Epic Nepal to India
| Resort: | Epic Nepal to India |
| Operator: | Intrepid |
| Destination: | India |
| Price From: | £980.00 |
Over ViewFill up on momos (steamed dumplings) in Kathmandu and get ready for a huge trip. We’re talking rafting adventures and beach camps. Hit the Annapurna circuit for a glimpse of the mighty Himalayas. Come face-to-face with rhinos and a host of other exotic wildlife in Chitwan National Park. Get spiritual in Varanasi, see pink in Jaipur and take the ultimate selfie in from of the Taj Mahal. This jam-packed trip covers a bit of everything. We love it, and we think you will to. Highlights
ItinerariesDay 1 KathmanduOh hello Kathmandu. The adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your tour guide and new travel pals. Look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place.If you arrive early, there’s plenty to do in this vibrant city. Kathmandus most important Buddhist shrine, Swayambhunath Stupa and the nearby City of Devotees Bhaktapur are well worth a visit. For some more structure, there are a number of Urban Adventures day tours that can help you delve deeper into Kathmandu’sancient architecture and rich cultural heritage. After the important meeting, why not have an optional dinner together. It’s hard to go wrong with a nourishing bowl of dal bhat (thick lentil or bean soup). Day 2 Trisuli RiverEnjoy a morning drive over the rim of the Kathmandu Valley and soak up the views of the Ganesh and Lantang ranges. Arrive in either Baireni or Galaudi, for some rafting on the Trisuli River. Hit the water and enjoy the thrill of the rapids aptly named Ladies Delight, Rock Garden and Snell’s Nose. Camp on the beach and enjoy dinner under the stars. Day 3 Trisuli River – PokharaHave more fun on the river including negotiating the Monsoon and Upset. Late morning we end rafting at Kurintar and enjoy a light lunch and drive to Pokhara (4 hours).Arrive Pokhara in the afternoon. Chill out at the lakeside cafes. Day 4 Ghandruk (1950m / 6397ft)Hope you broke in your boots before the trip, cos this is where the trekking bit starts. Theres a dirt track leading to Birethanti and Shyauli villages. Theres a stone staircase up to Kimche, where youll stop for lunch. Then a bunch of stone flags lead you through fields of wheat to Ghandruk. Thats some diverse terrain right there. Stay in your first Nepalese teahouse tonight. Day 5 Tolkha (1700m / 5577ft)Look east. Thats Landruk, the next village on the route. Look down. Thats the Modi Kola River 600 metres below. Look around the corner. Thats Tolkha, your base for the night. What, you cant look around corners? Ok, youll just have to trek there instead. Day 6 HyenjakotRhododendron is a tricky word to spell, but super pretty to look at. Youll see a bunch of these bright pink and purple plants today. Do you know what you wont see much of? Other people. Weve picked a pretty remote trail from Dhampus to Hyenjakot, and tonight you get to stay with a local family. Pack your best smile and get an even bigger one in return. Day 7 PokharaIt’s a short descent to Phedi before catching the public bus to Pokhara in time for lunch. Enjoy free time in the afternoon then meet your new leader and group for the rest of the journey to Delhi at 6 pm tonight. Day 8 PokharaWake up among the spectacular scenery of Pokhara and enjoy a boat ride across the lake (Phewa Tal), which is the second largest in Nepal. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace, with plenty of optional activities to choose from, you can spend your time however you please! Why not start with a visit the International Mountain Museum to learn some amazing tales of past climbing expeditions. You might like to take a break by the waters edge and indulge in the ultimate Nepalese dish for lunch dal bhat a hearty vegetarian meal consisting of rice and lentils. Pokhara has an interesting old area well worth exploring, as well as an elaborate Hindu temple and a Buddhist monastery. As the day closes, perhaps visit the Peace Pagoda with spectacular views of the Annapurna mountains and watch the sunset over the famous fishtail peak Machhapuchhare. Day 9 Chitwan National ParkPop on your safari hat as you drive to Chitwan National Park by private vehicle (approximately 5 hours). UNESCO (who know at thing or two about this kind of stuff) declared it a World Heritage site in 1984, and it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia. Think the Jungle Book come to life with rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birds, including Nepalese wild chickens, all found here. Day 10 Chitwan National Park – Madi ValleyThis morning youll hop aboard a jeep, meet your local guide and take a safari drive through Chitwan National Park. Chances are high you’ll see a great one-horned rhinoceros and you might even catch a glimpse of one of the 100-or-so Bengal Tigers that call the park home. This evening, we will be staying overnight at the Intrepid Foundations project, the Madi Valley Homestay. This project provides sustainable incomes and encourages the communities living on the fringes of Chitwan National Park to conserve the wilderness and wildlife around them. On our arrival, the local men and women, dressed proudly in their traditional Magar attire, will be there to greet you and welcome you into their homes. In the evening enjoy a cultural performance by the locals where they demonstrate one of the oldest ethnic dance forms of the Magar community; the Maruni Naach. Day 11 LumbiniThis morning we travel by private vehicle to the Nepalese border town of Lumbini (about 5 hours). No ordinary border town, Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and one of his four holy places of pilgrimage. Check out the beautiful Ashoka Pillars and hop on cycle rickshaws to the Maya Devi Temple, the actual site where Lord Buddha is thought to have been born. Day 12 Nepal/India border crossing – VaranasiThis is a long travelling day as we make our way into India, crossing the border at Sunauli and continuing on to Varanasi (about 8-10 hours including stops). One of holiest cities around, Varanasi is the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel from far and wide to experience this spiritual city. Overflowing with temples, shrines and devotees, it might not be one of the world’s cleanest cities but theres no doubt its one of the most amazing. Day 13 VaranasiTodays an early start, but its completely worth it – a sunrise boat ridealong the sacred Ganges is a revelation. Even if you’re not the spiritual sort, you can’t help but get goosebumps. Pass the many ghats (stairs leadingto the water) and temples along the river, and watch thousands ofHindu pilgrims cleanse their sins in the holy water as the sun bathes the surrounds in glorious shades of amber and orange. Afterwards, set offby auto rickshaw to the oldest part of the city, to explore its maze ofnarrow alleyways packed full of small shops, stalls and lumbering cows. See pilgrims performing rituals unchanged for hundreds of years and pass chiming temples as wafts of incense fill the air. Day 14 Varanasi – Overnight trainToday theres lots of free time to explore more of Varanasi before you get a unique slice of Indian life aboard an overnight sleeper train bound for Agra (approximately 10 hours). You could take a trip to nearby Sarnath, one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. The site is where Buddha preached his message of the path to enlightenment and features a number of stupas and museums to explore. Theres also the crumbling 17th-century fort and palace on the eastern bank of the Ganges, Ram Nagar Fort. Otherwise, take the chance to perfect your yoga in the ultimate chakra-balancing place. Day 15 AgraAgra might not be the prettiest city in the world, but the minute you check out its top-notch site that wont matter one bit (of course, we’re talking about the glorious Taj Mahal). We arrive on a Friday so the Taj is closed to visitors, but there are outstanding views from almost every hotel rooftop in the area.Enjoy a free day to explore Agra’s alternative highlights. An optional trip on a motorised rickshaw takes you to some of the citys best monuments. If youve got the energy, head out to Agra Fort and stroll the palatial gardens of this red sandstone stronghold (with cheeky monkeys in tow) or check out Akbar’s Mausoleum, a beautiful sandstone and marble tomb built for the greatest of the Mughal emperors. Day 16 Agra – TordiIt doesnt matter who you are, the Taj Mahal will explode all your expectations with the morning light shimmering off its white marble surface. After our visit, jump into private transport and head off to the village of Tordi. This remote and rarely visited village offers a fantastic glimpse of the real Rajasthan. We stumbled across it years ago, and everyone loved it so much we put it on the itinerary. The locals will feed you and you’ll sleep in a 16th-century palace with its owner as your host. And there’s a ruined temple and fortress nearby. Settle in, then savour delicious local flavours at an included dinner of tonight Day 17 JaipurKick on in a private vehicle to Jaipur (about 3 hours), India’s oh-so-pretty ‘Pink City’. You’ll have plenty of free time here to haggle to your heart’s content at the bazaars and backstreets where vendors sell a variety of textiles, precious and semi-precious gems and stunning blue pottery. Drop by one of Indias finest palaces, the Royal City Palace, where the guards moustaches are almost as impressive as the building itself. Foodies will want to hit the streets for raj kachori chaat, a big fluffy chaat served with chutney, yoghurt, chilli and potato. Then cool off with a lassi from Lassiwala on MI road, Jaipur’s oldest and most famous lassi shop. Cinema buffs won’t want to miss the chance to take in a Bollywood blockbuster at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema. Day 18 JaipurIf you’re keen for a different view of the Pink City, an optional early morning hot air balloon ride is a trip highlight for many visitors. For more information please see the ‘Important Notes’ section of your trip notes. Later in the morning, youll drop by Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), the impressive five-storey facade with pink and honeycombed windows is it the most photographed building in the country after Taj Mahal. Then its out to the old capital of Amber and an exploration of the hilltop fort complex known as the Amber Fort. The rest of the day is free for you to use as you like. Day 19 DelhiTake a five-hour train ride to India’s capital. This exciting city is overflowing with incredible historic sites, museums and galleries, shops and endless bazaars. Watch one of the world’s greatest shows unfold as people, cars, rickshaws and cows all work together in a kind of organised chaos. Sit back with a chai and let it all soak in. Later on, take the modern metro to to Old Delhi and visit the old city’s market area by foot, exploring Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place.Enjoy an optional dinner tonight with your group to say goodbye to this fine country. Day 20 DelhiYour adventure comes to an end today. There are no planned activities for the day. |
