Nepal

Himalaya Highlights – Turning 30

Trip Overview

The Himalayan nation of Nepal boasts jaw-dropping mountain scenery and a vibrant culture to match. We’ll wander the lively streets of Kathmandu, spend a night at a Buddhist monastery guesthouse, and take in astounding views of the Annapurna Himalaya in lakeside Pokhara. We’ll then venture to Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s oldest nature reserve, to seek out elephants, tigers, and a plethora of avian species.

The tour itself spans over 10 days, but we’ll arrive a day early and leave three days later, with a bougie hotel, yoga, a flight to Everest and a cooking class planned for our independent time.

Tour Highlights

• An immersive sound bath wellness demonstration
• Six-course vegetarian meal featuring Nepalese flavours
• Experience the essence of serenity with an overnight stay at a Buddhist Monastery
• Meet a graduate of the G Adventures-supported paralegal programme for women
• Search out rhinos and tigers in Chitwan National Park
• Get a firsthand demonstration of traditional apron weaving
• Learn how to make Nepalese momos (dumplings)

Key Information

Visa: Visa on arrival is $30 each for 15 days ($50 if we want 30 days)

Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR) (100 INR = 0.61 GBP, 1 GBP = 163 INR)

ATMs: Available in most large towns, cities and hotels in Nepal

Budget: Approximately $400 for food

Emergency Numbers:

• Police: 100
• Fire: 101
• Tourist Police (Kathmandu): 01 4700750
• Tourist Police HQ: 01 4247041

Cultural Notes:

• Women should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops in temples and other holy places
• Remove shoes before entering certain holy places
• Non-Hindus are not permitted in some temples
• You should carry your passport with you at all times
• There’s a low rate of serious crime in Nepal, however take sensible precautions
• Watch out for pick-pockets and bag-snatching, particularly in airports, on buses and in areas popular with foreign nationals like Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu

Summary of Plan

Day	Date	Plan	Accommodation
1	Fri 21-Apr	Depart UK	In Flight
2	Sat 22-Apr	Arrive Kathmandu	The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu
3	Sun 23-Apr	Tour Start, Sound Bath & Welcome Feast	The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu
4	Mon 24-Apr	Kathmandu Exploration	The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu
5	Tue 25-Apr	Swayambhunath & Pharping Monastery	Buddhist Monastery, Pharping
6	Wed 26-Apr	Kurintar Village Walk	Summit River Lodge, Kurintar
7	Thu 27-Apr	Chitwan National Park River Safari	Barahi Jungle Lodge, Chitwan
8	Fri 28-Apr	Chitwan Jeep Safari	Barahi Jungle Lodge, Chitwan
9	Sat 29-Apr	Drive to Pokhara	Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara
10	Sun 30-Apr	Sarangkot Sunrise & Peace Pagoda	Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara
11	Mon 01-May	Fly to Kathmandu	The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu
12	Tue 02-May	Mountain Flight & Free Day	Karma House, Kathmandu
13	Wed 03-May	Free Day Kathmandu	Karma House, Kathmandu
14	Thu 04-May	Fly to Dubai	XVA Art Hotel, Dubai
15	Fri 05-May	Free Day Dubai	XVA Art Hotel, Dubai
16	Sat 06-May	Fly Home	Home

DAY 01 [21/04/23] – Departure Day

In Flight

We fly from Birmingham at 21:40.

Flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Code: EK 38, Departure Time: 21:40, Airline: Emirates, Plane: Boeing 777, Duration: 7 hours, Arrival Time: 7:55+1 (Saturday 22nd April). Time zone: GMT + 4 hours (moves 4 hours forward in Dubai).

4 hour 35 minute layover in Dubai (DXB) (Land: Terminal 3, Depart: Terminal 2)

Flight to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), Code: FZ 575, Departure Time: 12:30, Airline: flydubai, Plane: Boeing 737, Duration: 4 hours, Arrival Time: 18:55 (Saturday 22nd April). Time zone: GMT+5.45 hours (moves 5:45 hours forward in Nepal, 1:45 hours later than Dubai).

DAY 02 [22/04/23] – Arrival Day

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu – night 1/3

We arrive from Dubai at 18:55 and should be picked up from the airport by G Adventures.

Before we leave however we should pop to ‘Ncell’ for a sim card which we can purchase with our card: 20 GB data for 15 days + 40 minutes = 700 NRS (approximately $5.30 USD).

There are tons of lovely looking restaurants close by so we should be able to find a bite to eat before getting some well-deserved rest!

DAY 03 [23/04/23] – Tour Start Day

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu – night 2/3

Average temp: 20°C (high: 27.2°C, low: 12.3°C)

Sunrise/Sunset: 5:30 – 18:30

Breakfast and Dinner included

• Enjoy a relaxing wellness experience with a sound bath demonstration followed by a six-course vegetarian welcome feast tonight

Tarnya has mehndi done today at 9am in Siphal, Chabahil (opposite to Siphal PipalBot). Cost is approximately NPR 1,000.

