14 days Starts/Ends: Kathmandu One of the finest Himalayan treks, taking you into the inner sanctum of the Annapurnas in Nepal. Combining the spectacular Himalayan viewpoint of Poon Hill with a hike to Annapurna Base Camp, where giant 8,000m peaks encircle the natural amphitheatre known as Annapurna Sanctuary. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Trekking for 11 days into the inner sanctum of the Annapurnas Spectacular views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri from Poon Hill Reaching Annapurna Sanctuary where giant peaks such as 8,000m Annapurna 1, Annapurna South, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre, encircle a natural amphitheatre Watching the sun rise on the south face of Annapurna I from Base Camp Trekking through sub-tropical forest teeming with wild life, pretty villages with neatly terraced rice fields, and pleasant ridge walking with spectacular Himalayan panoramas Passing through the 'gates' of the Sanctuary and reaching a world of ice and snow where we are surrounded by Himalayan giants Following the tumbling Modi Khola (river), through a picture perfect landscape of folded hills dotted with villages of neat houses and flower beds, surrounded by terraced fields Seeing Machhapuchhre (fish-tail) peak, the 'gatekeeper' of the Annapurna Sanctuary Pokhara and beautiful Lake Phewa - free time to explore this beautiful laid back town Kathmandu - exploring the capital's bustling streets What's Included 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 13 dinners 2 nights 4 star hotel in Kathmandu, 2 nights 3 star hotel in Pokhara and 9 nights simple tea houses (shared bathroom facilities) Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 14 Economy class flights - Kathmandu and Pokhara - Kathmandu Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill with trek assisted by porters and a local guide All land transport involved in the itinerary Escorted by an experienced Englishspeaking local tour leader Group Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 14 What's Not Included International flights, domestic departure taxes and visa Tipping - refer the 'Tipping' paragraph in the trip notes for a recommended guideline. DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Kathmandu Meet at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel and get acclimatised to this bustling city. Alternatively, you may prefer to recover from your journey by relaxing beside the hotel pool. Services begin with the evening meal. Your guide will take dinner with you and will provide an informal briefing about the days ahead. Overnight - Kathmandu (D) Day 2 : Pokhara Kathmandu - Pokhara. After breakfast in the hotel we take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the 30 minute flight to Pokhara. It is a most interesting flight, with the peaks of the Greater Himalaya clearly visible through the right-hand window as we travel westwards. Particularly prominent are Manaslu -1-
and the Annapurna group as we approach the airport at Pokhara. Getting off the plane into the heat of Pokhara is impressive, as is the sight of the snow peaks of the Annapurna Himal which form the skyline to the north. After lunch the afternoon is free to explore this laid-back lakeside town. You can go shopping, take a rowing boat out on to the lake of Phewa Tal or hike up to the Peace Pagoda which sits on a ridge overlooking the town. Dinner will be taken in a local restaurant. Overnight - Pokhara (B, L, D) Day 3 : The start of our trek Pokhara - Nayapul - Hille. The drive to the start point of our trek at Nayapul will take 1-2 hours. The walking today will be straightforward as we make our way into the hills initially following the Mhodi Khola River before heading northwest to ascend the Burungdi Khola valley. We will encounter some of the famous Annapurna Sanctuary steps today, but the ascent will be gentle and is a good warm-up for the harder and longer days to come. Tonight we will stay at a lodge in the settlement of Hille (1460m). Time: 6 hrs Distance: 11kms Ascent: 750m / Descent: 350m Overnight - Hille (B, L, D) Day 4 : Trekking to Ghorepani Hille - Ghorepani. Today there are more steps to climb as we ascend through the forest to Ghorepani. Crossing the suspension bridge over the river we follow the path to Ulleri, a large Magar village from where many Gurkha soldiers have been recruited. The trail then gets gradually steeper as we ascend to Banthanti. before passing through forest of rhododendron, magnolia and oak to Ghorepani (2860m). Time: 6 hrs Distance: 11kms Ascent: 1500m / Descent: 150m Overnight - Ghorepani (B, L, D) Day 5 : Sunrise at Poon Hill Ghorepani - Chuile. It is a must for those who stay at Ghorepani to make the walk up to the celebrated viewpoint of Poon Hill (3195m), which is a continuation of the ridge to the west of the village. Dawn is the best time to go sunrise on the Annapurnas is an unforgettable experience. Those who wish to go will need to get up early! Before the first light of dawn hits the mountains, we will trek up the wellmarked path by the light of our head torches reaching the summit as the first rays of the sun illuminate Dhaulagiri and Tukuche Peak with a beautiful pink glow. The walk will take around 45 minutes to 1 hour. After enjoying the view, we'll retrace our steps to Ghorepani where we'll have a hearty breakfast before setting off on our trek to Chuile on the south side