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Active Nepal: Trails, Rivers & Wildlife

Overview

Trek beneath the Annapurna range, raft the Seti River and search for rhinos – experience Nepal through active adventure

Get to know Nepal through the activities that bring its landscapes and cultures to life. Walk among Bhaktapur’s temples and try traditional pottery, trek through the Annapurna foothills, then raft the Seti River and camp beside the water. In Chitwan, search for one-horned rhinos by 4×4 and canoe, before meeting members of the Tharu community. Along the way, make momos with Tibetan hosts, practise sunrise yoga in the hills and experience Hindu traditions beside Phewa Lake.

Key Information

Activity Level: Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level: Classic
Trip Code: VNA
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Nepal

What's Included

All accommodation: 4 Superior nights (hotels with pools), 3 Classic nights (hotels), 2 Simple nights (1 teahouse, 1 camp)
All breakfasts, four lunches, six dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (minibus and one internal flight) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Highlights

Raft the Seti River, tackling white water before camping overnight beside the river

Shape clay alongside Bhaktapur artisans during a hands-on pottery workshop

Trek through the Annapurna foothills and stay overnight in a village lodge

Greet the day with a sunrise yoga session overlooking the Annapurna range

Search for Chitwan’s wildlife by 4x4, canoe and on foot

Itinerary

First Destination: Bhaktapur
Next Destination: Kathmandu

Accommodation:Hotel Bhadgaon (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Bhadgaon (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Teahouse lodge
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Seti River Camp
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Green Mansions Jungle Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Green Mansions Jungle Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Bhaktapur
Next Destination: Kathmandu

We start in Bhaktapur, a former royal city known for red-brick squares, Newari craftsmanship and temples dating from the 13th to 18th centuries.

Around 6pm, say namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Nepali welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Kathmandu or Bhaktapur? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Hotel Bhadgaon (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Early risers can take an optional mountain flight for an aerial introduction to the Himalaya, with the possibility of seeing Everest when conditions are clear.

After breakfast, we regroup to explore Bhaktapur with our tour leader, learning how the city flourished under the Malla kings. Among the palaces, temples and courtyards of its UNESCO-listed historic centre, we see Newari woodcarving, metalwork and brick architecture at close quarters.

Later, local artisans introduce us to one of Bhaktapur’s longstanding crafts during a hands-on pottery session. Working with the same techniques used by generations of potters, we attempt to shape our own piece from clay – with varying degrees of symmetry.

Accommodation:Hotel Bhadgaon (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Nepalese potter working in his workshop on pottery square in Bhaktapur

Leaving Bhaktapur, we drive (six to seven hours) west to Pokhara, following the Trishuli River through a landscape of cultivated hills and roadside settlements. Nepal’s road conditions can make journey times unpredictable, so it is worth keeping water and snacks close to hand.

After checking in, we can stretch our legs in the Lakeside district, which runs along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake. As evening falls, we watch the lakeside aarati ceremony, when devotional music, candlelight and ritual create a memorable introduction to Nepal’s Hindu traditions.

Accommodation:Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We transfer (20-40 minutes) to the village of Hemja, where we begin our hike into the foothills surrounding Pokhara.

Following our tour leader, we climb through terraced farmland, forest and villages to Astam. The 3mi (5km) ascent takes approximately two to three hours, with 2,028ft (618m) of elevation gain. Trails may be muddy or slippery after rain, so footwear with good grip is required.

Reaching the ridge-top village of Astam at 5,144ft (1,568m), we can look across the Pokhara, Hemja and Mardi valleys towards the Annapurna range when conditions are clear. We then settle into our teahouse lodge, with the chance to watch sunset over the mountains.

Accommodation:Teahouse lodge
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin with a spirit-boosting yoga session accompanied by views over the Annapurna range, easing tired muscles before returning to the trail.

After breakfast, we descend from Astam through forest, terraced fields and villages. The 3mi (5km) walk takes approximately two to three hours, with 2,028ft (618m) of descent. Sections may be slippery after rain, and our tour leader sets a pace suited to the group.

At Hemja, we meet our driver and transfer (20-40 minutes) to Pokhara’s Lakeside district with the afternoon free to relax or explore.

In the evening, we visit a Tibetan settlement for a momo-making class. Our hosts teach us to prepare and fold Nepal’s popular dumplings before we enjoy our creations for dinner and learn more about the community’s food and culture.

Accommodation:Temple Bell Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Leave Pokhara and drive (1hr 30min-2hr) to our rafting put-in point. After a safety briefing and paddling instruction from our rafting guides, we take to the Seti River for two to three hours on the water.

The route carries us between forested banks and rural countryside, with stretches of calmer water between the rapids. We finish at our riverside tented camp, where the evening is spent beside the river and around the campfire.

Accommodation:Seti River Camp
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return to the river for the final one to two hours of our rafting adventure, then continue by road to Chitwan (approximately 1hr 30min).

