Your journey begins with your flight touching down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, where a representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is free to rest after your travels, settle into your room, and adjust to the altitude and time zone. In the evening, there will be a short briefing about the trip ahead, followed by a welcome dinner featuring traditional Nepali cuisine, giving you a first taste of the culture and hospitality you’ll experience throughout the trek. Overnight stay in a Kathmandu hotel.

After breakfast, set out on a guided cultural tour of Kathmandu Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Typical stops include Swayambhunath (the “Monkey Temple”) perched on a hilltop overlooking the city, the sacred Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath along the Bagmati River, and the medieval architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square with its palaces and pagoda-style temples. In the afternoon, return to the hotel for final trek preparations — repacking your duffel bag, renting or purchasing any last-minute gear, and reviewing the trekking route with your guide. A pre-trek briefing covers what to expect on the trail, altitude awareness, and packing essentials. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Leave Kathmandu early and travel west along the scenic Prithvi Highway, which winds alongside the Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers. The drive offers glimpses of terraced hillsides, rural villages, and, on clear days, distant mountain views as you approach the Pokhara Valley. Arrive in Pokhara by early afternoon, with time to relax by Phewa Lake, stroll through the lakeside district, or simply enjoy the laid-back atmosphere that contrasts with the bustle of Kathmandu. Overnight in Pokhara.

After breakfast, drive roughly 2–3 hours from Pokhara to the trailhead at Bhurjung Khola (also spelled Bhirjung Khola), passing through Gurung and Chhetri villages and increasingly rural countryside as the road climbs. From the trailhead, begin your first day of trekking, following a trail through forested hillsides and small farming settlements. The path climbs steadily to Ghale Kharka, a small Gurung settlement named for the Ghale clan, offering your first proper views of the Annapurna and Lamjung Himal ranges. Overnight in a teahouse or community lodge.

Continue trekking through rhododendron and oak forest, gaining elevation as you traverse ridgelines with expanding mountain panoramas. The trail passes through terraced fields and smaller hamlets before arriving at Sikles, one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal and the heart of this community trek. Sikles sits on a scenic plateau with the Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Lamjung Himal forming a dramatic backdrop. The village is known for its traditional stone-and-slate architecture and its strong Gurung cultural identity. Settle into a community-run lodge for the next several nights.

Spend the day exploring Sikles village and its surroundings at a relaxed pace. Wander through narrow stone alleyways between traditional Gurung houses with slate roofs, visit the village’s Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) information center to learn about local conservation efforts, and take in sweeping views of the Annapurna Himal from various vantage points around the village. Optional short hikes lead to nearby viewpoints or waterfalls in the surrounding hills. This is also a good day to rest and acclimatize before the more immersive cultural days ahead.

Today’s focus is on community engagement. Visit the local school in Sikles, where you can meet teachers and students, observe classes, and learn about education in this remote Himalayan community. Many visitors bring school supplies or books as a gesture of goodwill, and some interact directly with students to share stories about life outside Nepal. Afterward, take a walk through the surrounding farmland to see how local families cultivate crops like millet, maize, and potatoes on the terraced slopes, gaining insight into the self-sufficient lifestyle of the village.

Dedicate this day to cultural immersion. Local hosts and guides introduce you to basic Nepali and Gurung phrases, and you’ll learn about Gurung customs, including their Tibetan-Buddhist and animist spiritual traditions, traditional dress, and the significant role of the Gurung people in Nepal’s history — notably their long legacy of serving in the Gurkha regiments. You may have the chance to observe or participate in traditional weaving, try local millet-based alcohol (raksi or tongba), and enjoy a cultural program in the evening featuring traditional Gurung songs and dance performed by villagers.

Use this final day in Sikles for any remaining exploration — perhaps a hike to a nearby ridge for sunrise views over the Annapurna range, a visit to a local mill, or simply more time connecting with the host family and community members who have hosted you. In the evening, a farewell gathering often takes place, giving you a chance to thank your hosts and reflect on the days spent immersed in Gurung village life before continuing the trek onward the next morning.

Depart Sikles and begin descending gradually through forested trails and terraced farmland toward Tangting, another Gurung village known for its own distinct charm and mountain views. The trail offers a different perspective of the valley below and the peaks behind you as you leave Sikles. Tangting has its own ACAP checkpoint and community lodges, and it’s worth taking a short walk around the village in the afternoon to see its temples and traditional houses before settling in for the night.

The trail continues its gradual descent, passing through mixed forest, small streams, and scattered villages as you make your way to Yangjakot. This lower-altitude walk brings warmer temperatures and increasingly cultivated landscapes, a sign that you’re approaching the more populated lower hills of the Kaski district. Yangjakot offers simple accommodation and a quieter, more rural pace compared to the bigger trekking hubs, making it a peaceful stop for the night.

Complete the final stretch of trekking to Kalikasthan, named after a local Kali temple, passing through more farmland and small settlements. From here, connect with a waiting vehicle for the drive back to Pokhara, which takes you through the countryside back to the lakeside city. Arrive in Pokhara in the evening with a well-earned sense of accomplishment after completing the Sikles Community Trek. Enjoy a comfortable hotel stay and perhaps a celebratory dinner overlooking Phewa Lake.

Spend a full day exploring Pokhara’s highlights at a relaxed pace. Popular stops include a sunrise excursion to Sarangkot for panoramic views of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, a boat ride on Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi Temple, a visit to the World Peace Pagoda, and exploration of the Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave. The city’s lakeside area is also perfect for relaxing at a cafe, shopping for souvenirs, or simply unwinding after nearly two weeks on the trail.

Transfer to Pokhara Airport for a short scenic flight back to Kathmandu (approximately 25–30 minutes), often offering aerial views of the Himalayan range along the way. Once back in Kathmandu, the remainder of the day is free for last-minute souvenir shopping in areas like Thamel, relaxing at the hotel, or revisiting any sites you’d like to see again. A farewell dinner in the evening is a fitting way to celebrate the completion of your trekking adventure with your guide and fellow travelers.

Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy a final breakfast in Kathmandu before being transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight home, bringing your Sikles Community Trek adventure to a close.