Nepal - Connect, Contribute, Transform (Escorted)
(Ex Kathmandu) - Wed 13th November 2019

Max Participants:
12
Location:
(Ex Kathmandu) Nepal  
Date:
Wed 13th November 2019
Start Time:
4:00pm
End Time:
10:00am approx
Duration:
12 Days
Meals:
8 Dinners 11 Breakfasts 7 Lunches
Non-Member Cost:
$2950.00 per person
Member Cost:
$2900.00 per person
Deposit Required:
$500.00
Tagged:
hiking

This 12-day (11 night) tour celebrates strong, adventurous and inspirational women. It is the ultimate combination of adventure, personal growth and immersing yourself in a fascinating and exhilarating part of the world through socially responsible travel. 

 


TOURING

Together we will explore the vibrant city of Kathmandu where we will connect with some amazing people and organisations that are helping to change the world. Enjoy rooftop yoga, street tours run by street children, exploring ancient temples, a traditional cooking class and meet some inspirational women who will teach us so much about life in Nepal and life in general.

TREKKING

Our 5-day trek begins in Pokhara, a short 30 minute scenic mountain-view flight from Kathmandu, where we will meet our all-female trekking and adventure guides. Staying overnight in simple but quaint tea houses perched on picturesque hillsides, we will trek through traditional villages and ancient forests with the majestic Annapurna Ranges as our backdrop. Our highlight will be a sunrise summit of Poon Hill where we will experience a 360 degree panorama of the Himalayas in all of its majestic beauty.

JUNGLE SAFARI

Next we will visit Chitwan National Park, home of an array of jungle animals including deer, rhino, elephants, leopards and tigers and over 500 species of birds. Activities include canoeing, jungle walks, jeep safari and a visit to the elephant sanctuary.

 

To top it off, proceeds from this tour will fund the education of at least 5 Nepali girls for a year!

Prepare for adventure, exhilaration and self-discovery! 

Gallery

Kathmandu Street
Mountain Villages
Annapurna Region
Start of the trek with the team
Fun with the beautiful Nepali Women
Morning Yoga Sessions
New Friendships
Streets of Kathmandu
Lots of Fun
Nepali Blessing
Getting to know the girls
Himalayan Panorama Poon Hill
Poon Hill - Yay, we made it!

Location

Please note map locations and route are approximate only

Highlights

● Supporting an not-for-profit organisation who are empowering an empire of Nepali women and children to do more, see more & be more!

● Contributing to funding the education of at least 5 Nepali girls for a year

● Hiking in the stunning Annurpurna Region

● Summit of Poon Hill at sunrise taking in the Himalayan Panorama

● Learn to cook a traditional Nepali banquet, taught by local women

● Nepali students leading us through through the Hindu Cremation site of Pashupatinath Temple

● Visit Chitwan National Park, home to an array of wild animals and bird life, and experience activities including canoeing, a village visit on an ox-cart, jungle walks and bathing elephants

● Scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and return

Itinerary

After being met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, we will all meet in the hotel lobby at 4pm where we we'll have an introduction and briefing session led by Deb, our Adventurous Women ™ Group Leader.

Kathmandu i s the very definition of ' sensory overload' and we'll be throwing you in the deep end by taking you on an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the ancient streets and alley ways . Hold onto your hats ladies !

Experience the culture and communities of ancient and modern Kathmandu as we weave through the hustle and bustle in the back street s of Thamel with our guide from social enterprise “Welcome to My Yard”. Visit night markets , famous snack shops and hidden treasures before settling into a

local restaurant for a welcoming meal.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

After an invigorating early morning rooftop yoga session, we'llnmeet our guide from "The Mitrataa Foundation". Our tour includes a visit to the most famous Hindu temple, Pashupatinath where we may witness a Hindu cremation ceremony and interact with the Sadhus , the dreadlocked, Hindu holy men. We will then travel to one of the largest Buddhiat stupas in the world where we can perform kora (walking meditation) and hang prayer flags .

