Days 1-2 | KathmanduYou can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting at 6 pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. We will be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.
Please note that your leader will collect your local payment today.
Kathmandu is a fascinating mixture of legend and modern development with a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Narrow lanes lead to small squares and courtyards where ornate carved balconies overlook shrines and temples. Crowded markets and bazaars are the centre of Nepali life, where stalls and small hole-in-the-wall shops sell everything from bangles to Buddhas to beetroot. Kathmandu has been a traveller's centre for many years, which is reflected in the international flavour of the bright lights and 'Coca-Cola culture' of the central Thamel district.
On day 2, we make an early start to climb up to the monkey temple of Swayambhunath. Situated on a hilltop, the instantly recognisable stupa, with its Buddha eyes, attracts a steady stream of pilgrims. The views out over the valley are superb. In the heart of the Tibetan community, Bodhnath stupa is the largest in Nepal. The area is a maze of restaurants and workshops. There is free time during the afternoon before a guided walk takes us through the heart of the old city to Durbar Square, home to the palace of the Kumari Devi - considered to be a living goddess.
In the afternoon of day 2 we have the option to visit KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Program) - an organisation that aims to help minimise the negative influences of tourism by advocating and promoting 'minimum impact' trekking. Please ask your leader about this and they can organise this visit for you.
Our 3 star hotel in Kathmandu has well-appointed rooms with air-conditioning and attached baths. The roof offers a panoramic view of Swayambhu Hill and the city.
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Days 3-4 | Chitwan National ParkWe head west and then south along the Trisuli River en route to the Royal Chitwan National Park (approx. 6 hours by bus).
Royal Chitwan National Park offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Asia with rhinoceros, deer, monkeys, crocodiles, a wide array of bird life and the ever-elusive tiger.
There's a host of optional activities to fill up your time in Chitwan including elephant riding (the best way to see rhinoceros), meeting the infants of the Elephant Breeding Centre, travelling down the lazy river by dugout canoe or lazing by the river with a book.
We stay in a hotel by the small village of Sauraha on the edge of the park and on the banks of the Rapti River. The hotel is spread over a good expanse of verdant land with tall, indigenous trees and plants attracting varied species of bird-life. The rooms are spacious and are made and decorated in keeping with the jungle ambience.
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Day 5 | BandipurTravelling by private vehicle for approximately 3 hours today, we journey from Chitwan to Bandipur.
Bandipur is well off the main tourist trails and located high on a ridge (1000m) above the road to Pokhara. The views are stupendous - of the Annapurna and Manaslu mountain ranges - as is the warm local welcome. Both are hallmarks of this region. Bandipur is a basic one street village but the surrounding countryside makes for great walks and all the locals will want to talk to you and guide you on your way.
At the eastern part of the town is the pagoda-roofed Bindabasini temple which acts as the abode of the goddess Durga, Bandipur's guardian deity. The rich wooden carvings and detailed brass-work that adorn the temple are replicas of those found in the many old pagoda structures of the Kathmandu Valley. The other important temples and shrines in the vicinity include the Mahalaxmi temple with its exquisite woodwork and the Khadga Devi temple which comes alive once a year during the Dashain festival.
Our guesthouse tonight is a restored village mansion in the heart of the old bazaar. The timber and red brick building with carved beams and staircases has pleasant twin and double rooms with separate shared facilities. In front of the guesthouse is a caf? and bar serving simple, delicious meals from locally sourced organic ingredients.
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Day 6 | PokharaOn day 6 we make our way to Pokhara (approx. 2.5 hours drive) the second-most popular destination in Nepal and it's easy to see why. The town has a beautiful lakeside location and is close to the mountains for day walks or full-on treks for the more adventurous. This quiet town is easy to explore on your own, with a great selection of restaurants, shops where you can get everything for travelling from Gortex jackets to Mars bars and souvenir shops with beautiful Nepalese and Tibetan arts and crafts.
Located by the lakeside, our lovely hotel is a step away from the hustle and bustle, where you can enjoy the comfort of a lushly landscaped garden or a cool dip in the swimming pool.
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Day 7 | Overnight TrekAfter driving to your starting point, your private guide and porters will escort you up into the hills. You can walk at your own pace and you only need to carry your day pack, so it's a fairly leisurely graded trek as a result (approx 5 hours trekking in total). Walking on local trails and through small villages, the awesome views, smiling faces and personal achievement gives you a inner glow.
The trek is escorted by a main leader assisted by sherpas, porters, cooks and kitchen staff. Limited washing facilities are available (eg: hot water will be provided in washing bowls). All meals are provided.
Alpine camping tents have 2 separate foam mattresses, bed-covers, linen and pillows for 2 passengers each. There will be a separate dining tent with dining table and chairs, and toilet tents. Hot, clean water provided for brushing and washing up.
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Day 8 | PokharaWalk through the crisp mountain air and view dramatic mountain scenery as you head back to Pokhara with lunch en route (approx. 5 hours trekking total), where you can be as active or as lazy as you want.
You can take boats out on the lake - and even get someone else to row for you and there are plenty of lakeside cafes and restaurants to while away the hours. For the more active, you can cycle out to visit some nearby Tibetan villages specialising in traditional crafts.
Our accommodation is back in our lovely hotel- take a dip in the swimming pool to relax those tired trekking muscles!
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Day 9 | NagarkotWe depart early on day 7 to catch a short flight back to Kathmandu, and then take short bus ride (approx. 2 hours) to our final destination. We overnight in the resort village of Nagarkot, famous for fantastic views of almost the entire length of Nepal's Himalayas, from Dhaulagiri in the west to Everest and Kanchenjunja far to the east.
A popular picnic and kite flying area for locals, Nagarkot is a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view or try your hand at kite flying with some of the locals.
In Nagarkot we stay in a villa nestled on the top of the Nagarkot hill, about 18 kms from the ancient city of Bhaktapur. All rooms are well furnished and spacious with attached baths and 24 hours hot/cold running water. On a clear day, the villa proudly boasts a panoramic view of the Himalayas stretching from Mt. Kanchenjunga in the far-east to the Annapurna massif in the far west.
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Days 10-11 | KathmanduAfter breakfast we head off on the walking track to Changu Narayan Temple.
The walk winds through forest and villages with more downhill than uphill, along a ridge jutting out into the Kathmandu Valley - it provides great views and takes about two hours to the temple. Changu Narayan is a Vishnu Temple that dates back to the 4th Century and makes a beautiful spot for a rest. From here we transfer by private vehicle to Bhaktapur (approx. 30 minutes). Wander the narrow streets from square to square and the tradition and simplicity of this town comes alive. The wooden palace and the five story pagoda temple are two of the most beautiful buildings in Nepal, and the people live up to their town's name, which translates as 'town of devotees'.
In the afternoon of day 10 we transfer back to Kathmandu (approx. 45 minutes) for our last night dinner. We return to our 3 star hotel in Kathmandu with air-conditioning and attached baths.
There are no activities planned for day 11 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time from the hotel is at 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
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Itinerary DisclaimerPlease note: occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research and may change with no prior notice.
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