of the Annapurna Sanctuary. The trail undulates gently through the forest and we may be able to glimpse views of Machhapucchare, the Fishtail Peak, through the trees. Altitude at Chuile 2309m. Time: 6-7 hrs Distance: 14kms Ascent: 900m / Descent: 1500m Overnight - Chuile (B, L, D) Day 6 : Trek to Bhanuwa Chuile - Bhanuwa. After breakfast we head steeply down to the river, crossing via another suspension bridge. The next couple of hours see us contour though the landscape before we reach the steep section of steps that bring us to Chhomrong where we take lunch. From here, the true grandeur of the mountains can be seen, with full views of Machhapucchre, Hiun Chuli and Annapurna South. From Chhomrong it is a steep descent, largely on steps, to the valley bottom and our overnight stop at Bhanuwa (2110m). Time: 6 hrs Distance: 10kms Ascent: 900m / Descent: 1100m Overnight - Bhanuwa (B, L, D) Day 7 : Trek to 'Himalaya' Bhanuwa - Himalaya. From Bhanuwa the trail climbs through terraced fields and then through forest of bamboo and rhododendron to the ridge crest at 'Sinuwa Hill Top'. We continue through the forest, looking out for troops of monkeys, mostly following the contour along the valley side before making a short descent to the collection of lodges known as Bamboo (2310m). From Bamboo we climb again for a further 2.5 hours, passing through Dobhan to reach our overnight lodging at the place known as 'Himalaya' (2920m). -2-
Time: 6 hrs Distance: 11kms Ascent: 1200m / Descent: 400m Overnight - Himalaya (B, L, D) Day 9 : Annapurna Base Camp continue our descent of the Modi Khola to reach the relatively warm climes of Dobhan (2540m). Time: 5-6 hrs Distance: 18kms Ascent: 650m / Descent: 2400m Overnight - Dobhan (B, L, D) Day 8 : Machhapucchre Base Camp Day 11 : Descend to Chhomrong Khola Himalaya - Machhapucchre Base Camp. The next section of the trail is subject to avalanche during the winter and usually has to be rebuilt each year so it is not possible to describe exactly. Some years this may involve a long climb to bypass unstable ground in the steep-sided valley but mostly the trail-makers do a good job of finding a route which makes a steady ascent including the construction of some ingenious bridges. Along the way we pass the fireblackened overhang of Hinko Cave, used by porters as shelter and we should reach the lodges at Deorali (3170m) after around 2 hours. Beyond Deorali the valley narrows to a steep sided gorge as we head towards the 'gateway' to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Depending on the trail conditions, we may opt to cross the Machhapucchre Base Camp - Annapurna Base Camp. A short but spectacular day of trekking today. It is a relatively gentle walk from our lodge to Annapurna South Base Camp (4130m) and a distance of only about 4 kilometres. Increasingly impressive views and jaw-dropping mountain moments reward us for our efforts, as we climb the last steep section before reaching the base camp area, where the entire south face of Annapurna is revealed. A cirque of stupendous peaks surround us and the feeling of being inside a hidden valley - a sanctuary in fact - is overwhelming. After we check in at our lodge, the afternoon is free to relax and admire one of the most stunning mountain amphitheatres in the Himalaya. Time: 3 hrs Distance: 5kms Ascent: 550m / Descent: 100m Overnight - Annapurna Base Camp (B, L, D) young Modi Khola to the east side for a while before returning to the west to climb up to the area which is called Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), a level and grassy moraine platform at 3700 metres, with several lodges. At this point we have passed through the narrow 'entrance' to the Sanctuary and find ourselves in more open country which is dominated by giant snow covered peaks. It will take around 2-3 hours of trekking from Deorali to reach MBC. Day 10 : Sunrise Views Time: 5 hrs Distance: 10kms Ascent: 900m Overnight - Machhapucchre Base Camp (B, L, D) Annapurna Basecamp - Dobhan. For those who wish, a pre-dawn wake-up is worth the extra discomfort to catch the sunrise on this unique mountain scene. After breakfast, we leave all this behind and retrace our steps first to MBC then on to Deorali where we take lunch after around 3hours of trekking. In the afternoon, we Dobhan - Chhomrong. Back into the forests again, as we pass through Bamboo and the ridge top Sinuwa where we take lunch. After lunch we swap the forest for terraced fields, as we descend to the Chhomrong Khola and begin a final climb of one and a half hours up the stone staircase leading to Chhomrong. Time: 5-6 hrs Distance: 18kms Ascent: 650m / Descent: 2400m Overnight Chhomrong (B, L, D) Day 12 : Final day of the trek Chhomrong - Pokhara. After a short climb up out of Chhomrong we then drop steeply down to Jhinu where there are some hot springs. We cross the Kimrong Khola on a sturdy bridge and then follow the river down to a confluence with the Modi Khola. There is still some climbing to do as we navigate the folds of this big river valley but our trend today is mostly downhill as we follow the Modi Khola. We pass through -3-