After lunch, we visit a nearby Tharu village with a local guide. Meeting members of the community gives us an introduction to Tharu homes, farming practices and cultural traditions. In the evening, performers demonstrate the coordinated movements and rhythmic clashing of sticks used in a Tharu stick dance.

Accommodation:Green Mansions Jungle Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend a full day exploring Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its forests, grasslands and river systems protect one of the most important populations of greater one-horned rhinos, alongside gharial crocodiles, deer, monkeys and more than 500 recorded bird species.

Accompanied by specialist nature guides, we search for wildlife on a 4×4 safari and take a canoe ride along the Rapti River. A guided jungle walk provides a closer look at the park’s plants, tracks and smaller wildlife, with our guide interpreting signs we might otherwise pass unnoticed.

Accommodation:Green Mansions Jungle Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mature one-horned rhino in the grasslands, at the edge of a river in Chitwan national park

Early risers can join a birdwatching excursion with a nature guide before breakfast.

We later transfer (approximately 30 minutes) to Bharatpur Airport and fly to Kathmandu. When the weather is clear, the short flight provides another opportunity to see Nepal’s hills and distant mountains from above.

After transferring to the hotel, the remainder of the day is free. Our tour leader can recommend places to visit, shop or eat according to your interests.

Accommodation:Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve shaped clay with Bhaktapur’s potters, trekked beneath the Annapurna range and rafted the Seti River, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Hotels, teahouse and riverside camp

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort.

Seti River: Seti River Camp (night 6)

Enjoy the serenity of the wild with a night camping by the Seti River. Evenings are spent relaxing in our remote spot, gathering around the campfire as we share stories and listen to nature. The site itself has 16 twin-bed tents on raised platforms, each shaded by a thatch or slate roof. Each also has a private bathroom with hot water. There’s also a main dining area, where we tuck into food prepared by the on-site chef.

Chitwan: Green Mansions Jungle Resort (nights 7-8)

Active Nepal: Trails, Rivers & Wildlife

On the edge of a community forest, Green Mansions offers traditional cottages encompassed by nature. The highlight may well be the in-house team of naturalists, who bring the landscape to life with their expertise. Other pluses include a pool with half-sunken loungers and a multi-cuisine restaurant where dishes include produce from the hotel garden.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
River camp: In this remote spot, only accessible by boat, there is no electricity, but kerosene lamps, torches and candles are provided.

Essential Information

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Bhadgaon, Barahisthan, Bhaktapur 44800
Phone: +977 1-6620038
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time on Day 1. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Tribhuvan International Airport from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Nepal

You can obtain your visa in advance or on arrival. The Immigration Department of Nepal has suspended visas on arrival for certain nationalities – please check if this applies to you with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Visa in advance

To get a visa in advance you can apply online at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np and collect it from your nearest Nepali embassy. Find more information at www.immigration.gov.np.

Visa on arrival

When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, there will be three lines. If you have already secured your visa, go straight to the Immigration line. If not:
Fill in a tourist visa form at the electronic 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, complete the details manually using the touchscreen. We recommend taking a passport photo with you just in case.
Top tip: This process can be completed through the online immigration portal (click ‘Visa On-Arrival’) within 14-days prior to arrival in Kathmandu, helping you to avoid lengthy queues at the kiosks when you come through immigration – ensure you print and bring the confirmation with you. If you have completed your visa on arrival form in advance, go directly to the visa fees counters with your printed confirmation and skip the kiosk queues.
Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (in cash, if possible). Make sure to keep the receipt. Card payments are not always possible, so paying in cash is easiest, most currencies are accepted but US dollars are preferred.
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.

Allow approximately 3,000-5,000 rupees (US$22-US$38) per day for meals not included in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Dhal bhat is the staple diet in Nepal and comes in many different forms but generally comprises curried lentil dhal and meat or vegetables, rice, and a pickle/chutney. Another popular snack is momos, a Nepalese dumpling filled with meat or vegetables.

If you have a gluten-free diet, we strongly recommend you bring extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek as there will be little variety available to you, particularly for breakfast. Even some soups are from powder/packets and contain gluten.

The primary season for active adventures in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time, and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures vary from 15C to 30C (59F to 86F).

However, different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.

Mid-September to November: Daytime temperatures are up to 25C (77F). Skies are usually clear and days are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights are colder with temperatures dropping to about 5C (41F).

December to end of February: Despite the cooler conditions, this is an ideal time for active adventures in Nepal. In December, the skies are usually very clear, the days are sunny, and the mountain views are at their best. Early mornings and evenings are cold with temperatures down to about 5C (41F), but days are sunny with temperatures up to 22C (72F). The trails are also much less busy. Chitwan is cold in the early mornings and evenings but pleasantly warm in the daytime.

March to May: Temperatures are warmer in general, but haze often builds in the afternoons and there can be rain. Temperatures rise to 30C (86F) and above in Chitwan and in Kathmandu. The days are hotter (up to 25C/77F) and nights are a bit cooler. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to visit at this time.

In any mountainous area, the weather is never wholly predictable; you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.