Down to earth holidays

Description

Stunning temples, fabulous architecture, glorious mountain views, intriguing culture, wonderful people, bustling markets - all reasons why Nepal is such a brilliant place for a holiday. Add to this five days on the Annapurna trek, walking amongst those glorious mountains and staying in simple teahouses, and you have an unforgettable adventure!

You'll travel with your own experienced guide who will explain to you the history, culture and wildlife of this fascinating country. You start in Kathmandu, staying in a characterful hotel, and we take you on an an exciting tour, where you'll see temples, squares, a Tibetan craft centre, the famous 'monkey temple' of Swayambunath, and Patan City, the town with a thousand golden roofs.

You have the option to Make it Yours and take an early morning light aircraft flight over the Himalayas - weather permitting it could include a flight over Mount Everest - before we board the small plane for the journey from Kathmandu to Pokara, flying along the foothills of the mountains, for some unforgettable views.

We give you a comprehensive tour of the area, starting with an early morning drive to Sarankot, to arrive in time for the sunrise, giving you a fabulous view of the Annapurnas, to wet your appetite for your trek, which starts the following day.

Next comes five days of trekking in the Annapurnas, with your guide and porter. You'll need a sleeping bag for your nights in the traditional teahouses that you'll stay in en route. The exact route that you take is flexible - have a word with your guide before you set off about how far you want to walk and what you are interested in seeing, and they will plan out a suitable route for you. Whatever route you take, you will be up in the mountains from the start, enjoying fabulous views of the Annapurnas. You will also have the opportunity to meet the remote community of this area. There are several different ethnic groups in this region, but the most famous are the Gurung, many of whom serve in the British and Indian Army as Gurkha soldiers.

When your trek is over, you'll stay in, and explore, Bandipur, an ancient Newari mountain town with impressive medieval houses and temples, before returning to Kathmandu and enjoying a full day's tour of the Kathmandu Valley. This includes a trip to the medieval town of Bhaktapur, famed for its Newari craftmanship and architecture, and to the Pashupatinath Temple, with its tiered golden roof and silver doors. And we'll take you to Boudhanath, the world's largest stupa and a major site of veneration for Buddhists.

In Kathmandu you'll stay in the simple but lovely Kantipur Temple House in the heart of the city. It is a 48 room hotel built in a traditional Newari style, preserving local architecture and craftsmanship. The hotel has walled gardens, and a rooftop terrace overlooks the city and the hills beyond. In Pokhara you'll be in a traditionally-styled circular bungalow at Fishtail Lodge, set on a peninsular jutting out in the lake. While trekking you'll overnight at teahouses, basic mountain lodges with shared bathrooms. And in Bandipur, you'll stay in a beautiful restored village house in the heart of the small town.

If you don't want to leave Nepal yet, you can extend your stay with one of our extensions. You can opt for wildlife watching in Chitwan; a combination of river rafting and Chitwan; seeing Nepal's oldest temple and the sunrise (and Mount Everest on a clear day) from Nagarkot; or visiting and hiking around a remote village to see what rural Nepali life in the Kathmandu Valley is like. Or you could combine this holiday with a trip to India.

