|
Day 01 - Arrival in kathmandu
Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport
transfer to your hotel. Short briefing will follow concerning the
necessary formalities and your trekking itinerary. Depending upon your
arrival time you may spend free time visiting nearby sanctuaries or
resting.
Day 02 - Sightseeing / Cultural Day in Kathmandu Valley
Half day sightseeing around Kathmandu where your
guide will escort you on a tour of Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines
reflecting ancient local traditions. There is time to explore the city’s
many places of interest on your own or take a rest while trekking permits
are finalised. In the evening sample a delicious traditional Nepali
dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 03 - Kathmandu to Pokhara (915m)
Take breakfast before an early morning departure at
7am for Pokhara (200km), approximately 30 minutes of flight time. Pokhara
looks on to one of the most beautiful Himalayan panoramas in the world.
The Annapurna and famous "Fishtail" mountain peak of Machhapuchhare tower
over the tropical setting of Pokhara and the time you spend there will be
the scenic highlight of your trip. You are free in Pokhara Valley - also
known as the Dreamland of Nepal - to explore and experience a variety of
activities including boating in Fewa Lake overlooking the Annapurna
foothills. Stay overnight in Pokhara.
Day 04 - Pokhara to Kalikasthan (1370m)
After breakfast, we drive to Bijayapur Khola to
start the trek form there. We walk about an hour through the flat rice
fields and across the river. If you are taking this trek in the summer the
river may be hard to cross if it is flooded. After crossing the river the
trail starts to ascend to Kalikasthan. Lunch will be served at the middle
of the climb. After arriving at Kalikasthan camp will be set up at the top
of the grassy verge (4 hrs).
Day 05 - Kalikasthan to Syaglung (1730m)
After breakfast, we start walking through the
villages of Thulokot to Mati Thana where we can enjoy a teashop lunch. We
will walk on the forested ridge of the mountain with good views of
Annapurna and Lamjung Himal. After ascending to Lipini we will arrive at
Syanglung where we will set up camp (4 hrs).
Day 06 - Syaglung to Chisapani (2194m)
Walk through Gurung Village with a small but lovely
marketplace we will continue through rhododendron and Sal forests. Halfway
through the walk there is a 400 meter descent and 600 meter ascent on an
easy path before arriving at Chisopani - this is the best point to see the
Himalayan Panorama. You will see Dhaulagiri (8167m) to the west of
Annapurna. We set up camp a short distance from this village, near a
ridge-top temple (4 hrs).
Day 07 - Chisapani to Pokhara
We walk half way downhill to Rupa Tal and climb
about 200 meters before arriving at Suyndare Danda and walk 15 minutes
down to Begnas Tal for an hour’s boating to catch the transfer to Pokhara.
Stay overnight in Pokhara.
Day 08 - Pokhara to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09 - Kathmandu
Departure from Kathmandu.
Day 1
Your trip begins
today in Kathmandu, Nepal. There are a number of convenient carriers to
Nepal and the Eco-friendly Treks Adventures Air Department can handle your
flight needs. A hotel en route may be needed (not included). After
clearing immigration and customs in Kathmandu, you are met by one of your
Nepali guides and transferred to your city hotel. The afternoon is left
open to rest and explore on your own. This evening we gather to enjoy a
banquet of traditional Nepali foods and a general trip orientation. Dinner
included.
Day 2
Early this morning
there is an optional close-up sightseeing flight to Mt. Everest ($125 fee,
amazing views!). After lunch we enjoy a half-day guided tour of the
ancient city of Kathmandu. Visit Buddhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath – the
sacred Hindu pilgrim site. Breakfast included.
Days 3-5
We begin our four
day, fully-supported camping trek in the remote middle Himalaya. Our trail
is the ancient and historic footpath Nepal Royalty used hundreds of years
ago to travel south to India for the winter. (This is not to be confused
with the route in the Annapurna Range that Prince Charles once used that
is commonly referred to as the Royal Trek). Today these trails are used by
the local villagers and farmers to cross the miles from their homes to the
nearest town. Ours is a route you won’t find in any guide book…we don’t
anticipate meeting any other trekkers on our journey. Each day provides
the unique opportunity to meet and interact with the local people whose
rich Hindu culture has been little touched by the modern world. As we
meander through rhododendron forests and over terraced hillsides we visit
a major Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali, visit a Tibetan gompa
that’s perched high on a hillside and offers magnificent views of the
Bagmati River valley, meet Newari farmers plowing their fields, sip tea
with a Tamang family and perhaps share an evening of traditional stories
around a small home hearth. As stunning as the landscape is here, the
culture is as just as colorful. Each morning, our guides and porters wake
us with sweet hot tea at our tents before breakfast. In the evening, we
pitch our camp on hillsides offering large vistas, immense quietness and
endless starry skies. This is a slice of traditional Nepal at its very
best! Trekking: 3-5 hours daily; Terrain: rolling hills with some steep
sections; 1000-2000’ elevation gain / loss; All meals included.
