Classic Nepal Tour

Adventure tour of Kathmandu valley, Chitwan safaris, Annapurna trekking, Bandipur and Nagarkot with optional Trisuli rafting,

This tour gives a comprehensive overview of one of the world's great holiday destinations. With its huge range in altitudes and countrysides from the plains bordering Nepal to the top of Mt. Everest, a trip through Nepal gives you views of spectacular mountain scenery, adventures in wildlife rich forests, visits to ancient hilltop villages, and a rich culture with Hindu and Buddhist temples to discover. This two-week trip starts by exploring Kathmandu on foot before heading to the lowland Terai region of Nepal and Chitwan National Park. If you're keen you can do an afternoon of exciting white water rafting on the Trisuli river on the way. We spend two nights in Chitwan and the tour includes a jungle walk, jeep safari and river canoe trip. You'll also take a rural village walk outside the park to see how the local Tharu people live. Chitwan is most famous for the high numbers of the endangered Asian Rhino living there, and you should also see several species of deer and monkeys, numerous birds, gharial and mugger crocodiles, and if you're lucky, wild boat, sloth bear, wild elephants and even a tiger. Our next stop is Bandipur, a Newari hilltop village which is well worth exploring around on foot to see how rural village life in Nepal carries on. We then head to Pokhara, Nepal's adventure capital, which sits next to a lake at the foot of the Annapurna mountain range. Our 5-day Poon Hill trek through the foothills of the Annapurnas starts from here. You'll stay in locally owned trekking lodges and our experienced guides and porters will escort you. The trek is of moderate difficulty; there are a couple of long days and plenty of uphill and downhill (hard to avoid in Nepal!), but you don't need to be superfit at all. The circular trekking route passes through a wide variety of different landscapes, rhododendron forests, ridges and terraced farmland, with great views of the Annapurna range available every day, and especially from your sunrise walk up to the top of Poon Hill. You have a little free time in Pokhara to relax after your trek before we head back to the Kathmandu valley and the hilltop village of Nagarkot which sits perched on a ridge on the rim of the valley. Nagarkot is famous for its sunrise mountain views, and you can even see the top of Everest from here in the far distance. Next is the ancient centre of Bhaktapur, where we take time to enjoy the wonderful, intricately carved, wooden architecture of the traditional Hindu temples and surrounding buildings. Bhaktapur was hit hard by the recent earthquake and you'll see evidence of this and the rebuilding that is being carried out. Our tour of Nepal then finishes back in Kathmandu.