After lunch we'll be visiting the head office of “Seven Women” where we will participate in a traditional cooking class full of fun and flavour and discover some of the secret recipes and traditions of Nepali cooking. Once done, we dig into our foodie creation for a Nepalese feast! Yum!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Today we will take an early morning scenic flight where we'll be able to catch a glimpse of the stunning Himalayas through the airplane window! We will land in the picturesque lakeside city of Pokhara and be transferred to our hotel where we'll meet Radha, our trekking guide from Himalayan Adventure Girls . After a quick orientation tour of Pokhara we will have the afternoon free to explore this lovely city. Take a boat out on Lake Phewa, explore the shops or relax on the hotel rooftop, taking in the views

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel

After a 2 hour drive that takes us to Kimche, we begin our trek to the ancient village of Ghandruk (2170 m). Ghandruk is a major settlement of the Gurung, an ethnic group of Nepal. Here we enjoy the terraces offering excellent mountain views . After arriving, it's possible to take a short walk to explore the village, visiting a cultural museum and monastery or a traditional Gurung village.

Hiking hours : 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tea House

This morning we will explore Ghandruk and visit a cultural museum and monastery and we may even have a chance to dress in the traditional Gurung costume. Later, we continue our trek along a terraced fields of maize and potatoes followed by a shaded forest trail to Tadapani (2680). From here we have fantastic views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare.

Hiking hours: 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tea House

Walking down an impressive river gorge with a chance to spot Langur monkeys, we trek through ancient Rhododendron forests to Deurali Pass and on to Ghorepani (2855m).

Hiking hours: 6-7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tea House

An early climb to the summit of Poon Hill (3210 m) to watch the sunrise across a magnificent Himalayan panorama is a vision you will never forget. After breakfast we begin our steep decent through rain-forest s to Ulleri (1960m).

Hiking hours :1.5 hrs + 3.5 hrs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tea House

We continue our descent through a series of small villages until we cross a river

to Tikhedunga (1540m) where we will meet our jeep and return to Pokhara for some free time to explore this lovely city some more and enjoy some well deserved rest.

Hiking hours : 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel

We take a morning flight to Chitwan National Park where we will transfer to our Eco Lodge. After lunch we'll be treated to a village tour on an ox-cart, a visit to the local school and a cup of black tea with the locals . That evening we will enjoy some entertainment by the local indigenous Tharu people.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Eco Lodge

Packing a picnic breakfast, we'll enjoy a unique wooden canoe trip along the river, with a jungle walk for some bird watching. Upon returning we will have the opportunity to get very close to the lodge's resident elephants in the river, giving them a bath and feeding them bananas and potatoes . Lunch will be followed by a jeep safari and some wild animal spotting through the National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Eco Lodge

An early morning flight takes us back to Kathmandu where we can enjoy some free time shopping or sight seeing before a group reflection meeting and

celebratory final group farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast we say our farewells and arrange your airport transfer to make sure you are at the airport in time to catch your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Includes

11 nights twin share accommodation (3 nights in Kathmandu, 2 nights Pokhara, 2 nights Chitwan, 4 nights teahouses on trek)

Meals as stated in the itinerary

Yoga and meditation

All airport transfers

All on-the-ground transport

All entrance fees, trekking permits and tickets

Scenic mountain domestic flights Kathmandu/Pokhara/Kathmandu

Australian Adventurous Women® group leader

Expert bilingual trekking guides

Porters to carry all personal equipment

8 Dinners

11 Breakfasts

7 Lunches

Excludes

International flights

Airport and departure tax

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Visa fee

Personal expenses such as laundry, alcohol, phone calls etc.

Some meals as indicated

Tips (are not mandatory but much appreciated)

What To Bring/Wear

- A list of what to bring will be provided on booking

More Information

How fit do I need to be to do the trek?

The trek is considered easy as far as Nepal treks go but you do need to have a good level of fitness so don't come unprepared. Most of the days we will be meandering along well marked paths through gorgeous villages and rhododendron forests. There will be harder days than others but just take your time and take plenty of breaks.

We will be walking between 3 to 7 hours a day. Be warned, there are lots of stairs so include stairs in your training. The rewards will definitely be worth the hard work!
A training guide will be sent to you to help you prepare for the trek.

Will altitude sickness be a concern?

