Rolwaling Valley & Bigu Gompa, Nepal A trek to one of Nepal's best 'off-the-beaten-track' mountain valleys, next to the Tibetan border Group trip prices from 2,495 (flight inclusive) or 1,645 (land only) See overleaf for departure dates and prices Holiday overview Style Trek Accommodation Hotels, Camping Grade Vigorous / Strenuous Duration 24 days from London to London Trekking / Walking days On trek: 18 days Min/Max group size 4 / 12. Guaranteed to run for 4 Trip Leader Local Leader Nepal Land only Joining in Kathmandu, Nepal Max altitude 4,534m/14,875ft Private Departures & Tailor Made itineraries available tel: +44 (0)1453 844400 fax: +44 (0)1453 844422 info@mountainkingdoms.com www.mountainkingdoms.com Mountain Kingdoms Ltd, 20 Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7BT UK Managing Director: Steven Berry. Registered in England No. 2118433. VAT No. 496 6511 08
Mountain Kingdoms distinctly different Truly independent In an age where many so-called independent travel companies have in fact been bought out by multi-national giants, we remain fiercely independent with all the benefits this offers our clients. Value for money prices with an emphasis on quality We are not in the business of cutting our itineraries and services to the bone to offer eye-catching cheap prices. We use some of the best airlines, and typically 3 or 4 star hotels in cities. We include the majority of meals and private transport for road travel. We use excellent equipment and appoint well-trained staff and leaders. In 2014 97% of our clients rated their Mountain Kingdoms holiday as excellent or good. We are members of AITO and bound by their quality charter. Complete financial security You can book with us confident that your holiday has full financial protection. Flight inclusive holidays are financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL licence number 2973 and Land Only holidays are covered by a bond secured with ABTOT. Award winning Responsible Tourism We feel strongly that all our holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. You can read more about the charities we support and our Responsible Tourism commitments and initiatives towards the end of this itinerary or at mountainkingdoms.com. Genuine small group travel Almost all of our holidays have a maximum group size of just 12, plus leader. This provides more contact with your leader, readier access to off-the-beaten-path areas, greater interaction with local communities and a reduced environmental impact. Loyalty Discount If you have previously travelled with us we recognise your loyalty with a discount on future trips. Booking your holiday it couldn t be easier Once you ve chosen your Mountain Kingdoms holiday you can book online, call the office or complete and post a booking form which can be found in our brochure or downloaded from our website. If you would like to a hold a place on one of our trips, whilst you make up your mind, please give us a call to make a provisional booking. This is a no-obligation, no-cost booking and we will hold your place until space comes under pressure or we need your decision. Comprehensive information When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. In fact, everything you need to know to give you peace of mind and allow you to prepare for your trip of a lifetime. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 2
Departures & prices Group departures 2015 dates and prices: Land only With flights from Fri 20 Mar - Sun 12 Apr 1,645 2,495 Fri 09 Oct - Sun 01 Nov 1,645 2,530 Optional single supplements The price for single rooms throughout this trip is 150, for a single supplement tent the price is 135 Insurance Available from 107 per person. Please contact us for details, 01453844400. Tailor Made service We pride ourselves on the level of quality and choice we provide for our clients who want a fully tailor made holiday. A Tailor Made holiday will be created especially for you by one of our well-travelled experts, who will have first-hand experience of the destination/s you want to visit. They will be able to advise on the accommodation best suited to your needs, the sights you should visit (and those to avoid!) and the best walks and activities matched to your ability. In short, we will work together with you to create your perfect holiday. If you would like to explore the idea of a Tailor Made holiday with Mountain Kingdoms then please call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 or see the Tailor Made pages of our website for further inspiration. Your guide Whether it's a cultural tour, gentle walking holiday or strenuous trek, our holidays in Nepal are led by professionally-trained English speaking leaders. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Nepal and will make your trip a memorable experience. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 3
