Nepal Exposed tour

Nepal Exposed tour

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tourhub | Encounters Travel | Nepal Exposed tour | 29
tourhub | Encounters Travel | Nepal Exposed tour | 29 tourhub | Encounters Travel | Nepal Exposed tour | 29

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tourhub | Encounters Travel | Nepal Exposed tour | 29

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tourhub | Encounters Travel | Nepal Exposed tour | 29
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10 Days From

$1850

$1767

Nepal Exposed tour

10 Days Starting and ending in Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

Visiting: Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara, Bhaktapur

Tour operator:

Encounters Travel

Tour code:

29

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

Over 9s

Special diets catered:

Request dietary needs

Tour operated in:
English
From:
$1850
$1767 (USD) Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$83

NB: Prices correct on 17-May-2024 but subject to change.

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Tour Overview

This compact tour of Nepal gives you a taste of the countries beautiful mountain scenery, ancient cultures & religions, lush wildlife parks, remote hilltop villages, and includes time to relax in the lakeside town of Pokhara. We start in Kathmandu with a guided walking tour through the bustling streets of the city to the central Durbar Square, full of ornate temples and palaces. Next we visit the hilltop temple of Swayambunath, overlooking the city. Next we head to Chitwan National Park, which lies in the lowland Terai region of Nepal, bordering India. You have the option of an exciting day's white water rafting on the Trisuli River en-route to Chitwan if you wish. While at the park we include a jungle walk, river canoe trip, and either an elephant or jeep safari, as well as a village walk and early morning bird watching walk. Our next stop is the ancient Newari hilltop town of Bandipur. The centre of Bandipur has been restored and its a lovely place to spend a little time looking around and enjoying the great mountain views if the weather is clear. You also have some free time in the afternoon here to hike down to Siddha Cave, one of the largest in Asia, or take a walk through the hillsides, villages and farmland around Bardia to get a real taste for rural Nepalese life. From Bandipur we head to the lakeside town of Pokhara with its impressive setting at the foot of the mighty Annapurna mountain range. We include a tour here and a full free day when you can take some more short (or longer walks), hire bikes to look around, take a rowing boat out on the lake, or just relax amidst the beautiful scenery. We head back to the Kathmandu valley next and enjoy a night in the hilltop village of Nagarkot on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. With luck you can see Everest from here on a clear morning! Our final tours are to the ancient centre of Bhaktapur, a World Heritage Site, and to Pasupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa before you finish with one last night in Kathmandu.

Highlights

  • Streets & temples of Kathmandu, mountain views from Nagarkot

  • Ancient Bhaktapur, Chitwan wildlife safaris, lakeside town of Pokhara

  • Hilltop town of Bandipur, Pasupatinath temple

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Kathmandu, Transfer To Hotel

Location: Kathmandu

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Kathmandu hotel

Meals Included: No Meals

We greet you on your arrival in Kathmandu airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the Thamel tourist disctrict of the city. Our rep will help you settle in and familiarise you with the local area.

Day 2 : Kathmandu Walking Tour, Swayambunath Stupa

Location: Kathmandu

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Kathmandu hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our Nepal tour package starts today with a guided walk from our hotel in Thamel through small back streets full of numerous tiny shops, workshops, temples, and stupas to Durbar Square with its array of wooden and stone carved temples and palaces. After lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square, we drive to the important Swayambunath Stupa which sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, visible from miles around. Also known locally as the 'monkey temple', we'll see these nimble inhabitants scampering in and around the trees and temp

Day 3 : Drive To Chitwan National Park, Rafting Option

Location: Chitwan National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Chitwan hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we drive out of the Kathmandu Valley and drive to Chitwan National Park in the lowland Terai region of Nepal that borders India (approx. 7-8 hours).

This will be our first taste of rural areas on this Nepal tour package, and we'll see terraced farmland, forested hills, and rushing rivers. An option is available today to spend a few hours white water rafting on the Trisuli river (requires advance booking). Those choosing this option will rejoin the group in Chitwan this evening). On arrival in Chitwan, we check into our lodge and then take an early evening village walk to see how the local Tharu people live and work.

Day 4 : Chitwan National Park Wildlife Safaris

Location: Chitwan National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Chitwan hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend the whole day today exploring Chitwan National Park in search of the endangered Asian one-horned rhino, which Chitwan is famous for protecting. If you're very lucky you may also see a leopard, wild elephant or sloth bear, or even an elusive Bengal tiger, while the rhino, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, wild boar and numerous different birdlife are common sightings. Activities included are a jungle walk, river canoe trip and jeep safari.

