Nepal Detailed Itinerary Mar 15/17 Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Annapurna, Lhotse - these names have captured the imagination of adventurers for over a century. Nepal may be known for having the planet s highest peaks but it also is graced with beautiful terraced hillsides, raging rivers, and vibrant green lowland jungles. These extraordinary natural features are complemented by the gracious welcome of the people of this Himalayan kingdom. Our adventure highlights the cultural and natural features of Nepal. Marvel at Durbar Square with its 1000-year old wooden buildings and take in the burning ghats at Pashupatinath. Explore Kathmandu s smaller, more intimate sister city, Patan, and walk through the ancient streets of the restored capital of Bhaktapur. Visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and enjoy a relaxing yet exciting day of rafting on the Seti River. On our mountain flight, fly next to the majestic Himalayas, and enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Everest at over 29,000 feet. In Royal Chitwan National Park, go on safari by day and relax by night in the Facts & Highlights 18 days Maximum 16 travelers Start and finish in Kathmandu All meals included Includes 2 internal flights Visit the ancient sites of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Enjoy your elephant safari in Chitwan searching for rhinos, tigers and other wildlife Enjoy spectacular Himalayan views on your Everest flight Visit Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha Explore the sites of Pokhara Hike in the Annapurna Range Departure Dates & Price Oct 04 Oct 21, 2018 - $4995 USD Activity Level: 2-4 Comfort Level: Some rough roads, long drives. 2 hikes (1 is optional) up to 4 hours including some steep uphill/downhill on rough terrain. Accommodations Comfortable hotels/guesthouses with private washrooms. Single supplement rooms may not be available for 1 night in Dhampus due to remote and unique style of accommodation. Permanent tented camp 1 night with shared facilities. Basic accommodations for 2 nights. US/CAN 1-800-741-7956 UK 0808-234-1714 INTL. 001-416-588-5000
comfort of our charming jungle lodge. In Pokhara, view the famed Fishtail Peak, Machapuchare and enjoy moderate hikes surrounded by surreal and magical scenery. Please Note: This trip has an activity level rating no higher than a 2 for 16 of the 18 days. However, it can be considered a 4 based on only 2 days of more challenging hiking. The hike on Day 12 is optional, where hiking can be up to 3 to 4 hours including up to 45 minutes of uphill/ downhill hiking on uneven and sometimes steep terrain. The second hike on Day 13 is mandatory. The hike to the Seti River can be 3 to 4 hours, with a mandatory 45 minute downhill hike on challenging terrain. ANNAPURNA POKHARA/ dhampus CHITWAN N. P. LUMBINI tibet BANDIPUR NUWAKOT dhamalgaon KATHMANDU india NEPAL MT. EVEREST BHAKTAPUR Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu Met on arrival at Kathmandu International Airport and transferred to our hotel in Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore on your own before meeting for dinner and our orientation meetings. Overnight in Kathmandu. Day 2 Everest Flight, Monkey Temple We start early today, enjoying spectacular Himalayan views on our Everest flight (weather permitting). Following the flight we will visit the Swoyambhu Stupa also known as the Monkey Temple. See these creatures jumping into the pool bathing or following and watching you as you watch them. Next we visit the Pashupati, one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world and the famous Boudha Stupa where we will have lunch. Tonight, we will have a traditional Newari Dance. Overnight in Kathmandu. 2
Day 3 Fly to Lumbini Today we fly to Lumbini where we will have an orientation walk of the town. Overnight in Lumbini. Day 4 Lumbini - Birthplace of Buddha An early start to visit the birth place of Buddha. This is a perfect serene setting to learn more about the life of Buddha and the fundamentals of Buddhism. After lunch, we drive to Chitwan National Park for a relaxing evening while enjoying a local dance performance. Overnight in Chitwan National Park. Days 5-6 Chitwan National Park We wake up very early to enjoy our first elephant safari to search for wildlife including the Asian Rhinos. Then watch or help bathe the elephants after their morning of work. We will also have a river safari by canoe as we travel the river to the Elephant Conservation Center. Overnight inchitwan National Park. Days 7-8 Pokhara The next two days, we will have opportunities for day hikes around the lake and exploring the sites around Pokhara. There is so much to do that this is a great place for people to have a free afternoon to explore on your own. Also, visit the World Peace Pagoda with a picnic lunch around the lake as well as a small boat ride on the lake. Overnight in Pokhara. 3
Day 9 Dhampus, Fishtail Mountain Views Today, we journey by vehicle up to a small village with majestic views of Fishtail Mountain. Here we stay in a beautiful little guesthouse on the mountain with a walk into the little mountain village in the afternoon. In the evening, watch Fishtail turn colors as the sun sets and our camp fire starts up for an evening of relaxing in a surreal and beautiful place. Overnight in Dhampus. Day 11 Exploring Bandipur Today rise for a short walk to see mountain peaks shining in the morning sunrise as they peak over top of the clouds. Meet some of the local children as they race off to school before we return for a wonderful breakfast on top of the roof to admire the Anapurna Mountains. This day has many hiking options or if your ambitions are more relaxed, you may just want to soak up the local atmosphere. Our tour leader will lead the optional daily hikes. Overnight in Bandipur. Day 10 Bandipur In the morning we will wake to beautiful views so close that you will not want to leave. Enjoy a morning walk before our journey to Bandipur for some stunning views of the Annapurna Mountain Range while taking in the daily life in rural villages. We arrive into the quant village of Bandipur. Beautiful by day but magical at night, we have time for a short hike around the region through nearby villages. Overnight in Bandipur. Day 12 Dhamalgaon Today is where we start getting some adventure that Nepal is famous for! We have a moderate 3 to 4 hour hike to Dhamalgaon where a permanent tented camp awaits us. We will have an afternoon visit to Gurung Village to meet the people that live in this region. Rest by the campfire and enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us. Overnight in Dhamalgaon. 4
