This Nepal Experience includes several days in Kathmandu with sightseeing, a short trek in the Annapurna area reaching a maximum altitude of 3210m, a few days in the popular lakeside resort town of Pokhara and a three day Jungle Safari. This trip is ideal for families from toddlers to grandparents with a total of 19 days in Nepal.

(Pokhara is a short 40 minute flight from Kathmandu, the wonderful capital of Nepal, where your holiday begins. We also travel by mini-bus which takes about 5 hours.)

The first day of the Nepal Experience is your arrival day to Nepal. As always, we meet you at the airport on arrival and quickly drive you to your 4 star hotel in the tourist centre of Thamel.

Once you are settled in your room, we meet in the foyer for tea or coffee followed by a short intrductory walk around the streets of Thamel to our office by way of orientation (should you arrive on a late flight, orientation will be immediately after breakfast the following day). At this point we take care of any formalities and it is a good opportunity to change some money into Nepalese Rupees.

Day 2 is for some sightseeing in Kathmandu where we will visit the Buddhist stupa of Bodhnath, one of the largest in the world, where there is an extensive Tibetan community. We will also take you to Pashupatinath, known as the Nepalese Varanasi, a large complex of Hindu temples and shrines beside the Bagmati river dedicated to Shiva. Pashupati is the home of many Sadhus who, with there colourful make-up and long hair will pose for photographs but require a payment, so beware.

Time and circumstances permitting, we will also visit Kathmandu's Durbar Square from where we will take an interesting 40min. walk through the ancient streets of the capital to Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple (due to the large colony of Macaques that live there), which is another complex of Buddhist stupas, but very different from Bodhnath.

Following our busy few days in Kathmandu, we head to Pokhara and our comfortable lakeside hotel. Pokhara is an amazing contrast to Kathmandu. Although surprisingly large, it has none of the hustle and bustle of the capital and is a great place to spend a few days relaxing and taking in the fabulous views of the surrounding Himalayan giants. Eight thousand metre peaks dominate the skyline, Annapurna 1 at 8091m, Annapurna 11, 111 and 1V Dhaulagiri at 8167mm. A little lower, the Fish-tailed Machhupuchhre is no less impressive and is surely one of the most beautiful mountains in the world and there are many more snow capped peaks (most of them visible from the hotel.)

Pokhara is also a great place for wining and dining with a plethora of good restaurants to choose from. Nepalese, Indian, Tibetan, Italian and French to name a few. The quality is good and prices very reasonable, particularly when compared to western prices.

We begin our trek by driving about 1 hour  to the trailhead at Nayapul from where we walk for about 4 to 5 hours to reach our overnight stop at Tikhedhunga along a slightly ascending trail following the river most of the way.

Next day is considerably harder as we ascend steeply to Banthanti where we will stop for lunch and a well earned rest before we continue more gradually upward through Rhodedendron forest to the picturesque and interesting village of Ghorepani at an elevation of 2853m. We will spend a pleasant late afternoon and evening here before we retire early to bed in preparation of an early (before dawn) 45 minute walk up to the viewpoint of Poonhill 3210m. From here we will be enchanted by the majestic close-up views of what is arguably the most spectacular group of mountains in the world.

We will be ready and waiting as the first rays of the sun touch the summits of the Annuapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and gradually and unbelievably beautifully, expose the true grandeur of this part of the Nepal Himalaya. Many people are moved to tears of emotion by this breathtaking vista.

We now make our way back down through dense rhodedendron forest to the lodge at Ghorepani for breakfast before we continue our trek to Tadapani 2652m and around 5/6 hours walking.

After a good nights sleep at Tadopani, we have a steep and short downhill walk to the very picturesque town of Ghandruk.

With a population of over 7,000 people,  this town is to the Gurung people what Namche-Bazaar is to the Sherpas. Here we find the A.C.A.P (Annapurna Consevation Area Project) headquarters, which we will visit. We will also visit the Gurung Culture Museum which will give us some insight into the lives and history the Gurung people.

After Ghandruk we make our way steadily over undulating trails through more magnificent country to the village of Tolka where we overnight.

From Tolka, we walk through forested country with superb views through the trees and from the frequent clearings to the Annapurna Range, until we reach  the village of Dampus. Here at Dampus the game of Beach Volleyball is very popular. Quite extraordinary when you consider we are in the Himalaya and in a land-locked country.

We will overnight here in Dampus before completing our trek with the 2 hour or so of pleasant walking down to Phedi where our transport back to Pokhara will be waiting.

After spending our last night in the resort town of Pokhara, we will drive to Chitwan National Park for a three day Jungle Safari. Here we will ride elephants through the jungle where we will observe  the native animals in their natural surroundings. We may see Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Deer and, fingers crossed, we may even be lucky enough to see a Tiger. We will also join in with the Elephant Bathing in the river and take a dug-out canoe trip along the river to watch the locals casting their nets oh so skilfully into the water to catch the plentiful fish. We will also catch a glimpse of the Crocodiles which are surprisingly common here, but not to worry as apparently  they are harmless to humans. (One hopes that the crocodiles are aware of this fact also!!).

After our experience of the jungle, we will head back to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu for our last minute shopping and sightseeing days in the capital before departing to the airport and our flight home.

To sum up then, the Nepal Experience includes 5 days in Kathmandu, 4 days Pokhara, a 7 day lodge based trek in the Annapurna area and a 3 day Jungle safari. A total of 19 days in all.

All transport, accomodation and meals (apart from lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara) are included. Also airport pick-up and drop-off, tims card and Annapurna Conservation Area Visitor Pass. Guide and porters for the trek and an English speaking guide for the Kathmandu sightseeing.

Cost will depend on final numbers, maximum 10 clients per trip, but please register your interest by sending us an email with any questions you have regarding this exciting experience.

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