Trek Nepal
For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 28 to 49 years
Sunday 31 October - Saturday 13 November 2010 (14 days)
Itinerary
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE: FAST FACTS: WHAT YOU CARRY TRIP GRADING & PHYSICAL FITNESS CLIMATE DAY 1: Arrive Kathmandu DAY 2: In Kathmandu (1330m) DAY 3: Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara 980m. DAY 4: To Australian Camp 1900m. Walk approximately 6 hours.| DAY 5: To Kooker 2590m. Walk approx 6 hours. DAY 6: To Humaal 2950m. Walk approx 4 hours. DAY 7: To Guhe 3680m. Walk approx 5 hours. DAY 8: Day hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp. Walk approx 6 hours DAY 9 To Kooker 2590m. Walk approx 5 hours. DAY 10: To Landruk 1600 m. Walk approx 3 hours. DAY 11: To Ghandruk 1940m. Walk approx 4 hours DAY 12: To Pokhara. Walk approx. 5 hours DAY 13: Fly to Kathmandu. DAY 14: Trip Concludes in Kathmandu.
DAY 1: ARRIVE KATHMANDU
DAY 2: IN KATHMANDU (1330M)
DAY 3: FLY KATHMANDU TO POKHARA 980M.
DAY 4: TO AUSTRALIAN CAMP 1900M. WALK APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS.
DAY 5: TO KOOKER 2590M. WALK APPROX 6 HOURS.
DAY 6: TO HUMAAL 2950M. WALK APPROX 4 HOURS.
DAY 7: TO GUHE 3680M. WALK APPROX 5 HOURS.
DAY 8; DAY HIKE TO MARDI HIMAL BASE CAMP. WALK APPROX 6 HOURS.
DAY 9: TO KOOKER 2590M. WALK APPROX 5 HOURS.
DAY 10: TO LANDRUK 1600 M. WALK APPROX 3 HOURS.
DAY 11: TO GHANDRUK 1940M. WALK APPROX 4 HOURS
DAY 12: TO POKHARA. WALK APPROX. 5 HOURS
DAY 13: FLY TO KATHMANDU.
DAY 14: TRIP CONCLUDES IN KATHMANDU.
* information provided with pre-departure information sent after confirming a booking.
In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rain jacket, water bottle, film and camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc. Porters carry all group gear and your trek pack.
On a moderate trek physical activity will generally not exceed eight hours in a day, and altitudes generally not exceeding 5,500 metres. On a moderate adventure the physical activity is sustained and travelers should be comfortable with occasional rough terrain. At any stage of a moderate trek you can expect long steep climbs and descents and a wide range of weather conditions. An example of an average day on moderate trek could include several ascents and descents of 500 metres or more, level ground is rare in the mountains. To prepare for a moderate trek you should begin training at least four to five months before your departure. As a guideline, an hour of aerobic exercise three to four times per week would be considered a minimum requirement. The best preparation is bushwalking involving relatively steep ascents and descents. If you can manage a couple of valley floor to ridgeline ascents per bushwalk, albeit with stops along the way, you will cope with a moderately graded trek. Speed is not important, stamina, confidence and continuity are.
The trekking season extends from mid-September to May. From early September the monsoonal rains decrease. Weather in the Himalayas can be unpredictable at any time of year. It is essential to be prepared for all conditions as freak storms and unseasonal temperatures can occur.