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour.

Enjoy an immersive and meditative full body and mind wellness experience during a sound bath demonstration at Avata Wellness in Kathmandu. Since ancient times, people have been using sound to heal and wash away mental distress. It may even help with the jet lag from a long flight to Nepal so you can begin your adventure feeling refreshed. Brass singing bowls will be used during the session to create a comforting and meditative atmosphere.

Afterwards, a six-course vegetarian meal will be served at Nourish by Avata. All dishes are prepared using traditional Nepali herbs and spices, a perfect blend of delicacies that will introduce you to the many different flavours of Nepal.

DAY 04 [24/04/23] – Kathmandu

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu – night 3/3

Breakfast & Lunch included

• Explore Kathmandu, visit Boudhanath Stupa, wood-carved temples, pagodas and palaces of Bhaktapur, the Sisterhood of Survivors Project and make Nepalese dumplings (momos)

Enjoy a visit to the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. Built in the 5th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site still attracts many pilgrims, particularly Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis. Take in the peaceful atmosphere and observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa.

Visit the unique old town known as the City of Devotees (Bhaktapur). Explore Hindu temples, pagodas, palaces, and monuments, including the beautiful wood-carved palace in Durbar Square. You can pick up clay pots and other souvenirs in the colourful open markets and taste homemade yoghurt, known as khopa dhau, which Bhaktapur is famous for.

Visit the grassroots organisation helping to support rehabilitated survivors of human trafficking and other at-risk women. SASANE train once vulnerable women to be certified paralegals, so that they are the first point of contact for other women coming out of abuse. Where survivors lack a high school diploma, there is a hospitality programme. The survivors will teach us how to make momos (traditional dumplings) as well as a Nepali lunch and we will meet a paralegal who will share the stories about the struggles the brave women face in helping others.

DAY 05 [25/04/23] – Kathmandu to Pharping

Buddhist Monastery (Neydo Tashi Choeling), Pharping – night 1/1

Average temp: 18°C (high: 25.6°C, low: 13.8°C)

Breakfast included

Drive: 1-2 hours, 25km

• Visit an ancient hilltop temple with rhesus monkeys, learn about weaving traditions and then travel to Pharping to a monastery to get a real insiders view of monastic life

Visit Swayambhunath Buddhist temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu. Explore the structure and be sure to check out the Buddha’s eyes painted on each side of the Stupa. The site is also known as the monkey temple, for the vast amount of creatures who call the complex home.

In Kathmandu, National Geographic grantee Chhing Lhomi works to preserve the ancient traditions of the Lowa community of the Upper Mustang region. We’ll take the unique opportunity to visit a local home of a family from this region and enjoy a lecture from Chhing or one of her colleagues on traditional weaving methods, and hear about ongoing efforts with the Himalayan Indigenous Society.

Experience the serenity of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Participate in the life of the monks: take tea alongside them and enjoy the early morning chanting. There are approximately 200 young monks in residence, training in the Nyingmapa tradition.

DAY 06 [26/04/23] – Pharping to Kurintar

Summit River Lodge, Kurintar – night 1/1

Average temp: 21.9°C (high: 27.8°C, low: 14.2°C)

Breakfast & Dinner included

Drive: 3.5-4 hours, 125km

Note: The lodge is accessed by foot (45 minutes). Porters will carry small overnight bags (leave main luggage at previous accommodation)

• Rise at dawn for the monk’s chanting and the sunrise then drive/hike to the lodge before going for a guided walk

Rise at dawn to listen to the monks’ morning chanting and witness a stunning sunrise.

Drive to the small riverside village of Kurintar and hike to our lodge, nestled on a forested hill overlooking the Trishuli River. Opt to relax by the pool or take a guided walk through the surrounding countryside, stopping at local villages.

Arrive at our remote lodge, which sits on a ridge amidst the hills overlooking sandy beaches and a river. Forests cascade down the hillsides, enclosing tiny settlements of tribal people.

Take a guided walk through the forests that cascade down the hillsides of Kurintar. Visit local villages inhabited by tribal people: Chepang, Dorai, Magar, some Brahman, and Chettri, making a living from foraging in the forests.

DAY 07 [27/04/23] – Kurintar to Royal Chitwan National Park

Barahi Jungle Lodge, Chitwan – night 1/2

Average temp: 20°C (high: 28°C, low: 13°C)

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Drive: 2.5-3.5 hours

• Travel to Chitwan NP and board a flat-bottomed boat for a river safari

Today, we travel to Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s oldest wildlife reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is home to 68 recorded mammal species, including the one-horned rhino and the Bengal tiger, as well as hundreds of species of birds. Check in to our lodge, located on the banks of the East Rapti River. After lunch, board a traditional flat-bottomed boat (patela boat) for a river safari, keeping our eyes out for aquatic birds, crocodiles, and other riverine fauna.