Detailed Itinerary

1. Day 1 (Sun): Arrive in Kathmandu (normally from an overnight flight from the UK). We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.
2. Day 2 (Mon): Your guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning and take you on a full day tour of the sites of Kathmandu. You'll see temples, squares, a Tibetan craft centre, markets... Your tour will also include Patan (the town with a thousand golden roofs) and the Buddhist shrine of Swayambhunath, better known as the monkey temple for the many monkeys which clamber around the stupa. (B)
3. Day 3 (Tues): We'll take you to the airport for your short, scenic flight to Pokhara. If you're up for an early start, you have the option before the journey to Pokhara to Make it Yours with an early morning light aircraft flight over the Himalayas. On arrival in Pokhara you'll be taken to your lakeside hotel, with time to explore the shops of the lakeside district, walk in the surrounding hills  or just enjoy the fabulous mountain views. (B)
4. Day 4 (Weds): Explore the region around Pokhara with your guide. The Annapurnas tower above the town, dominated by the split peak of Machapachure, better known as Fishtail Mountain, reflected in the still ,deep waters of Lake Phewa. You'll get a fantastic view from the lake when we take you out on a boat trip. The Seti river flows through the town in impressively deep and narrow gorges, thundering over waterfalls such as Devi's Falls. If you're feeling active, the World Peace Pagoda makes a good spot for a longer hike, with fabulous views over the lake and mountains, while shorter walks can be arranged in the hills around town.  (B)
5. Days 5-8 (Thurs - Sun): Today you will be driven the short distance to the foothills of the annapurnas to start your 5 day trek. The exact route you take is flexible and should be discussed with your guide in advance. A sample itinerary would be:
6. Day 5 (Thurs): Drive to the roadside village of Phedi from where you begin your trek. Your route climbs steadily uphill through farmland up to the village of Dhampus at an altitude of 1,650m. It is a stiff start to your trek, but you can take it slowly and enjoy the view of the valley spreading out beneath you and learn about the communities farming this fertile land. Damphus is a large and prosperous Gurung village which has traditional houses as well as more modern buildings including a large school which provides education for the surrounding region. You will have time to explore the community here, as well as enjoying the clean mountain views, staying overnight in a local teahouse. (B,L,D)
7. Day 6 (Fri): Your path leads slowly uphill through forested hills. You're unlikely to spot yetis here, but the forests are home to a variety of birds and if you're lucky you may see larger mammals such as deer. The highest point on today's trek is Deurali at an altitude of 2,100m, located on a ridge with fine views of the Annapurnas. After stopping for lunch at a teahouse, it is an easy downhill hike through lush forests to the village of Landruk at an altitude of 1,560m, in the steep-sided valley of the fast-flowing Modhi Khola. (B,L,D)
8. Day 7 (Sat): After breakfast, cross the river on a suspension bridge. It can take a bit of courage to cross these spindly looking structures, but they are well built; remember that the crossing is easier if you don't look down. On the other side of the Modhi Khola, your path zig-zags up the slope to Ghandruk at an altitude of 1,940m, your destination for today. You will have stiff legs by the time you reach the village, but after lunch you should be in good shape to explore the village and its surroundings. Ghandruk is the largest of the Gurung villages, and is considered the capital of the Gunrung culture. You will have time to explore the village with your guide, and if you feel up to it enjoy an afternoon walk in the hills above the town. As the last settlement of any size before reaching the Annapurnas, the views from here of the mountains are unforgettable.
9. Day 8 (Sun): Leaving Ghandruk, your path follows the top of the valley of the Modhi Khola before descending through its forested slopes to Syauli Bazar where you can enjoy lunch by the river. From here, your path continues along the river to Birethani (altitude 1,025m) where you spend a final night in a teahouse. (B,L,D)
10. Day 9 (Mon): The final morning of the trek will take you along the river to the small town of Nayapul where your car will be waiting for you. Then we drive you to the small hill town of Bandipur, on a ridge about a 3 hour drive from Pokhara. This was once an important stop on the trade route between India and Nepal, but the highway between Pokhara and Kathmandu in the valley below bypassed Bandipur and left it isolated. The town was only finally connected to the highway in 1998, so it has retained its traditional character.  (B,D)
11. Day 10 (Tues): If you still feel like an active start after all that trekking, you can hike up to a shrine on a hill above Bandipur before breakfast to enjoy the view over the town and beyond to the mountains. You will have time to continue your exploration of Bandipur before driving to Kathmandu in the afternoon, about a 4 hour drive. The road follows the deep valley of the Trisuli River for much of the way, and you will have time to stop and explore the roadside towns on the way. (B)
12. Day 11 (Weds): There is still more to see in this amazing valley! Today a highlight is the medieval town of Bhaktapur, famous for its fine carvings. We'll show you some of the fantastic architecture, including the Golden Gate and the Palace of Fifty Five Windows, and we'll make sure there's enough time for you to see the Pashupatinath Temple with its tiered golden roof and silver doors. On the way back to Kathmandu, we stop at Boudhanath, which has become a centre for Tibetan culture since the Chinese occupation of Tibet. (B)
13. Day 12 (Thurs): You will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home. If flights selected, you'll arrive home in the UK the same day. (B)