Nepal Family Tour - 11 Days

Upon arrival meet, assist and transfer to Hotel. At the lobby there will be a short briefing about the trip while welcome drinks are served. Later retire to the allocated rooms for the much deserved rest and shower. Welcome drinks and dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant.

AM: Mt. Everest Flight (Optional) Early morning Mountain Flight to view Mount Everest and the other Giant peaks of the Eastern Himalayas. After the one hour-long scenic flight, return back to the hotel for a hearty breakfast and some rest.

After breakfast meet your tour guide and proceed for a sightseeing tour of the ancient Kathmandu city with its many beautiful temples and courtyards. As one crosses from the modern shopping area of New Road into the Durbar Square, the one time ‘Freak Street’, one is suddenly in the midst of Kathmandu’s famed medieval architecture.

Shortly afterwards, continue drive to Swayambhunath Stupa - situated on top of the hill lying 4 kilometers west of Kathmandu. More than 2,500 years old, this ancient landmark is also called the “Monkey Temple”. O/n at Hotel,

AM: After breakfast drive for about 2 & ½ hours (80 Kms) from Kathmandu to Charaudi, a booming village located along the banks of the Trishuli river to commence a Day Raft trip.

The Trishuli is a splendid river for white water rafting with excellent rapids including technical ones and picturesque scenery with fantastic rock formations. Typical villages, their people attired in multi fashioned clothing and engaged in their daily works on terraced rice fields can be observed from the river. Native and migrant birds are in abundance for keen bird lovers.

Rafting in the Trishuli is very convenient as the put in points are accessible by road and has become the most popular among all the rivers of Nepal.

On arrival at Charaudi, the raft-put-in-point, change into suitable attire while the rafts are inflated and the gears loaded. After safety briefing the raft trip begins in a languid pleasurable fashion to get the feel of the motion on the raft and also for the practice to row in unison (for paddle rafters) and obey commands in cohesion. The river scenery unfolds and the scenario is exhilarating.

Stop in a convenient spot on the beach for lunch, which is mostly a cold lunch and consists of some juice, sandwiches, vegetable salad and some tuna or sardines.

After lunch board the waiting vehicle and drive to Royal Chitwan National Park (2 hours drive). Chitwan is 196 kilometers from Kathmandu and is connected by the Mugling Highway. The drive is through terraced rice fields and scenic countryside along the banks of the Trishuli River.

On arrival at the Park entry point, guests are met by Naturalists / representatives from the Temple Tiger Jungle Lodge and transferred by Landrovers / canoes / elephants to the Jungle Lodge situated inside the Royal Chitwan National Park.

At the Jungle resort, the managers will brief the clients on the different activities of the resort and assign the rooms/tents.

PM: In late afternoon go for a jungle safari on elephant back is organized to penetrate deep into this temperate forest to view and photograph wildlife, flora and fauna. The Chitwan National Park is the home of the greater one horned rhinoceros, sloth bear, wild boar, gaur (bison), 4 types of deer, 2 types of monkeys, 2 types of crocodiles, leopards, the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger and over 400 species of birds and a variety of reptiles including the Python and many other smaller mammals.

EVE: The well stocked bar caters to the needs of the thirsty and a hearty meal of continental or Nepalese cuisine will be served in the evening around the campfire.

AM: Early dawn alert, tea or coffee; start on an elephant ride or a jungle walk, to view the wildlife in their early repose. This is the best time of the day to see the animals as we silently brush through dewy tall elephant grass (18-20 ft. tall), a habitat for rhinos, tigers and other wild animals. Spend 2-3 hrs. in the jungle, then return to the camp for breakfast.

In the late morning, visit the elephant stables to get a firsthand knowledge on elephants from senior naturalists. Here one can witness the rare scene of elephants at bath.

After a hearty lunch at camp, the afternoon is free for the much-deserved mid-afternoon siesta or a visit to the library for general information’s on the National park. In the late afternoon, there is a choice to participate in the programs offered at the camp, which includes jungle drives in Land Rovers visiting different lakes inside the National Park, Canoe rides/ floats or an escorted Nature walk and bird watching excursion.

Spend a leisurely evening sitting at the round house sipping drinks and swapping tales with the camp staffs and other clients. After an excellent dinner, retire for the night with promises of more adventure in the new day.

