Last updated: 2013-05-07

Itinerary

Resplan

Bring on the tour

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu, Tribhuvan airport. At the immigration you purchase your visa (60 days validity). Cost is 40$. Bring this amount in cash. You need two pp size photos. In arrival hall you should change and get a few thousand in Nepalese currency. Use your bankcard at the ATM in the arrival hall. It may be a little chaotic outside the airport, many taxi drivers and hotel representatives will try to get your attention and your money. Try to find a friend and share a taxi to your hotel. The cost can be in the range of 600 - 800 NPR. You are now in the Kathmandu valley. Unlike most other visitors, you will not stay in Kathmandu. Instead in the ancient town of Bhaktapur, a typical Newar community. This small town is much more quiet than Kathmandu, which is bustling with tourist trade, commerce and heavy traffic. In Bhaktapur you can see craftsmen working in their shops or in the street. The Hindu religion is practiced around the temple grounds outside your hotel during mornings and evenings. Go for a walk in the evening and you will hear small orchestras playing outside the temples. Here little has changed during the last 200 years. A lot of tourists visit Bhaktapur during daytime, but mornings and evenings are quiet. You can reach Kathmandu 16 km from Bhaktapur, in 45 minutes, by bus, minibus, or taxi. Price of ticket is quite nominal. However all local buses stop running around 8 pm. After that you have to take a taxi. You will stay at a guesthouse situated at Durbar Square, inside the old town of Bhaktapur. It has a splendid location facing the old courtyard and several temples. There are two ATM machines just outside your hotel.

Day 2

Together you make a walk in this ancient town.

Day 3

Today you make a walk in Kathmandu and to some important places nearby, including the Buddhist stupas of Swayambodnath and Baudhanath or to the market to buy trekking gears you have forgotten to bring.

Day 4

Hired bus from Bhaktapur through Pokhara and Beni to the big village of Galeshwar (1170 m) by the Kali-Gandaki river. Lunch on the way. Overnight at a small hotel.

Day 5-12

Trekking starts.When you go trekking, the group will be split in smaller groups. The tour leader is instructed to give the most flexibility regarding the formation of smaller groups and which trails you use. You will walk in an area south of Annapurna Himal. Here you are not likely to meet other tourists. The nights you will stay in community run lodges and private houses. At night you will be divided with 3-4 people in one house. You will also be separated at lunch time. Villages are small so you will be able to meet each other at any time. You will also eat with your host family. They will also give you boiled water. In some places we have to get a pack lunch as there is no village where you can get lunch. Sometimes we have to send our men to inform at a village to have lunch ready.Whatever your interests and ambitions are, you should be able to realize these by taking advantage of assistance from the tour leader and and interpreters.

This trek is filled with cultural and ethnic variation. Most of the people are Magars. But there are also Damai, Kaami, Bahun, Chhetries and other ethnic groups. Most of them are farmers, typical Nepali people. So you will be happy to see them working in their fields. In Spring there will be rhododendron forests flowering and other flowers. In Autumn you will see the harvest going on.

The full length of the trek is spectacular for its views. The massive Annapurna Himal with several peaks around 8000 m is close to the north. You will also see Dhaulagiri 8150 m. Most spectacular is the unclimbed Machhapucchre which is still closer to you.

Day 5: After breakfast and lunch trek to the village Bansh Kharka on 1526 m (3 hrs), overnight at local families and dine in the separate community kitchen.

Day 6: Trek to Nangi village on 2320 m (6½ hrs), lunch at Danda Kateri (2,009 m), overnight at the community lodge & dine in the separate community kitchen.

Day 7: Trek to Mahare Danda on 3320 m (6½ hrs), take lunch packet, overnight at the community lodge & dine in the separate community kitchen. This is the highest point on the trek. The view over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himal is breathtaking.

Day 8: Trek to Danda Kharka on 2820 m (2 hrs), leave Mahare Danda about 1:30 pm after lunch, overnight at the community lodge & dine in the separate community kitchen.

Day 9: Trek to Tikot on 2250 m (6½ hrs), overnight at local families and dine in the separate community kitchen.

Day 10: One more day at Tikot. Stroll round the Tikot village and school, dine in your local family kitchen.

Day 11: Trek to Khibang on 2060 m (4 hrs), overnight at the local families and dine in the separate community kitchen.

Day 12: Trek to Tatopani on 1190 m (4 hrs), overnight at a small hotel. Take rest in the vulcanic hot spring with water around 40 degrees.

Day 13
Local bus to Pokhara.

Day 14

Pokhara city has grown a lot with the heavy influx of tourists and is today a big tourist center where everything in tourist demand is available. One day to relax an enjoy. You may even take a swim in nearby Pheva Tal.

Day 15- 17

By bus to Chitwan National Park. You will stay at a lodge in the village of Saurah, which is situated six kilometres from the main road (at Tandi Bazar). Chitwan is one of the most interesting national parks in South Asia, one reason is that here you may walk by foot, which is not the case in Indian parks where you have to sit in jeeps. You will easily see many rhinos and different species of deer. There are also crocodiles (marsh mugger and gharial), sloth bear, leopard and lots of birds. With luck you may catch a glimpse of a tiger. As Saurah is the only place in Chitwan where all foreigners are accommodated you will find a lot of organized activities. You can ride elephants, make short walks in the forest, go by canoe along the river to look for crocodiles. We strongly recommend you to devote at least one full day to make a long walk in the park in small groups with a local guide.For these activities you don´t pay extra. This option gives better chances to see wildlife and enjoy the splendid nature. For safety reasons it is not permitted to walk in the park without a guide. Actually you get two guides. Strong legs, endurance and knowledge are requirements for seeing the famed South Asian fauna.

Day 18

Return by bus to Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 19

There are a lot of interesting things to buy in Kathmandu valley. There is a wide range of handicraft of high quality. Also Nepal has lately developed a successful industry for sportswear. Some of these Nepali made products are of high quality. Prices are minimal!

Day 20

Tour ends.