Small group holiday to Nepal
| country: | Nepal |
| location: | Annapurna |
| departures: | 2009: 21 Nov, 19 Dec 2010: 20 Feb, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec 2011: 19 Feb, 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 15 Oct, 29 Oct, 19 Nov, 17 Dec |
| price: | From £1199 - £1749 (16 days) including flights from the UK. From £699 - £1029 excluding flights. Local payment 100 GBP. |
| late availability: | Late availability on 19th Dec departures |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The perfect introduction to walking in Nepal
Kathmandu and Annapurna trek
The Kathmandu Valley is a fascinating area full of contrasts. Exploring by bike (or vehicle if you wish) you’ll visit Durbar Square with its concentration of royal and religious architecture, and the sacred temples of Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath. You’ll spend a night in the one-time capital of Bhaktapur before travelling west stopping in the rural towns and countryside of Nuwakot and Bandipur before reaching the lake-side town of Pokhara. From here you’ll enjoy your porter-assisted trek into the foothills – a relatively easy three-day Himalayan walk, ideal for the first-time trekker.
Elephant-back safari
Heading south from Pokhara, you enter the steamy, low-lying jungle. In Chitwan National Park you’ll travel by elephant, canoe and on foot in search of wildlife. You should see a variety of birds, spotted deer, rhino and perhaps even tiger! Returning to Kathmandu there is time to explore the winding streets, bazaars and temples of this fascinating medieval city.
Kathmandu and Annapurna trek
The Kathmandu Valley is a fascinating area full of contrasts. Exploring by bike (or vehicle if you wish) you’ll visit Durbar Square with its concentration of royal and religious architecture, and the sacred temples of Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath. You’ll spend a night in the one-time capital of Bhaktapur before travelling west stopping in the rural towns and countryside of Nuwakot and Bandipur before reaching the lake-side town of Pokhara. From here you’ll enjoy your porter-assisted trek into the foothills – a relatively easy three-day Himalayan walk, ideal for the first-time trekker.
Elephant-back safari
Heading south from Pokhara, you enter the steamy, low-lying jungle. In Chitwan National Park you’ll travel by elephant, canoe and on foot in search of wildlife. You should see a variety of birds, spotted deer, rhino and perhaps even tiger! Returning to Kathmandu there is time to explore the winding streets, bazaars and temples of this fascinating medieval city.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Overnight flight to Kathmandu |
| Day 2: | Kathmandu (1330m) After your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. You then have a chance to relax and meet the other members of the group. The evening is free to dine at one of Kathmandu’s many restaurants. Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 3: | Kathmandu And Bhaktapur After breakfast you begin a day’s sightseeing in Kathmandu. Exploring the old city, you’ll wander through narrow streets and alleyways, discovering hidden temples and meeting the friendly locals. Exotic produce and a bewildering mix of people are everywhere - you're likely to see Ghurkhas from the area east of Pokhara, Tibetan women in their striped aprons, traders from India, and sadhus - Hindu holy men - perhaps on pilgrimage to one of the many temples and shrines of the valley. You make your way to Boudhanath Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest stupas in the world that dominates the city skyline. After time to visit the atmospheric Pashupatinath Temple and cremation site, you’ll drive to Bhaktapur - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one time Valley capital. Still a functioning town, Bhaktapur is a superb place to spend the night; a city of potters and pagodas - this is the East as people imagine it! Guesthouse - 1 night (B) |
| Day 4: | Nuwakot village Today you head north-west out of Kathmandu to Nuwakot, located 75 kilometres from the capital. The journey takes about three hours along winding mountain roads through a spectacular landscape dominated by rice terraces and forested hills. You ascend to about 2000 metres above sea level before descending into the valley. Leaving the main road, a steep hill brings you to Nuwakot. Sitting on the traditional trading route with Tibet the area has historically held great importance and now is home to numerous abandoned impressive buildings and forts - indeed the name is supposed to be derived from 'Nawakotta' meaning nine forts. This historic town was once the capital of the valley in the days before the unification of Nepal and was once of strategic importance. Today the village has a sleepy feel about it, and gives the impression that it has received few visitors in recent years. You'll explore the village and surrounding area on foot. Converted farmhouse guesthouse - 1 night (BD) |
| Day 5: | Bandipur Village Stay This morning you journey to the small village of Bandipur. The foothills of the Himalayas are in themselves impressive enough, but as you get closer to Bandipur you get tempting views of the high peaks. On your way there should be the opportunity, for those who wish, to embark on a thrilling white water rafting adventure on the Trisuli River (optional and subject to minimum numbers), rejoining the group later this evening in Bandipur. Arriving in Dumre you turn south, off the main highway, and continue to a ridge set at an altitude of 1050m; here lies the delightful village of Bandipur. Winding its way up and down hills, Bandipur’s main street has many three or four storey brick buildings with carved wood windows, including yours - a converted Newari house called The Old Inn. The 3 or 4 temples in the town add to the atmosphere in what is a traditional Nepali hill village, untouched by modern tourism; few foreigners find their way up here. You stretch your legs with a walk through the village and out into the surrounding countryside for superb views up the Marsyangdi river valley, to the Himalaya beyond. Many of the range’s giants can be seen: Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and the distant Annapurnas amongst them. Guesthouse (shared facilities) - 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Begnas Lake Fortified with a hot cup of tea you rise in the hope of seeing a superb sunrise over the Himalaya. The sun turns the icy white peaks of the world’s highest mountains from deep orange, through a soft yellow glow, to pure white. This morning there is the chance to take a walk in the surrounding area. Leaving Bandipur you drop back down to the main highway and continue to the north-east of Pokhara Valley. The name 'Pokhara' means the valley of the lakes. You will visit one of the eight lakes in the region - Begnas Lake, the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley. The beautiful, crystal clear waters make this the perfect location for relaxation, boating or fishing. Hotel - 1 night (B) |