Day 6
On this final day
of trekking we visit a local school where we have the chance to interact
with the school children and learn about student life. We spend the
evening at a comfortable country lodge and toast our first set of porters
as we end this village trek. Trekking: 3-4 hours; All meals included.
Day 7
We enjoy an early
breakfast before heading to the airport to catch our plane to the Royal
Chitwan National Park. This is a scenic, one hour flight followed by a one
hour vehicle and canoe transfer into the park. We check into our
comfortable jungle lodge, shower and relax before our first elephant foray
into the jungle. All meals included.
Day 8
Enjoy a full day
of wildlife viewing via elephant back, dugout canoe and nature walks with
the park’s naturalists. Although this area is famous for its wildlife (it
is elusive!) a large part of the enjoyment here is being on an elephant
and lumbering through the jungle. Keep your eyes open for the one-horned
rhino, wild boar, langur monkeys, three types of deer, sloth bear, myriad
birds and, of course, the very elusive Bengal tiger. (Note: Fall
departures have the best opportunities for wildlife sightings.) All meals
included.
Day 9
We are up early
for a final outing into the jungle before flying back to Kathmandu. The
late afternoon and evening are free to explore on your own in
Kathmandu. This is a good time to shop for gifts in the colorful Thamel
markets. Breakfast, lunch included.
Day 10
Another early
start today; at the Kathmandu airport we board our charter helicopter for
a breathtaking flight north to the village of Ghora Tabela (9,450’), just
below the high Langtang Valley. Our helicopter flight is always a visual
highlight – the flight itself is quiet and almost like floating above the
river valleys and ridgelines. Have your camera ready! Once landed, we
settle into a local tea house and have the afternoon to hike a bit higher
to aid with altitude acclimatization. This is a beautiful area of
rhododendron and berberis dotted with the small stone homes of the local
people. All meals included.
Day 11
This is a vigorous
day of hiking up to the Langtang Valley and the village of Langtang
(11,480’). Our trail zig-zags higher and higher while offering tantalizing
views of the Langtang peaks that await us. As we climb into the broad
valley, we pass old mani-walls and goths, temporary shelters for
herders. Langtang village itself is a community of stone houses, walled
fields of buckwheat and potatoes, and an old gompa with its resident
lama. The people who make Langtang their home are the Tamangs and the
Sherpas who, for several hundred years, have crossed from Tibet to live in
the high reaches of the Himalayas. We overnight in a local tea
house. Trekking: 3-4 ½ hours; Terrain: continuous, gradual uphill with
some level sections; All meals included.
Day 12
Today is all about
high mountain splendor - ranks upon rank of snowcapped Himalayan giants
surround the upper Langtang Valley. A delightful morning’s trek from
Langtang to Kyangjin (12,300’) winds up and through ruggedly wild and
exceedingly beautiful country offering fine mountain scenery. Ice-fluted
Gangchempo (21,000’) dominates the eastern landscape. Wandering past icy
streams and glacial pools, aside long mani walls and stone chortens draped
in colorful prayer flags, our hike is entirely through the open valley
until we top out at a rise above Kyangjin Gompa. From here the mountain
views become even more spectacular with Langtang Lirung (23,700’) being
the most dramatic. Porters carry our gear. Tonight we overnight at a tea
house. Trekking: 4-5 hours; Terrain: gradual and steady uphill; All meals
included.
Day 13
Several hiking
options are available to us. Minor peaks (such as Kyangjin Ri) offer
enormous views; the Lirung Cirque of hanging glaciers and the Langtang
Lirung basecamp are beautiful treks; or the up-valley walk toward
Nubamtang (13,123’) with its justifiable reputation for mountain
grandeur. Above Kyangjin, we follow the Langtang Khola (river) on an easy
path that passes a couple of yak herder’s settlements and pastures, cuts
across rocky moraines and glacial streams. Here, one mountain after
another draws our attention and pulls us onward. The walks in the upper
valley are, quite simply put, magnificent! We overnight again in Kyangjin;
this is the final evening with our Langtang trekking porters and support
staff. All meals included.
Day 14
Today we bid
farewell to this magnificent high mountain country and board our
helicopter for a morning flight from Kyangjin to Kathmandu. After we
transfer to the hotel, the remainder of today is free for rest,
relaxation, or exploration. Breakfast included.
Day 15
The morning is
spent on a guided tour of the medieval city of Bhaktapur. A farewell
banquet with your guides of traditional foods is the perfect end to this
spectacular Himalayan journey. Breakfast and dinner included.
Days 16
This morning our
journey in Nepal ends with a transfer to the Kathmandu international
airport for your flight home. Breakfast included.
|