DESTINATIONS - Nepal

Nestled between the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Republic of India, Nepal is a country with diverse cultures, religions and geography. Eight of the world’s ten highest mountains are located in Nepal with the best known being Sagarmatha, known as Mount Everest in the English language.

Katmandu, the capital as well as the cultural and economic hub of Nepal is believed to be almost 2,000 years old. Although the dominant religion is Hundu, Nepal is recognized as the birthplace of the Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Elder Expeditions is proud to include this exotic and diverse location as one of its exciting destinations where participants will view the top of Mount Everest (without the rigors of a perilous climb), trek through unforgettable scenery, experience the warmth and charm of the local people and engage in exciting activities such as an elephant safari, bird watching, canoeing and whitewater rafting.

Minimum participants: 2 | Maximum participants: 10

Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Dutch.

Day 1: (Arrival Day)
We will be met by our Nepali host at the Katmandu International Airport at a time to be determined based on participants' flight schedules. Transfer to a hotel in Katmandu. Dinner (not included in tour cost) will be on our own in Katmandu. Our Nepali host will give us some hints on restaurants.

Day 2: (Sightseeing)
After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll head out for a day of sightseeing that will include viewing a number of Hindu and Buddhist temples, including the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the holiest religious sites in Nepal. It is to be noted that non-Hindus are not permitted inside of this temple and will have to do all viewing from the east bank of the Bagmati River. Our day will also include a viewing of the sights and architectural showpieces of nearby Patan Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site followed by a transfer to Nagarkot, which, at an altitude of 2211 meters (approximately 7300 feet) is famous for it dramatic Himalayan vistas.

We will have dinner (outside of the tour cost) in Nagarkot where we will spend the night Katmandu and then return to our hotel for the night.

Day 3: (Flight around Mount Everest and Sightseeing)
After breakfast we will board a plane for the awe inspiring one hour flight along the Himalayas where we will encounter the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest, as well as other spectacular Himalayan scenery.

Following our flight we will proceed to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, the home of an UNESCO world Heritage monument. After viewing the sights which include a panoply of cultural and artistic charms we will be transferred by car to the beautiful city of Pokhara which is renowned as a tourist’s paradise.

We will be on our own for lunch and dinner , i.e. those meals are not included in the cost of the tour.

Day 4: (Sightseeing in and around Pokhara)
After breakfast we start our full day of sightseeing in the spectacular region in and around Pokhara, Our day will include boating on Fewa Lake, visits to a Buddhist temple, a mountain museum, Davi’s Falls, and two caves.

We will be on our own for lunch and dinner on Day 4.

Overnight lodging will be at a three star hotel in Pokhara.

Day 5: Trekking
After breakfast at the Pokhara hotel, we will be driven to our trekking start point from where we will set off for a four to five hour trek which is considered one of the more beautiful treks in Nepal and which will give us several opportunities to experience breathtakingly beautiful Himalayan peaks and panoramas.

Day 6: Trekking
Today we will be rising early to observe the sunrise along the entirety of the Annapurna and Dhaulagirl Ranges. After breakfast we will begin our return trek to Pokhara which normally takes approximately two to three hours during which time we hike through small forests and cultivated fields.

We will be on our own for dinner parphrnslia

Day 7: (Whitewater rafting; Jungle tour*)
After breakfast, we will be driven in our private vehicle to the Trishuli River for an exhilarating two hours of whitewater rafting, largely over class 3 rapids.

Leaving the river behind, we will proceed by private car to Chitwan National Park which is acknowledged as one of the finest national parks in Asia. Our first activity in the Chitwan Park will be an excursion by four wheel drive vehicle through some of the more remote regions of the park where it is very possible to spot some of the native wildlife species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, the great one-horned Rhino, Asian elephants, sloth bears, leopards, crocodiles and herds of gaur. Other available activities will include elephant safaris, nature walks and canoeing opportunities.

Dinner and overnight in a Chitwan Hotel. Before retiring for the evening, guests will enjoy a part of the cool evening around a blazing campfire.

