WALKING holidays

A Nepal Special - dossier

 For that very special occasion or for those who like comfort with adventure this tour uses the very best hotels with top quality jungle lodges. Tiger Tops has long set the standard when it comes to experiencing the wildlife and beauty of Chitwan National Park. Excellent service, quality accommodation and expert naturalist guides provide one of the finest wildlife experiences in Asia.

This is followed by a stay at the Tiger Mountain Pokhara Village occupying a magnificent position above the town of Pokhara and Lake Phewa Tal. Spectacular mountain vistas can be seen of the Annapurnas from the verandah of your private accommodation. All activities are included so you can do as much or as little as you wish.

Guided walks, pony rides, mountain bike or explore the bazaars of Pokhara and relax by the still waters of Phewa Tal.     

 Our Nepal Special is a varied tour for that special occasion or for the traveller who wants to combine activity with relaxation.

Extra sightseeing can be included at the start or end of the tour and a day of whitewater rafting for those with more time. Contact us for details.

Itinerary
Day 1.
Arrive Kathmandu where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the 5 star Hotel Annapurna or The Yak & Yeti. These hotels have all the facilities you would expect of world class accommodation - air conditioned rooms, swimming pool, restaurants and bars, 24hr room service etc. Accommodation is bed and breakfast which gives you the freedom to explore the many restaurants in Kathmandu.
Day 2.
Guided sightseeing of Kathmandu to include the Hindu temple complex at Pashupatinath; one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world at Bodnath, and the ancient city of Patan. A highlight of the tour is the visit to the ‘Golden Temple’. Here gilded statues and shrines are enclosed within a courtyard ringed by prayer wheels and butter lamps. There will be time in the afternoon to wander through the bazaars of Thamel.
Day 3.
Fly to Meghauli and transfer to Tiger Tops Lodge Chitwan National Park. Upon arrival you will be met and taken by landrover to Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge. Upon arrival at the Lodge, you will be met and briefed by the resident Guest Relations officer regarding the Park and the programmes available.
Day 4. 
Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, situated 75 air miles south-west of Kathmandu, is at an elevation  of about 150 meters above sea level. It is in the heart of Royal Chitwan National Park, a 932 square kilometer (360 square miles) area of tall grassland and magnificent forest - one of Asia's richest and most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. All the double rooms at the Jungle Lodge are attractively furnished and each room has solar-heated showers and modern toilet amenities. Nepalese and Western cuisine is served in the central dining hall with its huge domed roof and central open fireplace. A fully-stocked bar is open until the last guest retires. Activities at the Jungle Lodge include wildlife viewing from elephant back, nature walks, jungle treks,birdwatching, landrover drives, boat trips, wildlife viewing and photographing from machans (blinds).Every evening a slide show explains more fully about the fauna of the National Park. All excursions are escorted by experienced naturalists.
Day 5.
After breakfast transfer to Tiger Tops Tented Camp.
Tiger Tops Tented Camp is located in the Surung Valley five kilometers (three miles) east of Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge on high ground overlooking tall grasslands with the river, middle hills and the snow capped Himalaya beyond. 8,000 meter peaks including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu can be seen from the Tented Camp on clear days.
The central dining area will be your special place for relaxation. Built in traditional Nepali style, it has a well stocked bar and an attractive open fire place. Accommodation is in 12 large safari tents with comfortable twin beds separate hot and cold shower amenities and jungle toilets. Western and Nepali cuisine is served.

Activities at the Camp include day hikes, nature walks, birdwatching, jungle safaris on elephants, boat trips and landrover drives. All jungle excursions are accompanied by an expert naturalist.
Wildlife in Chitwan includes the Greater One-Horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer and barking deer as well as a wide variety of birdlife. With a bit of luck, there          are always the chance of glimpsing the leopard, sloth bear and Royal Bengal tiger. Overnight at Tiger Tops Tented Camp.
Day 6,7 & 8. 
After breakfast and early morning activities drive in private vehicle to Tiger Mountain Pokhara Village. The Village is new having recently been opened by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Situated on a spectacular hilltop ridge a thousand feet above the Pokhara Valley with panoramic views             of Machhapuchhare, the Annapurnas & Lamjung Himal, the Tiger Mountain Pokhara Village sets new standards of hospitality.
The elegant and spacious rooms are arranged around the hilltop in individual hand-cut stone bungalows, blending naturally into their surroundings. Sited to maximize the breathtaking vistas and set in private gardens, each room has a private verandah, on suite bathroom and is furnished with a super-king sized bed or large singles.
The focal point of the Village is the main lodge, with its fully-stocked bar, seating areas over-looking the surrounding hills and mountains, and a cosy central fireplace, arranged around a    Nepali-style courtyard. Decorated with traditional artifacts and local design themes, there is a separate dining room and plenty of outdoor terraces for drinks and meals al fresco. A special     feature is the library, containing a unique collection of Himalayan mountaineering literature and photographs belonging to the late Col.J.O.M. Roberts, the father of trekking in Nepal.

