Hike Tatopani - Ghorapani

From Tatopani, which is crowded with tourists, you will descend for less than a kilometer and a half (one of the few descends for today) until you reach the large suspension bridge to the other side of Kali Gandaki. You will finally leave here the dusty road, along which you have descended a few dozen kilometers from Jomsom (however, if you walked and not taken the bus or jeep). Just a bit further is another suspension bridge over Ghar Khola /1200 m asl /, over the valley of which you will ascent up to Ghorapani.
 

From the bridge over Ghar Khola awaits you long ascent along the trekking sidewalk full of stairs high above the river to a small pass. You will walk some time along the jeep path that made a gaping hole in the first pass (at about 1550 m asl)​​. The ascent is made difficult by high heat and humidity.

During the ascent you will see lots of simple buildings with small fields around.

The first nice view back finally opens after an hour's walk. In the distance you can see the confluence of rivers, from where began the long ascent. But the ridge on the other side of the valley still unfortunately obstructs the view of Dhalagiri and the surrounding mountains behind.
 

Finally opens also the view of the impressive „fort“ of Nilgri South (6 839 m asl). But the view will be better in a few minutes– see the introductory slide of the photoreport.

The journey then continues through the agricultural area full of rice terraced fields. But be careful to hold to the old trekking route, since the new dusty small road leads through unnecessary big curve.

You will continue to ascend through agricultural landscape for another hour before you reach into bigger village of Ghara (1 780 m asl). Here is the perfect place for refreshment before the next ascent. Just behind the village is a nice outlook point of the houses in Ghara with mountain panoramas on the horizon.

Hiking in Nepal is not only about admiring the stunning sceneries, but also about observing the local lifestyle. Very important animal is water buffalo, serving not only as a source of milk and meat, but also helps in the cultivation of rice fields.

After another hour walk you reach thriving village of Sikha (1 960 m asl) with its several lodges. A lot of tourists end here today's walk in order to split it into two days. If there are no clouds, the peaks of the mountains around Dhaulagiri are visible already from here.

Above Sikha is a nice view of practically the whole way you went today – starting with the small ridge dug because of the road up to Ghara and thousands of rice terraces along the way.
 

After several hours of continuous ascent awaits you a small descent from the second „pass“ on the way. But you will not be pleased by that, because you know that each meter of descend will have to be ascended again. Above the clouds is gradually visible the tip of Dhaulagiri and Tukuche.

Along the way you will be captivated by beautiful views of the farm houses scattered across the other side of the valley. It is a beautiful place for admiring mountain sceneries, but difficult for life. It is far everywhere and only on foot.

Finally you are already high enough to be able to enjoy views of the ice giants.

Then awaits you the worst part of the trip, when the path disappears into the thick wet misty muddy rhododendron and magnolia forest and you will be looking forward to be at the top of Ghorepani Deurali and enjoy here hot tea and a good dinner.