Itinerary Expand allKathmandu to Kathmandu Day 1 Catch the Kathmandu cityscape from the hotel’s rooftop poolOn the transfer from the airport, you’ll get a glimpse of Kathmandu’s colour and chaos before arriving at Hotel Mulberry, a calm oasis in the buzzing Thamel area. Head to the rooftop infinity pool to catch the views before joining the welcome briefing with a complimentary cocktail (or mocktail). Tonight, dinner with your new group is included at New Orleans Cafe, a popular local haunt. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Tour the bazaars, sample street food and marvel at the architectureYour first full day in Kathmandu has you fully immersed in its sights, sounds and flavours. After breakfast, you’ll step out into the city’s alleyways on a street food and sightseeing tour. Travelling alongside the locals on foot and by cycle rickshaw, you’ll get under the skin of this intoxicating place, visiting Asan Tole, the busiest market square in the city. You’ll try chiya, milky tea, and check off the city’s architectural and cultural highlights: Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath ‘Monkey Temple’.For anyone wanting to do an optional Everest mountain flight, these generally take place in the morning (weather permitting) so it’s a trade off with some of the sightseeing. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Fly to Pokhara for the start of an unforgettable Himalayan trekYou’ll leave Kathmandu behind after breakfast, taking a 30-minute morning flight to Pokhara. This lakeside town is the gateway to the Annapurna Range and the adventure capital of Nepal. It’s where your four-day mountain trek begins.You’ll have a briefing at the trekking office before an hour-long drive to the start point. Today’s three to four-hour walk follows a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas, before descending to the Modi River Valley. A picnic lunch is provided on the way.Tonight, you’ll stay at Ker & Downey’s Sanctuary Lodge at Birethanti. You’ll arrive in time for drinks and nibbles at happy hour with views of the sacred and unclimbed Mount Machhapuchhre, or Fishtail Mountain. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Trek through villages, paddy fields and forestThe trek continues after breakfast, following the Modi Khola River and past small farms with an ever-present backdrop of Mount Machhapuchhre. A long climb up stone steps follows, passing through the rice fields and forest. After about five hours’ walking, you’ll arrive at Ker & Downey’s Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk in time for a late lunch. Now at 6,500 feet, you’ll see distant villages and terraced fields, surrounded by the iconic mountains. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 The hike continues, crossing the river and climbing to LandrukThe sunrises from Ghandruk are worth getting up early for. Enjoy the tranquillity of the view before your trek continues, descending steeply down the valley to cross a suspension bridge that leads to a stone staircase rising to Landruk village. You’ll pass under the cliffs where honey hunters climb up on ropes to harvest wild honey (seasonal). Lunch will be ready as you arrive at Ker & Downey’s La Bee Lodge. The afternoon is yours to savour the views or explore the village with your guide and learn about the Gurung community. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Trek to Majgaon, stopping for lunch at a villager’s house There’s a more leisurely day of trekking ahead today, with no steep inclines. You’ll pass through villages and farmlands on the way to Majgaon, where lunch is in a village house with a demonstration of how rice wine and selroti bread is made. Tonight we stay in another comfortable Ker & Downey lodge; either Gurung or Mala Lodge (varies depending on departure date). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 The final leg of your mountain trek, before it’s back to Pokhara After breakfast, you’ll trek for about an hour to the village of Chandrakot. Enjoy the views before continuing for another half hour to Lumle where you’ll be met and transferred back to Pokhara, about an hour’s drive away.You’ll check into Atithi Resort, an elegant hotel that will feel heavenly after your trek. A spa, sauna and pool provide some well-deserved post-trek pampering. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Yoga - check. Cooking - check. Biking - checkNamaste. Start the day right with a morning yoga class. A cookery class follows where you’ll learn to make momo dumplings and devour them for lunch.An afternoon bike ride explores the countryside around Lake Phewa, with its mountain backdrop reflecting off the water. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 9 Raft through the jungle. Sleepover at a safari-style river campYou’ll leave Pokhara behind after breakfast today, ready for a day on the water. After driving through the countryside to Damauli for about 90 minutes, you’ll meet an experienced rafting crew for a briefing before hitting the Seti River. You’ll raft through two small Grade II rapids, but the majority of today’s raft ride is gently floating past villages and jungle, stopping for a picnic en route.You’ll reach Ker & Downey’s Seti River Camp where home for the night is in a safari-style tent with a veranda and en suite bathroom. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Morning rafting. Then onwards to Chitwan National ParkThe rafting adventure continues this morning, upping the ante with five Grade II rapids. Long sections of calmer waters in between means there’s ample opportunity to enjoy the lush surrounds. After a few hours, you’ll be driven to Chitwan National Park, a famous reserve of marshland and grassland that’s home to Indian one-horned rhinos, monkeys, elephants and the elusive leopards.At Jagatpur Lodge, you’ll meet your naturalist guide before heading out on a bullock cart ride to visit a Tharu village. Tonight, there’s a bush BBQ dinner. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Explore Chitwan on foot, by dugout canoe and by jeep A jam-packed morning exploring Chitwan is lined up today. There’s an early morning birdwatching walk before breakfast. Then a trip along the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, looking for crocs.Before dinner, there’s a jeep safari, making a stop in a scenic spot for sundowners. If you’re lucky, you may encounter some rhinos or some of the several species of deer. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 It’s back to Kathmandu…There’s an optional birdwatching walk this morning, before a late morning flight from nearby Bharatpur to Kathmandu.Back in the city hullabaloo, the afternoon is yours to explore. Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Farewell NepalAfter breakfast, a transfer will return you to Kathmandu airport. Meals included: Breakfast
NepalMost nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry (at present, the Immigration Department of Nepal have suspended 'visas on arrival' for certain nationalities - please check if this applies to you). All Nepal tourist visas are multiple entry. We recommend that you apply in advance as queues on arrival can be very long – applications can be made directly through the Nepal Embassy (by post or in person) or through our recommended visa agency, Travcour. The current cost for a visa in advance is GB£20 for a 15-day visa and GB£35 for a 30-day visa for UK passport holders (plus processing and postage fees if applying through Travcour).The current cost for a visa on arrival is US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days for UK passport holders. The fee can be paid for in any major currency at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. On arrival in the immigration hall there are 3 queues (if you have obtained a visa in advance go straight to (3) - immigration):(Step 1) Fill in a 'Tourist Visa' form: either online before travel (recommended) via the Department of Immigration website - print the submission receipt with barcode (valid for 15 days) and bring it with you, or use the electronic kiosk machines on arrival at the airport. If using the kiosks, after inserting your passport the machine will automatically fill out an application form, take an electronic photograph of you and print a paper slip. If the machine won’t read your passport you can complete the details manually using the touch screen. We recommend taking 1 passport photo with you just in case. (Step 2) Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (we advise to take some cash) – make sure to keep the receipt. (Step 3) Lastly, go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15, 30 or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration.Non-UK nationals should check requirements with their nearest embassy (a few nationalities are not permitted visas on arrival).
NepalThere are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A.There is low to no risk of malaria throughout Nepal and antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain higher risk groups; you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. The risk is highest in the low lying southern ‘terai’ districts bordering India.A yellow fever certificate is only required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of transmission.Dengue fever is a known risk in Nepal. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. As of August 2019, there has been a recent outbreak of Dengue fever in southeast Nepal and we therefore recommend you take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites (such as wearing full length trousers, long sleeves and applying insect repellent during the day as well as at dawn and dusk).Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.
Hotels Hotel MulberryIn the Thamel area of Kathmandu, Hotel Mulberry has an infinity rooftop pool, a rooftop bar and spa facilities. Ker & Downey Mountain LodgesThe Ker & Downey lodges offer the highest level of comfort available in the region and you’ll stay in four of these during the Annapurna trek. While each Lodge is slightly different, they all have comfortable en suite accommodation and spectacular views in common.Atithi ResortJust a short stroll from the lake, Atithi Resort in Pokhara boasts excellent facilities, including an expansive garden, spa facilities and an outdoor pool.Seti River Camp (Ker & Downey)Safari-style tents, each with a comfortable bed and private bathroom.Jagatpur LodgeSituated in a quiet spot on the banks of the Rapti River, you’ll wake to the sounds of the jungle from your air-conditioned deluxe room.Solo RoomsSolo rooms are not available in the Ker & Downey mountain lodges or at the Seti River Camp due to the limited number of rooms/tents in these locations.
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