It is unlikely you will suffer from altitude sickness at these heights. Our highest ascent will be about 3210 m. However, it can happen and our experienced guides will run through the procedures and will take great care of us if we are feeling the effects.

What sort of accommodation will we be staying in?

In Kathmandu and Pokhara we will stay in nice 3 star hotels with all the facilities you will expect from a mid-class hotel.  In Chitwan, we stay in one of the Eco-Lodges.
During our trek, we will stay in tea houses which are basic but clean. There is usually two or three single beds to a small room and a shared toilet and bathroom. Most tea houses have 
warm showers for an small extra fee and many have WiFi.

What is the food like? Is it safe to eat?

It is usually safe to eat in the tourist restaurants of Kathmandu and Pokhara, although it is probably best to avoid the meat if possible. There are a wide variety of restaurants and cuisines in the these cities. During the trek, the tea houses provide food which is good and safe to eat. The menus are virtually the same in each place as it is regulated by the government. It’s a  mix of Nepalese and western food so we won’t be going hungry.

What will the weather be like that time of year?

In Kathmandu the maximum temperatures will be in the mid 20's. Mornings and evening will be cooler. In the mountains it will be much cooler and quite cold as we get higher. A light weight, warm jacket is a must.

Will I need special equipment for the trek?

You will need hiking boots,as some of the paths will be uneven. Make sure you have worn them in before the trek to avoid nasty blisters.
You may also like to bring hiking poles as they are helpful when navigating up and down stairs.Sleeping bags will be provided. A sleeping bag liner is recommended. Warm weather clothing such as a light weight jacket (feather or puffer jacket is ideal) and wet weather gear (raincoat, quick dry pants).
You may also need a beanie and some gloves for the cold mornings. Trekking gear is cheap and freely available in Nepal. You will receive a full packing list before the tour.

Do we have to carry all of our gear on the trek?

No. We will have one porter between two walkers. The porters are certified to carry up to 10 kgs each. We will be leaving most of our gear in the hotel so we really don't need to take much with us on the trek.

Will we need vaccinations?

Please consult with a travel doctor about this.

What about money? Are there ATM's?

There are ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara that dispense Nepalese Rupee. There are also money changers at the hotel.

Do I need a visa?

Yes. You can obtain a visa on arrival although sometimes there's a long queue. You can apply for a visa from your country at your local embassy prior if you wish.
For more information see http://www.nepalconsulate.org.au

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for trekking. You will need an insurance that covers medical evacuations and trekking over 3000m. We've used iTrek travel insurance and are pleased with the service and coverage. Please provide us with a certificate of insurance before we leave.

I'd prefer not to share a room. Can I have a single room?

A single room may be possible for our Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels at an additional cost.  Please enquire about a single supplement.
During the trek, sharing is the only option but believe us, you'll be asleep as soon as your head hits he pillow!

No Princess Policy

Princess crossed out

This tour by it's very nature is not designed for the 5 Star Traveller. It is for the girl who has an 'adventurous spirit' and is looking for a unique and rewarding 'experience' (Once in a Lifetime)! You should be able to adopt a "Go With The Flow" attitude, after-all we are in a foreign country and things don't always go to plan...this will help you chill out and therefore get the best out of your holiday.

You will also need to be mobile without assistance, have a good general level of fitness and be prepared to train in the lead up to your hike to maximise your comfort - you will be navigating steps and uneven surfaces at times and you are hiking in the mountains, so lots of up's and down's.

If you're a light sleeper, use earplugs - there is no option for a single room on the trekking component of this tour.  You can however request a single room at our hotel accommodation in the cities.

Cancellation & Refunds

Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:

  • 60 days plus prior to trip departure - Loss of deposit
  • 59 - 30 days prior to trip departure - 50% Of The Tour Cost
  • 29 - 15 days prior to trip departure - 75% Of The Tour Cost
  • Within 14 days of the trip departure - 100% Of The Tour Cost

No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.

Update 19th September 2019 - ** Due to PayPal changing their policy to now retain fees even when we issue a refund we will be forced to pass this along. This means both partial and full refunds will be less the full fee charged by PayPal


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