Itinerary Expand all Pokhara to Kathmandu Day 1 Drive to Khare; trek to Australian Camp We say goodbye to the rest of the group this morning as they drive to Kathmandu. We will set off with our guide and porter(s) and drive a short way (1hr) to Khare where we start our trek. From here it is pleasant gradual walk up through the forest to Australian Camp, where on a clear day we have a magnificent panorama of the Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare ‐ the sacred Fishtail Mountain. We arrive at the lodge by lunchtime and after lunch there is an optional bird watching walk. Teahouse Meals included: Breakfast Day 2 Trek to Landrung The trail continues to ascend through the forest past Potana and then we climb up to Deurali, where there are a few tea shops ‐ ideal for a tea break. We then descend quite steeply through the forest to Tolka, from where we enter farmland, and the trail then undulates around a few corners to the pretty Gurung village of Landrung (1,648m). We have plenty of time to explore the village; the people who live in this area come mostly from the Gurung tribe and the houses are made from a distinctive orange mud brick. Mainly subsistence farmers' crops are grown on every inch of land and the terraces extend for miles up and down the hills. Teahouse Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Trek to Ghandrung Ahead are fine views of Annapurna South and Huinchuli and across the valley, we can see Ghandrung. To get there we must descend on a stone staircase to the Modi Khola River. Crossing the river by bridge we then have a long climb up through farms and hamlets to Ghandrung at 1,951m where we spend the night. Ghandrung is the largest Gurung village in the area and we have time this afternoon to explore the old part of the village, which is a maze of narrow alleyways separating the neat slate-roofed houses. From the lodge, we can watch the sunset on Annapurna South. Teahouse Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Trek to Birethani; drive to Pokhara Today is an easier walk and mostly downhill. We follow the trail out of Ghandrung on a magnificent stone staircase all the way down to Birethanthi. Way below us the Modi Khola roars down the valley and above us the rocks and hills soar ever upward to the snowy peaks. We have lunch in Birethanthi and then take a local bus or taxi back to our hotel in Pokhara. We stay in a simple hotel near the lakeside. Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Tourist bus to Kathmandu This morning we take the tourist bus to Kathmandu, and our guide will travel with us. The distance is only 200km but it is a slow climb through the mountains and the journey will take most of the day (7‐8 hours). The views, however, are stunning as we follow the Marsyangdi and Trisuli rivers, passing numerous villages and terraces stretching thousands of feet up the hillside. We arrive in Kathmandu in the late afternoon and check into our centrally located hotel. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Kathmandu sightseeing (as Day 16 of the main tour itinerary) As Day 16 of the main tour itinerary. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 End Kathmandu (as Day 17 of the main tour itinerary) As Day 17 of the main tour itinerary Meals included: Breakfast
Nepal Most 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).
Nepal There 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.
Teahouses & Hotels 3 nights teahouses; 3 nights hotels. On trek we stay in local mountain lodges (known as teahouses). In Pokhara, we stay in a simple hotel near the lake. We then move into a more comfortable hotel in Kathmandu. Please note that a single supplement is not applicable for the teahouses on the trek (available only for the 3 hotel nights) The teahouses are basic but adequate; please be realistic about what to expect in the mountains. We ask that you read our Nepal Destination Guide for further details about the lodge facilities. The hub of the teahouse is the dining room, usually decorated with colourful traditional rugs, sometimes with a stove or heater (some lodges charge a fee to put the heater on). All teahouses sell snacks and other essentials such as tissues, soap and toilet paper. Most lodges have electricity but it is not wholly reliable and lighting may not be bright enough to read by – a torch is essential. Electrical charging facilities are generally available only in the dining room (charged at approx. Rs150-350 per hour per device). Many lodges have Wi-Fi these days but it is generally slow and temperamental and often cannot cope with more than a couple of people logging into it at once. The bedrooms are mostly twin-share but occasionally during peak seasons, you may be asked to share a dormitory room (3-5 people max) for the odd night. Beds with foam mattresses, bedsheets and a pillow are provided. Bedrooms are generally unheated and can get cold at night - please note we will provide you with a sleeping bag for the trek ‐ your guide will bring it to Pokhara. Most lodges have only one or two basic toilets and sometimes these are located outside the main lodge building. Toilets are usually Asian ’squat’ style; although many lodges have now installed ‘western style’ seated ones. Toilet paper is not provided so you should bring your own or buy it locally (please dispose of it the bin provided – do not put it in the bowl). If there is not a flush handle, there should be a container of water to pour down – if it is empty (or frozen) please either refill it or ask the lodge to. Some lodges now have gas or solar hot showers (charged at approx. Rs250-500 per shower) but don’t expect them every night. Sometimes a hot shower is simply a bucket of hot water and not a shower head. Standards of cleanliness vary especially in the peak trekking season and in winter when the water freezes at night. Please report any problems to your leader or the lodge and be vigilant in your personal hygiene regime – use soap or hand sanitizer gel before and after toilet breaks, snacks and meal times.
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