POKHARA VIA LETE AND MARPHA TO JOMSOM

The route from Pokhara to Jomsom up the Kali Gandaki River passes through a gap in the Himalayan barrier in the bottom of the deepest river canyon in the world. Penetrating between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges at a point where the principle peaks are only 20 miles apart, the trails leaves the lush south slope rhododendron forests, winds through a breathtaking gorge nearly four miles deep and merges in the semi arid Thak khola canyon, an Inner Himalayan valley which gradually rises northward to merge with to Tibetan plateau beyond the desolate windblown hills of Mustange.
The people of the Thak khola are almost exclusively of Tibetan cultural heritage, including the Thakalis, a group of adaptive and shrewd traders whose ancient migration patterns have carried them southward all the way to the terai. The Thak khola trail is still an important trade route; colorful heavily laden donkey caravans driven by Tibetan traders are a common sight. The highest point on the way is 2896 m. at Ghorapani pass and above Tatopani; the trail ascends gradually along the Kali Gandaki to an altitude of 2713 m. at Jomsom

POKHARA 888 m. TO NAUDANDA 1463 m. ( 5 HOURS )

Pokhara to Tibetan camp i.e. Lower Hyengja 1067 m. (One hour )Tibetan camp i.e. Lower Hyengja to Upper Hyengja 1097 m. ( One hour )Upper Hyengja to Suikhet 1097 m. ( One hour )Suikhet to Naudanda ( Two hour )


NAUDANDA 1463 m .TO BIRETHANTI 1076 m. ( Five and half hours )


Naudanda to Khara 1707 m. ( One and half hours ) Khara to Lumla 1554 m. ( One hour ) Lumla to Chandrakot 1562 m. ( One hour ) Chandrakot to Birethanti ( Two hours )


BIRETHANTI 1076 m. TO GHORAPANI 2835 m ( 9 HOURS )


Birethanti to Sudhami 1276 m. ( Two hours ) Sudhami to Hille 1463 m. ( 45 minutes ) Hille to Trikhedunga 1494 m. ( 15 minutes ) Trikhedunga to Ulleri 2073 m. ( One and half hours ) Ulleri to Thante 2438 m. ( Three hours ) Thante to Ghorapani 2835 m. ( One and half hours ) Ghorapani to Ghorapani pass 2896 m. ( 15 minutes )


PUN HILL 3200 m.


Because Ghorapani and Gorapani pass both lie close under forested hills to the north, the Himalayas are not visible from either place. However, one of the best view point in the region, Pun Hill, is located on the ridgetop southwest of the pass about 45 minutes climb above the village. When the sky is clear, usually early in the morning, the view of Annapurna south is unobstructed, and it can be studied from top to bottom from very close; Annapurna, the Nilgiris, Dhaulagiri, Tukche, Himchuli and a bit of the top of Machhapuchhare also appear powerfully outlined against the sky. One can also watch the raising sun light the peaks in pinks and oranges.


GORAPANI 2835 m. TO TATOPANI 1219 m. ( Six and half hours )

Gorapani to Chitre 2347 m. ( One hour ) Chitre to Phalate 2286 m. ( Half hour ) Phalate to Sikha 2012 m. ( One and half hours ) Sikha to Ghara 1768 m. ( One hour ) Ghara to Tatopani 1219 m. ( Two and half hours )


TATOPANI 1219 m. TO GHASA 2012 m. ( 6 hours 45 minutes )

Tatopani to Dana 1463 m. ( Three hours ) Dana to　Titra 1524 m. ( 45 minutes ) Titra to Kabre 1798 m. ( Half hour ) Kabre to Ghasa 2012 m. ( Two and half hour )

GHASA 2012 m. TO LETE 2438 m. ( Two and half hours )

LETE 2438 m. TO TUKCHE 2591 m. ( 4 HOURS )

Lete to Kalopani 2560 m. ( One hour ) East bank trail from Kalopani to Tukche ( Three hours ) Kalopani to Dhumpa ( 15 minute ) Dhumpa to Larjung 2560 m. ( 1 hour 15 minutes ) Larjung to Tukche ( One and half hours ) West band trail from Kalopani to Tukche ( Three hours ) Kalopani to Sokung 2519 m. ( One hour ) Sokug to Larjung 2560 ( Half hour ) Larjung to Tukche ( One and half hours )


TUKCHE 2591 m. TO JOMSOM 2713 m. ( 4 hours )

Tukche to Chhairo ( One hour ) Chhairo to Marpha 2670 m. ( Half hour ) Marpha to Syang 2713 m. ( One and half hour ) Syang to Jomsom 2713 m. ( One hour )