Ride & Raft Nepal. 2018/19 Challenges. Challenge Brochure. Challenge Highlights

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1 Challenge Brochure Ride & Raft Nepal 2018/19 Challenges Challenge Highlights An intense, physical and fast challenge tackling the Kali Gandakhi River first by mountain bike from the alpine desert to rafting the grade 3 & 4 rapids. Ride 145km of Himalayan mountain bike trails reaching an altitude of (3760m) Some epic downhill biking will take you down the Kali Gandakhi Valley 42km rafting on the Kali Gandakhi River with grade 3 and 4 rapids including Big Brother An intense and exhilarating challenge testing your physical and metal strength Qualified and experienced support crews + new Giant bikes and mechanic support Fast Facts Destination Difficulty Altitude Trip Duration Nights on Trek Nights in Hotels Meals Nepal Challenging 3760m 14 days UK ~ UK 6 nights ( 4 nights tea house, 2 nights camping) 3 nights Kathmandu, 3 nights Pokhara All meals on trek, B&B in hotels An intense and unique challenge for a group of 4 + we can organise this challenge on dates that work for you!

2 page 2 Ride & Raft Nepal Charity Challenge This challenge offers you a unique challenge to travel from the wild and rugged alpine desert of the upper reaches of the Kali Gandakhi River to the action packed rapids of the sub tropical lowland reaches of the river. This is a challenge which requires a high level of physical and mental fitness as it involves a sustained period of intense activity. But wow, what an experience! The adventure starts before you even leave Kathmandu as you test your bike around some of the trails in the Kathmandu Valley. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore some of the more rural parts outside the city as well as the opportunity to sightsee around the city s many sites. To reach the start of your challenge you will take an early morning flight from Pokhara to the mountain airstrip at Jomsom. These flights tend to take place early in the morning before strong winds pick up and prevent the small aircraft from flying safely. The flight is simply breathtaking as the plane s wing tips almost touch the snow capped peaks below The mountain bike section of this challenge will cover approximately 145km, starting with a relatively gentle ride to Kagbeni, a Tibetan village which forms the gateway to Upper Mustang. A climb to Muktinath (3760m), takes you to the most northern village on the famous Annapurna Trail and deep into the majestic heart of the Himalayas. From here it is a mainly downhill 3 days, sometimes quick, often curving and definitely undulating trail along the river until you reach the town of Beni. Then you hit the river running! You will be taking to your raft for 3 days, hitting grade 3 and 4 rapids along the way, including Big Brother. Your nights will be spent camping on the sandy beaches along the river, enjoying your evening meal by the camp fire. This challenge includes the hire of a high quality mountain bike (made by Giant). All hire stock is replaced annually to ensure their suitability to perform in the harsh Himalayan environment. During the mountain bike section you will be accompanied by a qualified mountain bike guide and a mechanic to keep you on the move. The rafting section is fully supported by trained crew and all safety equipment and training will be provided. To sum up the challenge... Take on the Kali Gandakhi River from the alpine desert in Muktinath to the sub tropical Seti Beni. 5 days taking on 145km in the Himalayas on a mountain bike followed by 3 days rafting 42km in grade 3 and 4 rapids. An intense, physical and fast challenge to test your limits! Why choose our Ride & Raft Nepal Charity Challenge? This is different isn t it! What a Trip Biking for 145km in the Himalaya and on one specific day, you ll hardly touch the pedals! Thrills and spills all the way; 5 days bike; 3 days rafting in some serious white water at times. Flexible and Resilient itinerary This is adventure travel and there can be numerous reasons beyond our control that can alter the intended plan. Our itineraries are sufficiently flexible and resilient to withstand a good deal of adjustments and still retain the aim. Perfect for a pre-formed group Finances dictate that 6 is the min number we can take, perfect for a budding group of adventure lovers. And you can keep the group just to yourselves! All Meals Included when Biking and Rafting No messing about. That s breakfast, lunch and a 2-course evening meal and probably a mid morning snack too. All dietary requirements can be catered for including Vegan and Gluten free - just let us know. No supplements of fuel charges Our trip costs include all your flights related costs so you won t have to cover an unknown additional cost at a later date. Free trek Holdall Free to every client on arrival in Nepal. Challenging but Safe Weather conditions can often make our trips more challenging. There is a fine line between challenging and unsafe. Our experienced Guides will make the right decisions to keep you safe. Qualified English Speaking Local Guides We employ our local guides full time. You will have one with you all of the time PLUS a bike mechanic when biking PLUS all of the Rafting Instructors too. They all know what they re doing, loved by our clients and they love their jobs. and it shows! Bonded Helicopter Rescue - should you require emergency evacuation from the region by helicopter, our financial bond with the helicopter companies ensures that they will not delay their departure to wait for financial authorisation; it s already there. Peace of Mind All our trips have full ATOL protection. See the last page for full details.

