A Short Walk in Nepal

 

Kathmandu	3 nights
Royal Chitwan National Park	2 nights
Pokhara	1 night
Modi River	1 night
Ghandruk	1 night
Gurung	1 night
Dhampus	1 night
Pokhara	1 night
Kathmandu	1 night

CHOICE OF ACCOMMODATION - See price grid below

14 days from £1296

excluding international flights

DAY 1 – Depart UK.

DAY 2 – Arrival in Kathmandu.

On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: Qatar Airways from London Heathrow via Doha (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 3 – Kathmandu.

After a leisurely breakfast, you will meet your World Discovery guide and spend the morning visiting the highlights of Nepal’s fascinating capital [more]. The afternoon is at leisure, with the opportunity of taking an optional excursion to Patan [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 4 – Kathmandu.  Optional Excursions.

A day to relax at your hotel, do some shopping, or explore some of the other attractions within easy reach of the capital. For those with an interest in history and architecture, a must-see is the glorious medieval town of Bhaktapur [more]. Also worth visiting is the Hindu holy site of Pasupatinath [more]. Your World Discovery representative is on hand to organise these and other visits on your behalf.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 5 – Fly to the Royal Chitwan National Park.

In the morning fly to Bharatpur, gateway to the Royal Chitwan National Park, and transfer by road to your resort. The first jungle activity will be organised for the late afternoon.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 6 – Royal Chitwan National Park.

TGameviewing in the Royal Chitwan National Park [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 7 - By road to Pokhara.

Depart this morning by road to Pokhara. On arrival transfer by road to your hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a short boat trip on the scenic Phewa Lake.
Walking time: 1 to 2 hours.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Walk to the Modi River Valley.

Your programme of guided walking in the Annapurna foothills begins this morning. In the company of your guide and porters you will be driven to the starting point, about an hour away from Pokhara. Your walk will follow a ridgeline with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley before dropping down into the Modi River Valley, where Ker & Downey's Sanctuary Lodge is located. The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred Machhapuchhare, or Fishtail, Mountain. After lunch at the lodge, you have the afternoon free to explore the surrounding river valley.
Walking time: 3 hours.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 9 – Walk to Ghandruk.

In the morning walk out through the outlying farms along the Modi River Valley. Soon you will begin to climb out of the valley and into the higher mountains. Lunch is a picnic en route with spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. The trail passes through small hamlets, terraced rice fields and forests. In the afternoon arrive at Ker & Downey's Himalaya Lodge at Gandruk.
Walking time: 5 hours
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 10 – Walk to Gurung.

This morning's walking is along the tradional route to the Annapurna base camp so you may well encounter expeditions on their way to the mountain peaks. A 2 hour walk will bring you to Ker & Downey's Gurung Lodge, built in the style of a traditional Nepalese village, with every room enjoying a spectacular view of the surroundings. You will spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby villages of majgaun and Patleket, including a visit to a school.
Walking time: 5 hours.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 11 - Walk to Dhampus.

A contrast today as you walk through sub-tropical forests amongst tree orchids, rhododendrons and magnolias. You will also pass through the village of Potana where many Tibetan traders live and sell their wares. Reach the Ker & Downey Basanta Lodge in Dhampus in time for lunch. There are sweeping views of the entire Annapurna Range from this lodge.
Walking time: 4 hours.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

DAY 12 - Return to Pokhara.

After breakfast walk along the ridge before descending through wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor. You will be met and driven back to your hotel in Pokhara.
Walking time: 1 to 2 hours.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 13 - Fly to Kathmandu.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the return flight to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening you will be taken (unless you are already staying there) to the unique Dwarika's Kathmandu Hotel for a special farewell banquet.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 14 – Kathmandu/London.

Private transfer to the airport for your international flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

International Flights

There are no direct flights between London and Kathmandu. We recommendthe services of Qatar Airways from London Heathrow to Doha with a goodonward connection to Kathmandu. Flights are daily throughout the year.Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Doha. Depart at 15.05; arrive Doha at 23.89
Doha/Kathmandu. Depart at 01.05 (next day); arrive Kathmandu at 08.30
Kathmandu/Doha. Depart at 09.30; arrive Doha at 11.45
Doha/Heathrow. Depart at 12.30; arrive Heathrow at 17.55

A Short Walk in Nepal (Tour Reference: WDNP003)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily departures	Standard	Superior
2010 (Feb to Mar, Oct to Dec*)	£1296	£1580

* Trekking is not advisable in the summer months due to weather conditions.

Standard Hotels
Kathmandu - Radisson Hotel
Chitwan National Park - Machan Wildlife Resort
Pokhara - Shangri-La Village
During the trek the Ker & Downey eco-lodges will be used.

Superior Hotels
Kathmandu - Dwarika's Kathmandu Hotel
Chitwan National Park - Temple Tiger Lodge
Pokhara - Shangri-La Village
During the trek the Ker & Downey eco-lodges will be used.

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel and lodge accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 12 full breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Scheduled flights between Kathmandu and Bharatpur (and between Pokhara and Kathmandu) including taxes.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of a private English-speaking driver in Kathmandu, and between Chitwan and Pokhara. Transportation during your stay in the Royal Chitwan National Park will be on a shared basis.
• The services of naturalist guides in the Royal Chitwan National Park.
• Private guide and porters during your walk in the Annapurna foothills.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter
• A Nepal Visa. This can be obtained before departure from Embassy of Nepal in London, or alternatively you can purchase the visa (current price US$25) on arrival at Kathmandu Airport (recommended).

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.