Himalayan Adventure Family Holiday - 14 days from £1299
A carefully designed trip suitable for families with children of all ages which allows you to experience the very best of Nepal. You’ll have ample time to see the sights of Kathmandu; medieval market squares, busy market stalls and scores of ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples. Then, after flying to Pokhara, you’ll embark on a fantastic trek into the foothills of the Himalayas. Here you’ll walk through remote hill villages against a backdrop of 8000m summits whose icy peaks pierce the blue skies. After a night in a traditional Newari home converted into a guesthouse, you travel to one of Asia’s greatest wildlife reserves, Chitwan, and spend a couple of days on jungle safari. Travelling by elephant, canoe and on foot, you’ll be looking out for exotic birdlife and the famous Indian one-horned rhino!
- Jungle safari on elephant-back
- Medieval Kathmandu
- Short Himalayan trek
| Departure Date | Return Date | Flight inclusive price* | |
| Adult | Child | ||
| April 11, 2009 | April 23, 2009 | £1649 | £1429 |
*Flights with Gulf Air via Bahrain from London Heathrow. Flight schedules and preferred airlines can change
To book any of these late availablity tours please call Imaginative Traveller on 0845 077 8802 or +44 (0)1473 667337
Alternatively you can email online@imtrav.net
| Itinerary |
Day 1: Depart London
Depart UK on overnight flight to Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu
Following your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. You have time to freshen up before your Group Leader meets the group to run through the days ahead.
Hotel - 2 nights (Swimming Pool)
Day 3: Kathmandu
After breakfast you’ll see some of the spectacular sights of Kathmandu during a half-day guided city tour. Out towards the edge of town you’ll visit Swayambunath, a 2000-year-old stupa (shrine) set on a hill. The eyes on the stupa follow you as you walk around it, turning the prayer wheels as you go. You’ll also visit Durbar Square, the renowned plaza opposite the old royal palace that is filled with temples. There’s plenty of time to do your own thing too, or to buy any last-minute items for the trek. The city itself is a labyrinth of streets and markets, crowded with exotic produce and a bewildering mix of people. You’re likely to see Gurkhas from the area east of Pokhara, proud Tibetan women in their striped aprons, traders from India and sadhus - Hindu holy men - who are, perhaps, on a pilgrimage to one of the countless ‘power places’ (shrines or temples) of the valley.
Later, you’ll drive to the secluded rural village of Nuwakot for a delightful stay in a converted farm-house. There you’ll spend a few hours in the late afternoon exploring the village and the environs on foot. (B)
Day 4: Bandipur Village Stay
This morning you set off east on your four-hour journey to the small village of Bandipur. The foothills of the Himalayas are in themselves impressive enough, but as you get closer to Bandipur you get now familiar views of the high peaks. Arriving in Dumre you turn south, off the main highway, and continue to a ridge set at an altitude of 1050m; here lies the delightful village of Bandipur. Winding its way up and down hills, Bandipur’s main street has many three or four storey brick buildings with carved wooden windows. The small temples in the town add to the atmosphere in what is a traditional Nepali hill village, untouched by modern tourism; few foreigners find their way up here. You can sit and relax or stretch your legs with a walk through the village and out into the surrounding countryside for superb views up the Marsyangdi river valley, to the Himalaya beyond. Many of the range’s giants can be seen: Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and the distant Annapurnas amongst them.
Guesthouse (shared facilities) - 1 night (BLD)
Day 5: Begnas Lake
After spending a morning walking around Bandipur, you’ll pause for lunch before heading west to Begnas Lake driving through terraced hillsides and to the south of the great Himalayas themselves. Bordered by precisely maintained rice terraces on either side, Begnas Lake is a great place to relax before your trek. During your time here, there will be time for a pleasant stroll, or simply to watch the tranquil waters of the lake itself. This evening, your Group Leader will brief you about arrangements for your Himalayan trek.
Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) (B)
Day 6-7: Trekking In The Annapurna
Trekking in Nepal is one of the most rewarding parts of a visit to this mountainous kingdom. However some visitors are put off by the thought that all trekking requires the skills of a mountaineer, and specialist equipment to match. This is not true for the majority of routes, including the one you walk!
One should, however, remember that all trekking is more difficult than just a ramble - there is little if any flat ground in Nepal’s hills but you don’t reach very high altitudes. You’ll be walking on well-graded paths that link small farming communities. Steep stone staircases and occasional suspension bridges dot your route. Most people – even children – will find the pace, distance and duration of each day’s walk within their capability as long as they are realistic about their fitness and abilities. (rough distances and duration of walks are indicated below).
