BEST OF NEPAL

Day 1  Arrive Kathmandu transfer to your hotel   6^th April (B)

 Day 2  Sightseeing Kathmandu This morning we will transfer by vehicle Baktapur situated approximately a 30 minute drive from our hotel. BHAKTAPUR: Bhaktapur meaning the City of Devotees, this place is the home of medieval art and architecture. Lying 14km/9 miles east of Kathmandu City, this place was founded in the 9century and is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 5,600ft above sea level. In Bhaktapur you will visit the Durbar Square with its array of temples overlooked by the Palace of 55 Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla, The Nyatapola Temple. This temple also built by King Bhupatindra Malla, is the best example of the Pagoda style and stands on five terraces on each of which stands a pair of figures, two famous strong men, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and two goddesses. After lunch we will then return to our hotel stopping on the way visit Pasapatinath - the holiest place for the Hindu people. On the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple of Lord Shiva Pashupatinath is famous for its architecture with its two-tiered golden roof and silver doors. We will then arrive in Thamel and our hotel which is situated in the heart of the tourist district. Overnight Hotel in Thamel (B) 7th April

 Day3  Kathmandu - Dhunche - Syabrubesi The Langtang valley is aptly called 'The Valley Of Glaciers. Here, mountains rise soaring towards the sky. The valley offers pine forest, swift mountain streams, rugged rock and snow- capped peaks, grassy downs and meadows strewn with daisies and wild primulas.

Looking at a map, Langtang seems quite close to Kathmandu, but in reality you still have to endure a jarring 6 hr ride by 4 wheel drive to get to Dhunche and then it is another 1-/12 hours to the village of Syabrubesi.  About 45 minutes out of Kathmandu, you pass through the town of Kakani where there are great views of the Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Langtang Larung a grouping of peaks only partially visible from Kathmandu. Trisuli, on the river of the same name, is a busy bazaar town, and is often called Trisuli Bazaar. The river which flows Southwest, is very popular with rafting companies and you may see a group getting ready to put in here. For many years, this was the start of the Langtang trek, but there is now a rough road to Dhunche that bypasses the old trail and cuts the number of days necessary for this trek. It is a rough road to Dhunche, and for part of the way the road clings to the edge of a steep mountain.  Dhunche (1970m) is an attractive village with large stone houses, there is a police check post where you must show your trekking permit and your passport, (the permit will have already been paid) for the Langtang National Park, which you'll be trekking through. This is more or less the "gateway" to the essentially long, narrow valley running parallel to the Tibetan border, and hemmed in by high, snow-capped peaks. From our hotel there are excellent views of Gheng (6581m) and Langtang Lirung (7246m) to the north and Ganesh (7460m) to the west(BLD) 8^th April

Day 4 Syabrubesi – Lama Hotel Today's trail starts meandering through the cool deciduous forests of oak and maple that cover the lower sections of the valley and climbs through massive stands of spruce, fir and blue pine. Towering walls close in and your paths will skirt precipitous drops, which fall into a silt-laden river below. It's a classic transition from temperate lowland forest to high-altitude Himalayan valley.  The trail follows the south bank of the river through a deep gorge until we eventually reach the village of Bamboo, here we will have lunch and then it is about another 2 hours to our lodge at Lama Hotel (2400m). Like all of Langtang's guesthouses, Lama Hotel's basic-but-friendly accommodation is subject to price controls set by the local authorities. At this point you start to become aware of the firm control the government exercises over the parks - with results that are often good, but sometimes questionable. On one hand, there are strict controls on tree-felling, and the park has remained mercifully free from the satellite dishes that dominate some over-trekked parts of Nepal. (BLB) 9^th April

Day 5 Lama Hotel – Langtang Village  A day further on the forest peters out and you start getting the first tantalising glimpses of snow-capped peaks. From the Lama Hotel the trail climbs steadily to Ghora Tabela with glimpses of Langtang Lirung (7246m) through the trees. At times the trail becomes very steep but only for short distances. Gradually the air becomes thinner and the climate colder. At Ghora Tabela (3010m) the trail leaves the forest and a spectacular view ofLangtang Lirung appears. Ghora Tabela was once a Tibetan resettlement camp but is now n army post. There is a good lodge where we'll stop for lunch.You must show your trekking permit at the police checkpost. Continue up the valley, leaving the forests behind, the trail ascends steadily up to Langtang village, passing below a monastery about 30min beforehand. Langtang is an interesting Tibetan-style village with stone walls enclosing houses and fields where you just might see your first yaks. The Langtang National Park headquarters is also located here and a police checkpost to show your trekking permit.  After Langtang, you can see a community of typical flat-roofed Tibetan houses and the valley flattens and broadens into open pasture. This is perfect for raising yaks, and you'll see these imposing beasts everywhere. This village is also home to the king of Langtang, who operates a local store well-stocked with supplies helicoptered from Kathmandu.  (BLD) 10^th April 

Day 6 Langtang Village – Kyanjin Gompa You may notice that the valley above this point is U-shaped, which indicates that the valley was carved by a glacier. Below Langtang, the valley has the characteristic V-shape of a river-carved valley. Leaving Langtang, you ascend gradually to a chorten (a small Tibetan Buddhist stupa) behind which is a very long mani wall. The trail passes two small villages and the village widens. You cross several streams and a moraine before arriving at Kyanjin Gompa (3800m). Between Langtang and Kyanjin Gompa, the

views just get better and better where you'll see Yansa Tsenji (6580m) and Kimshun (6750m) to the north and the Langtang Himal to the northwest. Since you'll probably arrive before lunch, you'll have time to do some exploring in the afternoon, though you may be experiencing some discomfort from the altitude. Alternatively, take a good rest and allow your body to acclimatise with the high altitude as much as possible to be fully-prepared for more ascending during the next day.  (BLD) 11^th April

Day 7 Kyanjin Gompa (Rest Day optional hike) A day hike farther up the valley past the airstrip will provide more spectacular views that include Langtang Lirung (7246m), Ganchenpo (6400m), Langshisa Ri (6320m), Dorje Lakpa (6700m), Lenpo Gang (7100m), and Urkinmang (6170m). A 4hr walk to the east of Kyanjin Gompa from the village is 5000m Tsergo Ri. If you start early in the morning and are well-acclimatised, you Should be able to climb this peak and return to Kyanjin Gompa in 1 long day. The reward for climbing to the prayer flags on its summit is a magnificent view of the 7246m Langtang Lirung, the mountain that dominates the valley.