You will be met by your group leader.You will be met by your group leader and transferred to the Radisson Hotel. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. A pre-trek briefing will be given around 5pm where arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fibrefill jacket. Evening drinks are served from 6:30 pm until 7:15pm, and this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner. Meals: NIL
This morning a sightseeing tour takes in the key attractions in and around Kathmandu. In the afternoon you have time to explore Patan, Bhaktapur, and the lesser-known towns that dot the valley on foot, by bicycle or trishaw. The area has an amazing range of fascinating highlights, whatever your interest. Excellent bookshops, extensive markets, and novelty and handicraft shops contrast with fantastic centres of cultural and spiritual significance - Kathmandu has more World Heritage sites than any other city in the world. Meals: B
This morning we take a flight west to Pokhara, Nepal's second largest town and our first night's camp. Meals: B, L, D
We drive a short distance passing a Tibetan Refuge Camp and then commence our trek. We immediately leave the main road and ascend steeply towards the ride where we gain panoramic views of the Annapurna mountain range in the distance. The scale of the imposing mountains astounds us as gaze at the adjacent peaks of Machapuchare (6993m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Annapurna South (7219m). Following a ridge through fields and clumps of bamboo we soon arrive at a pleasant location for our picnic lunch at Dampus. Villagers greet us with "Namaste", the traditional Nepalese greeting as we pass through Chetri and Brahmin settlements and onto the ridge top. After lunch we head towards our camp, which offers us opportunities for sunset photographs. Meals: B, L, D
The views from our campsite are excellent, and morning generally offers the best opportunity to view the huge peaks. As we walk, the peaks of the Annapurnas will be visible through the scattered rhododendron forest, offering a sample of the trek to come. As we reach Deroli (2200m) we can get our first views of Dhaulagiri, the world's 6th highest peak. We take lunch at Forest Camp, and after our longer uphill morning session, this afternoon will be a more gradual ascent to camp.
Meals: B, L, D
We start the day with a gradual ascent, enjoying the impressive views of the distant steep terraced paddy fields and villages that cling to the hillsides. This is followed by a climb through forest to our dramatic campsite, high on a grassy knoll, providing spectacular views of Annapurna and Machapuchare. Meals: B, L, D
The mountain views this morning are among the best on earth. We have time to appreciate the enormity of these mountains, with their jagged profiles and huge tumbling glaciers. The views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare get better with each step we take upwards through the lush forest of rhododendron and birch. We enter a zone of dwarf rhododendron before breaking into the grass hills above the tree line to our ridge-top campsite. Meals: B, L, D
We wake this morning to even more spectacular mountain views. As we are not moving camp today you have a choice to relax at camp and savour the views in the vicinity, or join a day hike to Mardi Himal Base Camp. The options are of course weather dependent, but which ever you choose you will be well rewarded with an exceptional day in the mountains. As you climb you get closer to the gigantic face of Machapuchare. If time allows, you may be able to traverse close to the glaciers, or view the giant sanctuary of Annapurna 1 or Annapurna 4. Meals: B, L, D
After a relaxed breakfast we descend reluctantly, stopping often to soak in the mountain views. This is a leisurely day as we return through the forest. Meals: B, L, D
We descend steeply towards the Mardi Khola today, trekking through dense forest of rhododendron, oak and birch until we reach the terraced fields of Landruk. We have time to explore the village and visit the nearby waterfall before we set camp by the river. Meals: B, L, D
Our destination today is easily seen across the valley, the attractive Gurung village of Ghandruk, We descend the valley floor through terraced fields and cross steel suspension bridge to commence our ascent. As we trek up the staircase, we enjoy the beauty of Himalaya at a relatively close range and observe the glaciers flowing from them to form the river below us. It really is a magnificent location and a photographer's delight. On our leisurely approach along these ridges we savor the magnificent scenery with fine mountain views. Ghandruk is the second largest Gurung settlement in Nepal and provides a further insight into the lifestyles of villages that have traditionally provided the backbone of the famous Gurkha regiments. The afternoon can be spent at leisure, or take a tour of the old village. Meals: B, L, D
After soaking in the early morning views of Annapurna South, we head down the Modi Khola to Syauli Bazar where we stop for lunch by the river side. We pass through the village of Birethanthi and cross a steel suspension bridge before continuing a short distance to board our bus to Pokhara. We will have the afternoon at leisure in Pokhara before our final dinner with our trekking crew. Meals: B, L, D
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our fight to Kathmandu, a spectacular mountain flight along the face of the Himalaya. On arrival we transfer to the hotel. Meals: B
Arrangements cease after breakfast unless further arrangements have been made. Those travelling by aircraft to further destinations will be transferred to the airport. Meals: B
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2012