KATHMANDU VALLEY EXTENSION Mountain view from Nagarkot
HIGHLIGHTS This trip includes a three day trek around the hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley visiting places with superb panoramic views of the Himalaya mountains. The vista stretches from Manaslu and Annapurnas in the west to the distant pyramid of Mt. Everest, Numbur and Karyolung in the east. For every night of the trek you stay at the high quality hotels/ resorts and we will transport your luggage to the next hotel by private vehicle. On the trek you will visit the most important religious and cultural sites of the Kathmandu valley including World Heritage site of Changu Narayan plus Namo Buddha monastery and Kali temple above Dhulikhel. Roland, owner and founder of The Mountain Company, has walked the route around the Kathmandu valley and has modified the itinerary based on this experience. He will be able to answer any questions you might have. KATHMANDU VALLEY RIM Total number of days 4 days Grade & days trekking Accommodation Moderate, 4 trekking days 3 nights hotel 2014 price 485 (US$750) per person based on two people sharing a room Single room supplement Upgrade to Dwarikas Resort sharing a room 250 (US$400) 120 (US$190) per person based on two people Minimum group size 2
TESTIMONIALS I only have good feedback for you regarding the tour. Everything worked out very well for us. The length of the tour was just nice, not too short and not too long. The sights and scenery we got to see were awesome. I was also impressed with the hotels/resorts we stayed in. I must mention Lakpa Sherpa who was an amazing guide. He really took good care of us. Overall I'm very pleased I joined the tour and I have to say I had a really wonderful time. I have and will be recommending The Mountain Company to my friends who are interested in making a trip to Nepal. Thank you! June Koh (Malaysia) Yes we got back safely having had a really good trip, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was what we wanted a 'walking holiday'. We loved walking through the villages etc. and staying at contrasting places. The weather was wonderful and of course the views were amazing. We never met any other 'walkers' which was a real bonus. We think that this a suitable holiday/trek for reasonably fit people of our age group (Late 60's). I hope that this feedback is of use to you, and we would recommend this trip to others. Keir and Ruth Woodward (UK) THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP Twin share room at Vajra Farmhouse in Nagarkot, Dhulikhel Mountain Lodge (upgrade available for Dwarikas Resort) and Namo Buddha Resort on full board (all meals included). All trekking arrangements including permits and fees and Sherpa guide. Four wheel drive vehicle throughout trek (for baggage and support) Kathmandu Valley trekking map given to you on arrival to Kathmandu.
THE FOLLOWING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS AVAILABLE: Single room supplement xxx (US$xxx) PARTICIPATION STATEMENT Participants should be aware trekking, mountaineering and travelling in a developing country are activities that involve a risk of personal injury or death. As a condition of booking you must accept these risks and be responsible for your own actions and involvement. Adventure travel requires an open and flexible attitude. You may experience extreme conditions, unpredictable weather and last minute changes to the itinerary beyond our control. Lack of acclimatisation to high altitudes could also be a risk factor. Our itineraries allow optimum time for acclimatising although it is possible that some individuals might be slow acclimatisers. The majority of our trips visit remote areas where you are away from normal emergency services and medical facilities. In case of a serious injury requiring hospitalisation, it has to be accepted by you, evacuation could take up to several days and may impede your ensuing recovery. Helicopters are the most usual means of evacuation, however they are not always available or they may be hindered by poor weather and flying conditions. INTRODUCTION This trip is a four day trek around the hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley visiting places with superb panoramic views of the Himalaya mountains. The vista stretches from Manaslu and Annapurnas in the west to the distant pyramid of Mt. Everest, Numbur and Karyolung in the east. The views are different from each point on the trek from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha with each providing a unique angle and perspective on the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal. For every night of the trek you stay at the high quality hotels and resorts, we will transport your luggage to the next hotel by private car. You can also use our vehicle if you prefer to drive sections of the trail rather than walk the whole way each day.