There are numerous alternatives side trips. The surrounding area, especially to the north, is vast and has many smaller, uninhabited valleys - ideal for high-altitude, back country trekking. Several of the more moderate local peaks are quite climbable and provide breathtaking panoramic views of mountains in Tibet, including the 8027m Xixa Pangma.  (BLD) 12^th April 

Day  8   Kyanjin Gompa – Lama Hotel As we will be acclimatised and we will be descending, we should be able toreach the Lama Hotel in a day's walk (approx. 6hrs) from Kyanjin Gompa. (BLD)  13^th April (BLD)

Day 9 Lama Hotel – Syabru From Lama Hotel we descend on the same trail for about 2 hours before taking a new trail to Syabru, it is quite a steep climb of about 2-1/2 hours to our lodge. (BLD) 14^th April (BLD)                             

Day 10 Syabru – Sing Gompa - Dunche Once you leave behind the pleasant village of Syabru, climb past the gompa, school and army post, and switchback up the steep hill above the village. There are a few houses and potato fields, but always take the upper, steep trail and you'll eventually find yourself at two pleasant teashops in the settlement of Dursagang at 2550m. The trail continues less steeply, now mostly in forests, past an old chorten to the top of the ridge and two shoddy tea shops at 3000m. Coming out of the forest, the trail climbs a bit more before reaching the top of the ridge. There is a view of Dhunche far below in the valley. The trail continues across the head of a second valley, then  descends to Dunche. 15^th April (BLD) 

Day 11  Dunche – Kathmandu Early this morning we will return to Kathmandu.  (BL) Overnight hotel 16^th April

Day 12-13 Kathmandu  – Chitwan After breakfast we will depart to the airport for our flight to  Chitwan.. On arrival we will be transferred to our wildlife resort. The next 2 days will be full of adventure, either riding on the back of an elephant, jeep safari, canoeing and jungle walking.  We will see rhino, many species of birds  sloth bear and if lucky a bengal tiger. (BLD)  17^th and 18^th  

INFORMATION ON ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

Royal Chitwan National Park where you will see yet another side of Nepal. The 2 days here are spent on trips into the jungle on an elephant's back, swimming, jungle walks, and bird watching and if the river is up, even a canoe trip on the Rapti River to look at crocodiles. Or, if you prefer, you can stay at the lodge and just relax.

Situated in the Rapti Valley, Chitwan National Park is approximately 80 miles southwest of Kathmandu by road. The region in which the park is situated is known as the Terai, a flat and highly cultivated plain that constitutes the entire southern quarter of the country. Extremely hot in the Summer while mild and cool in winter, this region produces most of the country’s food. Early this century, the Terai was a rarely visited jungle expanse with very few inhabitants, the only visitors being members of the Nepalese upper class on hunting trips.

During the 1950’s malaria was eradicated and the population began to expand rapidly. Loggers and farmers in search of new fields slowly cleared the jungle. Conservationists soon realised that if action were not taken it wouldn’t be long before all the animals of the Terai would be extinct. In 1962 King Mahendra designated Chitwan as a rhinoceros preserve. In 1973 it was finally gazetted in parliament as the first national park in Nepal.

Today there are only about a thousand one horned rhinos left in the world, and over 300 of these are in the Chitwan National Park. Fewer than 2000 tigers remain in the sub continent, more than 40 live in Chitwan. There are many other animals as: the fish eating gharial crocodiles, buffaloes, sloth bear, hog deer and wild peacocks. For amore in-depth study of all the animals in the park you should read The Heart of the Jungle by KK Gurung. Remember that although there are many animals to be seen in Chitwan, it is not a zoo. Nor is it like the vast open plains of southern Africa. It is a small compact jungle park where you must go out and find the animals; it is possible that you may not see anything at all. If you rise early in the morning and go on a jungle walk or elephant ride with the park guides, you are very likely to spot some wildlife. It should also be noted that there are over 400 species of birds living in the park, and if you are interested in bird watching there will be plenty of opportunities. Just ask the Lodge guides all transport, meals and activities are included in your stay

Day 16 Chitwan - Kathmandu  - This morning we will transfer to the airport for our 30 minute flight to Kathmandu. On arrival we will transfer to your hotel where you will have a fee afternoon to explore Kathmandu or do that last minute shopping. 19th April (B)

Day 17 Kathmandu End of Tour  20^{th April (B)}

*2 internal flights *8 day fully escorted lodge trek incl. all meals *private transport by 4 wheel drive, 4 nights 4* hotel including b’fast *Sightseeing Bhaktapur and Pasapatinath *Private transport to Airport *2 nights Chitwan including all meals, transfers and activities * Experienced English Speaking Nepalese Guide and Australian Group Leader *Arrival and departure transfers *Trekking permit and National Park Fees * meals stated

Everest Scenic Flight valued at US$180