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The Enviroment:
NEPAL – 2011 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM YEAR - 15 days
An excellent introduction to the joys of Nepal, exploring the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys and enjoying the immense beauty of the Himalaya. 3 nights are spent in the Chitwan National Park and we allow time for low altitude walks around Pokhara.
Kathmandu & Gorkha First we wander around the bustling bazaars of Kathmandu and visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu temple and Boudhanath Stupa - from which four pairs of eyes which looks at the four corners of earth with wisdom and compassion. We then head to the Historic town of Gorkha - which gave the feared Gurkha soldiers their name - we head up to the old King's Palace for some great views of the Annapurnas and Manaslu. On the way to Gorkha you may like to take an optional half-day white water rafting trip on the Trisuli River, a really exhilarating experience.
Chitwan Wildlife From Gorkha we drive down to the sub tropical Terai and Chitwan valley. We spend 3 nights at the Chitwan National Park, which supports a variety of game. Known for it's great one horned rhino and Royal Bengal tigers, there are also leopard, sloth bear, four kinds of deer and over 300 species of birds. After Chitwan we visit the old trading post of Bandipur, which is located under a canopy of pine and Sal forests. We spend two days doing short walks and exploring this historic town.
The 'Fishtail' Mountain We continue to the verdant Pokhara valley, to enjoy the lakeside tranquility and breathtaking views of Machapuchare, the 'fishtail peak' (6997m). Various walks are possible, perhaps along a ridge between the pretty lakes of Begnas and Rupa, where we can enjoy mountain views of Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to Annapurna II in the east.
Being Responsible
Responsible Adventures operates tourism that fosters understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments we visit. The Company operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. They are committed to working our clients and the people of our host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level, and to contribute to cultural and environmental conservation. With the continual monitoring of operations, they aim to operate beyond best practice guidelines, endeavoring to set the world-wide industry benchmark for responsible tourism operation. The Company complies with international environmental conventions and abide by the laws, regulations and guidelines of the countries, cultures and natural areas visited. They actively support cultural, social and environmental initiatives through financial contributions and direct participatory involvement.
Day 1 - Join Kathmandu.
Day 2 - In Kathmandu, walking tour of old bazaar; visit Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 3 - Drive to Nalang Village.
Day 4 - In Nalang. Walks
Day 5 - Drive to Chitwan.
Day 6 - In Chitwan, nature walks, elephant Safaris.
Day 7 - Drive to Bandipur, walks.
Day 8 - In Bandipur, walks, Gorkha visit.
Day 9 - Drive to Pokhara.
Day 10-12 In Pokhara, choice of walks; half-day visit to Tibetan refugee village.
Day 13 - Fly to Kathmandu.
Day 14 - In Kathmandu possibility of Everest flight and optional tour of Bhaktapur in the afternoon.
Day 15 - Departure.
Boutique hotels in Kathmandu & Pokhara, Tented camp in Nalang, Resorts in Chitwan and Bandipur
Responsible tourism elements in this itinerary
The benefits in taking this tour: by supporting locally owned hotels and homestays we are helping to provide employment for local communities.
- Nalang: Witness unspoilt pristine village lifestyle
- Chitwan: Home to a wide variety of animal species and the rare one horned rhino
- Bandipur: Old trading post
- Pokhara: Half-day excursion to the Tibetan refugee village
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