Nepal 11 Days
This itinerary visits historic Kathmandu and the surroundings towns, Pokhara, the Annapurna Range and the jungle of Chitwan National Park.
Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight (8) of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city. The country is a trekkers' paradise, offering Himalayan views, golden temples, charming rural villages and jungle wildlife watching. It is one of the world's great travel destinations.
Tips:
Visa: Nepal visas are available on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International airport.
You can also apply for a visa online up to 15 days before your arrival (you must travel to Nepal within six months of visa being approved). Make sure you’re applying for your visa on the official government site, rather than scam sites like iVisa who charge a lot more to complete the very same form that you do.
ATMs are widely available in big cities, but not in rural areas.
Travel Guides: Lonely Planet Nepal and Footprint Nepal & Nepal Guide.
Vaccines recommended are: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.
Best time to visit: Late October to December. Visitors are greeted with beautiful clear skies, fresh air and incredible views.
Travelwildnow.com strongly recommends a tour operator for your Nepal adventure. Nepal is a difficult country to navigate on your own.
Tour Operators can be found in the Guides mentioned above.
One of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth.
Day 1
Arrive at Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel.
Kathmandu has become a busy, polluted, modern city, but it still preserves a stunning medieval heart, quiet courtyards and an exciting restaurant and nightlife scene. It is set in a valley surrounded by the Himalayan mountains.
Explore Kathmandu’s Buddhist temples and bustling bazaars.
Overnight: Kathmandu (3 nights), We suggest the Dwarika Hotel.
Day 2 and 3
Kathmandu is a huge city that extends throughout most of the valley.
Best way is to plan wisely visiting the “must see” neighborhoods:
Durbar Square at Basantapur. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. There are many Hindu and Buddhist temples dating as far back as the 12th century. Sadly however, a huge earthquake destroyed many of the temples and buildings, including the palace, in 2015. (Patan’s Durbar Square is better preserved, read below.)
Thamel - the district is full of shops, tour operator offices, restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops and hotels. Everything that travelers may need can be found in Thamel.
Swayambhunath Stupa - the stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site.
Boudha - is almost a town in itself. Focused on the enormous Boudhanath Stupa—the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist site outside of Tibet—Boudha is central to Kathmandu's Tibetan population. Here you'll find shops selling Tibetan souvenirs.
Pashupatinath - at the holy riverbank of Pashupatinath, the Hindu dead are cremated in the open.
Visit Patan - Patan is 5 km away from the capital city, Kathmandu. Despite its proximity to Kathmandu, it still retains its old-world charm. Patan is a city of major temples, Buddhist monasteries and its artisans are known for their fine metal works.
Patan Durbar Square (better than the one in Kathmandu) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the old royal palace and a host of artistically designed temples all within the square.
Explore Bhaktapur - similar to Patan, Bhaktapur (16 km away) is another town that was once a separate kingdom, and also feels very different from Kathmandu, and not totally connected by urban sprawl. The stunningly preserved city of Bhaktapur offers a taste of what Kathmandu before it became a modern world city.
Discover Bandipur - Unlike many small towns in the Nepal hills, Bandipur has retained its age-old cultural - a temples, shrines, sacred caves, festivals, that retracts back to the Kathmandu Valley of old.
It makes a ideal location for hiking along trails that take you through tribal villages, verdant forests, boutique hotels and hilltop shrines that once doubled as fortresses.
Day 4-7
Journey to Pokhara - located under the white peaks of the Annapurna range, lakeside Pokhara is Nepal's biggest tourist center. It is the base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit.
What is the best way to get from Kathmandu to Pokhara ?
Pokhara may not seem far from Kathmandu (the cities are only 126 miles / 204 km apart), but the terrain and road quality make for a very long and uncomfortable drive.
By Road it will take 6- 8 hours. The main factor that will affect your journey is the poor road conditions and traffic around the Kathmandu Valley depending on the time of day.
Flying is by far the quickest and most comfortable way of traveling between Kathmandu and Pokhara and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Numerous flights leave each day from Tribhuvan Airport and take only around 30 minutes. Aside from the higher cost, the downside of flying is that flights can often be delayed due to poor weather, or because of delays with incoming flights.
The legendary Annapurna region is the most diverse and popular trekking area in Nepal.