DETAILED ITINERARY It is our intention to keep to the day by day itinerary detailed below, although there might be some flexibility due to local conditions or other factors beyond our control. If this is the case the trek leader will do everything possible to work out the changes to the itinerary in order to minimise your inconvenience. Day 1. Drive to Changu Narayan (1,500m), walk to Nagarkot (2,040m)- 6 hours walking. The trek starts at the World Heritage site of Changu Narayan just north of Bhaktapur. Change Narayan is the name of a temple dedicated to Vishu and is the oldest in Kathmandu valley with a stone slab discovered in the vicinity of the temple dating back to the 5th century. After a visit to the temple we start the walk along a forested ridge with views of terraced fields of rice down in the floor of the valley. After Tilkot Forest Reserve the trail joins the road to Nagarkot on which you walk a while before turning off onto a trail that traverses below Nagarkot town directly to Vajra Farmhouse. Overnight at Vajra Farmhouse in Nagarkot (B,L,D): the main building of this hotel is a renovated old Newari house with raised ceiling, tiled floor and a fireplace. There is a lovely dining hall with an open fireplace, where you can sit, read, play, look at the mountains or simply chat with the Manager and his crew. This panorama is the hallmark of Nagarkot Farmhouse. On a clear morning dawn unveils a vista of eastern and the central Himalayan range, from towering Manaslu to the distant pyramid of Mt. Everest. For more information on this hotel please take a look at their website at http://www.nagarkotfarmhouse.com/ Day 2. Walk to Dhulikhel (1,600m)- 7 hours walking. From Vajra Farmhouse walk along the tranquil jungle trail to Nagarkot town then follow the ridge on edge of Bageshwari Forest Reserve past the Nagarkot View Tower. Continue to the junction at Rohini Bhanjang keep going straight along the ridge (do not descend here) and then further ½ hour along the trail descend passing terraced fields and farmyards towards Tanchok village. Before Tanchok you take left turn on road to ascend a ridge with Buddhist stupa on the summit,
there is a superb 360 degree view from here to the Himalaya peaks and down to Kathmandu valley. From the stupa follow the ridge down passing through Opi Village and onto the View Tower then descend to Dhulikhel town. Dwarikas Shangri La is a walk beyond Dhulikhel so it is best to get picked up by the support vehicle and in fact as this is a longer day you could also take the car earlier in the day if you prefer. Dhulikhel is located at the Eastern rim of Kathmandu Valley, south of the Himalayas at 1550m above sea level Dhulikhel is located at the Eastern rim of Kathmandu Valley, south of the Himalayas at 1,550m above sea level. The panorama from Dhulikhel is majestic undisturbed view of the Himalayan ranges stretching from Mount Annapurna in the far west to Mount Karolung in the Far East. More than twenty Himalayan peaks including Mt. Annapurna (8091 m), Mt. Ganesh Himal (7429 m), Mt. Langtang (7234 m), Mt. Phuribichyachu (6637 m), Mt. Gaurishanker (7134 m), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m) and many others can be seen in their full glory from the different vantage points in Dhulikhel. Overnight at Dhulikhel Lodge Resort (B,L,D): for more information on this hotel please take a look at their website at http://www.dhulikhellodgeresort.com/ [Upgrade] Overnight at Dwarikas Shangri La in Dhulikhel (B,L,D): Dwarikas is Nepal's premier hospitality group, dedicated to preserving and sharing Nepal's rich and diverse heritage. Their Shangri La resort rests upon a lush forested hill that extends over twenty acres facing the Himalayas. The property is designed in the spirit of a traditional Nepali village with trails, glades and terraced farms interspersed within the ecology of ancient woodland. For more information on this hotel please take a look at their website at http://www.dwarikas-dhulikhel.com/ Day 3. Walk to Namo Buddha (1,800m)- 3 to 4 hours walking. In the morning worth taking vehicle back to Dhulikhel and taking some time to look around the old town. The oldest area of the town, the southern end, is an assembly of fine old Newari houses, often occupied by twenty or more members of the local
