Itinerary Expand all Kathmandu to Kathmandu Depart London. The group flights depart London this evening. Arrive Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we transfer to our hotel. Those not travelling with the group will meet us in the hotel in the early evening. Hotel Yak & Yeti, or similar Day 1 Start Kathmandu. The tour starts at our hotel in Kathmandu this afternoon. Free arrival transfers are available for any flight, provided you have supplied Exodus with your flight details in advance and have requested one. The group flights are scheduled to arrive in the mid-afternoon. This evening there will be a full trip briefing. Hotel Yak & Yeti, or similar Day 2 Kathmandu sightseeing tour including Durbar Square and Boudhanath Stupa. For those who wish, there is the chance to do an optional Everest sightseeing flight early this morning; this can be booked locally through your leader on day 1. We will leave the hotel late morning for our Kathmandu sightseeing tour. First, we drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Boudhanath to see the famous Buddhist stupa with its huge mandala; one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and indeed in the world. We have lunch nearby and then continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square (which also has UNESCO status), one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley. Although the Kathmandu Durbar Square was heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake the many palaces, temples and courtyards in the Newari style are interesting. There will be a full trip briefing today. Hotel Yak & Yeti, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Drive to Pokhara; orientation walk We leave Kathmandu early this morning and drive to Pokhara - traffic leaving Kathmandu can prolong the journey but once out of Kathmandu city, the journey usually takes around 6 hours depending on the road and traffic conditions. In the afternoon your leader will take you for an orientation walk along the shore of Phewa Lake. Pokhara is a pretty lakeside resort at the foot of the Annapurna range. Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Walk through farmland and forest down to the Modi River Valley to Sanctuary Lodge, offering fine views of the sacred 'Fishtail' Mountain We have a short drive to our trek start point, from where we follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley. This route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where Ker & Downey's Sanctuary Lodge is located. The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhare, as it is locally known. A picnic lunch is provided today. Ker and Downey Lodge (Sanctuary Lodge, 1,025m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Picturesque trek through villages, padi rice fields and forest to Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk. After breakfast, you will leave the lodge to start the trek through the scattered small farms. Following the Modi Khola and with constant views of Mt. Machhapuchhre ahead, you will soon climb the valley towards the mountains. It is quite a long climb up stone steps passing through the rice fields and forest, but we take plenty of stops. Finally, we arrive at Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk in the early afternoon to a late lunch that is served on arrival as you enjoy the spectacular views of Annapurna Massif. Ker and Downey Lodge (Himalaya Lodge, 2,012m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Descend to cross the river by suspension bridge, then climb to La Bee Lodge in Landruk. Although we can see Landruk across the valley we have to descend to the river and climb up the other side to get there! Leaving the Ghandruk village, the trek descends steeply to the banks of Modi River. Crossing the suspension bridge, we trek up a stone staircase to Landruk village, enjoying the views of the Annapurna Range and passing under the cliffs where honey hunters climb up on the ropes to harvest the wild bee honey. Lunch will be ready as we arrive at our lodge. After lunch, you may either rest and enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains, or go on a sightseeing tour in the village with your guide. Ker and Downey Lodge (La Bee Lodge, 1,565m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Gentle walk to Gurung or Mala Lodge at Majgaon; afternoon free to relax in the garden or explore the village. You will start your trek passing through the village and farmlands with views of the Annapurnas behind. Today is an easier walk to Majgaon with no steep up or downhills. We will arrive at the lodge by lunchtime and in the afternoon you can enjoy the views of the mountains from your room itself or spend time in the garden. There is also the option of a guided village walk. Ker and Downey Lodge (Gurung / Mala Lodge, 1,400m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Trek through sub-tropical forests to Basanta Lodge at Dhampus, with spectacular views of the entire Annapurna Range. Starting your trek today, you continue trekking towards Patlekhet, a small village on the way towards Pothana. Pothana is used by Tibetan traders to sell their souvenirs and gifts to the tourist trekking up and down the trails to Annapurna Base Camp. As you reach your lodge in Dhampus, you get the spectacular views of the entire Annapurna range. Once at the lodge you will be served hot lunch after which you can take a short walk into Dhampus village. On the Christmas departure (18 