Day 13 Seti River Today we have a relaxing morning with a hearty breakfast before we have our last moderate 3 to 4 hour hike down to Seti River where our river camp awaits. Relax by the river or a small walk will help you relax after a nice couple of days hiking. Overnight in Dhamalgaon. Day 14 River Rafting on Seti River, Drive to Nuwakot Today, a 3 hour river adventure awaits us. A soft, level 2 rapids rafting excursion takes us to where we will meet our vehicle to drive us to Nuwakot. This journey is made for everyone whether you like to paddle or just want to enjoy the visual journey while floating down the river. At the end of the river rafting, enjoy a good lunch before we depart to our wonderful farm stay. We journey inland to a working small farm where little baby goats roam the grounds and see how people live in the interior of Nepal. Overnight in Nuwakot. Day 15 Local School Visit Nuwakot Today is a special day as we walk to a hearing impaired school where families from all over send their children here to learn how to learn sign language and more. This is a wonderful way to meet some very special children that love to try to learn how to spell and sign where your from. We will also have a walk to the small little village that is more like a ghost town for a tea before we have a relaxing rest of the day enjoying the surroundings of the farm. Overnight in Nuwakot. Day 16 Bhaktapur Today we drive to Bhaktapur where we visit the Museum and have a wonderful lunch at Museum Cafe in the courtyard. Overnight in Bhaktapur. 5
Day 17 Exploring Bhaktapur We start today by exploring the walled city of Bhaktapur, an ancient city that has been lovingly restored to it s authentic style. We also visit Patan, with it s lesser known, but equally impressive Durbar Square. The second largest city in the valley, Patan is also known as the City of Arts. Day 18 Depart Bhaktapur Depart after breakfast for your journey onward. Overnight in Bhaktapur. 6
Questions & Answers 1. How big are the groups? Each group is limited to 16 participants. Small groups are an important ingredient in adventure travel. Small groups allow for more interaction and more personalized service throughout the itinerary. 2.what is included in the tour price? All accommodations throughout; all meals, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); bottled drinking water throughout the trip; all internal transportation; airport transfers on day 1 and departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); all day trips and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary; tips for hotels (porterage), national guide, restaurants and spot guides; services of a trip leader. 3.what is not included in the tour price? International flights, tips to ElderTreks tour leader, alcoholic drinks, visas and travel insurance. 4. Are these educational tours? Yes, in the broadest sense of the word, educational. We visit museums and local villages. We also have talks and discussions on many aspects of the history and culture of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, but this is only one aspect of what we do. We believe that it is equally educational to meet new people on a noncommercial basis, visit their homes and even try to learn a few words in the native language. Sometimes the most educational moments are spent having a cold drink with locals in a street market. 5. How do we travel during the tour? All local transportation is included in the land price of the trip. We travel by private mini coaches, boats, on elephant back, and by air during the trip. 6.what are our accommodations like? We always stay in good accommodations both hotels and lodges, where rooms have a private bath or shower. Some are small guesthouses. We choose our accommodations on the basis of location, atmosphere and local charm. 7.what about the weather? Nepal s weather is generally predictable and pleasant. All of our tours take place during the dry season: October May. There is minimal rainfall and the best views of the Himalayas occur during this time of year. Daytime temperatures are around 70 75 F and the night time temperatures can dip as low as 65 F. Chitwan has a sub-tropical climate while Kathmandu and Pokhara are at higher elevation and somewhat cooler. 8. when is payment due? A non-refundable deposit of $500 or 300 GBP (plus insurance if you desire it) is due as soon as you decide to go and will reserve your place on the tour. The balance of the land payment is due 100 days before departure. Cancellation charges are applicable and these are outlined in the Terms & Conditions section of our brochure. 9. Is medical insurance required? Insurance coverage is not included in the cost of your trip. Please note that medical insurance is not required for this adventure but is recommended. ElderTreks offers comprehensive travel insurance and we are happy to provide you with a quote if you call our office. If you are purchasing insurance elsewhere, please ensure you provide the details to ElderTreks as soon as possible. *Please note those travelers with pre-existing medical conditions must take out travel insurance at the time of deposit. 10. what meals are included? All meals are included, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day. In many cases, we simply order a number of shared dishes, so that we can try everything. 7
11.what should I take on the tour? There is a detailed What to Take list in our Trip Kit, which we will send to you after you have booked the trip. 12. can you arrange my flights? We would be happy to take care of your air arrangements. ElderTreks offers personalized flight itineraries, not group flights. Stop over enroute, come in a few days early, or extend your stay. Call us for a customized itinerary. 13. what if I would like more information? If you have any further questions about the adventure, please call our office for more details. A Trip Specialist will be happy to answer your questions. A Trip Kit containing further details on the destination will be sent to you once you have booked the trip. 8