There is a trek suitable for every interested visitor, from the full three-week Annapurna Circuit, which stretches into the historic Mustang region to the popular short three (3)-day treks. Working with a tour operator is highly recommended for an enjoyable customized trek.
Travelwildnow.com recommends to customize any trekking trip with assistance from a local travel operator
Altitude sickness can begin at 8,000 feet for some people.
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TREKKING GRADE LEVELS:
Easy Treks: No previous experience or physical preparation required. The duration varies from a 2-day hike to 5 days of trekking on well maintained paths up to an altitude of 3000 m and walking up to 5 hours a day.
Moderate Treks: Requires 6 to 7 hours walking everyday crossing 4000 m high altitude passes. Physical and mental fitness, positive attitude, interest and previous hiking or camping experience is required.
Difficult Treks: Previous trekking experience, technical knowledge, positive attitude and perseverance are required. It requires 6 to 7 hours of walking everyday through rough trails and possibly crossing high passes as high as 5000 m.
Strenuous Treks: It involves long days, long hours of challenging walks on high altitude passes above 5000 m, difficult terrains and glacier & snow walking. One needs to have rock and ice climbing experience with knowledge of using ice-axe and crampons. Physical and mental fitness with excellent health condition, positive attitude and perseverance is also required.
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You should carry are two pairs of pants, 2-3 thermal tops, 3-5 pairs of socks and underwear, a waterproof jacket, good hiking shoes, a reusable water bottle, toilet paper, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit and snacks.
It can get cold at night, particularly at higher altitudes, so you should also pack warm layers for sleeping in, however, sleeping bags and towels are generally NOT necessary as tea houses will provide both bed linen and towels. In addition, bring cash as there are NO ATMs on the mountain.
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Tips to reduce altitude sickness
Symptoms usually begin within a few hours of arriving at a new elevation. Some people compare the symptoms to those of a hangover. Headaches, fatigue, and nausea are all common when experiencing altitude sickness.
Your body usually adjusts to a new altitude within 24-36 hours, so avoid any strenuous activity on your first day or two. Even very active people are susceptible to altitude sickness, especially during physical activity.
It is very important to drink more water than usual which will help reduce or prevent symptoms. Stock up ! You need at least four (4) liters of water every day on a high altitude trek. Other things to avoid include salty foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
Drinking alcohol at high altitudes often causes a magnified effect.
A medication called Diamox is used by some people. What does it do ?
Diamox is a diuretic. Side effects for short term use are basically non existent.
In summary, this medicine helps you acclimate faster by increasing your breathing rate.
So for most treks that gain altitude too quickly, people taking the preventive medication - Diamox, really helps. Especially if your trek climbs above 13,000-14,000 ft.
Diet is a equally important role. It’s important to eat well at high altitude, but not eat too much.
It is suggested NOT to have a diet that’s very high on protein. High protein is harder for your body to break down. A low-salt, wholesome meal may be more beneficial.
It is believed that carbohydrate diets can improve energy balance. Eat a high carbohydrate diet before and during the acclimation periods. This can include pastas, breads, fruits, and potato based meals.
Day 8
Returning from your trek to Pokhara, head next to the jungle Chitwan National Park.
Sauraha is the main town outside of Chitwan. It’s the starting point of the vast majority of tours.
To reach Sauraha, buses depart daily from Kathmandu and Pokhara and each take approximately 4-6 hours.
Overnight: Sauraha (3 nights) <Where to stay>
Driving time:
Pokhara —> Chitwan Park 4-6 hours. Road Construction, Maintenance, Strikes etc. may delay arrival.
Option: BY AIR - flight time, 30 minutes. Bharatpur airport is the hub for Chitwan Park.
Bharatpur is 16km (10 mi.) from Sauraha.
There’s usually one daily flight between Pokhara and Bharatpur. It’s a very short flight, so if it fits your schedule, you can save a long road journey. It’s easy to arrange a pick-up and transfer to your hotel. Tour operators are your best bet to customize your itinerary.
Read more about Chitwan Park
Day 9 and 10
Chitwan National Park is located in the mid Terai area of Nepal. It's famous for a jungle that has a population of Royal Bengal tigers, elephants, one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles and a host of bird life.