terracing and small villages which indicate our return to civilisation from the high mountains and reaching the jeep road at Syauli Bhatti, we say goodbye to our trek crew before boarding our waiting vehicles for the relatively short ride to Pokhara. Here we check in to our comfortable hotel close to Phewa Tal. After a shower and clean-up, we will have some free time to wander by the lake or to sit in the garden of one of the excellent lakeside restaurants and admire the view of the Annapurnas. Compared to Kathmandu, Pokhara is a very laid-back town and is the perfect place to relax at the end of our trek. Pokhara also has a reputation for great restaurants and this evening we will go out for a celebratory meal. Time: 5 hrs Distance: 14kms Ascent: 300m / Descent: 1250m Overnight - Pokhara (B, L, D) Day 13 : Fly to Kathmandu Pokhara - Kathmandu. We take the morning flight to Kathmandu. One of the attractions of any visit to Nepal is the chance to walk the streets of Kathmandu, which presents a fascinating mosaic of shops, cafes and restaurants, food markets and street vendors, as well as a bewildering array of colourful temples and shrines. This evening we will have a dinner in one of Kathmandu's excellent restaurants. Overnight - Kathmandu (B, L, D) Day 14 : Kathmandu Services end after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. If you wish to extend your stay and see more of Nepal or neighbouring Tibet or Bhutan we can arrange this for you. Please contact our office to make arrangements. (B) Our Partners Please note that this tour is operated by KE Adventure Travel. Travellers on your trip will have made their reservation with KE Adventure Travel or On The Go Tours. Is this Holiday for You? This is a short and relatively straightforward trekking holiday in Nepal. As this is a very popular trekking route, the paths are mostly good. However, the trails are always either steeply up or down, often on stone steps built into the hillside and in the lush forest of the lower altitudes, underfoot conditions can be slippery in places. It should be noted that trekking at altitudes above 3000 metres makes greater demands on the body than walking at low elevations, and is of itself challenging even for fit hikers. We allow seven days for our approach to the Annapurna South Basecamp from Pokhara, and this combined with a visit to the viewpoint of Poon Hill provides the best possible acclimatisation. You will need to ensure you are physically prepared for the trek and you should be comfortable with walking for 5 to 7 hours each day and for several days continuously. For residents of any other countries, please carefully select a comprehensive insurance policy which covers you for all of the activities on your tour. Also please ensure that your policy covers you for hiking up to the maximum altitude you will reach on the holiday. Most travel insurance does not cover for trekking above 2000m as standard and you may have to pay a premium to cover yourself up to 4130m. You MUST ensure that you get the correct level of cover. Group Size & Holiday Status For this trip there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. It is essential that you DO NOT book flights until we have advised you that the trip is guaranteed to run. Once the minimum number is reached, the departure date will have a 'G' next to it on our website. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Travel Insurance Joining Arrangements & Transfers It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks including repatriation costs. We advise you to arrange insurance at the earliest opportunity including cancellation cover to protect your deposit and any other payments should you subsequently need to cancel your holiday. You will need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration which we will send to you. As with all travel insurance policies, it s advisable to pay close attention to the limits of cover for all sections, particularly All clients travelling to Kathmandu will be met at the airport by our representative who will arrange the transfer to the group hotel. Clients MUST provide us with full details of their flights. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. If you have time, it may be worth considering arriving earlier in Kathmandu. Our trekking holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' in the city, but Kathmandu is a fascinating place and it is well worth spending extra time here. Arriving a day or two early will have the additional benefit of allowing medical cover, before purchasing the policy. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover all of our Active Tours. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing holidays. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. We recommend the "Travelex Select " package for our holidays. you time to get over the stress of travelling across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your trek. Note that on this holiday we may have an early start on day 2 to catch the onward flight to Pokhara. We can easily arrange for you to spend extra nights in the city and airport transfers are included for all flights. Accommodation Whilst in Kathmandu the group will stay in 5star luxury at either the Hotel Yak & Yeti or the -4-
