The Complete Guide for Ama Dablam Expedition
July 5, 2026
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Taste of Nepal with Himalayan Outdoor Project (HOP) is the ultimate sampler of everything that makes this country extraordinary a single journey that captures the three essential flavors of the Himalaya: summit, river, and jungle. Over 21 unforgettable days, you’ll trek the Valley of Glaciers, summit a Himalayan peak at sunrise, paddle through thundering Class IV rapids on the Kali Gandaki, and search for one-horned rhinos in the jungles of Chitwan. Whether you’re a first-time adventurer or a seasoned traveler, Taste of Nepal is designed to be accessible and life-changing. Founded by Anup Gurung a world-class kayaker, IRF instructor, solo paraglider, and enduro rider who has conquered extreme environments across the globe and Rajiv Chand, a retired Major from the Nepali Army Special Forces with over 20 years of leadership and expedition experience, HOP was built on a powerful belief: “We don’t just take people on journeys we help them discover who they are through every experience.” Taste of Nepal is more than a tour; it’s a purpose-driven adventure that empowers local communities and preserves Nepal’s pristine landscapes. Nepal Taste has never been more within reach.
Taste of Nepal is built around three distinct “tastes” that showcase the country’s incredible diversity. The Summit Taste begins with an 11-day trek through the Langtang Valley often called the “Valley of Glaciers” where you’ll walk past ancient stone walls, spinning prayer wheels, and yak pastures to reach Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870m. On summit day, a pre-dawn hike to Kyanjin Ri (4,773m) rewards you with sunrise over the Himalayas, the peaks glowing gold as prayer flags flutter in the wind. You’ll sleep in cozy teahouses, wake to the sound of mantras, and experience the warmth of Sherpa hospitality. The River Taste follows with four days of rafting on the Kali Gandaki, tackling Class III warm-ups and roaring Class IV rapids like “Little Brother” and “Big Brother”. You’ll camp on sandbanks beneath star-filled skies, with no roads, no crowds just water, canyons, and the pulse of the river. The Jungle Taste completes the trifecta with a full-day safari in Chitwan, where you’ll search for one-horned rhinos, sloth bears, leopards, and maybe even the Bengal tiger. A canoe ride on the Rapti River, a guided nature walk, and a visit to the Elephant Breeding Center immerse you in the wild heart of the Terai.
HOP’s 4E Principle Education, Experience, Expertise, Excellence ensures that every element of Taste of Nepal is accessible, safe, and deeply rewarding. No prior trekking, rafting, or safari experience is required; HOP’s expert guides provide comprehensive training and support at every stage. The trek is graded as moderate, with daily walks of 4–7 hours and built-in acclimatization days to help you adjust to the altitude. Nepal Taste is designed to be achievable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and a spirit of adventure. The best seasons for Taste of Nepal are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when the skies are clear, the rhododendrons are in bloom, and the rafting conditions are optimal. Taste of Nepal includes boutique hotel stays in Kathmandu and Pokhara, the best teahouses in Langtang, jungle lodges in Chitwan, and riverside camps all meals during the trek and rafting are included. Nepal Taste is the perfect introduction to the country’s wild beauty and warm culture.
The Taste of Nepal itinerary is carefully crafted to flow seamlessly from mountains to rivers to jungle. After arrival in Kathmandu, a private 4WD drive takes you into the Langtang Valley, where you’ll trek for seven days before returning to Syabrubesi. A scenic drive brings you to Pokhara for a rest day, then you’ll raft the Kali Gandaki for four days, camping on remote riverbanks. A short drive to Chitwan delivers you into the subtropical lowlands for a full-day safari experience. The journey culminates with a flight back to Kathmandu, where you’ll visit the sacred Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa, followed by a farewell dinner filled with hugs, laughs, and stories. Taste of Nepal is not just a holiday; it’s a transformation a journey through the country’s three essential landscapes that stays with you forever. Nepal Taste is the adventure you’ve been waiting for. Taste of Nepal calls to the curious, the bold, and the open-hearted. Choose Taste of Nepal. Choose HOP. Let Nepal Taste redefine what you thought possible and let Taste of Nepal linger in your heart long after you’ve returned home.
Land in Kathmandu, meet our team, enjoy a short drive to your boutique hotel in Thamel and then decide whether to rest or explore before your overnight stay.
Wake to breakfast, stroll Thamel's alleys, then gather for a team dinner, briefing and gear check before your overnight at the boutique hotel
6 to 7 hour private 4WD drive through river valleys and hill villages. Arrive in Syabrubesi. Overnight: Teahouse, Syabrubesi (1,550m)
Follow the rushing Langtang River through forests and bamboo groves on a gentle uphill trek, then rest at your teahouse in Lama Hotel (2,480m) after 5 to 6 hours.
Walk past ancient stone walls, spinning prayer wheels and yak pastures to reach Langtang Village, where your cozy teahouse at 3,430m awaits after 5 to 6 hours of trekking.
Take a short walk to the valley's spiritual heart, visiting a sacred monastery and a surprising cheese factory, before settling into your teahouse in Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m) after a gentle 4 to 5 hours.
Choose a pre-dawn hike to Kyanjin Ri (4,773m) for sunrise over the Himalayas with a 903m climb in 3 – 5 hours, or take a rest day, before overnight at your teahouse in Kyanjin Gompa.