December 2021) a cultural performance at Basanta Lodge is included to celebrate. Ker and Downey Lodge (Basanta Lodge, 1,525m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Short descent through wooded hillside to Phedi; transfer to Pokhara; free afternoon (optional boat trip on Lake Phewa). After breakfast, we depart along the ridge & descend on a stone staircase through the wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor. Trek time 1.5-2hrs hours. We then transfer by vehicle to the hotel in Pokhara (1hr). The afternoon is free to explore Pokhara. You may want to visit the interesting mountain museum or you can go for a boat ride on Phewa Lake or hire a bike for a cycle along the lakeshore. Or you may simply want to relax by the hotel pool or wander along the lakeside browsing in the shops. Your leader will brief you on the various options available. Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara On the Christmas departure (17 December 2020) a special dinner is included in Pokhara to celebrate. Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Drive to Chitwan; take an ox-cart ride around Tharu village and witness a traditional Tharu dance. We drive from Pokhara to Chitwan, which will take about 4 hours. On a clear day look to the left as we leave Pokhara for the magnificent panoramic views of the Annapurna Range. The road takes us back to Mugling, from where we turn south to the lowlands of Nepal and our jungle lodge in Chitwan. We should arrive by lunchtime and after lunch we’ll meet our naturalist guide who will go over the programme of activities. In the late afternoon we take an ox-cart ride around Tharu village and witness a traditional Tharu dance. The knowledgeable staff from the lodge will accompany us on all the excursions. Kasara Lodge Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Explore the jungle on a bird-watching walk, take a dugout canoe ride down the Rapti River in search of crocodiles and try to spot rhinoceroses on a jeep safari. Activities may be offered in a different order but usually, the programme will include an early morning bird watching walk before breakfast. Before lunch there will be another activity, normally a trip along the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, looking for crocodile and observing the many birds. Then before dinner, we set out on a jeep safari. If we are lucky we may encounter the Indian one-horned rhinoceros or some of the several species of deer found here. Kasara Lodge Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Morning flight to Kathmandu; free time. For those who wish, there is a bird-watching walk early this morning. We then transfer to Bharatpur airport and catch a flight to Kathmandu. Hotel Yak & Yeti, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 End Kathmandu The trip finishes after breakfast. Those travelling on the group flights to London will transfer to the airport for their flight back to the UK. Meals included: Breakfast Fly to London The trip finishes after breakfast. Those travelling on the group flights to London will transfer to the airport for their flight back to the UK. 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).
Premium lodges & hotels This tour is classified as 'premium' and all accommodation is of a high standard with en suite facilities throughout. Three nights are spent at the Hotel Yak & Yeti (5-star local rating) in Kathmandu, a heritage hotel which has a large outdoor swimming pool set amidst gardens as well as a fitness centre, spa and two restaurants. In Pokhara we usually stay at Temple Tree Resort & Spa, a boutique hotel nestled close to Lake Phewa in an area called Gaurighat. Accommodation here is in two-storey individual cottages, finished in hand-cut stone and featuring beautifully-decorated timber struts and pillars. Each room has a private balcony with pergola looking onto a lush garden. There's also an outdoor swimming pool and a spa. The two nights in Chitwan are at a comfortable jungle lodge, Kasara Resort. Rooms here are minimalist and contemporary in design and natural materials help it to blend into the natural environment. The lodge has a restaurant, swimming pool and spa. The six nights during the trek are spent in luxury Ker & Downey mountain lodges, which are the most luxurious in the region. All rooms are twin-bedded and are decorated in a traditional Nepalese Gurung-style, local to the region. All rooms have en suite bathrooms with solar showers, flush toilets and electricity. There is a restaurant in each lodge, typically with a cosy fireplace and a bar. Happy hour at the bar runs from 6 to 7 pm. During this time alcoholic beverages are served on a complimentary basis (please note happy hour is on trek only). In short, these lodges offer a far superior service and level of comfort compared to the teahouses used on other Himalayan treks. Extra Accommodation If you require any additional accommodation in Kathmandu either before or after the tour, we can book this for you (subject to availability), please enquire with your Sales Consultant. Single Accommodation The single supplement price shown below includes a single room for the seven nights in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Should you also wish to have a single room for the five nights in the Ker & Downey lodges, an additional supplement will be payable on top of the amount shown. Single rooms are subject to availability - please request this at the time of booking.