Shangri-La Hotel. Located in the heart of the city, each of these excellent hotels offers a range of first-class facilities including a pleasant treeshaded garden area complete with swimming pool. Staying at either of these hotels, you can be assured of a restful start and finish to your time in Nepal. The group will also spend 2 nights in Pokhara at a centrally-located tourist-class hotel. Whilst on trek there are 9 nights spent in lodges/ tea houses. The Nepalese trekking lodges also known as 'tea-houses' are simple, friendly and atmospheric. As they are far from the nearest road is it not surprising that they are simple establishments as everything must be carried up by porters or animals. Most of these lodges have heated dining areas which are often attractively decorated. Bedrooms tend to be quite basic and are unheated with wooden beds and foam mattress. You will need a sleeping bag. The lodges have shared washing and toilet facilities. Some lodges have solar powered showers (charged at $2 - $3 per shower) and battery charging facilities (also charged at a rate per hour). Staying at the lodges is a great way to meet fellow hikers and the locals. Most accommodation is arranged on a twin sharing basis and if you are travelling by yourself you will room with another single traveller of the same sex. Please note, however, that at several of the places we stay above Chhomrong there is a limited choice of accommodation and some of the lodges we use will have only multi-bedded rooms. Where this is the case, the group will be split amongst the available rooms and this could be unsegregated male/female. If you are a solo traveller and would prefer the privacy of your own room, this is available for the four hotel nights at an additional cost. Single rooms are not available during the trek. A Typical Day Shortly after first light you should wake and start packing your kitbag and making preparations for the day. Coming down to the dining room we will be served breakfast from the lodge kitchen before setting off on the day s trek. We will generally reach our lunch stop by mid-day after around 3 or 4 hours of trekking. Lunch is taken at tea houses along the route or occasionally as a packed lunch. This is normally a leisurely affair and is a great time for relaxing, reading and sitting in the sun. Our porters usually catch up with the group during lunch and then are well on their way to the evening s stop by the time we set off again. It is usual for the afternoon s walk to be shorter than the morning session. On arrival at the lodge the trek leader will organise everyone s room. After checking in to your room you may wish to relax with a beer on the terrace of your lodge before taking dinner. Dinner is a 3course set menu meal taken in the dining room which normally has some form of heating. This is a great time of day for reliving the events of the trek so far and for general socialising. By 9.00pm most trekkers will have retired to bed and by 10pm the whole lodge will be asleep. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led by an experienced Englishspeaking local leader, and on trek will have the services of porters or baggage animals to carry luggage and local guides. Food Typical meals provided in the lodges will include some Nepali dishes but also international cuisine from pizza and chips to apple pie. To ensure that the group can eat together, we order meals in advance and your trip leader will arrange a set menu for the group, which will alternate daily between local and international dishes. Breakfast will usually be porridge, eggs, bread and a hot drink, lunch will be a simple meal with a hot drink, and dinner will be 3 courses consisting of soup, main meal and a simple pudding. Boiled drinking water will be provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Kathmandu and in Pokhara we take our meals in the hotel and also in the excellent local restaurants which offer dishes from all around the world. All meals are included in the holiday price from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 14. Dietary Requirements Please note that whilst we routinely cater for vegetarians, we cannot guarantee to provide for special diets. If you do have specific dietary requirements or allergies, please be sure to tell us in advance, and discuss this with your tour leader on arrival and liaise with them during the trip. Please note that we cannot provide separate menus for different diets and we cannot accept any liability for any problems arising from specific dietary needs. Internal Flights Access to the high and remote areas of the Himalaya where our treks start is often only possible using internal flights. The changeable nature of mountain weather makes flying conditions complex. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of western nations and all airlines in Nepal appear on the European Commission s list of airlines that are banned from flying into EU member states. Flying in Nepal is an acknowledged risk, and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice provides further details which you can read on their website at: www.gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice/nepal/safety-and-security. We are mindful of our duty of care to clients travelling with us in Nepal and KE were stakeholders in an independent air audit of Nepal airlines undertaken by UK tour operators during 2017. We use only four airlines in Nepal which were approved by this audit as safe carriers. These airlines are: Yeti Airlines, Tara Air, Buddha Air and Summit Air. In addition to this both Tara Air and Yeti Airlines have fulfilled the IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) - a new global safety standard for commercial airlines operating smaller aircraft www.iata.org/whatwedo/safety/ audit/issa/pages/index.aspx. We continue to cooperate with other tour operators to monitor aviation safety in Nepal and will ensure we remain a stakeholder in any further air safety audits. While we have taken appropriate action to try to minimise the risks of flying in Nepal, you should be aware that flying in mountainous terrain is not without any risk. Please note that poor weather can cause delays on internal flights. If at the start of your holiday internal flights are cancelled for the day, you will spend an extra night near the airport and this may be at a hotel other than the group hotel. On the majority of trips there is enough flexibility in the trekking itinerary to make up 1 or possibly 2 lost days, but alternative -5-
