Images of Nepal holiday

country:	Nepal
location:	Annapurna, Everest region, Chitwan
trip type:	High altitude, introductory trekking holidays
departures:	2008: 21 Sep, 12 Oct, 2 Nov, 23 Nov, 14 Dec 2009: 4 Jan, 25 Jan, 15 Feb, 8 Mar, 29 Mar, 19 Apr, 20 Sep, 11 Oct, 1 Nov, 22 Nov, 13 Dec
price:	From £430 (12 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. Local payment US $150

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Nepal holidays

Introductory trekking

Budget adventure holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

This tour encompasses all the highlights of Nepal.

Starting in Kathmandu we have time to explore its narrow streets, lovely medieval architecture and hidden temples. We continue to Pokhara famous for its fabulous views and Chitwan with its abundant wildlife. The second half of the trip takes us on an easy trek in the Kathmandu Valley.

This gentle introduction to trekking in the Himalayan foothills offers superb views of the mountains as well as visits to stupas, temples and hilltop retreats.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Kathamandu. Arrival day.
Day 2:	Kathamandu. Morning walking tour to the market area of Asan, Durbar Square and Swayambunath Temple.
Day 3:	Pokhara. Fly to Pokhara, a lovely lakeside city with fabulous views of the Himalayas
Day 4:	Pokhara. A free day to go for a boat ride on the lake, hike into the hills, visit the Tibetan refugee centre or simply hire a bike and enjoy this laid back lake side town.
Day 5:	Chitwan. Fly to Chitwan National Park, transfer to our jungle camp.
Day 6:	Chitwan. On foot, canoe or on elephant, there is the chance to see some of Chitwan's famous rhinos, as well as the many other animals inside the park.
Day 7:	Kathamandu. Fly to Kathmandu.
Day 8:	Shivapuri. We trek into the Shivpuri hills north of Kathmandu. We walk past an interesting monastery and uphill through lush oak and rhododendron forests to Shivapuri where we camp for the night.
Day 9:	Shivapuri - Chisopani - Dhap. An uphill climb of 45 minutes takes us to the top of Shivapuri from where we have fabulous Himalayan mountain views ranging from Everest to Manaslu. The trail continues gradually downhill through beautiful forests with different kinds of birds and flowers. From our camp site we will have great views over the Kathmandu Valley.
Day 10:	Dhap - Nagarkot. An interesting trail takes us to the hill retreat of Nagarkot, perched on a ridge 32km east of Kathmandu. It commands sweeping views of the Himalayas. Five of the world's ten highest peaks, Everest, Lhotse, Choyu, Makalu and Manaslu are visible from here. Nagarkot is also a popular spot to watch sunrise and sunset.
Day 11:	Nagarkot - Bhaktapur - Kathamandu. The trail continues down hill through terraces and villages to Bhaktapur, a beautiful ancient city which exudes a sense of the traditional past. We stroll around the uncrowded streets of this medieval city before driving back to Kathmandu
Day 12:	Kathamandu. Tour ends.

travellers' tales

The nuns and monks were called in for prayers. To be able to sit close to them listening to their chanting, with the large drums keeping the beat and the horns and conchs coming in every so often was the highlight of my trip. (more)

small group adventure holiday

Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

Journeying across Nepal from the lowlands to the Himalayas this trip offers a unique insight into rural life. We stay in many small family run hotels in fairly remote areas of Nepal which otherwise have little access to the tourist money found elsewhere in country.

Visiting small communities, mountain towns and spiritual centres travellers are encouraged to learn about Nepali life - including shopping and eating locally - while also being reminded of the importance of respect for tradition and the environment. We spend two days exploring Chitwan National Park contributing through park fees to the protection of Nepal's wildlife and natural heritage.

The 4 day valley trek utilises the traditional formula of a fully serviced camping trek with a team of locals who come from the hill areas, and who are all paid fair wages in accordance with local standards. While camping we try to find suitable sites that have the least impact on the environment. We cook on kerosene or gas stoves - we never light camp fires or cook on open fires. Travellers are reminded of the importance of not leaving behind litter and our tour leaders make a point of leading by example to ensure that areas and ecosystems are treated with the respect they deserve.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.