Your trip highlights Astounding ice fluted peaks and Himalayan giants either side of the hidden valley of Rolwaling Tibetan Buddhist Sherpa culture including a visit to remote Bigu Gompa Really off-the-beaten track close to the Tibetan border but only a few hours drive from Kathmandu Excellent trekking but no massive high altitude passes to cross A highly experienced Nepali Sherpa leader Full service camping on trek and good quality hotel accommodation in Kathmandu Special trekking permits included in the holiday price At a glance: your itinerary Days 1-3 Day 4 Days 5-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-14 Days 15-18 Days 19-22 Days 23-24 Fly to Kathmandu. Walking tour of Kathmandu. Drive to Shigati. Trek from Shigati to Simigaon, following the river. Enter the Rolwaling valley and trek to the remote Buddhist village of Beding. Rest day. Trek to Na and explore the upper valley. Return to Beding. Return trek to Simigaon. Continue trek from Manthale to Alampu. Trek to Bigu Gompa and Barabise. Drive to Kathmandu. An opportunity for last minute sightseeing and souvenir shopping in Kathmandu, before the flight home. Trip summary Rolwaling is a wild and infrequently visited valley very close to the Tibetan border. It is restricted and we obtain a Special Permit for entry. Our 1989 expedition was the first British group to pass through it for 10 years. We have been back many times since then, sometimes with the objective of climbing two trekking peaks, sometimes with the objective of crossing the very high Tesi Lapcha Pass, but more frequently to follow this more moderate route. Unfortunately, the route over the Tesi Lapcha Pass has a reputation for being dangerous due to stone fall on the Khumbu side and indeed we experienced this on one of our early treks to the region. We have, therefore, decided not to risk the Tesi Lapcha crossing for the present time. The valley is especially beautiful, flanked by a number of stunning ice-fluted peaks and dominated by the 23,400ft/7,132m holy peak of Gauri Shankar, which is often referred to as the Eiger of the Himalaya. The trek takes us through villages of various cultures, from Brahmin Hindus living in the lower valleys to the Tibetan Buddhism of the Sherpa population who live in the high and narrow confines of Rolwaling itself. The Saint responsible for spreading Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan in the ninth century, Guru Padma Sambhava, is said to have meditated in Rolwaling s caves. These are now important shrines. The trek has the big advantage that altitude is hardly an issue, it is off the beaten track and yet is not desperately strenuous. Rolwaling itself is magically beautiful. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 4
Your trip itinerary Day 1: FLY LONDON TO KATHMANDU Fly to Kathmandu Overnight: In Flight Day 2: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU. On arrival in Kathmandu you will be transferred to the Shangri-La Hotel. Kathmandu is a wonderful mixture of the ancient alongside the modern - crowded bazaars still throng with colourful ethnic peoples today as they have for past hundreds of years while roads are crowded with cars, roaring motorbikes and rickshaws; ancient temples and crumbling shrines sit alongside modern offices, picturesque palaces slowly sag into dereliction while Buddhist stupas gaze over the bustling scene with their all seeing eyes. Meanwhile in the tourist hub of Thamel you will find restaurants and bars, shops and internet cafés. Although this is a crowded, noisy and polluted city it is also friendly, fascinating and vibrant - a total mix of beauty and squalor. You will either love it, or hate it! Tonight you may choose to eat at the hotel, or you could head off into Thamel to one of the famous restaurants there, such as Rum Doodle Restaurant, a place frequented by trekkers and climbers alike, with pride of place given to a board with the signatures of many Everest summiteers. Overnight: Shangri La Hotel Day 3: AT LEISURE IN KATHMANDU, SIGHTSEEING. This morning there is a half-day guided walking tour. Your transport will drop you at Kathmandu Durbar Square with its many temples and palaces and from here you will walk to the 'monkey temple' at Swayanbunath, visiting Asan Tol, Kathmandu's busy main bazaar and Thamel en-route. You will have the afternoon at leisure. Overnight: Shangri La Hotel (Meals: B) Day 4: DRIVE TO SHIGATI. (1,024m/3,360ft) 8-9 hour s drive. You set off along the 'Friendship Highway', which connects Kathmandu to Lhasa. At Khadichur you cross the Sun Kosi (Gold River) and follow the Swiss-built road which leads eastwards through the foothills. Many hairpin bends and stunning views mark the route to Charikot. From the hill town you should have excellent views of Gaurishanker, the Eiger of the Himalaya, past which you will trek. From here you will continue on to Shigati on dirt roads through villages and farms before reaching your stop for the night. Day 5: TREK TO MANTHALE. (1,040m/3,412ft) 3-4 hours trek. Your first day involves three to four hours of trekking. You follow the river north along the bottom of its deep valley, which is gorge like at times. A new dirt jeep track has been built along this section, which