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Reviewed April 2020 Sara Mitchell Trip: Annapurna in Luxury Fantastic Trip covering large part of Nepal Can highly recommend this trip, it was absolutely amazing from start to finish. It provides a fantastic insight into Nepal and you will see a lot in a short space of time, it far exceed my expectations and is worth the money. It is fast paced but a good mix of city/history and cultural introduction of the country to start with in Kathmandu followed by the excellent walking, and finishing in Chitwan before going back to Kathmandu. I agree that Kathmandu was not the highlight and in my view could of easily been missed altogether, or only covered at the end of the trip for half a day, it was very polluted and dirty, the hotel was a good standard for Nepal but not amazing, but fine for a few nights and comfortable. Definitely would recommend flying straight into Pokhara when the airport is open to International carriers in the near future. I could easily have spent more time in Pokhara and Chitwan. The walking was amazing, you do need a good level of fitness there are one or two steep ascents, poles are a good item to bring with you in your kit bag, the porters carry your bags for you as you walk, my recommendation is to pack light for the walking! Lodges were very comfortable and the people very friendly food very god standard and plenty of it! Cold at night but good hot showers and nice bathrooms, I loved that you were delivered a hot water bottle every night. Food in the lodges was amazing and catered for everyone. The walking thought the unspoilt and at times completely isolated parts of the countryside will be something that will stay with me for a long time, that was truly unique and in complete contrast to Kathmandu. We saw hardly any tourists and saw farmers at work and people living in the countryside, it was peaceful and you truly could appreciate this amazing country. Pokhara was fantastic and is an amazing city, with a lot to do, I would definitely go back there. Chitwan Safari was truly unique and the hotel was absolutely outstanding and luxury. A few opportunities in Pokhara, Chitwan and Kathmandu to have massages to ease away the aches of the walking. Our guide Keshar was fantastic, extremely knowledgeable about Nepal, the flora, fauna and history, there was nothing he could of done to make our trip any better. Going in December meant we had very clear views of all the spectacular mountain ranges and I would definitely recommend this time of year, albeit it is cold in the evenings. Each trip I do with exodus just gets better and better! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The walking thought the unspoilt and at times completely isolated parts of the countryside will be something that will stay with me for a long time, that was truly unique and in complete contrast to Kathmandu.
