Pick up from airport and transfer to Hotel. A full briefing will be given in the afternoon.  

 The day is customizable depending on what you would want to visit, but the most famous sites are often Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, commonly known as the monkey temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Durbar Square.
Today, we tour Kathmandu with a knowledgeable local guide. 

We board the early-morning flight to Pokhara after breakfast. Upon arrival, we travel to the roadhead at Phedi where you begin your journey to Pothana, where you spend the first night in a teahouse lodge.  

 You may leave the main Annapurna Sanctuary hike at Pitam Deurali, which is upwards from Pothana, and continue along a peaceful track through a tangle of oak, maple, hemlock, and rhododendron trees. 
 We spend the night at one of the lodges at Woodland Camp, commonly known as Kokar by the locals, which is located in a forest clearing. 
The Kokar lodges are fairly modest, and since there isn't a dining area, you'll probably eat in the owner's kitchen. In some respects, this is more like a homestay, and it's a great chance to meet this welcoming family from Siding village. 

The route from Forest Camp to Low Camp continues in the forest, but as we climb, the flora begins to alter with more rhododendron and the trees are covered in moss, lichen, and tree ferns. Two simple lodges, one of which has a dining area with an open fire, can be found in Low Camp. 
Mount Machhapuchhre is clearly visible up the valley from Low Camp, providing an excellent vista. 

An hour or so above Low Camp the trail breaks out above tree line and towards the west there is a good view to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. 
The trail continues along the Mardi Himal ridge mainly on grass with some isolated rhododendron bushes along the way. Look out for the colourful Danphe pheasant on this section of the trail. 
The view from the lodge is superb to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre  

Today's schedule calls for an early rise to see the mountain sunrise and an early morning stroll along the ridge towards Mardi Himal. There is a well-traveled path through the grass, with only a few somewhat difficult steep stretches. 
Watch out for the Danphe pheasant and the dzhos (yak/cow crossbreds) that are feeding up here. You will pass a lot of herder's cottages along the journey since in the summertime sheep and goats from lower villages are brought up to graze in this region. You should arrive at Upper View point at 4,200 meters after three hours. 
From here, you can see the Annapurna Sanctuary, and the panoramic view is breathtaking. 

Instead of returning down Mardi Himal to Kokar on the return trip, we choose an alternate path that completes a round and descends to Siding village from Low Camp. 
A homestay in Siding is probably owned by the individual who manages one of the lodges at Low Camp. Siding is a typical Nepalese community that is still very far from the bigger tourist treks. 
Discovering more about rural life is a fascinating cultural experience, and you'll probably have dhal baht with the family in their kitchen in the evening. 

The villages of Kalimati and Ghalel are encountered as you make your journey from Siding to the Lumre roadhead. 
With Ghalel and Siding being mixed Brahmin and Gurung villages, Kalimati is mostly a Brahmin community. You will meet your prearranged jeep in Lumre, which will take you back to Pokhara. 

Transfer to Pokhara airport for the flight back to Kathmandu.  

Transfer to the airport in preparation for your return journey