3 page 3 Itinerary Day 1 - Depart UK Fly from London bound for Kathmandu (overnight flight). Day 2 - Arrive Kathmandu On arrival in Kathmandu, you will be collected by our Representative and transferred to the hotel. Our friendly staff are on hand to provide any advice or assistance you need. Time to explore your surroundings and generally settle in Day 3. Bike fitting and test ride Kathmandu Valley This morning you will collect your mountain bike and meet your guide for a briefing. He will then take you on a warm up ride exploring some of the trails in the Kathmandu Valley. This will give you a chance to test your bike and gear to make sure everything is ready for the journey ahead. After lunch you will have time for any last minute adjustments and shopping for your trip. B Day 4. Drive to Pokhara Its an early morning departure from Kathmandu as you head west along the Trisuli River and through the tropical lowlands to Pokhara. The journey will take approx. 6 hrs including stops and you should arrive at your hotel in the early afternoon. This afternoon you can rest, explore the lakeside or take your bike for a ride around the shore. B Day 5. Pokhara - Kagbeni (14km ride, altitude 2800m) You wake up for sunrise and an early 22min flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2720m). The flight into the heart of the Himalayas is breathtaking as you pass the snow capped peaks and catch a glimpse of Dhawalagiri. After breakfast in Jomsom it s time to make final bike preparations and then you start with a gentle 14km ride along the Kali Ghandakhi River to the beautiful Tibetan village of Kagbeni. This is the gateway to Upper Mustang and we will spend the night in the famous Red House. B,L,D Day 6. Kagbeni - Muktinath (18km ride, altitude 3760m) After an early breakfast, today will be mainly uphill as you follow the trail on the north side of the gorge. We stop at the ancient monastery at Jhong for lunch before the final push to arrive at your tea house in Muktinath around mid afternoon. This afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the Monastery and Temples, two of the holiest in Nepal. B,L,D Day 7. Muktinath - Tukuche (32km ride, altitude 2560m) Another early start today to beat the winds that pick up at roughly 11am but unlike yesterday, it s mostly a downhill gradient. Time to enjoy the views as you head back down to the valley floor and then a 6km flat section back to Jomsom and the undulating trail along the river to Marpha for lunch. From here the trail rolls to Tukuche, a lovely old village by the river where you spend tonight in a local tea house. B,L,D Day 8. Tukuche to Tatopani (36km ride, altitude 1190m) Today s trail starts gently as it winds along the valley sides, through pine forests and small villages following the river. After lunch at Rukse Chaahara, the trail speeds up as it drops 1000m with sweeping curves, Inclusions International flights London - Kathmandu - London Return airport transfers in Kathmandu Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu, 3 nights, twin share B&B basis Hotel accommodation in Pokhara, 3 nights, twin share B&B basis Tea house (lodge) accommodation whilst biking, 4 nights, twin share all meals basis Camping whilst rafting, all meals Fully qualified English speaking local guide + Mechanic for bikes High quality mountain bikes, fitted to height and weight All road transport as required One way domestic flight Pokhara - Kathmandu, including transfers Return private domestic airport transfers Full support on bikes and rafting All necessary permits (activity and National Park) Challenge Manual containing everything you need to know Full support before and during your trip Discounts from UK retailers rocky sections and bumps that you will love. Once you arrive in your night stop Tatopani, you can enjoy a soothing bath in the natural Hot Springs. BLD Day 9. Tatopani - Maldhunga and Rafting (45km ride) A final ride today of roughly 45km is on open jeep tracks which roughly undulate. As the valley opens up near Beni, you cross the river on your bike for the final time, join the main road and head to Maldhunga where you will meet your rafting crew for lunch. Lunch will be followed by a safety talk and some required training before you set off on the first leg of your rafting journey. The first rapid today is Little Brother, followed by Big Brother (the largest on your trip) and then Rafters Refund. This evening you will camp on a sandy beach and relax by the camp fire ready for the following day. B,L,D Day 10. Rafting This morning you will wake up to the relaxing tones of the river and a welcome cup of tea or coffee. Today you will continue your journey down stream with action packed rapids and hopefully not too many unplanned swims! A leisurely lunch on a sandy beach will give you time to rest before completing todays rafting and heading to your final camp along the river. B,L,D