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Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari

COUNTRY:
Nepal
LOCATION:
Annapurna, Annapurna Sanctuary, Chitwan
HOLIDAY TYPE:
High altitude trekking holidays
DEPARTURES:
2012: 13 Feb, 26 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 6 Apr, 16 Apr, 25 Apr, 28 Apr, 17 May, 25 May, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 15 Jul, 11 Aug, 27 Aug, 14 Sep, 24 Sep, 9 Oct, 17 Oct, 30 Oct, 7 Nov, 19 Nov, 28 Nov, 6 Dec, 15 Dec
PRICE:
From US $1095 (17 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
Includes domestic flights as per itinerary. Price includes Kathmandu/Pokhara flight, accommodation, most meals, National Park fees, trekking guide and porter, all jungle activities
LATE AVAIL:
Late availability on our February, March and April departures.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari

Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari

Travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

We employ well-trained & experienced local guides and hire local porters whose load limit is 20-25kg. Our guides will give a briefing about responsible tourism e.g. rubbish disposal, giving food scraps to domestic animals, paying the porters to carry out trash, using a fire pit when camping, not picking flowers, using kerosene instead of firewood, avoiding bathing/washing clothes in streams, using local tea houses or camping sites. In addition the small group size of 4-10 people helps to minimise the impact on the environment.

Community

Our trekking company is wholly committed to responsible tourism. On our treks & tours, tourism helps improve the standard of living for the local people by generating income for the local community through purchasing of local products such as fresh fruits, handloom products, meat, drinks, and fresh vegetables and providing job opportunities.

Our trekking company supports a local school & health post by financial donations and educational and medical materials. We also support the Kavresthali Women society with financial donations which provides goat farming and adult literacy for women. On this trip, our guests will have the opportunity to give donations to these causes, and visit the Annapurna conservation project to explore the activities of environment protection system in this region. This project plays a vital role in protecting the environment and developing the communities of this region. Visitors can share a moment with the project and see how it is moving ahead for the preservation of nature and culture in this region. Visit Ghorepani School, visitors may support by contributing educational materials such as copies, art books, pencils, and sports goods etc.

On this trek, we stay at local lodges/tea-houses operated by local people such as Himalayan Panorama lodge, Mountain views lodge, Panorama lodge These lodges operate with proper garbage disposal, use Gas for cooking rather than wood fires, and are solar energy facilitated.

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How we choose providers
Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari

Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari

Reviewed 07 May 2010 by Tony Stiff5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Many exciting memories - the streets, shops and cafes of old Kathmandu and Pokhara, the trek through magical forests and valleys into the high mountains, the peaceful atmosphere on the trail, the quaint tea-house stop-overs, the early morning views on the final climb to Annapurna BaseCamp, and the feeling of achievement on reaching the Sanctuary.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Be aware of the temperature extremes, and kit out accordingly. In April daytime it was very warm at lower altitudes and t-shirt is sufficient, need fleece for cooler early morning/evening, and cold-weather gear only for morning/evening above 3500meters. Snow at MBC/ABC, but no snow hiking. Camera batteries can be recharged evenings on the trail (hydropower). There are frequent power outages in Kathmandu/Pokara lasting 6hrs or more. Be prepared for primitive toilets and showers on trek. Tourist bus travel is OK, better than standard taxis. Best with small group (2-4 people) of similar fitness.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


This certainly was of benefit to locals, and a significant source of income to them. Environmental impact is minimal, thanks to Annapurna conservation efforts, but path maintenance in some areas is needed to prevent erosion. Visitors - please please do not litter, take your rubbish out with you.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


A fantastic holiday, I could have turned round and done the trek over again. The tour operator, guide and porter were all first-class, and gave excellent service. I believe it gave very good value for money.

Reviewed 30 Mar 2010 by Chris Bennett4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Reaching Annapurna Base Camp early in the morning as the sun was rising. I felt a good sense of achievement.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


The tour operator can be very flexible with itinerary and can accommodate your needs through arranging for further excursions and travels and hotels etc. Also consider rafting as an option as the company can arrange this.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, the whole company is Nepalese... so all the money you spend is going into the country. During the trek we mostly stayed at nice tea lodges with nice owners....the guide/porter knew most of the owners, so you very much felt that your visit was benefiting local people rather than travel agents in offices in far away countries. All the people working for the company were friendly and honest.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


It was an enjoyable experience. On reflection I think I would have just booked a guide/porter through the trekking company as it is fairly easy in Nepal to travel between places and book hotels on arrival, but if you want a hassle free holiday let the company plan it for you (!) The company were very helpful in helping to organise hotels and travel before and after the trek if required, although if you are a more independent type you might wish to do this by yourself. The company also uses guides/porters from an area in the east of Nepal...they are very friendly and honest....and I was pleased I was walking with them, especially when meeting some more dubious and less experienced guides/porters who had perhaps been hired by trekkers in Pokhara. I regret a little not choosing to go rafting at the end rather than the more cultural activities.

Reviewed 04 Apr 2010 by Jacques Dorny3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The 7 days trek, the elephant rides, the visit to Swayambhu

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Do not accept the hotels proposed by the operator! I was so lucky to check on the internet opions about the proposed hotels and found only negative critics about Moonlight in Kathamandu and asked to change for Ambasador garden Hotel. An English lady in our group did not so and regretted. The proposed hotel in Pokhara (Kantipur) was awful. From outside quite good but inside and service VERY BAD !

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Not really! Business without profit and own interest is rare. Of course by booking with a local company, more money goes to the local people. But let us not be naive, the profit goes for the 1-2 people owning the company. I doubt that they pay their employees well.
Why would they ask us to give a certain fee to the driver, porter and guide?

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


The holiday was very good, allowed us get a close contact with the local population, visit different part of the country, and understand their difficulties

Read the operator's response here:

We pay our staff reasonable salaries (even higher) as per the rules and regulations of Nepal. Asking our clients to give certain fees doesn't mean that our company pays less to the staff employed, because we have a tipping system in Nepal. While briefing our clients about the trip, we inform them on all things regarding trips as well as about the tipping system and during our correspondence we inform them that tips are not included in their tour cost and we never force them to tip our staff , just we advise them about the system.

Those hotels were very nice and comfortable. We always select the hotels as per the likes of the clients and we are always very aware about our clients likes and interest. Client satisfaction is our motto. The opinion on the hotels depends on the nature of people as well. The main problem in Nepal is power crisis and we are suffering from power cuts everyday which unfortunately was a problem in that hotel on that day. When Mr Jacques complained about the Hotel, we immediately changed him into the next best alternative hotel.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Annapurna Sanctuary trek & Chitwan safari
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