Your activities at the Park will depend on the type of tour you select.
Activities range from visiting the Tharu villages to see how they live, plus cultural dances and performances, visiting a elephant breeding center, canoeing, birding watching, cycling, elephant safari ride or jeep safari trips with a naturalist.
Overnight: Sauraha.
Day 11
Depart Chitwan Park to Kathmandu and connect to your flight home.
Average cost:
(EXCLUDING AIRFARE)
USD $ for two (2) people.
Budget: $3,800
Moderate: $4,800
Luxury: $6,200 +
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1. Should I hire a porter for the trek ?
Visitors are not accustomed to the conditions in the Himalayas. This means carrying a 10 -15 kg (22-35 pounds) on your back for several days or a week can become very difficult. For a great time and relaxing trek, hiring porters is strongly recommended.
2. What would be an appropriate tip for the mountain guides and porters?
If you are happy with their service we recommend $10-15 USD per guide per day and about $7-10 USD per porter. Although guides and porters receive a fair wage, please remind yourself that their work is seasonal. The extra money goes a long way in providing additional support to families.
3. When is the best time to travel to Nepal?
There are different climates in Nepal due to the extreme altitude differences. The best trekking time is in spring and autumn. The spring season starts in March and ends in late May, with daytime temperatures of up to 22° C, although it may be a bit hazy. In April and May there are many places with wildflowers and rhododendron forests in full bloom.
The autumn season is from mid October to late November, with daytime temperatures rising up to about 25° C, while the nights are somewhat colder. The view in autumn is clearer, and the landscape is in a deep green.
Hiking tours can even be undertaken in December and January. However, it may be particularly cold at night. But the sky is almost cloudless and far fewer hikers are around.
4. What physical condition is recommedned to go trekking in Nepal?
In general, physical fitness and good health are always a prerequisite for trekking trips. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your trek. In addition to good physical condition.
<Select the right trek grade level for yourself>
We recommend visiting your family doctor before your trek, especially if you suffer from heart and circulation problems.
5. Where can I stay during the trekking trips?
There are teahouses/lodges on the most popular trekking routes. They are basic facilities. You share the toilets and shower rooms with other trekkers. Generally you will have a great experiences.
There are also comfort lodges around Kathmandu, Annapurna and on the way to Everest Base Camp. These lodges have comfortable twin rooms with electric blankets and a private bathroom with a shower. They are all in a beautiful location with a view of the mountains.
Please note that there are NO comfort lodges located at an altitude of 4,000 meters and above, only teahouses.
6. What kind of food will I experience in Nepal?
Rice is one of the staple foods in Nepal. For tourists it is generally served with various curried vegetables and spinach. Momos are also very popular. These are steamed dumplings filled with vegetables or meat, and are eaten with a spicy sauce. In addition, you can order any western dishes such as pasta, pizza, burgers, soups, etc. during your treks and other cultural tours.
7. Along the trek route, are there places for charging mobile phone and cameras?
At most of the lodges / tea houses, it is possible to recharge your camera and mobile phone batteries. At higher altitudes from 4,000 m the facilities for recharging may be limited. We recommend carrying replacement batteries. At lower altitudes it is wise to charge your batteries completely and bring extra batteries. During camping treks the options are very limited.
8. Do mobile phones gave good coverage on the trek routes ?
The network coverage in Nepal has improved in recent years, however in some places and especially on treks you may encounter problems. You can buy a SIM card with a Nepalese number at low cost which will provide you with better service. Your tour operator or guide can help in choosing the right provider.
9. Can my family and I trek independently and not hire a tour operator and guides ?
We strongly recommend NOT to trek alone without a local mountain guide. The health risks at high altitude can be very dangerous and deadly. In the event of an accident, illness or other natural disaster no one will know your precise location or be able to send help.
The high altitudes and the prevailing weather conditions also poise a serious threat. It is also recommended that you should travel only with reputable agencies / tour operators. Many travel guides list dependable travel agents.
Climate Guide:
Nepal has dry periods in mid-October to March.
The warmest months are May through August with an avg. maximum temperature of 30°C (86°F).
The coldest months are January and February with an avg. maximum temperature of 18°C (64°F).
June through September are the most wet months.
November through February are the driest months and peak season for visitors.
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