arrangements must be made if internal flights are cancelled for a subsequent day. For trips that end with an internal flight out of the mountains with no alternative road access, we have included 2 nights in Kathmandu as a contingency against delay. Helicopters can sometimes fly when the scheduled fixed wing aircraft cannot. If your group is offered the opportunity to use a chartered helicopter, either flying up from or back to Kathmandu, the cost will be shared between those choosing to take this option. In the extremely unlikely event that flight cancellations cause you to miss your homeward international flight, we will render all assistance, but cannot be held liable for any extra costs incurred. We advise you to take out suitable insurance and to keep your receipts, as you may subsequently be able to make a claim. Spending Money Approximately 200 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc.) changed into local currency, should be sufficient for miscellaneous personal expenses including porter and trek crew tips, beer and soft drinks. It is not necessary to obtain local currency (Nepali rupees) prior to departure. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are equally acceptable for exchange in Nepal. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of cash, since you will exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival in Kathmandu. If you prefer not to carry all of your spending money in cash, it is possible to withdraw money (rupees only) from ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara using your debit or credit card. During the trek it is possible to buy snacks, chocolate, tea, coffeee, soft drinks and beer on most days. Please be aware that since everything has to be carried up, these items become more expensive as you gain altitude. Guidance on Tipping level of tipping should be determined by the group as a whole with everyone contributing an equal amount that all are comfortable with. As a rough guide, we recommend that a contribution from each group member of around 50-60 (in rupees) should provide a good level of tips when divided among your guides, porters, and other trek crew. At the end of a trek many people also like to donate various items of their equipment to the porters and trek staff who work so hard to make the trip a success. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks (clean of course) are always warmly received by the porters. Technical clothing and equipment such as head-torches and trekking poles are highly prized by the Sherpa crews. If you think you would like to donate equipment at the end of your trip, your local trip leader will make arrangements for a fair distribution among the trek crew. Baggage Allowance Your baggage on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking should be no more than 15kg (33 pounds). It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel. Altitude This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies. Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you for good service. Tips do not form part of the wages of your guides, porters and trek crew but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. Normally the tips are given at the end of the trek and this is best done as a group rather than from individuals. Most groups will give the tips with a bit of ceremony (or sometimes a party) on the last evening, to mark the end of the trip. The For further reading on the above issues we recommend the following websites: http://www.altitude.org/ altitude_sickness.php http://www.thebmc.co.uk/uiaa-medicaladvice-sheets http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/ diamox.shtml Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag while trekking should be no more than 15 kgs. YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: A sleeping bag Hiking boots Socks Trekking trousers Waterproof overtrousers Underwear Baselayer shirts Casual shirt and/or T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Waterproof jacket Warm jacket (down)* Sunhat Warm hat Sunglasses Gloves or mittens Daypack 30 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 Litre x2 Sleeping bag (comfort rated -10 C) Washbag and toiletries Toilet paper (you can also buy this in the lodges if necessary) Antibacterial handwash Small towel Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry) Small padlock (to lock trek bag) Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), altitude (Diamox), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE OPTIONAL: Trekking poles (recommended) Trainers or similar for use in lodges Spare laces Shorts Thermal baselayer - leggings Sleeping bag liner -6-