Day 11. Rafting - Pokhara Your final morning on the river is an enjoyable time of gentle paddling and a chance to try kayaking if you fancy. You reach the take out point at Seti Beni around mid morning where you will be met and driven back to your hotel in Pokhara for a very welcome hot shower! B,L,D Day 12. Pokhara Free day in Pokhara to relax and recover. Pokhara is a lovely relaxed town, located on the banks of Lake Phewa. The opportunities are numerous from the adventurous paragliders and microlites, to a slow boat on the lake to strolling along the shops. B Day 13 - Pokhara - Kathmandu After early breakfast, domestic flight transfer to Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is free. B Day 14 - Kathmandu - Depart Nepal, B International flights depart either in the morning or evenings. Morning flights will arrive in the Uk same day, whereas an evening departure will arrive in UK next day. Your luggage can be stored in the hotel during the day if applicable. Note - B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner Exclusions Travel Insurance This trip will require a policy that covers you for the relevant activities and to a max altitude of 3700m. Check any existing policies before taking out specialist insurance. Vaccinations All standard boosters should be up to date. Please check with your GP or travel nurse for any additional requirements. Tips for local staff We would recommend you should set aside 50 in Nepalese Ruppees to be divided between the staff of the 2 activities. Advice will be provided on our recommended ratio in our final travel information. Personal spending money. Mountain bike safety clothing such as gloves or knee pads.

4 page 4 Challenge Costs Challenge for 4 or more people 2018/ Spring 2019 Total Cost for your trip (includes deposit below) 2600 Payment Breakdown Deposit for all payment options Plus one of the following payment options Self funded final balance 2,100 or, Sponsorship funded fundraising total 4,200 Payment Options Explained There are 3 payment options to choose from when you sign up. With all 3, there is the initial deposit which is your personal contribution towards the cost of your challenge. This is not a fee for administration but will secure the services/flights for your trip and forms part of the overall trip cost. Self Funded This option allows you to pay the entire cost of your trip yourself. The balance payment for your trip is due 60 days prior to your departure. You can then make arrangements directly with your chosen charity and all money you fundraise will go directly to that charity. Sponsorship Funded You commit to raising a minimum amount of sponsorship for your chosen charity from which the remaining balance for your trip will be paid. You will be asked to complete a pledge form with the charity setting out the target dates and any guidelines required; this is a requirement of your booking. Your chosen charity will support your fundraising throughout and all sponsorship money you raise must be paid to them upon receipt. Generally, the sponsorship target is set to ensure that a minimum of 50% of the money you raise is retained by the charity. All money raised above the target will also be retained by the charity. Your fundraising target must be met, and paid to the charity, a min of 10 weeks prior to your departure date. This enables them to pay the remaining balance for your trip with no financial risk to themselves. Flexi Funded In addition to the deposit, you pay a 2nd personal contribution which reduces the fundraising target. You then commit to raising a minimum amount of sponsorship for your chosen chairty from which the remaining balance for your trip will be paid. You will be asked to complete a pledge form with the charity setting out the target dates and any guidelines required; this is a requirement of your booking. Your chosen charity will support your fundraising throughout and all sponsorship money you raise must be paid to them upon receipt. Generally, the sponsorship target is set to ensure that a minimum of 50% of the money you raise is retained by the charity. All money raised above the target will also be retained by the charity. Your fundraising target must be met, and paid to the charity, a min of 10 weeks prior to your departure date. This enables them to pay the remaining balance for your trip with no financial risk to themselves. Your financial protection You are financially protected against our insolvency. Our ATOL Licence number is Click here to view verification. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. That agree that in return for such a payment of benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. Click here for Consumer Information on your ATOL protection. Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed in this brochure. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to:

5 page 5 Your questions answered Is this challenge for me and how tough is it? On both the bikes and rafts, you will certainly be working physically hard. You could be riding for up to 7 hours per day and rafting for about 4-5hrs. Some experience of mountain biking is essential to cope with the rigors of these tracks. No experience of rafting is required although be aware that you will be facing some serious grade 3 and 4 white water rapids. Temperatures during the day (sun up) will vary between 15 and 25 and the night temperatures will drop to single figures in the mountains. You will need mental and physical endurance to undertake this trip and we would recommend a general level of fitness. After booking, you will be asked to complete an Emergency Details Form which will include your medical history. If we have any doubts about your ability to take part in the challenge, we may ask you to provide a letter of fitness from your GP, therefore we would recommend that if you have any concerns, you speak to your GP prior to booking. What is a typical day like? Clearly there are two types of day but in both cases, you will need to be ready for the hearty breakfast with bags packed by 7am and underway by 8am. There are regular breaks, or as and when required. Lunch will be a light affair, probably a stop of about an hour. A few more hours in the afternoon will take you to your night stop. Once you are settled, the evening meal will follow. After dinner, it won t be long before you retired after a good day s enjoyable work! What will the food be like? All of your meals when biking and rafting are supplied by either the tea houses (lodges) or the rafting camp chef and is varied and plentiful. Options for breakfast are cereals, porridge, toast, eggs, etc...hot drinks. Coffee/tea and busicuits mid morning. Lunch is usually light, such as a sandwich or mixed rice. Try to stick to something that can be preapred easily and quickly or you could be waiting for ages! All food ordered is freshly prepared. The evening meal is two courses; starter + main meal or main meal + desert. Hot drink. In addition, there are plenty of snacks for sale such as chocolate bars, biscuits and fizzy drinks. What about special dietary requirements? Virtually all individual dietary requirements can be catered for if you let us know in advance. Can I travel on my own? Yes! Our Open Challenge trips are available to anyone wishing to join, either as a group or as an individual. This Challenge requires a min of just 4 people, which can either be a pre-formed group or a collection of solo s/couples. We can maintain a list of those wishing to join. What will the accommodation be like? Kathmandu - We use the excellent 3* Manang Hotel located in the Thamel District. Not only is the food excellent but it is one of the few hotels that withstood the 2015 earthquake! The hotel is well equipped with a bar, restuarant, laundry, safe deposit boxes, currency exchange, free wifi and more... Pokhara - We use two excellent 4* hotels in Pokhara, both have excellent rooms and a swimming pool. They are minutes from the centre of town. The hotels are well equipped with a bar, restuarant, laundry, safe deposit boxes, currency exchange, free wifi and more... In the Hills - tea houses have a number of twin bedded rooms with mattresses, clean sheet, pillow (with case). The dinning rooms and toilets are communal. Rafting - camping on the river banks. Washing facilities vary from a sink to some showers (additional cost). Most (if not all) tea houses have snacks and mineral water for sale. Will I have to pay a single supplement? Not unless you request sole occupation. Generally, all accommodation is on a twin/triple share, same-sex basis. We will pair you with another member of the group. If you wish to be paired with someone specific within the group, just let us know. If you decide that you would like to have your own hotel room, we can accommodate this and an additional fee will be applicable and payable personally. Please indicate your preference on the booking form. If you do not indicate that you wish to have sole occupation and you happen to be the odd one out, then you will be accommodated on your own at no additonal cost. Sole occupation in the hills cannot be guaranteed due to the nature of the accommodation. It is often at premium and lodges will want/need their spaces filled. Requested Sole Occupation fee for this Challenge: 210 Group Size? This Challenge requires a min of 4 people, which can either be a preformed group or a collection of solo s/couples. We can maintain a list of those wishing to join. What are the bikes like? The bikes are excellent; Giant make and are renewed every year. They are well maintained and you ll also have a mechanic with you on