Reviewed December 2019 kim simkins Trip: Annapurna in Luxury Fantastic way to see Nepal Booked this as wanted to see Nepal without roughing it. Far exceeded my expectations. A great taster of several regions, the culture, fabulous scenery and wildlife of this incredible country. It may not be heavy trekking, but you still need to have a good fitness level for all the uneven steps and relentless ups and downs. It is pretty full on if you make use of the optional trips in free time, but there is so much to see. Kathmandhu is pretty much as you imagine, and as little time spent there as possible is probably a good plan, it was the least impressive hotel, dirty, crowded and polluted, but still has areas of culture and history worth a look. When the new airport in Pokhara opens, that might mean you can fly there which would reduce the long and 'exciting' road trip. Pokhara was a much nicer place all round and could have spent longer there. Chitwans wildlife was also amazing, we just skimmed the surface on this trip, could have easily spent longer there. The lodges are of a great standard, although unheated, so you need to dress accordingly. The food was far better than I anticipated, and with happy hour, I failed to lose weight or detox on this trip! The trekking was mainly off the main paths and as it was end of season, we saw very few other tourists either on the paths or in the lodges. It was only a group of 7 and felt like a very personal trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? So many to choose from! 1. The beautiful mountain scenery. We were very lucky to have 3 days of clear blue skies and stunning snow capped peaks. 2. the rural scenery of terracing and little villages with in depth viewing of the culture and local communities 3. The fabulous Nepali food, if you like curry and spicy, this is foodie heaven. There is plenty of it and all great quality, I had no stomach problems at all which was a nice surprise. 4. The lodges were amazing, so hospitable and well catered in stunning locations 5. Rhino viewing in Chitwan, some great encounters and some beautiful bird life plus the gharial breeding programme What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. Keshar was a very experienced leader of 20 years. He was calm and competent with an amazing knowledge of everything that Nepal could show us, from the culture, food, restaurant suggestions and paths through the mountains. Couldn't fault him. He is very passionate about his country and supporting a lot of community projects. Would highly recommend him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you are fit for the trekking else you won't enjoy it. Be prepared for all weathers, pack light but need clothes for freezing to sunbathing! We had from 18degrees sunshine, to relentless rain and thunderstorms in Chitwan. Be open minded as things don't always go to plan with travel in Nepal. The roads are rough, the traffic is completely terrifying and whilst distances are short, travel times are long. We had a car accident and had to spent half an hour waiting for negotiations into who's fault and who should pay! As the Dhalai Lama says, cultivating patience and tolerance is the key to happiness...…... Is there anything else you would like to add? This was a trip of a lifetime, it's cultural, physical, and spiritual all rolled into one. It opens your eyes, and exercises the body, mind and soul. Highly recommended. Not a softie trip, this is still trekking...…..but be prepared to be blown away.
Reviewed October 2019 Ron Hunt Trip: Annapurna in Luxury TNX191008 Great trip fulfilled all our expectations. The trekking was hard work but the scenery made it all worth while. The guide was excellent as were all the porters and local guides. And really appreciated the comfort of the lodges and the good, varied foods they provided. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The sunrise views of the Annapurnas from most of the lodges, especially Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk and Basanta Lodge in Dhampus. What did you think of your group leader? Prem Gurung was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly, he made sure that everyone who needed any sort of help was looked after by himself or one of the other guides/porters. Attentive and professional in everything he did. Nothing asked of him was too much trouble. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't need to take much in the way of protein bars. On the hard trekking days the lodges provided a substantial mid morning snack. And had no problems with runny noses, so brought home lots of packs of tissues. Is there anything else you would like to add? 4 of the Ker and Downey Lodges didn't provide Wifi, although there was a signal in their village. Should be rectified for luxury lodges.
Reviewed November 2018 Lisa Wright Trip: Annapurna in Luxury A beautiful country with wonderful people A wonderful trip - this was out first visit to Nepal, and we were definitely able to experience a lot within the time. From the bustle of Kathmandu (which while manic, was really enjoyable) to the calm of the trekking, walking through the rural villages and seeing how they live. Everyone is so friendly - we Namaste'd a lot! We spent the last night of the trek with our porters where they sang, played drums and danced - we also attempted the dancing! And did a rendition of 'Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes' and 'If You're Happy & You Know It' for them - was good to see them joining in with the moves too! It was a lovely night, full of laughs and big smiles from everyone. In Chitwan we were lucky enough to see 2 Indian one-horned rhinos when we were on the jeep safari. It does get quite busy with other jeeps following similar trails, but definitely worth it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Waking up each morning of the trek to see the sunrise over the mountains - just stunning. On the drive back after our trek, we stopped at the Jangchub Choeling monastery - where we were fortunate enough to be there when they were just starting a ceremony. We were able to sit in with over 100 monks and listen to them chanting mantras - it was absolutely beautiful, and I felt very priviliged to be there. So if your guide asks whether you want to stop at the Tibetan refuge camp, make sure you do! What did you think of your group leader? Gum was fantastic. Great company, knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging on the trek. He worked hard throughout the holiday. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There's a lot of steps on the trek, and some steep ascents - but have seen exodus have now rated this as a grade 3 trip, not a 2 - which seems a better fit. We took our own walking poles, but they have ones there you can use - and would recommend them for the trekking. Getting the visas at the airport was very straight forward, hardly any queues - and they had staff there to help out with the machines. We did take passport photos with us just in case needed, and would be good to have in case the machines not working. We also changed our money up at the airport - you can do this in the same hall as the visas before you go through passport control. We also changed more money up at Pokhara - all looked to have the same rates, and no commission, so rates were slightly better than the airport (by about 3 ruppees). We took way too many clothes with us for the trek. So would definitely recommend packing light, and worst case you can always wash something if you run out! You can leave luggage at the Kathmandu hotel, but also at Pokhara which you'll go back to after the trek, before going to Chitwan, so worth doing that as well. Defininitely take up the option of the early morning bird walk at Chitwan - we saw a lot of bird and other wildlife while we were out walking. Is there anything else you would like to add? Book the trip - it's great!