Few nationalities provide a camping experience as well as the Nepalese; their hospitality and organisational skills are legendary, as will become clear on your trek! Tents and mattresses are provided, camp staff cook your meals, providing tasty and nutritious food, whilst porters carry your main bags, leaving you with only your daypacks to carry!
Your trek takes place in the area east of Pokhara, close to Begnas and Rupa Lakes. Dropped by your vehicle at the start point of the trek, your first walk will take you to the village of Chisapani, (‘cold water’ in Nepali), situated at 1290m. Walking at a leisurely pace you first pass through rice fields indicating that you are still at a relatively low altitude. From here the trail now climbs through villages offering superb panoramic views along the way of Annapurna 2, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal and Himalchuli. You’ll cross the main anti-clockwise trail of the renowned but difficult Annapurna Circuit and after approximately six hours trekking, you arrive at the small village of Chisapani, your night stop and camp at an altitude of around 1260m.
Next day you continue to Lipiyani, and en route you can pause to admire the views, take photos or have a drink in one of the many village teahouses. When you arrive at Lipiyani (1010m), your campsite will be already set up, water boiling in anticipation of a hot cup of tea. (9km / 5 hours trekking).
All around these villages the terraced fields are a testament to the ingenuity of the Nepalese people who have turned the steep hills into productive fields, growing rice, wheat and maize. People you pass are incredibly friendly and kids will often walk alongside, practising their English skills. In the village centres, old men sit beneath banyan trees on stone benches smoking and gossiping. Women and children come up from the fields carrying huge loads effortlessly, and giggle as you greet them with a namaste, the Nepali word for ‘hello’.
Camp – 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2)
Day 8: Trek ends Pokhara
On your last day of walking you’ll pass through rice fields and then climb for a last time to the ridge that separates Begnas Lake from Rupa Lake. As you reach the main road linking Pokhara with Kathmandu you rejoin your vehicle and return to your hotel in Pokhara.
Pokhara, standing at 884m above sea level, is warmer and more humid than Kathmandu. The vegetation is lush, reflecting the sub-tropical climate. Depending on your arrival time into Pokhara, there maybe time for some sightseeing today.
Sited on Phewa Lake, beneath the great Annapurna massif and dominated by the ‘Fish-tail’ mountain, Machhapuchhare, Pokhara is surrounded by verdant green hills. You may visit the World Peace Pagoda (built in 1994 and sitting on a ridge overlooking Phewa Lake), Devi’s Falls and Mahendra Cave - a good torch is useful here! We’ll also try and make time for a visit to one of the Tibetan villages that dot the area, where superb carpets and other handicrafts can be haggled over. This evening you celebrate your trek with a wonderful dinner.
Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) (BLD
Day 9-10: Chitwan National Park
After a free morning, you’ll retrace part of the route that brought you to Bandipur, only this time bearing south at Mugling. This long road journey brings you into the low lying terai jungle region, and the world famous Chitwan Reserve, which covers 932 square kilometres of floodplain. The park is teeming with abundance of wildlife and birdlife, including the famed insignia of Chitwan, one-horned rhino, and the elusive royal Bengal tiger, of which there are believed to be around 80 roaming in the park. An experienced jungle guide will accompany you on your excursions, perhaps the most exciting of which is your safari on elephant-back, penetrating deep into the jungle. Rhino, bison, wild boar, monkeys, and a wide array of birds (over 400 species on record) are a common sight, and with luck on your side even the royal Bengal tiger, bear and leopard are a possibility. Another highlight of the trip is the canoe ride on Rapti River, which drapes the national park, the banks of which are home to sun-bathing 'mugger' crocodiles and the unique long-nosed 'gharial' crocodiles.
Keeping you engrossed and buoyed over the span of your stay will be fun-filled elephant bathing where you'll get to play with the elephants plus a village tour, bird-watching walks and cultural shows
Lodge - 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2)
Day 11/12: Kathmandu
A short transfer is followed by a flight to Kathmandu. Aiming to arrive by lunchtime the afternoon is free for you to wander the little streets around Durbar Square and of course to do some shopping; there are plenty of bargains, but friendly haggling is essential! The following day, you’ll be taken sightseeing to the medieval town of Bhaktapur and the town of Pashupati – regarded as the holiest place in Nepal and the site of the Pashupatinath Temple, which is the most important Hindu shrine in Nepal.
Hotel - 1 night (Swimming Pool) (B)
Day 13: Fly To London
Your final day is left free for further exploration. One possibility is to show the kids the highest mountain in the world – Mount Everest – on a scenic over flight (optional); a fantastic experience and wonderfully fitting end to your stay in this mountainous kingdom before your evening flight to the UK. The trip ends in Kathmandu for Land Only clients while those on group flights to the UK transfer to the airport and join your overnight flight to London. (B)
Day 14: Arrive London
Arrive London early morning
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