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel We greet you on your arrival in Kathmandu airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the Thamel tourist disctrict of the city. Our rep will help you settle in and familiarise you with the local area. | OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu - 3 star hotel Day 2: Kathmandu city tour. Swayambunath stupa Our tour starts today with a guided walk from our hotel in Thamel through small back streets full of numerous tiny shops, workshops, temples, and stupas to Durbar Square with its array of wooden and stone carved temples and palaces. After lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square, we drive to the important Swayambunath Stupa which sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, visible from miles around. Also known locally as the 'monkey temple', we'll see these nimble inhabitants scampering in and around the trees and temple. | OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu - 3-star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 3: Kathmandu to Chitwan. Trisuli rafting option This morning we drive out of the Kathmandu Valley and drive to Chitwan National Park in the lowland Terai region of Nepal that borders India. This will be our first taste of rural Nepal, and we'll see terraced farmland, forested hills, and rushing rivers. An option is available today to spend a few hours white water rafting on the Trisuli river (those choosing this option will rejoin the group in Chitwan this evening). On arrival in Chitwan, we check into our lodge, and then take an early evening village walk to see how the local Tharu people live and work. | OVERNIGHT: Chitwan - Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner | EXTRAS: Trisuli white water rafting option Day 4: Chitwan National Park. Wildlife safaris We spend today exploring Chitwan National Park in search of, amongst others, tiger, rhino and wild elephant. In the morning we’ll take a walk through the jungle and enjoy a canoe trip. Later on, in the afternoon you take a jeep safari further into the park. | OVERNIGHT: Chitwan - lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5: Chitwan to Bandipur Early this morning you can take a walk outside the park dedicated mainly to bird watching. After breakfast wethen leave Chitwan and the Terai and drive to the ancient hilltop Newari trading village of Bandipur. The centre of Bandipur has been restored, and is vehicle free, with some lovely old buildings. You have time this afternoon to relax here, or take a walk or hike through the surrounding fields, villages and hills. Walks include a 2-hour downhill hike through fields and forest to Siddha Cave, one of the largest in Asia and full of impressive rock formations (bring a torch). You can hike back uphill to Bandipur from here or walk down to the highway for our vehicle to pick you up. A shorter walk from the town centre can take you uphill for around 30min to the Thani Mai Temple, which is well worth it for its views at sunset if the weather is clear. In fact the whole of Bandipur affords good mountain views. | OVERNIGHT: Bandipur - Guesthouse | MEALS: Breakfast Day 6: Bandipur to Pokhara We leave Bandipur this morning and drive on to the lakeside town of Pokhara, which sits at the base of the Annapurna range of mountains and is the main access point for trekking and rafting in the area. We will visit various places around Pokhara this afternoon, including the Peace Pagoda, Tibetan refugee camp and Devi Falls. | OVERNIGHT: Pokhara - 3 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 7: Start trekking to Ghandruk We drive through low hills and valleys to Nayapul this morning, via the village of Lumle. We begin trekking from Nayapul to Birethanti which takes approximately 1-2 hours. Continuing on from Birethanti the path which follows the Modi Khola river is fairly flat until you begin your long ascent from Shauli Bazaar to Ghandruk. The total trekking for today is approximately 5-6 hours. | OVERNIGHT: Ghandruk - trekking lodge | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Trekking Pack (sleeping bag, walking poles, down jacket) Day 8: Trekking from Ghandruk to Tadapani The walk from Ghandruk to Tadapani passes through several types of forest, some with unusual trails of moss hanging down from the tree branches. Once you arrive in Tadapani you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare. The total trekking for today is approximately 4 hours. | OVERNIGHT: Tadapani - trekking lodge | MEALS: Breakfast Day 9: Trekking from Tadapani to Ghorepani The trail between Tadapani and Ghorepani crosses several river valleys and winds its way through rhododendron forests where monkeys are often seen. After leaving the mountain forests behind you can get some clearer views before arriving in Bantanthi. You have time to rest for a while in Bantanthi before climbing through forests and following a grass and pine covered ridge to Ghorepani. The total trekking for today is approximately 4-5 hours. | OVERNIGHT: Ghorepani - trekking lodge | MEALS: Breakfast Day 10: Sunrise on Poon Hill. Trekking from Ghorepani to Tirkhedunga We start early this morning and make the climb up to Poon Hill, where we get great views of the Annapurna Range and Macchapuchare in particular. The rising mists over the foothills of the Himalayas stretching away from you are also a beautiful sight. After returning to the lodge for breakfast, we walk down to Tirkhedunga through oak and rhododendron forests via Nangethanti, Banthanti and a steep stepped descent from Ulleri. The total trekking for today is approximately 5-6 hours. | OVERNIGHT: Tirkhedunga - trekking lodge | MEALS: Breakfast Day 11: Finish trek. Free time in Pokhara We finish our trek today with a walk back from Tirkhedunga to Naya Pul which includes some more steep descents and beautiful scenery. We then take a local transfer back to Pokhara where you will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is free for you to relax. You could perhaps take a rowing boat out onto the lake or just relax in one of the lakeside cafes and bars and reflect on completing your trek. | OVERNIGHT: Pokhara - 3 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 12: Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu We leave the Annapurna region behind today and take a tourist bus back to Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is free to settle back into the bustle of city life. | OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu - 3 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 13: Everest flight option. Ancient Bhaktapur. Hilltop Nagarkot This morning you have the option of taking a spectacular mountain viewing flight to see Everest and its surrounding peaks up close. Otherwise, the morning is free to check out the shops and markets in Kathmandu for some souvenirs. This afternoon we visit one of the other ancient cities in the Kathmandu valley, Bhaktapur. The centre of Bhaktapur has been designated a World Heritage Site, and hosts the best preserved ancient buildings and temples in the Kathmandu valley, with some great examples of traditional wooden architecture to be seen. Our tour here will really give you a taste for how life has been led in the valley for centuries, and you'll see several traditional crafts still taking place, including a whole square dedicated to pottery. Later, we head into the hills surrounding the valley and spend the night in the village of Nagarkot. The village is perched on a ridge and is known for having some of the best views in the Kathmandu Valley. | OVERNIGHT: Nagarkot- 3 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Everest mountain viewing flight Day 14: Nagarkot. Pasupatinath temple, Boudhanath stupa This morning we hope for spectacular sunrise views from Nagarkot before walking down a ridge through the Tilkot Forest Resever and passing typical Nepali terraced farmland to the crumbling and atmospheric Changu Narayan temple (approx. 2-3 hours walking). We then we head back into Kathmandu to visit two of the city's most important, and contrasting religious pilgrimage sites; Pasupatinath temple (Hindu) and Boudhanath stupa (Buddhist). The evening is free for you to explore Kathmandu and Thamel one last time and enjoy a farewell meal together. | OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu - 3 star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast Day 15: Kathmandu. Free time. Transfer to airport You have some free time in Kathmandu today until we transfer you to the airport for departure. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Extra nights in Kathmanadu; Bardia National Park extension; Further trekking or rafting