makes the walking easier and aids acclimatisation on this first day. It is quite hot at this altitude so make sure you drink plenty of water. You will pass several hamlets and villages along the way today. People in this area are still Hindu although signs of Buddhism, with prayer flags and chortens, begin to mark the route. There will also be a good chance of seeing monkeys, parakeets and numerous birds of prey. You will camp near the village of Manthale; there are some wonderful pools here for swimming. Day 6: TREK TO SIMIGAON. (2,019m /6,624ft) 6-7 hours trek. A gentle two and a half hour walk brings you to the village of Chetchet. The valley eventually narrows to a gorge through which the path has been hewn from solid rock just a few feet above the river. After lunch you will cross a suspension bridge and climb 1,500ft/450m straight up the hillside to the village of Simigaon. This climb can take anything from two and a half hours to four hours. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 5
The village is the home of a Tibetan monastery, which is perched above the village on top of the hill. You will camp on a terrace, with views of the peaks in Tibet. Day 7: TREK TO RIVER CAMP. (2,860m /9,383ft) 7½ hours trek. Today you enter the Rolwaling valley. Soon after leaving Simigaon, the path contours up and round a cliff with a huge drop beneath. Eventually, after climbing through forest, the path descends back down to the fast-flowing river. All along the walk today there are stunning waterfalls with rainbows glimmering in the spray. You camp here beside the Rolwaling Khola River. Day 8: TREK TO BEDING. (3,770m/12,369ft) 6½ hours trek. You gradually climb the forested valley of this beautiful area, which is closed to the vast majority of trekkers. Superb mountain scenery surrounds you with Gaurishankar, the 23,400ft/3,132m 'Eiger' of the Himalaya and home of Shiva and the Goddess Gauri, dominating all around it. After six to seven hours walking you reach the village of Beding. This is a remote Buddhist village inhabited by Tibetan-like people who rarely see visitors. They are very friendly and will probably invite you into their Sherpa houses to sample their chang (barley beer), Chai or yak butter tea. Day 9: REST DAY AND ACCLIMATISATION. Today you will have time to rest and acclimatise, and meet the village people. Day 10: TREK TO NA (4,200m/13,779ft) 3-4 hours trek. Magnificent views of peaks all around. There is a fantastic pointed and fluted mountain at the end of the valley Tsobuje (21,945ft/6,689m) and behind the village of Na is an enormous cliff, culminating in views of a mountain called Nachugo (22,096ft/6,735m). Also looking back down the village there are still views of Gaurishankar (23,400ft/3,132m). The whole trek up to Na is an absolutely beautiful walk. Na is in fact a large collection of animal enclosures and a few houses which are only occupied in the summertime. It is a nice place to camp. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to either explore the valley or perhaps catch up on some washing. Day 11: TREK TO TSHO ROLPO (4,534m/14,875ft) 6-7 hours trek. Today you will trek up to the beautiful Tsho Rolpo lake, the walk starts by crossing the river to the south bank and then following a shallow stream to a crossing point near Yersa at Sangma, the last place of the cattle herders. You begin climbing up on the moraines, traversing steeply above the main stream until finally you reach the terminal moraine. Near by is Cho Pokhari Lake with the Tsho Rolpa Dam, with splendid views of the surrounding peaks, including Tsoboje (21,945ft/6,689m) and Dragker-Go (22,286ft/6,793m). You will have a lovely lunch prepared by your hard working trekking crew before making your way back down to the Na. Day 12: RETURN TREK TO BEDING (3,770m/12,369ft) 3 hours trek. Today you will return to Beding. You should arrive in the village in time for another delicious lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring this delightful village, with visits to local houses and hopefully being invited in to sample to local Chai around an open fire. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 6
Day 13: RETURN TREK TO CHELSEA. (2,900m/9,514ft) 5-6 hours trek. Today you will trek back to the small village of Chelsea, east of Gyalche. There are beautiful waterfalls along this walk and also many beautiful butterflies. It is surprising how different this walk will seem heading the opposite direction from a few days earlier. Day 14: TREK TO SIMIGAON. (2,019m/6,624ft) 4-5 hours trek. Your day will start with a lovely descent through forest, again with an abundance of waterfalls, birds and butterflies. You will arrive into Simigaon in the afternoon at your campsite overlooking the village and valley. There will be time to have another look around the fascinating village. Day 15: TREK TO JAGAT. (1,040m/3,412ft) 3-4 hours trek. This morning you will walk through the village of Simigaon and head down to the valley floor on a steep path. The villages along the way are not used