Day 5 : Chitwan To The Hilltop Village Of Bandipur

Location: Chitwan National Park

Accommodation Name: Bandipur guesthouse

Meals Included: Breakfast

Early this morning you can take a walk outside the park dedicated mainly to bird watching. After breakfast we then leave Chitwan and the Terai and drive to the ancient hilltop Newari trading village of Bandipur. The centre of Bandipur has been restored, and is vehicle free, with some lovely old buildings. You have time this afternoon to relax here, or take a walk or hike through the surrounding fields, villages and hills. Walks include a 2-hour downhill hike through fields and forest to Siddha Cave, one of the largest in Asia and full of impressive rock formations (bring a torch). You can hike back uphill to Bandipur from here or walk down to the highway for our vehicle to pick you up. A shorter walk from the town centre can take you uphill for around 30min to the Thani Mai Temple, which is well worth it for its views at sunset if the weather is clear. In fact the whole of Bandipur affords good mountain views.

Day 6 : Bandipur To Pokhara, Afternoon Tour

Location: Pokhara

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Pokhara hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave Bandipur this morning and drive on to the lakeside town of Pokhara, which sits at the base of the Annapurna range of mountains and is the main access point for trekking and rafting in the area. We will visit various places around Pokhara this afternoon, including the Peace Pagoda, Tibetan refugee camp and Devi Falls.

Day 7 : Pokhara, Free Day

Location: Pokhara

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Pokhara hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your day is free in Pokhara today. There's plenty to do, with beautiful walks into the countryside around the lake available from less than an hour to a full day. One popular hike is to the top of Sarangkot, a hilltop just outside Pokhara which provides great mountain views. You can walk there and back, or drive most of the way in one or both directions. Other options include hiring bicycles, or taking a rowing boat out on Phewa Lake. The setting beneath the spectacular Annapurna mountain range ensures any time spent in and around Pokhara is a pleasure.

Day 8 : Pokhara To Nagarkot In The Kathmandu Valley

Location: Pokhara

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Nagarkot hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave the Annapurna region behind this morning and drive back to Kathmandu (approx. 7-8 hours including stops). An upgrade to an internal flight is available on request. Contact us and we can make this change to your Nepal tour package.

We skirt the city and head into the hills surrounding the valley and spend the night in the village of Nagarkot, The village is perched on a ridge and is known for having some of the best views in the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 9 : Bhaktapur Ancient Centre, Pasupatinath & Boudhanath

Location: Bhaktapur

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Kathmandu hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we hope for spectacular sunrise views from Nagarkot before driving down to one of the other ancient cities in the Kathmandu valley, Bhaktapur. The centre of Bhaktapur has been designated a World Heritage Site, and hosts the best-preserved ancient buildings and temples in the Kathmandu valley, with some great examples of traditional wooden architecture to be seen.



Our Nepal tour package will give you a taste for how life has been led in the valley for centuries, and you'll see several traditional crafts still taking place, including a whole square dedicated to pottery. After lunch, we head back into Kathmandu to visit two of the city's most important, and contrasting religious pilgrimage sites - Pasupatinath temple (Hindu) and Boudhanath stupa (Buddhist). The evening is free for you to explore Kathmandu and Thamel one last time and enjoy a farewell meal together.

Day 10 : Kathmandu, Free Time, Transfer To Airport

Location: Kathmandu

Accommodation Name: N/A

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our Nepal holiday package comes to an end. Here you'll have some free time in Kathmandu today until we transfer you to the airport for departure. Extensions to the tour are available to add more trekking, white water rafting or to visit Bardia National Park (the best place in Nepal to see tigers). First thing this morning there is also the option to take a spectacular mountain viewing flight up to see Mt. Everest (requires an evening international flight departure).

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    2*

  • All accommodation as per itinerary comfortable hotels and lodges

  • All meals as indicated in the itinerary

  • 24/7 airport transfer service

  • All transport in private vehicles

  • Specialist city guides and wildlife safari guides

  • Local tour escort

  • All national park entry and activity fees

  • All entrance fees to sites visited

What's Not Included

  • International flights (available on request)

  • Nepal visa (available on arrival for most nationalities)

  • Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)

  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary

  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. Laundry)