Reviewed April 2018 Anne Brown Trip: Annapurna in Luxury Annapurna and Chitwan in Luxury A wonderfully varied holiday, with city visits, trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas and a jungle safari to see the rhino. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Waking up and having breakfast in the garden of the mountain lodges while watching the sun come up on the mountain tops. Bathing the elephants in the river. Trekking through mountain villages, enjoying the beautiful scenery and learning about the villagers' way of life. What did you think of your group leader? Gum was such a professional guide, so thoughtful and attentive to the individual needs of each member of the group. We learnt so much from him about his country's customs and way of life and nothing was too much trouble for him to ensure that we had the most enjoyable holiday possible - a lovely man! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Watch out for leeches in the wooded areas of the mountains!! Is there anything else you would like to add? I am lucky enough to have done a lot of travelling, but have never had a trekking holiday and really enjoyed the experience - maybe more to come??
Reviewed May 2017 Steve Marsh Trip: Annapurna in Luxury GREAT TRIP TO NEPAL My wife & I went to Nepal with Exodus in March this year & had a fantastic time! As the 'Annapurna in Luxury' group tour didn't exactly meet our needs -we wanted to do water rafting & an elephant experience in Chitwan - SHARMIL at Exodus created a personal itinerary for us. The holiday was great - superb trekking in the Annapurna region, water rafting down the SETI river , various activities in the Chitwan National Park plus a fascinating day in Kathmandu! All Exodus staff were excellent but a special mention to BIKASH - our guide for 5 days of trekking. BIKASH was an outstanding guide/walk leader - he took us on less obvious/well known routes, adjusted the pace to suit our needs (not fast but not slow - taking account of my 'dodgy knee' etc) & encouraged us when we got a bit tired. A very talented Guide/Trekking Leader that we highly recommend ! Thanks for a superb experience ! Steve & Suzanne Marsh What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Trekking through villages in the Annapurna range. What did you think of your group leader? As above - BIKASH was an outstanding leader ! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Get to a reasonable level of fitness. Invest in pro biotic tablets & hand gel etc - we did so & had no health issues. The road journey to & from Chitwan is very long & busy - as the 'motorway' is not yet finished.dKW Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus Private Adventure
Reviewed December 2016 Elaine S Trip: Annapurna in Luxury Annapurna in Luxury (TNX) Excellent holiday in Nepal but the level 2 grading is misleading as the walks on two of the days are far harder than level 2. This point has been raised in several reviews by previous travellers and should be picked up by Exodus. The trip code TNX includes a really good mix with trekking, rafting and wildlife. Accommodation was of a really good standard - trekking lodges, Pokhara and Kasara Lodge (Chitwan). The hotel at Kathmandu was perfectly OK but £11 for a beer and soft drink was excessive even for hotel prices. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Two highlights - the fantastic scenery while trekking and the rafting on the River Seti. What did you think of your group leader? Keshar was a good leader but as we were a fairly large group really should have had a trained assistant leader, particularly on the treks where some of the group struggled with the uphill sections of the walks. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Read the trip notes and make sure that you are fit enough to cope with the trek - the trek from Sanctuary Lodge to Ghandruk involved an uphill slog similar to climbing a Scottish Munro then, just when we thought it was over, a lengthy set of steps up to the lodge at the top of the village. Two days later the entire route is done in reverse and lunch is at the Sanctuary Lodge but after lunch there is then a long climb up the other side of the valley to the lodge at Gurung Lodge when the temperature was high. Is there anything else you would like to add? This is a really good trip and gives a good variety of activities. The lengthy drive from Chitwan to Pokhara was an experience - the road conditions were terrible and credit to our driver for getting us to Kathmandu in one piece.
