take the left going up (the right trail is going down). From Bhaisikharka it is about 45 min to Tadapani (2660 m), from which you have a beautiful view to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapucchre. Tadapani is quite big and has many lodges.

After Tadapani the trail is going down for about ½ hour till a bridge over the stream at 2490 m, after which it climbs again. After another ½ hour you reach Banthanti (2666 m), where are a few lodges.

The trail keeps on climbing alongside the stream. The scenery is beautiful, with steep high rocks, huge pine trees and rhododendrons. After about 1 hr you reach the first lodges of Deurali (3040 m) and a few more (3098 m) 15 min later.

From Deurali it takes about 50 min till Gurung Hill (3152 m), a viewpoint with breathtaking views over the Annapurna range and the impressive Dhaulagiri I. Gurung Hill is not as popular as Poon Hill, but offers the same kind of views.

20 min after Gurung Hill viewpoint there is a resting place, from which 2 stairs are going down, 1 going straight and 1 to the right. Take the stairs to the right. After about 20 min descending through the forest you pass a gate, which is the entrance to Ghorepani (3006 m). Shortly after you arrive at the lodges and shops of Ghorepani (2885 m).

Day 44 Ghorepani (2885 m)-Poonhill (3193)- Tikot (2278 m) 1 ½ + 3 hrs

Watching the sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri range from Poonhill (3193 m) is the attraction of Ghorepani. Each early morning around 5 am trekkers walk up the hill to admire the six, seven and eight-thousanders, and how the first rays of the sun are shining on them.
It takes about 45 min to climb to Poonhill. There is a view tower, and a small shop that serves hot drinks.

The trail to Beni pointed out on the map according to the locals doesn’t exist or is in bad shape. There is another trail, but the trail is not always easy to find. Below the route description, but it is recommended to ask around in Ghorepani for somebody to show you the way up to Tikot (from Tikot the trail to Beni is easy to find). For example, Mr Poon, the owner of Snowview lodge knows the way.

Go down northwards into the rhododendron forest. After 5 minutes there is a Y-junction, take the left trail going down. After about ½ hr you arrive at a small bridge (2711 m), after which the trail goes up for a short while, and then goes down again. 10 min after the bridge is another Y, take the right trail (which is also the bigger trail). You are walking all the time in western or northwestern direction. After another 10 min you arrive at a T-junction, where you go left. 1 min after, there is another Y, take the right trail here. Again after 5 minutes you arrive at a resting place in a grassland, keep to the left here, and you see the trail going back into the forest. It’s a beautiful walk, on a small trail through the forest. You see many small bushes with small white or pink flowers, this is the loktha plant; from the branches Nepali paper is made.

The trail goes sometimes up for a while, but is mostly descending. Sometimes you see a signpost for Tikot, which you obviously follow. About 10 min after the grassland (and 1 min after the first signpost for Tikot), there is another Y, take the left trail. Pass the small pond, Braha Tal (2642 m).

About 15 minutes after the lake is another Y, left is a sand path and right a stone path. Take the sand path going left. After about 5 min you arrive at a field, from which you have amazing views on the Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri range (with good weather). The path is not so clear here. There is a Y, one trail going straight (south) and the other going right (west), take the trail going west. The trail climbs a bit to a resting place, where it bends to the right.

After 10 min there is another Y, take the left trail going down. The trail is going through grass fields for about 20 min, enters the forest again for a while and is then going on the top of a ridge. Far below you in the distance, you can see the Aul Khola. After about 10 min it enters the forest again, going down steeply via stairs. After about 15 min you arrive at some fields, at the border of Tikut. After another 10 min you arrive at a dirt road, which you take going down, towards the village which you can see in front of you. After about 100 meters take a small path at the right side of the dirt road, going down into the village.

Tikot (2278 m) is a very charming village, inhabited by Magar people, who are Hindu’s with lots of animistic touches. All special features in nature (as the spring of a river) are holy to them and most of the times you will see a small temple here. From the village you have amazing views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range.

Tikot has a homestay programme as well (9 houses, 20 beds). The homestays are very good, with nice rooms with good mattresses, clean bed linen, and clean toilets. This time you don’t eat in the house of the host family, but all together in the hostel of the school of the village.
The homestay programme is part of a 5-8 day itinerary where you stay in homestays and community lodges. More info you can find on www.himanchal.org or send a mail to contact@himanchal.org . Or contact Pradeeb Pun, the coordinator of the programme in Tikot: punbradeeb71@yahoo.com mobile: 9857622790.

Day 45 Tikot (2278 m)-Beni (850 m) 4 hrs

It’s just a half day walk from Tikot to Beni. Leave Tikot, following the dirt road that arrives at the square of the school. After 1 min there is a Y-junction, go right and down here. After about 10 minutes you will see a shortcut to your right. This one comes back to the dirt road quickly. Follow the road for a couple of minutes and take the stairs going down. The trail leads away from the road now. About an hour after leaving Tikot you arrive at the tiny settlement of Tikot Besi (1634 m). You are mostly walking through the fields, and after another 45 min you arrive at a T-junction, go right/down here. It is another 15 min till the suspension bridge over the Kali Kandaki (970 m), which brings you to the dirt road between Beni and Jomsom. Go left here, in the direction of Beni. After a few minutes you pass a few teashops (Baisari 967 m), which make a good tea break, to give your knees some rest after the steep descend!

It is more or less 2 more hours walking to Beni, following the dirt road alongside the Kali Kandaki. Kali Kandaki is a first class river for rafting and kayaking, but for the courageous as the rapids are quite difficult!

After about 1 ¼ hour you reach Galeshwar/Galeshor (874 m). Walk into the town, cross the suspension bridge and go left on the steps, passing Hotel Riverside. You walk through the town and continue on the dirt road. After ½ hour you reach Beni (850 m).

Beni is a busy bazaar town and headquarters of Magdi district. There are plenty of hotels here, along the road and more inside the town. Besides you find lots of shops in Be to restock your supplies for your trek. In case you want to end your trek here; buses to Pokhara take 3-4 hours.