Day 8: (Elephant Experience; Bird Watching, Cultural Intraction)
Our second day in the Chitwan National Park will be filled with numerous opportunities such as a visit to an elephant breeding center, observing elephant bathing, a crocodile walk, a nature walk where it will be necessary to respect the authority of the accompanying naturalists in order to avoid wildlife attacks. Bird watchers will enjoy the possibility of spotting over 450 species of exotic birds such as such as the great pied hornbill, the Bengal florican, peregrine falcon, and lesser adjutant storks.n the evening we have a chance to participate in a traditional Tharu folk dance as the local drummers and symbolic stick dancers, in their colorful costumes, rhythmic dances.

(The available activities in Chitwan National Park are too numerous to do all in a single trip. Our Nepali guides are very flexible and are prepared to accommodate the wishes of a majority of the group.)

Day 9: Return to Katmandu
After breakfast we will be driven by private vehicle to Katmandu where we will spend our last night in Nepal in a three star hotel.

We will have our farewell dinner in a Nepali cultural heritage restaurant.

Day 10: Departure Day
After breakfast, we will be transferred to the Katmandu International Airport where we will bid our Nepali hosts a final farewell.

2012 Dates

April 7 to April 16, 2012

September 22 – October 1, 2012

Prices include all transportation from the pick-up at the Katmandu International Airport on Day 1 to the return to the Katmandu International Airport on Day 10 (including the plane trip around Mount Everest on Day 3), all lodging**, all meals (except lunches and dinners in Katmandu), all costs associated with tours, treks and other activities, guides (fluent in English and other languages required by the composition of the group), porters, safety equipment, first aid kits, all necessary safety and comfort equipment (sleeping bags, down jackets, rainwear, etc.)

Prices do not include personal items such as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, lunches and dinners in Katmandu, Nagarkot and Pokhara, and tips.

A fifty percent deposit is due at the time of booking. The remaining balance is payable forty days prior to Day 1 of this expedition.

A single supplement of $525 applies to solo participants unless they are willing to share accommodations and we are able to place them with another solo participant.

LODGING

All lodging is in three star hotels with private baths and breakfast included

The activities on this trip do not require any particular experience or skill level. As our hosts can accommodate different physical activity abilities, a regularly active person as well as a beginner will be wholly at ease.

Sufficient instruction will be provided for participants who are beginners or who have limited experience with respect to any of the listed activities. All that is required is a spirit of fun and adventure as well as an open mind and a willingness to try something new.

Participants should be generally in good health and able to walk up to 6 steady uphill miles (9.9 km), ascending 1,500 feet

Elder Expeditions recommends that all participants engage in a physical conditioning and fitness program as part of trip preparation. Our fitness partner, Fit for Trips®, provides custom designed fitness programs designed especially for the activities of each of our ELDER EXPEDITIONS vacations.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

United States citizens will be required to have BOTH a valid passport and a visa to enter Nepal. Your passport should be valid for a period of six months following the end of your scheduled stay in Nepal. You may obtain a fifteen day multiple entry visa prior to your departure from the USA by contacting the Embassy of Nepal at 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 667-4550 or the Consulate General in New York at (212) 370-3988.

The cost for the fifteen day multiple entry visa is $25.00.

Multiple entry visas for one month ($40.00) and for three months ($100.00) are also available.

WARNING: Significant penalties apply for remaining in Nepal beyond the period authorized by your visa.

Participants who are nationals of countries other than the United States are urged to check with the Embassy of Nepal in their home countries to ascertain the entry requirements applicable to them.

Upon leaving Nepal, all travelers who are nationals of countries other than Nepal must be prepared to pay an exit tax, of approximately $25.00.

No inoculations /vaccinations are required to enter Nepal, unless you are coming from a country where Yellow Fever is present; in this case you may be required to show a current vaccination. All participants are advised to have a current tetanus shot. We recommend that you consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/travel/ or your personal physician to consider whether you wish to get shots for typhoid, hepatitis, and other diseases.