Nepal
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Day One: Find Your Feet in Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan, Kathmandu’s international airport, where you will be collected and transferred to your hotel and briefed on the week to come. You could choose to relax, ready for your adventure tomorrow, or you could get out and see the chaotic capital of Nepal. Wander through its colourful backstreets, crammed with bright clothes and craft shops, to Durbar Square and the old Royal Palace. Or escape the chaos on a trip to Swayambhunath: This Buddhist temple on a hill just outside the city draws visitors with resident monkeys, stunning city views and a golden stupa. Then return to your hotel for the evening, ready to start your trek in the morning.
Overnight in Kathmandu
Premium - Gokarna Forest Resort
Meals included: None
Day Two: Lakes, Mountains and More
After breakfast, it’s back to the airport for your 25-minute onward flight to Pokhara, the stunning town surrounded by lakes, mountains and lush greenery that’s a starting point for treks in the Annapurna region. After a briefing, you’ll meet your guides and porters and then drive for an hour to the start of your trek, in the lower foothills of the Annapurna. Following the ridgeline, you’ll see incredible views of the Pokhara Valley, where the town of Pokhara tumbles towards a clear lake hemmed by dense forest. You’ll break for a picnic lunch and then drop to the Modi River Valley, where your lodge awaits. You’ll arrive by late afternoon, in time to savour the magnificent views towards Machapuchare, otherwise known as Fishtail Mountain due to its strangely-shaped double summit. This mysterious mountain is considered sacred by locals and so remains unclimbed.
Overnight in Birethanti
Premium - Ker & Downey Sanctuary Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 3 to 4 hours
Day Three: Into the Clouds
Have breakfast, then it’s time to catch a glimpse of local life on a half-day long walk. On this trek, you’ll start by crossing the terraced fields of the Modi River Valley, where farmers pick produce to fill their wicker baskets, before you climb out of the valley towards the mountains. On the way, you’ll pass remote hamlets and tiny villages, seeing daily life in this remote region (home to the Gurung people, who served in the British Gurkha regiment). You’ll admire incredible vistas as you wander dense forest, snacking along the way before arriving at your lodge for an afternoon lunch and incredible views of the Annapurna range. Your home for the night, Ghandruk, is a large village that tumbles down the forested mountainside, backed by snow-tipped peaks. It was once a lively recruitment centre for Gurkhas, and is home to a busy community of Nepalese rug-weavers.
Overnight in Ghandruk
Premium - Ker & Downey La Bee Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 5 to 6 hours
Day Four: Towards the Peaks
Wake up to incredible sunrise views over Annapurna 1 and the rest of the imposing range. Then it’s an undulating trek, first steeply down and then up again, to the village of Landrung. Leaving Ghandruk, you’ll notice the old grindstone in a little stream, before journeying onwards to criss-cross the aquamarine waters of the Modi Khola river by gently swaying suspension bridge. You’ll carry on towards Landrung, a village sandwiched between peaks, arriving at your hotel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll spend time exploring the village’s monastery and sleepy sidestreets.
Overnight in Landrung
Premium - Ker & Downey Himalaya Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 3 to 4 hours
Day Five: Village Life
You’ve earned a leisurely breakfast and a shorter walk to your next destination, the village of Majhgaon. Passing kids playing on the hiking paths and busy villagers carrying food and firewood , you’ll make your way to your home for the night – a lodge designed to resemble a typical Gurung-style village, with pretty gardens backed by stunning views of Annapurna 1 and Annapurna South. You’ll arrive and check-in with plenty of time for lunch, then visit a village house that’s been transformed into a museum. During a talk here, you’ll learn more about the daily life and customs of the Gurung people. You’ll then go on to explore the village with your guide, visiting houses and farms and peeking into kitchens and onto verandas, and witnessing just how different life is here than in Kathmandu.
Overnight in Majhgaon
Premium - Ker & Downey Mala Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Trekking time: 2 to 3 hours
Day Six: On Top of the World
You’ve seen those distant snow-capped peaks – now it’s time to get up close. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Pokhara in order to take a once in a lifetime helicopter trip over the Annapurna Massif. Flying high above Annapurna’s trekking trail, you’ll land at Base Camp to take photos of the incredible scenery, from 4,130m up. You’ll stay between 15 and 30 minutes (any longer could mean severe altitude sickness). Then you’ll helicopter back to Pokhara, and take an onward flight to Kathmandu.
Overnight in Kathmandu
Premium - Gokarna Forest Resort
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Seven: Bewitching Bhaktapur
After breakfast, you’ll travel nine miles east of Kathmandu to Bhaktapur – the ‘Place of Devotees’. Populated since the 9th century AD, this UNESCO Heritage Site city is a beautifully-preserved glimpse into medieval life. Though a few of its monuments were destroyed in the tragic earthquake of 2015, there is still so much to see. On a morning exploration with a private guide, you’ll notice buildings decorated in the intricate wooden sculptures that Bhaktapur is famous for, as you wander streets where goats rest in the shade, artists workshops open onto the cobbles, and men in traditional dress carry produce high on their heads. You’ll see Durbar Square, packed with intricately-decorated temples and monuments including the shining Golden Gate and Palace of 55 Windows, as well as the five-storied Nyatapol Temple – renowned for its beautiful 16th-century decorations. Then you’ll return to your hotel for a well-earned afternoon of rest and relaxation. Alternatively, there’s the option of mastering the art of Nepalese cooking, with a local family in their home (please see the Extras tab). Book this optional extra, and you’ll be taught how to prepare dal bhat (rice and lentils), momo dumplings and chicken curry, before settling down to eat your feast for either lunch or dinner.
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to the airport for your flight home in the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 7 Breakfasts; 4 lunches; 4 dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and internal flights, unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- Helicopter flight over Annapurna Base Camp
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with adult kids.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 432 0885
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £500 per person and take approximately 13 hours depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: Tribhuvan Airport Kathmandu (KTM).
End point: Tribhuvan Airport Kathmandu (KTM).
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