Reviewed December 2016 Miriam Carpenter Trip: Annapurna in Luxury An amazing adventure never to be forgotten I would not hesitate to recommend this holiday. The steep ascents of the treks were tough going but the routes through the villages at harvest time and the 'Namaste's of the local children kept me going. Arriving at the beautiful mountain lodges to such wonderful hospitality made it all worth while and the sunrise and sunsets were stunning (we were lucky in having clear skies every day). The rafting was fast enough to be fun and exciting but not scary, and the river camp felt like a real story book adventure. The activities at Chitwan were well planned and allowed for some time to relax by the pool. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many it's hard to pick. Sunrise in the mountains was beautiful, but each part of the trip had it's own special moments. The accommodation is lovely and the food is amazing! What did you think of your group leader? Keshar made everything run smoothly. He knew so much about his country - the customs, the flora and fauna etc. I learned a lot from him and have so much respect for the people of Nepal. He was always cheerful and madesure we were well looked after. I had great confidence in him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Pack light - there is a lot of packing and unpacking Climb some hills in preparation. If you have a chance to bathe with the elephants in Chitwan, get in that river, it's great fun! Try and stay longer in Kathmandu. There's a beautiful museum in Patan's Durbar Square that is worth a visit and is easily accessible by taxi. Is there anything else you would like to add? November felt like a good time to visit - no mosquitoes (so no need to take malaria tablets), hot days and cool nights.
Reviewed November 2016 Gail Madeley Trip: Annapurna in Luxury Annapurna in Luxury TNX Another great trip and an enjoyable diverse itinerary from, temples to trekking, to white water rafting, to safari. Some long days transferring between sites, but well worth it in the end. Great company, excellent leader and a wonderful, friendly country well worth visiting. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? On the trek being woken at 6.15am by a knock on the door from the porters with a cup of coffee/tea and coming out of the lodge to see the mountain range appearing above the clouds. Unfortunately, we only had a brief sight of the Fishtail, but the trek to the Himalaya Lodge was well worth the climb. White water rafting down the Seti River was great fun as was the search for one-horned rhino at Chitwan. What did you think of your group leader? Chandra was great fun. He was funny, became part of the team and went to great lengths to pass on his love of his country and the local traditions. On the last night of the trek, all the porters, the Ghurkhas, the group and Chandra danced the night away. Whilst it was no "Strictly", happy hour freed our inhibitions and everyone got up and danced (sort of)! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for early mornings and long days travelling. Some part of the treks have numerous steps, if you are used to walking with poles, take them with you. Sink plugs come in handy. We spent approximately £250 each on food, drinks, etc, but if you enjoy spending money on trinkets, presents, etc then you definitely need to allow more. Is there anything else you would like to add? The trip could have been improved by flying back from Pokhara to Kathmandu. We were prepared for a 6 hour drive, as stated in the trip notes, but our trip took 9 hours and was less than luxurious because 40km of the trip was on roads that were under construction. Had we flown back in the morning we would have had time to further explore Kathmandu and rest before returning on the long haul the following day. An additional night at the Seti River camp would have been more than welcome as this was so relaxing.
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