AM: Early dawn alert, tea or coffee; start on an elephant ride or a jungle walk, to view the wildlife in their early repose. This is the best time of the day to see the animals as we silently brush through dewy tall elephant grass (18-20 ft. tall), a habitat for rhinos, tigers and other wild animals. Spend 2-3 hrs. in the jungle, then return to the camp for breakfast.

After breakfast at the resort board the vehicle and drive back to the park exit to board the vehicle for the 3-hour drive to Pokhara. Pokhara is the ideal vacationer's paradise with its crystal clear lakes and magnificent views of the western Himalayas of Annapurna and Manaslu mountain range and the Fish Tail Mountain.

On arrival at the lakeside, check in at the lakeside hotel. The evening is free to browse through the lakeside bazaar.

AM: After breakfast, drive from Pokhara, to Phedi (trek starting point) for 20 minutes, whereupon commence trek to Dhampus (1700m). The trek starts immediately with a steep climb through mixed forests and takes about an hour to arrive at the Mina Lodge, which marks the end of the steep path and arrival at Dhampus Plateau. From here the incline is much easier as the trail continues to climb steadily in more forested area and after about two hours we arrive at the first check post at the entrance to Dhampus Village with a maze of houses and alleyways of stonewalls. There are magnificent views of the mountains from west to east of the Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), Mardi Himal (5,587 m) and Macchapucchare (6,993m) to the north. Dinner and overnight at Dhampus.

AM: After breakfast, leave the village and continue on the trail going down a fairly gentle slope cut into steps in the middle of the forest. Then a short climb brings us to the settlement of Pothana (2,000m) .The path from here slowly ascends until it reaches the locality of Bichok Deorali (2,149m) located at the crest of the ridge. From here, the trail descends slowly but gets steeper until it meets the Modi Khola Valley first and then the village of the Bheri Khola, which is a convenient place to stop for lunch.

After lunch, cross a small suspension bridge, then cross the hamlets of Tolka Naga and Tolka Medi Gara before again going down gently towards the village of Landrung on a trail where the forest gives way to vast expanses of terraced cultivation covering the surrounding hills. Trek duration - 5 hrs. Dinner and overnight at Landrung.

AM: After breakfast, trek towards, Modi Khola and cross the river. Stop over for lunch after crossing the river. After lunch it is an uphill climb for about an hour a half till we reach a settlement called Kimrung Danda. We take a short rest here. From here Ghandrung is one hour away and the trail is more or less flat. Ghandrung is the largest Gurung village in Nepal where the sons and male member of the local community have sacrificed their lives to serve for the Gurkha Armies and security Forces around the world.

The afternoon is free for rest or optional activities such as a visit to the Annapurna Conservation Museum and a tea break at the home of a renowned Gurkha soldier who may show you his Victoria Cross won during the first or second world war.

In the evening the local Gurung womenfolk will join the campers for a village get together to show their talents in singing and dancing. Guests are welcome to join in. A contribution to the dancing group may be necessary. Trek duration – 6 hrs. Dinner and overnight at Ghandrung.

After breakfast, descend steeply on flag stone steps and leave the village entrance to descend through forests and landslide area. The trail is down hill for most of the way for about two hours till Shyauli Bazaar, a village of about scattered 10–15 houses above the Modi Khola. Continue to descend gently, walking on riverbanks and passing terraced fields for about one and a half hour and arrive at the police check post at Birethanti (1050 m), a big booming village. We stop at a scenic spot for lunch. After lunch it is a further 30 minutes to Naya Pul. Trek duration – 4 hrs. Upon arrival in Naya Pul, meet our rep and get in to the waiting vehicles for 1 and ½-hours drive to Pokhara. Rest of the day is free for much deserved rest.

Eve: Sunset boat ride on Lake Phewa and dine out at a nice lakeside restaurant.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport and fly back to Kathmandu. The 30 minutes flight offers views of the mighty Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himalaya range. Upon arrival in Kathmandu airport, meet, assist and transfer to

14:00 Hrs - Sightseeing tour of the ancient Patan City, Patan also known as Lalitpur or the city of fine arts is about five Kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. The major tourist attraction of Patan are the Durbar Square situated in the heart of the city and constitutes the focus of the visitor’s attraction. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. The Patan Durbar consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Chowk. The Sundari Chowk holds in its center a masterpiece of stone architecture.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for final departure ot rest tour in Nepal.