Spend two nights enjoying cultural and wildlife excursions in and around Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), the oldest national park in Nepal. Established in 1973, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Within its area of 932km² (579 mi²), RCNP is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles, including sambars, chitals, rhesus monkeys, tigers, and langurs.

DAY 08 [28/04/23] – Royal Chitwan National Park

Barahi Jungle Lodge, Chitwan – night 2/2

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

• Safari day! 3-3.5 hour jeep safari followed by a tiger talk and local dance in the evening

Spend the day exploring Chitwan National Park. Set out on a jeep safari through the grasslands and forests, seeking out rhinos, leopards, elephants, monkeys, and the elusive Bengal tiger. Meet with a “tiger technician” from the Nepal Tiger Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection and conservation of these majestic cats. Visit a farming village bordering the park for a glimpse of rural life, and return to our lodge this evening in time for a dance performance by the local Tharu people.

DAY 09 [29/04/23] – Royal Chitwan National Park to Pokhara

Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara – night 1/2

Average temp: 16°C (high: 23°C, low: 12°C)

Breakfast included

Drive: 5-6 hours, 125km

• Drive to Pokhara (ouch), enjoy a guided walk around the city then relax and enjoy!

Drive to Pokhara, an enchanting town set on the shores of turquoise-hued Phewa Lake against a backdrop of snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Enjoy a guided walk around the city and opt to have dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Nestled in a tranquil valley at an altitude of 827m (2,713 ft), beautiful Pokhara lies on a once vibrant trade route between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalayas. This enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. It’s a popular place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

DAY 10 [30/04/23] – Pokhara

Temple Tree Resort & Spa, Pokhara – night 2/2

Breakfast & Lunch included

• Rise early to watch the sunrise over Annapurna from Sarangkot lookout, then return to Pokhara and climb a forest path to the white Peace Pagoda

Venture to Sarangkot village early this morning and hike to the famed Sarangkot lookout to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Annapurna Himalaya.

Back in Pokhara, climb up a lush forest path to the gleaming white Peace Pagoda, built by Japanese monks after World War II.

Visit the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Camp, established by the United Nations in 1964 as a temporary settlement for the large number of refugees fleeing Tibet. Walk through this friendly quarter, now home to over 500 people and view their photo gallery. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan (momo) lunch.

In our free time, opt to go paragliding, or take a boat tour of Phewa Lake.

DAY 11 [01/05/23] – Pokhara to Kathmandu

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu – night 1/1

Breakfast included

Catch a flight back to Kathmandu. Shop in the bustling Thamel district and visit Pashupatinath.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon for exploring.

Optional tour to visit Pashupatinath for 500 NPR each (approximately £3.17), one of the most sacred Hindu temple complexes in Nepal. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River, this is the final stop for many Hindus, whose families bring them here to set funeral pyres on the ghats to cremate their loved ones. Respectful viewing from across the river is culturally acceptable, you also will see sadhus (Hindu holy men) and pilgrims perform bathing rituals.

DAY 12 [02/05/23] – Kathmandu (End of Tour)

Karma House, Kathmandu – night 1/2

Address: Swotha Road, Lalitpur, Bagmati Province 44600, Nepal

Before we travel to the new Airbnb however, we will embark on a mountain flight in Nepal for a panoramic encounter with the highest peaks on earth. The plane departs from Kathmandu and flies alongside the Himalayas to give you eye-level views of snow-capped peaks before bringing you back in just one hour.

Need to be at the airport at 5:30, flight is at 6:30. Passports are required and tickets will need to be shown.

DAY 13 [03/05/23] – Kathmandu

Karma House, Kathmandu – night 2/2

We are free to explore anything we like in Kathmandu and finish off some last-minute shopping.

DAY 14 [04/05/23] – Kathmandu to Dubai

XVA Art Hotel, Dubai – night 1/2

We fly from Kathmandu at 16:00.

Flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Code: EK 2447, Departure Time: 16:00, Airline: FlyDubai, Plane: Boeing 737-800, Duration: 5 hours, Arrival Time: 19:20. Time zone: GMT + 4 hours (moves 1:45 hours back in Dubai).

Currency: 1 GBP = 4.57 United Arab Emirates Dirham (1 AED = 22p)

Address: فندق اكس في اية ارت Al Fahidi Bastakiya, Bur Dubai

DAY 15 [05/05/23] – Dubai

XVA Art Hotel, Dubai – night 2/2

Free day today!

DAY 16 [06/05/23] – Dubai to Home

Flight Home

We fly from Dubai at 14:55.

Flight to Birmingham Airport (BHX), Code: EK 037, Departure Time: 14:55, Airline: Emirates, Plane: Boeing 777-300ER, Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes, Arrival Time: 19:40