  • Tips for tour leader, guides and driver

  • Any other items not mentioned above

Mode of Transport

A/C car, jeep or minibus

Accommodation

Mid-range hotels
Basic guesthouse
Wildlife lodge

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    The tour includes a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Kathmandu airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    All your entry fees and permits are included (to cover entry into the trekking conservation areas, and sites on the city tour). In Chitwan, all National Park activity costs are included, to cover one of each of the following: Jungle Walk, Village Walk, River canoe trip, Elephant Ride or Jeep Safari.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Fully trained English-speaking Nepalese trekking, rafting and safari guides are provided in Nepal and many of our travellers consider them a highlight of their tour. We also provide a fully trained English-speaking guide for any sightseeing tours. A tour leader (often your trekking guide) will accompany you throughout the trip. We support and follow international guidelines for the employment of any trekking porters we use, including those of the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) At Encounters Travel we only use local Nepali guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities. Many nationals can obtain their Nepalese visa in Kathmandu airport upon arrival (including UK, EU, US, CA, AU, NZ, SA citizens). The costs for a single entry visa are currently: - up to 15 days - US$ 25 - 16 to 30 days - US$ 40 - 31 to 90 days - US$ 100 An additional $20 fee is charged to convert these into a multiple entry visa which will be needed for any tours returning to Nepal after visiting Bhutan or Tibet. The visa is obtained in the immigration area at the point where your passport is stamped. Forms to fill in are available in this immigration hall and may also be given out on your flight (if so, do fill them in before you land as it will reduce your queuing time). You will also need to fill in an arrivals card. Once your paperwork is completed, head to the immigration desk and hand over your forms, 2 passport photos, your visa fee and passport. The visa fees are set in US Dollars, but you can also pay in other currencies, but don't rely on getting given change. Passport Photos: You will need two passport photos for your Nepal visa if you are obtaining it on arrival. If you are doing any trekking, rafting or visiting a National Park (i.e. on many of of our tours), you should bring extras, as some of the permits we may need to get require these. Please bring at least 4 passport photos with you - they will always come in useful later if you don't need them all.

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation. Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are: Nepal: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Bhutan: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Tibet: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general the lowland regions Bhutan are considered malarial zones, while higher altitudes including central Bhutan including Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Bumthang are not. Nepal is considered mainly low risk with prophylactics not normally required. Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.

  • What should I know before traveling?

    It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters. General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not. You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds. Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.

  • Is travel insurance compulsory?

    Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.

  • When is my balance payment due?

    60 days prior to departure

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s

  • Can I transfer my booking to someone else?

    Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Libbylaird  

Nepal on a Shoestring - Truly fantastic

May 2018

I have just returned from the Nepal on a Shoestring Tour and I can highly recommend it. A fantastic, non-stop way to be introduced to Nepal; Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara in 8 days. I added on an additional day at the start which did mean I had some quiet time before the action began! Our guide, Dipesh, who escorted us for the trip entirety was brilliant and very patient with our relentless questions! The bus trips between locations were long but a fantastic way to see the Nepalese countryside, you do need to be patient with the Nepalese roadways! I loved every minute and would highly recommend Encounters Travel and this tour. Now looking at my next trip with Encounters Travel!

C Mazur  

Fabulous "Nepal Exposed" Tour!

October 2016

We just returned from a 10 day tour of Nepal with encounters travel. From start to finish the tour was amazing! Working with the Encounters Travel office prior to the tour was easy and smooth - all information was provided and everything was organized well. Upon arrival in Kathmandu we were met right away at the airport by our guides - we felt so comfortable right away! The trip was action packed and exciting, and our guide Ram was a joy to be with for 10 days and arranged everything for us. Although Nepal is a bit of a "culture shock" as compared to our regular experiences, we felt safe and comfortable the entire trip. Our driver, who drove for us the entire 10 days, was amazing too, which was so important given the road conditions in Nepal! We experienced city life, village life, an elephant safari, Himalayan mountain hikes, etc. all in 10 days. Trip of a lifetime! I would highly recommend Encounters Travel tours and will likely book with them for a future adventure!

Zimri-Lim  

Well organised trip to Nepal and Bhutan - thanks to Ant.

November 2016

Encounters Travel/Uncover the World in the UK organised a trip to Nepal and Bhutan for me during Nov 2016. When reviewing the various options out there I was impressed with their knowledge in the area and they were able to put together a good itinerary covering a good many sites across a number of regions. They organised hotels, transfers, guides and drivers as well as Bhutanese visas and flights between Nepal and Bhutan. Everything worked well and despite being a solo traveller I had a driver and guide during all my time in both countries. Hotels were good, comfortable, well located and entirely appropriate to this type of trip. The overall itinerary was excellent and I was able to see much of Bhutan - Thimpu, Paro and Punakha valleys - and some very interesting parts of Nepal - Kathmandu, Bhaktaput and Nagarkot - within some 11 days. I booked the major international routes myself and used Oman Air who had by far the best connections to Kathmandu and a reasonable business class fare and Ant at Encounters booked the rest. Not a particularly cheap visit - Bhutan is possibly the most expensive country in the world to visit - but I can't see how I could have done it better or cheaper. I'd certainly use these guys again for this type of trip - they really know their business.

Dates & Availability

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Sunday - Tuesday

Jun 02, 2024 - Jun 11, 2024
$2115 $2020 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Jun 30, 2024 - Jul 09, 2024
$1850 $1767 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Aug 04, 2024 - Aug 13, 2024
$1850 $1767 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 10, 2024
$2115 $2020 (USD)

Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$95 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Sep 29, 2024 - Oct 08, 2024
$2115 $2020 (USD)

Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$95 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Oct 27, 2024 - Nov 05, 2024
$2115 $2020 (USD)

Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$95 (USD)

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Sunday - Tuesday

Nov 24, 2024 - Dec 03, 2024
$2115 $2020 (USD)

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Monday - Wednesday

Dec 23, 2024 - Jan 01, 2025
$1980 $1891 (USD)

Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$89 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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