| Day 7-8: | Trekking In The Annapurnas Known amongst some walkers as ‘the Royal Trek’ after Prince Charles trekked here in the Eighties, this is an ideal opportunity for those travellers who do not want to spend a significant part of their holiday trekking, or are perhaps trekking for the first time. Though one should remember that all trekking is more difficult than just a ramble (there is little flat ground in Nepal’s hills) you don’t reach high altitudes. You should, however, expect to feel as if you have completed a good, long walk at the end of each day. The camping itself is very comfortable, with large tents, mattresses and great food! Your trek takes place in the area east of Pokhara, close to Begnas and Rupa Lakes. All around are villages with terraced fields - a testament to the ingenuity of the Nepalese people who have turned the steep hills into productive fields, growing rice, wheat and maize. The people you pass are incredibly friendly and kids will often walk alongside, practising their English skills. In the village centres old men sit beneath banyan trees on chautaras (stone benches) smoking and gossiping. Women and children come up from the fields carrying huge loads effortlessly and giggle as you greet them with a namaste, the Nepali word for hello. Your first day's hike takes you through changing scenery as you head to Chisapani meaning ‘cold water’ in Nepali, where you camp at an altitude of around 1260m. The following day you'll get views of Annapurna 2, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal & Himalchuli as you cross the main anti-clockwise trail of the renowned but difficult Annapurna Circuit before heading on to Lipiyani situated at 1010m where your camp will already be set up and water boiling in anticipation of a hot cup of tea. Camp – 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2) |
| Day 9-10: | Finish Trek; Pokhara Your last day of walking takes you down through rice fields as you reach the main road linking Pokhara with Kathmandu you rejoin your vehicle and return to your hotel in Pokhara. This evening you celebrate your trek with a wonderful dinner. On your return to Pokhara you have a free afternoon to enjoy the town and its surroundings. There is much to occupy your time; you can shop in the bazaar, relax in the garden of a lakeside cafe whilst enjoying the spectacular views or perhaps boat on the lake. Your Group Leader will of course be on hand to give advice and help make arrangements. Hotel – 2 nights (Bx2, Lx1, D x1) |
| Day 11-12: | Chitwan Jungle Continuing your journey south, a drive of around five hours, you reach the world-famous Chitwan National Park, spread over 932 square kilometres of floodplain. The park is teeming with abundance of wildlife and birdlife, including the famed insignia of Chitwan, one-horned rhino, and the elusive royal Bengal tiger, of which there are believed to be around 80 roaming in the park. An experienced jungle guide will accompany you on your excursions, perhaps the most exciting of which is your safari on elephant-back, penetrating deep into the jungle - rhino, bison, deer, wild boar, monkeys, and a wide array of birds (over 400 species on record) are a common sight, and with luck on your side even the royal Bengal tiger, bear, and leopard are a possibility. Another highlight of the trip is the canoe ride on Rapti River, which drapes the national park, the banks of which are home to sun-bathing 'mugger' crocodiles and the unique long-nosed 'gharial' crocodiles. Keeping you engrossed and buoyed over the span of your stay will be a village tour by ox-cart, bird-watching walks and cultural shows such as Tharu stick-dancing. Jungle Lodge - 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2) |
| Day 13-14: | Kathmandu; Free Day Transferring the short distance to Bharatpur you fly back to Kathmandu. You enjoy a guided tour of the remaining highlights not visited at the beginning of the trip. This includes Swayumbhunath - a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site and also known as the monkey temple - for stunning views across the Valley and Durbar Square's ancient temples and old royal palace. The rest of your stay has been left free to explore further, shop or simply relax. You could roam around the Thamel area of the city on the prowl for bargains, try out some of the many restaurants the city has to offer, or take a book and sit in Durbar Square and watch the world go by. Your Group Leader will of course be on hand to help make suggestions and arrangements for your free time. On your last evening your Group Leader usually gets the group together one last time for a traditional ‘last supper’ where you can reflect on what has been a truly memorable trip. Hotel – 2 nights (Bx2, Lx1) |
| Day 15: | Depart Kathmandu The trip ends for Land Only clients. Those with our onward flights transfer late afternoon to the airport and fly on an overnight flight to London. (B) |
| Day 16: | Arrive London |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
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. how this holiday makes a difference
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Our ground agent in Nepal has been working very hard to build a new community/sports/youth centre in a small village near to the Trisuli River. For every booking we receive to Nepal, we donate US $5 to continue the project. The club has space for 120 members and the youth club will be an invaluable way of bringing local communities together and teaching young people sports and vocational skills. You will be able to see the centre, en route to Bandipur.
Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you call. |
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. |