to trekkers and you will find that this is the Nepal of old with incredible tolerance and polite curiosity for the locals. You then make your way along the valley following the river all the way along to the campsite at Jagat, just north of Manthale. There is a gravity fed shower at the campsite. The garden by the river is a haven for wildlife and is a lovely place to relax at the end of the day's walk. Day 16: TREK TO OLD TERRACES CAMP, NR BULUNG. (2,743m/9,000ft) 7-8 hours trek. You now strike uphill on a staircase of stone steps through terraced hillsides and scattered groups of white-painted houses. You will enjoy beautiful views and there are no other tourists. It's not unusual for the polite local children to follow you along the trail for a while as they try to figure out why you have come all this way just to walk through their village. Leaving just footprints and happy memories you will carry on and eventually contour southwards for a long way to camp on some disused terraces. There are good views of some of the peaks on the other side of the border. Day 17: TREK TO CHILANKA (1,800m/5,905ft) 6 hours trek. The view from the track above the camp north east to Gaurisankar is splendid. The route through a pine forest swings south west to above Laduk, from where Shigati at the junction of the Sangawa Khola and Tamba Kosi, about 3,280ft/1,000m below, can be seen. You descend the next valley and climb the spur, where you camp. From here there are dominant views of the Amatal Khola, Bigu Gompa and the forested ridge leading to the Tingsang La Pass. Day 18: TREK TO ALAMPU. (1,831m/6,007ft) 4 hours trek. You drop about 600ft to the river which is reached in about 3 hours where you will have lunch. The ascent to the site near some huts in Alampu is about an hour, and the path upwards start by crossing a footbridge and heading up past a hermit's retreat and ladies making carpets from lamb's wool. Upon reaching your campsite your trekking crew will be busy setting up your campsite for the night and will then be preparing another delicious camp dinner. Day 19: TREK FROM ALAMPU TO RUPHTANA, VISITING BIGU GOMPA.(2,107m/6,913ft) 3½ hours trek. Today you will have a short walk towards the Tinsing La. The last Rimpoche's (head abbot) incarnation was in fact discovered in Bhutan and his remains are enshrined in a new chorten in the courtyard of the gompa. The nuns will almost certainly arrange a special puja (prayer meeting) for your party in return for a donation. You will camp either near a large stream and some houses, or Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 7
continue to a clearing with some herders' huts. Day 20: CROSS THE TINSANG-LA PASS (3,319m/10,889ft) TO DOLANSA GOMPA (2,650m/8,694ft) 7-8 hours trek. You start today by walking downhill for about an hour to reach the river. From here you will follow the path up the mountain to reach the Tinsang-La pass, where there are beautiful panoramic views of the country and mountains beyond. Looking back, Gauri Shanker and all the peaks of Rolwaling can be seen. There is a strange pointed thumb-like peak over in Tibet. You will head steeply down to a meadow where you will camp. Day 21: TREK TO KARTHALI (1,170m/3,839ft) 4 hours trek. After a wonderful time at Tingshing-la and Dolangsha, the trekking route is on the gradual winding downhill path passing several farm villages and terraces. Then on reaching the farm village of Karthali in the warmer region you will camp overnight. Karthali is a growing town where the motorable road meets from Barabesi bazaar. This will be your last night with your trekking crew and it is a great time for a celebration dinner and a good time to show your appreciation for all their hard work. Day 22: END TREK AT BARABISE, (900m/2,953ft) 2 hours trek. DRIVE TO KATHMANDU, 2 hrs drive Today is your final two hour trek. You continue the descent to the town of Barabise passing rhododendron forests, terraced fields, traversing hillsides and ridges before the final steep drop to the town. In the afternoon you will drive about two hours to Kathmandu and check into your hotel. Overnight: Shangri La Hotel (Meals: B L) Day 23: AT LEISURE IN KATHMANDU Today is free to do your own sightseeing, or last minute shopping. You may also wish to visit the old city of Bhaktapur. Overnight: Shangri La Hotel (Meals: B) Day 24: FLY TO LONDON. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to London. Trek Altitude IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this trip involves travel at altitude. Whilst all our itineraries are carefully designed to optimise acclimatisation to high altitudes, participants on this trip are likely to experience some symptoms of being at altitude. The Dossier pack we provide when you book your holiday includes comprehensive advice on safe travel at altitude. If you require further information or advice on travel at altitude prior to booking please contact the office to speak to an experienced member of our team. Alternatively we recommend www.medex.org.uk as a good source of information. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 8