Take an easy downhill walk back to Lama Hotel, where your cozy teahouse at 2,480m welcomes you after 5 to 6 hours of gentle trekking.
Take your last walk alongside the Langtang River, return to Syabrubesi and celebrate with your team before overnight at your teahouse at 1,550m, after 5 to 6 easy hours.
After a scenic 7-hour drive to Pokhara, sink into a hot shower, a comfortable bed, and great food at your boutique hotel (822m).
Today is yours: maybe hike to the Peace Stupa, unwind with a massage, stroll Phewa Lake or linger at lakeside cafes then do everything or nothing before overnight at your boutique hotel (822m).
Buckle up for a 4-day, 55km rafting expedition: a 3-hour private Jeep ride to the put-in, meet your raft crew and gear up with helmet, life jacket and paddle, then days of Class III warm-ups and the roaring Class IV rapids Little Brother and Big Brother, canyon waterfalls and walls that rise hundreds of meters, remote landscapes with no roads or towns, incredible starry nights at riverside camps, a final Class IV send-off and take-out at Mirmi before transferring to your riverside lodge.
Savour your last morning on the river, then dry off, rest at the lodge and gather for a lovely dinner before overnight at your riverside lodge, with breakfast, lunch and dinner all included.
A 3-hour drive winds into the subtropical lowlands, where the jungle begins, and you check into your comfortable jungle lodge in Sauraha for an overnight in Chitwan.
Experience a full day of jungle adventure, from a morning Jeep safari in search of one-horned rhinos, sloth bears, leopards, and maybe the Bengal tiger, to an afternoon canoe ride on the Rapti River past basking crocodiles and water birds, a guided nature walk with a naturalist and a visit to the Elephant Breeding Center, capped by a sunset Tharu village walk and evening cultural dance, before returning to your jungle lodge in Sauraha for overnight, with all meals included.
Catch a 25-minute morning flight to Kathmandu (saving 6 hours of driving), then spend the afternoon at the 2,000-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple) with its golden Buddha eyes and mischievous monkeys, followed by Pashupatinath Temple Nepal's most sacred Hindu shrine where the holy Bagmati River flows past painted sadhus, before overnight at your boutique hotel in Thamel.
Begin at the magnificent Boudhanath Stupa one of the world's largest then wander through Bhaktapur, a medieval city of pottery squares and ancient wood-and-brick palaces, squeeze in last-minute shopping in Thamel, and wrap it all up with a heartfelt farewell dinner full of hugs, laughs, and stories before tucking into your boutique hotel in Thamel, with breakfast and a farewell dinner included.
After your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport, share hugs, high fives and gratitude as some fly home, some stay and a few plan their next river see you downstream.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodation: Boutique hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, best teahouses in Langtang, jungle lodges in Chitwan, riverside camps and lodges.
Meals: All meals during Langtang Trek. All meals during Kali Gandaki Rafting. Breakfast in cities. Welcome dinner (Day 2). Farewell dinner (Day 20).
Private Transfers: 4WD drives to and from Langtang trailhead. 4WD to rafting put in and pick up.
Rafting Gear: Rafts, paddles, safety kayaks, PFDs, helmets, dry bags.
Trekking Support: Porters, duffle bags (1 per 2 guests), permits, medical kit, oximeter checks.
Expert Guides: Highly trained, insured guides. International expedition experience (Iceland and Nepal). Ex-military and adventure rescue background. Licensed naturalists for Chitwan.
Special Add Ons: HOP hoodie orcap. All national park, temple, and heritage site entry fees.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
International flights to Nepal.
Nepal visa fee (available on arrival).
Travel insurance (mandatory must cover trekking to 5,000m and whitewater rafting).
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except welcome and farewell dinners).
Bottled drinks, alcohol, snacks, laundry, phone calls.
Tips for guides, porters, and drivers (recommended but not required).
READY FOR THE TASTE OF NEPAL?
This is Nepal at its wildest. This is Nepal like never before. This is your HOP adventure.
Real connections. Life changing moments.
Book your seat now. Limited to 10 adventurers per departure.
Questions? Talk to our team. We love to talk about rivers, mountains, and magic.
See you in the Himalayas.
Taste of Nepal is ideal for:
If you want to understand Nepal beyond the guidebook, this expedition was designed for you.
Most tours show you Nepal.
Taste of Nepal helps you experience Nepal.
You’ll walk through mountain villages, meet local families, sample traditional cuisine, explore diverse landscapes, and discover the stories behind the places you visit.
It’s immersive, authentic, and personal.
At HOP, adventure is not left to chance.
Founded by Anup Gurung, a world-class kayaker, expedition leader, and outdoor professional, and Rajiv Chand, a former Major of the Nepali Army Special Forces with over 20 years of leadership and expedition planning experience, HOP was built on one simple belief:
Our team combines elite military-level planning, world-class outdoor expertise, deep local knowledge, and decades of real Himalayan experience. We know these mountains, rivers, and communities because they are our home.
When you join HOP, you’re not simply booking an adventure.
You’re joining a team of expedition leaders, climbers, river professionals, and outdoor specialists committed to helping you experience Nepal safely, authentically, and meaningfully.
HIMALAYAN OUTDOOR PROJECT
Explore • Experience • Evolve • Empower
Expeditions with Purpose. Adventures with Meaning.