In addition to relaxing at the Village activities focus on exploring the nearby countryside and the Gurung, Brahmin, Chettri villages on foot, pony or mountain bike. Full or half day hikes have been designed to combine the Pokhara Valley's beautiful lakes and picturesque hill villages, long favoured as a recruiting grounds for the British and Indian Gurkha soldiers. All walks, birdwatching and other activities are accompanied by Tiger Mountain's trained naturalists and guides.
Day 9.    
Fly to Kathmandu  (30mins)
Day 10.  
Depart

GENERAL INFORMATION
 When to go
The most likely time to see wildlife is after the February burns and before the monsoons start up again in May. October can be hot and lush, November less so, December and January are cooler. Pokhara is delightful in either Spring or Autumn. Wildflowers and rhododendron blooms cover the hillsides in Spring whilst October/November is the most popular time for trekking due to the clearer mountain air.

What to bring
Located just outside the tropics, the days in Chitwan are generally warm for most of the year and require only light clothing. However, from November to February the early mornings and evenings can be very chilly, requiring a warm sweater or jacket. Early morning elephant rides can be particularly cold before the sun rises and warms the air enough to dispel the damp morning mist.
Light-weight, loose-fitting trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended for elephant riding as they give protection from cuts and scratches while moving through the tall grass and forests. Canvas shoes or lightweight boots are ideal for walking or elephant riding as they give protection from thorny vines, insects and prickles. Bright colours are very conspicuous in the jungle and we advise that you wear neutral-coloured clothing. A sunhat or light neck scarf and sun-cream are necessary for preventing sunburn and perhaps insect repellent for use out of doors in the evening. A pair of binoculars can be useful for wildlife viewing.

Health and Hygiene
Detailed advice on health matters and vaccination requirements will be sent upon confirmation of your booking however, you will need to be protected against Hepatitis A, Typhoid,polio,tetanus,and Meningitis. In addition you should take malaria  prophylactic pills during your stay and for four weeks after leaving Nepal. Please consult your doctor for up to date advice. We recommend that each person carries a basic first aid kit and a list of suggested contents will be sent to you at the time of booking.

Visas
Single entry visas cost $30 are valid for 60 days, and cover all our Nepal only treks. Full details of application procedure and a visa application form will be sent to you at the time of booking. Visas can be arranged upon arrival at Kathmandu airport.

Extra expenses
Where hotel accommodation is on a B&B basis you should allow at the most $15 - 20 per day to cover meals, allow $16 for Kathmandu Airport Departure Tax and approximately $25 -30 for trek crew tips. The amount of extra money you bring is a matter of personal choice but $200 should be more than sufficient to cover monastery donations, the purchase of soft drinks and most souvenirs.

Accommodation
In Kathmandu we stay in either the Hotel Annapurna or Yak & Yeti on a bed and breakfast basis. All meals and activities are included at Chitwan, and Pokhara Mountain Village.

Transport
All sightseeing tours, transfers are by private vehicle. Internal flights to Kathmandu are on the scheduled services of one of the airlines operating within Nepal. Occasionally flights are subject to unforeseeable delays when it may not be possible to fly on the intended day.

Flights
Nepal is 5hrs 45mins ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Flights to Kathmandu are often booked up months in advance; we strongly advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
For flight information and fares to and from the USA you can contact :                              

Lida Behnam at Lida Travel
E-mail Address(es):
lida@erols.com
Tel 888-719-9191 who specialises in arranging flights to Asia from the US.

How to book

Recommended reading
Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya             Stan Armington
Trekking in Nepal                                 Stephen Bezruchka
The Trekkers Handbook                        Tom Gilchrist
Trekking in Nepal,West Tibet & Bhutan      Hugh Swift
Nepal                                                  Nelles Guides
South Asian Handbook                         Trade & Travel
Footloose in the Himalaya                     Mike Harding
Royal Chitwan National Park                 Prakash A. Raj