6 page 6 Your questions answered the ride. You will be fitted with a bike on arrival in Kathmandu. It will be transported with you by road and by air to the start point. What are the bike tracks like? This can depend on the weather but in general terms, tracks are solid. There are many variables depending on your skill level, especially on the way down from Muktinath where the descent is long. It can be bumpy in places but the bikes will cope. Is all of the rafting safety equipment provided? Yes. Your Guide/Instructors raft these rivers regularly and you ll probably find some kayaks going with you for fun! The rafts are extremely well equipped and you ll be wearing a bouyancy aid and safety helmet. Before you head down river, you will be given a safety brief both off the river and once on it as well as doing some safety practice drills. Can I extend my stay? As long as you let us know at the time of booking, we can adjust your outbound or return flights so that you can enjoy some additional time in country. We don t make any charge for this adjustment and as long as your revised dates are not affected by increase flight prices, the cost will remain the same. If you would like to extend and discuss the options with us then we re more than happy to help. Some suggestions: Spend an extra night or two in Kathmandu. Extend your stay in Pokhara. It s a very relaxing place to stay for a couple of nights by the Phewa lake and has many adventure activities such as paragliding, mountain biking, etc... What happens if I have an accident? All of the Guides are first aid trained and equally knowledgeable about what to do should they need professional help. Should the worst happen and you need to go hospital, you will be taken there (or airlifted) and your travel insurance company contacted. You will not be left alone. When is the best time to go? Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct and Nov are considered the optimum months for completing this challenge. Temperatrues during the day can range between with night time temperatures dropping to close to zero (in the mountains). Can I book if I m travelling from overseas? Yes. If you live outside the UK then please contact us and we will be able to make arrangements for you to meet us in country on a Land Only basis or connect with our flights from the UK. Can we book as a private group? Yes. All of our challenges can be booked for a private group either through the charity of your choice or as an independent group of friends fundraising for one or more charities. You will have the option to choose dates to suit and also amend the itinerary to either lengthen or shorten your trip as required. Can I choose any charity? You can choose your charity when booking onto an open challenge or if you are booking as a group. We work with many of the large as well as smaller charities which are local, national and internationally based. Before your booking can be processed, we need confirmation from your chosen charity which we will organise on your behalf. Please be aware that some larger charities will now only accept self funded challenges. How soon should I book? / How long to fundraise? We would always advise that you book your challenge as soon as possibe (many opt to book a year in advance) to allow plenty of time for fundraising. Fundraising target dates are 10 weeks before departure. That said, if flights and the trip you are interested in still have availability, you can book at any time, particularly if you are choosing the self funded payment method. If you want to book onto a specific challenge then we would always advise that you contact us first to discuss the funding options in relation to the timescale before departure. How do I book? A Charity Challenge is one of the most rewarding events you can take part in. Once you decide what you want to do and and when you would like to go, the next thing is to decide which charity you would like to fundraise for. We would even suggest that you contact us to have a chat about the challenge and in particular if you are taking on a sponsorship method so that we can contact the charity to seek their approval for the funding. Before booking any challenge, we would recommend that you thoroughy check through our Booking Conditions as acceptance is a requirement of your booking. Once approval is in place, we will issue you with: The charity pledge form. Guidance on how to proceed with the Booking Form.. These forms should be returned to us together with your deposit. Those who are self funding can complete the booking form and forward it to us with their deposit. Methods of payment can be found on the Booking Page. What happens after I book? Once we receive your completed booking, we will issue you with a confirmation letter, ATOL certificate, receipt invoice, the Challenge Manual and details of any retail discounts available to our clients. You will also be provided with a link to the client area of our web site. Here you will be able to access our required forms, and infomartion which will help you prepare for your challenge.