Travel clothes Camera Pen-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage) NOTES *Available for hire/rental through KE Adventure Travel Please make all requests at least 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date. Please note all hire / rental equipment is issued in Kathmandu. Please remember to allow room in your trek bag for these items. The Nepalese are still traditional and conservative in the way they dress. Therefore to avoid embarrassment on both sides we recommend that you respect this and do not wear revealing clothing or sleeveless tops while visiting Nepal. Shorts are acceptable, but they should reach to just above the knee and be modest and for women it is preferable to wear trousers or a long skirt. PHD GEAR ADVISOR PHD specialise in cold weather equipment, from the world's lightest right up to the most protective for Everest or the Poles. It's a large range. So, to help you choose what you need to keep warm, PHD have listed the gear that is appropriate for this holiday. Follow this link: http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/ gearadviser/destination.php? destinations_id=18 Passport & Visas Please be advised that visa requirements are subject to change and that visa procurement is the responsibility of the traveller and not On The Go Tours. Please check with your local embassy before travelling and also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Nepal. To obtain your visa upon arrival will need a passport with at least 6 months validity, 2 passport photos Visa fee of approx USD $25 - $100 in CASH (dependent on length of stay) some cash with you, preferably US dollars. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Please refer the Royal Nepalese Embassy website for the current Nepal visa costs. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. TRANSIT VIA INDIA If you are travelling via India (Delhi or Calcutta) to your destination you may also require a visa for India. This may apply even if you are not leaving the airport unless your baggage has been checked all the way through to your destination. Generally, if you use the same carrier for both legs of your journey, you will not need an India Visa. TREKKING PERMITS WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU? For treks in the Annapurna region we need your passport details and we need to send through to Nepal ahead of your departure a scan of a passport-style photograph of yourself. Please make sure we have this one month ahead of your trip. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumpsrubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. Currency The currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee. All nationalities must obtain a visa for Nepal. It is possible for UK, EEC, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, South African and USA passport holders to obtain a visa upon arrival. However in the event of visa refusal at port of entry On The Go will not be held responsible. Pound Sterling, US Dollars or other major currencies can be exchanged at the airport and there are plenty of places to exchange money in Kathmandu.There are also ATMs at the banks in Kathmandu and Pokhara, although as these are sometimes out of order and banks are not always open, we advise that you bring Time & Voltage Kathmandu (Nepal) is 5 hours 45 mins ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight savings time. Standard voltage in Nepal is 220 volts. Primary sockets generally require Indian round 3 pin plugs that are similar but not identical to European plugs, however you will also find those which require the European variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Preparing For Your Trip It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Regular hiking in hill country is the best training but jogging, squash and swimming are also good for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina. Note that you will encounter a lot of steps on the trail while ascending the Modi Khola valley and you might wish to tailor your exercise to take this into account. Whatever your preparation you should make time to spend at least a few days prior to your trip making long walks in hilly country. It is also a good idea to do some reading about the country and the culture of the local people before you embark on an adventure holiday. Climate October to November and March to May are the best times for trekking in Nepal. These months either side of the summer monsoon season are neither too hot in the foothills nor too cold in the higher elevations and they offer the best conditions for trekking. Pre-monsoon is the best time to see the colourful blooms -7-
of the rhododendron at lower elevations. The post-monsoon months usually offer the clearest skies and the most settled weather. At either of these periods you will encounter a wide range of daytime temperatures during your trip from approximately 25ºC in Kathmandu and a little higher in Pokhara to approximately 14ºC at 3000 metres, and approximately 7ºC at Annapurna Base Camp. The real feel temperature in the middle of the day will be much warmer than this but at night in the rarefied air the temperatures plummet and you can expect to experience overnight temperatures below freezing anywhere above 3000 metres. In the Annapurna Base Camp, the night time temperatures may reach 10ºC or exceptionally, below this. Extended periods of rain or snow are very unlikely outside of the monsoon period but short lived storms can and do occur. -8-