Royal Trek

Spring (February to May) and autumn (September to November) are the prime seasons for Royal Trek. Both windows give reliable clear mornings with the full Annapurna massif visible from the ridge above Chisapani, comfortable daytime temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius on the trail, and dry paths underfoot. Rhododendrons flower across the lower forests from late February through April, making the spring ascent particularly colourful.

Winter (December to January) is cold at night but clear, and the mountain views are often sharp. Light frost is possible at Chisapani in December and January, so a warm sleeping bag is worth carrying. The monsoon (June to August) brings heavy rain, slippery trails and hazy mountain views. The trek is possible in monsoon for those who accept the conditions, but most trekkers plan around it.

Royal Trek runs through the Pokhara Valley foothills and, based on current practice, does not require a full Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) for the standard route. A Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card issued by the Nepal Tourism Board is the most commonly required document for independent trekkers in the region. Swotah will confirm the current permit requirements at the time of booking, as regulations can change.

Entry to Nepal requires a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, valid for 15, 30 or 90 days. Bring a passport valid for at least six months, one passport photo and the visa fee in US dollars cash. Swotah handles TIMS and any other trekking permits on your behalf so nothing is missed on the first morning.

Accommodation on Royal Trek uses standard city hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara and family-run teahouses on the three trek nights at Kalikasthan, Syanglung and Chisapani. Teahouses at this altitude provide simple but clean rooms, shared bathrooms with hot water on request, and a dining room where all trek meals are served.

City hotels include private bathrooms, hot water and Wi-Fi. Teahouse rooms are basic, with beds and blankets provided, but a sleeping bag liner adds comfort in the cooler months. Swotah contacts teahouse owners before departure to confirm availability, so rooms are secured on busy autumn weekends. Upgrades to better Kathmandu or Pokhara hotels are available on request.

All meals during the three trek days are included in the Royal Trek price. Teahouse menus run to dal bhat (rice, lentils and seasonal vegetables), noodle soup, fried rice, Tibetan bread and eggs, with black tea and milk tea throughout the day. Dal bhat is the most energy-efficient meal on the trail and can be refilled at no extra cost in most teahouses.

Breakfast is included at city hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara; lunch and dinner on non-trek days are at your own expense and easy to find. Tap water along the route requires purification tablets or a filter; bottled water is sold at teahouses. Tell Swotah about dietary restrictions before you travel so we can check teahouse menus in advance.

Royal Trek begins in Kathmandu, where a Swotah representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport. The drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara covers about 200 km and takes 6 to 7 hours on the Prithvi Highway, following the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers through forested gorges. From Pokhara the trailhead at Bijayapur Khola is a short 45-minute drive to the north.

All transfers are by private car or jeep. A domestic flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara (about 25 minutes) is available as an upgrade to shorten travel time at extra cost. Pokhara's Prithvi Narayan Shah Airport handles daily flights from several domestic carriers. Confirm your international arrival time with Swotah so the airport transfer is scheduled correctly.

Royal Trek covers three distinct experiences in nine days. Day 1 is a guided heritage circuit of the Kathmandu Valley: Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath stupa, Swayambhunath and one of the old Durbar Squares. The Pokhara arrival day gives time for Phewa Lakeside and the Annapurna panorama from the city.

The three trek days cross Gurung and Magar village ridges, passing terraced wheat and millet fields, stone water mills and small Hindu shrines. The viewpoint above Chisapani at roughly 1,760 m gives the clearest panoramic sight of Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Lamjung Himal and Dhaulagiri on a clear morning. The final day passes Rupa Lake and finishes at Begnas Lake, where a short boat ride is possible before the hotel. Kathmandu has an evening option at Pashupatinath's ghats on the return night before departure.

Royal Trek is led by a licensed English-speaking trekking guide who holds a Ministry of Tourism certificate. Guides know the Pokhara foothills route well and can answer questions about Gurung history, local agriculture and mountain identification. Because the trek is short and low-altitude, a full porter team is not required for most groups.

Porters are available on request for travellers who prefer not to carry their own day pack, at 15 kg maximum per porter. Swotah operates with a strict policy of fair wages and insurance for all trekking staff. If you would prefer a guide with a specific language, ask at booking and we will check availability.

Mobile coverage on Royal Trek is better than on most Nepal treks. The Pokhara Valley foothills sit within reach of Ncell and Nepal Telecom towers, and 3G or 4G signal is available in Pokhara and along much of the ridge route. Signal becomes patchy at Syanglung and may drop at teahouse locations away from the village centre.

City hotels have Wi-Fi and power outlets for charging. Teahouses will charge your devices for a small fee, typically 100 to 200 Nepali rupees per charge. A power bank handles most needs on the three trek nights without relying on teahouse sockets. Swotah provides a tourist SIM card with 2 GB of data for use in Nepal.

Responsible trekking on the Royal Trek means keeping the teahouse trails clean, carrying your waste out, using a reusable bottle with purification tablets rather than single-use plastic bottles, dressing modestly through Gurung villages and asking before photographing people or religious sites. Noise is minimal on this quiet route; keep it that way for the other trekkers.

Tipping is not mandatory but is standard practice in Nepal's trekking industry. A common guideline is 10 to 15% of the trip cost shared between the guide and driver. Tips go directly to the staff and form a meaningful part of their seasonal income. Booking through a registered operator like Swotah ensures that permits, staff insurance and government taxes are handled correctly.