What the price includes Mountain Kingdoms aims to offer the best value for money. We do not charge extra for meal packages or apply local charges and try to ensure that all the key elements of your holiday are included Therefore, the price includes: A qualified Nepali trek leader Economy class return air fares from the UK & UK Departure Tax (flight inclusive only) All hotel/airport transfers Good standard hotel accommodation (4 star) in Kathmandu, twin share, bed and breakfast basis All meals on trek Costs of all porterage and their insurance Carbon offset for clients taking our flight inclusive option A Mountain Kingdoms kit bag All road transport by private vehicles All camping facilities The price does not include: Travel insurance Visa fees Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu Tips Will the trip run? This trip is guaranteed to run for 4 people and for a maximum of 12. In the rare event that we cancel a holiday, we will refund you in full and give you at least 6 weeks warning. Many treks do fill up quickly we advise you to book early if you want to secure a place(s) on the dates of your choice. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 9
Your accommodation Shangri La Hotel In Kathmandu we use the Shangri-La Hotel, a four star hotel of character, a stone's throw from the British Embassy. It has a swimming pool and an award-winning garden, plus a choice of restaurants and bars. Camp On our camping treks, the following are provided: a sleeping tent, a dining tent, a toilet tent exclusively for your group to use, and a kitchen tent. There are camp chairs or stools, a kerosene / solar lamp or candles for reading in the dining tent at night, a dining table, crockery and tableware. The trek staff put up and take down tents, make the tea, cook the food, wash the dishes, and load the porters or pack animals. Your kit bag is carried for you either by porters or pack animals and you just trek with a light day sack. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 10
Meal arrangements Bed and Breakfast in Kathmandu, all meals are provided elsewhere. Flight arrangements Flight-inclusive prices We use reputable IATA airlines for all our international flights and the flight-inclusive price for this holiday is based upon flights from London. The flight-inclusive prices shown in this itinerary are based upon our preferred airlines and the lowest priced economy class fares available at time of booking. To secure the very best flightinclusive holiday price we strongly recommend that you book as far in advance of your planned trip as possible but please be aware that a flight supplement may be required. Please check our website for the most up-todate 'flight-inclusive from' prices. As a result of changes to availability or flight taxes, airfares can increase at any time. Flight upgrades If you would like to upgrade your flights from Economy Class, please contact our Flights Manager, April Palmer, who will be happy to provide you with a quote. Price supplements & surcharges Prices in this itinerary are correct at time of publication. All trip prices may be subject to change due to external factors, such as availability of services or the introduction of new taxes or fees. The prices for each individual departure may therefore vary slightly from those published. The supplementary cost of any changes to the price of an individual trip will be advised before your booking is confirmed. Further information When we receive your booking, we send you a full Trip Dossier which contains details of any visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. If you do have queries at this initial stage do call us on 01453 844400 and we will be pleased to offer advice. The nature of adventure travel Every effort will be made to keep to this itinerary but we cannot guarantee that things may not change, either before you travel or while you are away. By its very nature, adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected, particularly in more remote areas. A variety of factors such as adverse weather conditions, changes to local schedules and difficulties with transportation can all contribute to the need to make changes to the itinerary, often at the very last minute. Our Operations Manager and your Trip Leader will make every effort to maintain the integrity of the original itinerary and minimise the impact of any changes, but an easy-going and flexible nature is a real asset! Please note that all timings and distances given are approximate. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 11
Climate information Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 12
