Winter Escape to Nepal

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu
We pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, the incredible Traditional Inn, in Patan. In the evening we will explore the ancient Patan bazaar and it amazing sights. Patan is one of the three old Kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley and there are enough sights here to spend a whole week exploring, but tonight we will simply soak up the atmosphere.

Meals: D
Sleeping: Traditional Inn

Day 2: Sightseeing in the KTM Valley
After breakfast we head out on our mountain bikes, we cycle through little lanes of old Kathmandu to the Swayambunath Temple (Monkey Temple). After taking a look at the temple we cycle out of the city to the Chobar Gorge, where we take a look at a very important Ganesh temple before continuing on our trail to Khokana. Khokana is an old Newari village and we can still get glimpses of traditional village life in the valley. By Late afternoon we return to our hotel in Patan for a shower before we head out for dinner.

Meals: B, L
Sleeping: Traditional Inn

Day 3: Fly to Pokhara, Trek to Birethanti
This morning we experience a spectacular flight along the Himalayan Range to Pokhara We then transfer by road with guides & porters to our trek start point {1-hour}. Our walk then follows a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley. This route then drops down to the Modi River Valley, and our fantastic little trekking lodge at Birethanti. The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhre, as it is locally known.

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Sanctuary lodge

Day 4: Trek to Tanchok
Following a leisurely breakfast, we leave the Sanctuary Lodge & trek to the delightful Gurung Lodge at Tanchok. Our lodgings for tonight are built along the lines of a traditional Nepalese village with spectacular views of the surrounding valley and mountains from every room. Trek time to the Lodge is just 2 hours, so after we have settled into our rooms, we will be escorted to the local village of Tanchok. We get to visit a local house which has been transformed into a great little museum. It illustrates how local people live, together with the tools and implements of day to day traditional village life. We then get to visit the school and the school children we meet will visit us this evening to perform their local dances and songs. This is a real treat, local style!

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Gurung lodge

Day 5: Trek to Dhampus
This morning we start out trekking through the unspoiled village of Patlekhet. Our walk takes us through sub-tropical forests that include tree orchids, rhododendrons and magnolias. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Pothana where many Tibetan traders live and sell their souvenirs. After about 3 ½ hours, we arrive at the Basanta Lodge. From the lodge, there are sweeping views of the entire Annapurna Range. After lunch at the lodge there will be an optional walk through the old village of Dhampus or we can just relax and enjoy the magnificent views with a cold beverage!

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Basanta Lodge

Day 6: Finish trek and drive to Pokhara
After breakfast, we depart along the ridge & descend for about 1 ½ hours through the wooded hillside and terraced rice paddies to the valley floor. We then transfer by vehicle to the Candle Inn in Pokhara (30 minutes), where we’ll arrive in time for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore the gorgeous lakeside town of Pokhara, which has some great pubs and cafes, good shopping and lots of action activities such as paragliding!

Meals: B
Sleeping: Mums Garden

Day 7: Rafting on the Seti River
After breakfast we drive to Damauli, from here we start our rafting down the Seti (or White) River. We have our picnic lunch on the river bank and then continue rafting down the stunning river to our campsite where we will arrive around mid-afternoon. We will set camp on the river bank.

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Deluxe Camp

Day 8: Rafting and Lowland Bazaar
We continue our rafting down the Seti and about midday we reach Gaigath, where we say goodbye to our rafting crew and continiue in a van to Narayangath. Here we check into our hotel and enjoy a late lunch. In the mid-afternoon we will set off to explore the bustling bazaars and sample the local mode of transport on a rickshaw tour of this busy Terai town. We will come back to the hotel in the evening and will have dinner there.

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Central Palms

Day 9: Cycling to Meghauli
After breakfast we mount our Indian made old school bicycles and head out of town. We will cycle on small roads and little walking trails through the gorgeous fields and villages of the Tharu people of the Terai. Pay attention to see the traditional villages buildings with their charasteristic, tribal stlye wall paintings. We will stop for a picnic lunch along the way and have a local tea somewhere along the way as well. By mid afternoon we will arrive at our Hotel, where we are going to be based for the next few days,

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Sarang Wildlife Lodge

Day 10: Canoeing and cycling
Today there is an optional bird watching walk early in the morning for the keen, we return to the resort for breakfast. After breakfast we will go for a canoe ride down the Rapti River, which is a great way to see the bird life along the river but certainly also offers opportunities for viewing crocodiles and even bigger animals like rhino and tiger. From the take out point we will then cycle through the country side and villages back to our Hotel.

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Sarang Wildlife Lodge

Day 11: Safari
Today is dedicated fully to Safari in the Chitwan National Park, there will be a jungle walk and also an elephant ride through the jungle with a great chance of seeing rhino, various types of monkeys and deer and perhaps even a tiger!

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Sarang Wildlife Lodge

Day 12: Cycle to Sauraha
We continue on our bicycles through the hypnotising Terai landscape to the amazing jungle corridor between the hills and the Chitwan National Park. Here we will stop for a packed lunch at Bishazaar Tal (twenty thousand lakes) which it is one of the most beautiful places in all of Nepal. We eat our lunch with jungle and lakes all around and, if we are lucky, views up to the snow capped mountains. We then continue cycling and by late afternoon we will reach Sauraha, the main town of Chitwan. Here you will find shops, internet cafes, restaurants and bars, so the rest of they day is free to spend on your own exploring the delights of things like chocolate and shopping, or just a relaxing drink by the river to watch the sun go down!

Meals: B, L
Sleeping: Sapana Lodge

Day 13: Overland to Kathmandu
Today we drive overland back to Kathmandu. This is an amazing drive back into the hills and along the narrow gorge of the Trisuli River till Galchi. From here we start the big climb back into the Kathmandu Valley, where we will arrive early afternoon with plenty of time to go shopping, exploring or just relaxing before our big farewell dinner. We will stay just outside Thamel, Kathmandu’s main tourist district, so there is no end of the shopping possibilities or if you would rather have a good cup of coffee there are also plenty of cafes. In the evening we head out to one of the best restaurants in town and have a great farewell dinner.

Meals: B, L, D
Sleeping: Temple House

Day 14: Depart Kathmandu
We’ll enjoy a last great breakfast at Temple House, tell one final round of tales about the trip, then transfer you to the airport, where we bid farewell and look forward to our paths crossing again.

If you wish to extend your stay just let us know, there is still plenty to see and would be happy to help you arrange it.

Meals: B