Extension ideas While in Nepal there are various interesting and exciting options to pursue either before or after your trek or tour. EVEREST MOUNTAIN FLIGHT. After trekking in the region why not take the opportunity for a close-up view of the world's highest and most famous mountain from the air! The flight lasts about an hour and takes you from the Kathmandu valley, over the Khumbu region and culminates with the unforgettable view of Everest herself. RAFTING, AND BARDIA OR CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK. We offer options of rafting, and /or safari at the Bardia or the Royal Chitwan National Park. Please contact the office on 01453 844400 for a detailed information sheet. Please Note: If you want to extend your stay in Nepal it is essential we are informed as soon as possible after your booking. This is due to the high demand for flights to and from Kathmandu. You can download extension information sheets from www.mountainkingdoms.com. Alternatively please contact the office on 01453 844400. Please note: If you want to extend your stay it is essential we are informed as soon as possible after your booking. This is due to the high demand for flights. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 13
Mountain Kingdoms & Responsible Tourism Our commitment Mountain Kingdoms is committed to responsible tourism, through policies and practices which permeate all aspects of its business. Our policies aim to ensure that we and our clients act in a way which is socially, environmentally and culturally sound. We feel strongly that all Mountain Kingdoms holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment by minimising pollution, and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. We tread lightly - low volume, low impact trekking/touring is the best way of preserving the beautiful and fragile places we visit. We work with organisations such as Tourism Concern, International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), Ecoan, AITO and various charities, to help achieve our responsible tourism goals. Our initiatives We support a number of Responsible Tourism initiatives and organisations in many of the destinations we visit. Our main initiative is funding English lessons for our sherpas and local guides in Nepal where we contribute approximately $1500 per year. We are also very active in raising funds for the Shiva Charity s Ginette Harrison School in Nepal and to date we have raised over 15,300 for Shiva Charity s schools. Other examples of our recent ongoing work are the Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Service, the Bridge Project in Zanskar and support for the Village Education Project in Kilimanjaro. Further details of all our Responsible Tourism initiatives can be found at www.mountainkingdoms.com. Porter Protection In the countries where we use porters such as Nepal and Peru, we feel that the issue of porter protection is immensely important. We support the work and the aims of the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) and as such we have a set of guidelines to adhere to and which we apply worldwide. Carbon off-setting Working with Ecoan tree-planting project in Southern Peru, and the Druk White Lotus School in Ladakh s solar energy project, we offset the carbon emissions for every Mountain Kingdoms holiday sold that includes an international flight. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 14
Why book this holiday with Mountain Kingdoms? During the time of the Maoist troubles all trekking companies stopped running treks to Rolwaling. However, now that the Maoists have been assimilated into mainstream politics, it is perfectly safe and we are re-offering a trek that so many of our past clients have enjoyed. We are one of the few British companies to offer Rolwaling, and we have a great deal of experience of running treks there dating back to 1989. We have taken the responsible attitude of not offering an exit via the Tesi Lapcha Pass, which is prone to stone fall. Other companies may offer this as a route, but we believe safety comes before the idea of using this pass. The trek runs very close to the Tibetan border. Sir Chris Bonington ran an expedition many years ago now to a mountain called Menlungtse, just over the border in Tibet which was supposedly a Yeti-hunting expedition. Worth keeping your eyes peeled for strange footprints! Rolwaling is a Restricted Area, requiring special permits and therefore little visited. Absolutely stunning scenery, Sherpa culture, and completely off the beaten track. We use the four-star Shangri-La Hotel in Kathmandu with an excellent swimming pool and awardwinning gardens. Exit from the Rolwaling Valley via a different route to visit the large Tibetan Buddhist nunnery at Bigu Gompa. Extra time in the upper part of Rolwaling Valley for some exploration above the yak-herder village of Na. If we ve tempted you to take your next holiday with us, we advise you to check availability and you can do this via our website: www.mountainkingdoms.com or by calling the team on +44 (0)1453 844400. Bookings can be made online, by phone or by completing a booking form and returning it to us. We can also provisionally hold places if you need time to consider your options. Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 15
Northern mountains Gauri Shankar Bookings and information: 01453 844400 P a g e 16