extended families. Their most valuable assets are the beautifully carved windows and doors, fine examples of traditional Newari craftsmanship. From Dhulikhel follow the steps up to the Kali Temple overlooking the town and then descend through the traditional village of Kabrechhap. Further along you cross the road to start the walk up to Namo Buddha, the trail is lovely as passes through farmhouses and terraced fields. You get to Namo Buddha Resort before the monastery and once you have checked into your private cottage in the afternoon take a walk to visit the monastery. From the Buddhist point of view, Namo Buddha is one of the most important religious sites in Nepal. There are three major Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Boudha Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Namo Buddha. Overnight at Namo Buddha Resort (B,L,D): Namo Buddha Resort is a superb place to stay and relax, there are small houses beautifully built in traditional Nepali style by carpenters and masons from Kirtipur. All of the houses have private toilet, stone roof and traditional small doors and windows. The resort is surrounded by an organic farm where milk is collected milk from their cows and at the moment most of the food is grown on the property. This property is located at the top of a hill where there is a superb view of the Himalaya. For more information on this hotel please take a look at their website at http://www.namobuddharesort.com Day 4. Walk to Baltali village (1,730m) then to the roadhead at Khopasi Village, drive to Kathmandu via Panauti From Namo Buddha Resort walk towards the monastery and you have the choice of a long or short trail to Baltali village. The shorter trail starts from the lower stupa whereas the longer one starts from upper stupa. If you have the energy it is well worth taking the longer trail as this is one the best walking days passing through traditional villages with ochre coloured farmhouses surround by orange trees. The area of Balthali has various flora, colourful
rhododendron forest and magnolia & Sal trees. Baltali village is located at the junction of Roshi and Ladku Khola River and stands on a plateau. After lunch in Baltali there is a short walk to Khopasi village crossing two suspension bridges along the way, then you drive by our support vehicle to Panauti. This is an old Newari town with narrow streets and ancient structures and located near the auspicious position of confluence of two rivers called Roshi khola & Punyamata Khola. Panauti has many temples dating back to the 15th Century or earlier. The Indreswor temple is one of the largest and tallest pagoda style temples in Nepal, it was originally built over a lingam in 1294 making it the oldest surviving temple of Nepal. The roof struts embellishing the two lower stories of the temple are distinct Nepalese wood-carving and architecture. The upper section of the temple is hung with pots and pans, offerings from young married couples hoping for a happy and prosperous family life. After visiting Panauti you will be driven back to your hotel in Kathmandu. End of trip.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION CLIMATE The traditional trekking season in Nepal is late September to May, with October and November generally recognised as having the best weather. Spring is also a popular time of year with warmer weather and the advantage of seeing spring flowers and rhododendrons in bloom. This trek will have a wide range of temperatures depending on the altitude and the time of day. In the mountains between 1,000m and 2,000m the nights will be cool, normally around 5 C, and during the day temperatures sometimes rise to 25 C. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT A list of suggested clothing and equipment for Kathmandu Valley Rim trek has been included in Appendix below. This is a comprehensive list and experienced trekkers will often take only a selection of these items based on what has worked in the past. If you do not have the clothing and equipment contained in this list then a good option might be to rent from the UK. Trek Hire is a company that rents out high quality items at competitive prices which would save you the expense of buying. The link to their website is http://www.trekhireuk.com/ Alternatively if you are going to buy then please contact the office for the Cotswold Outdoor promo code that entitles you, as a client of The Mountain Company, to a 15% discount in their stores and online. Each trekker should bring one backpack for items required during the day. Your day backpack will contain items such as warm clothes, jacket, camera, water bottles, personal first aid kit and snacks. The rest of your personal equipment packed will be transported by private vehicle to the next hotel on the itinerary.
MAPS Biking Around Kathmandu Valley by Nepa Maps Scale: 1:50,000 This map will be included in your welcome pack when you arrive in Nepal.
APPENDIX 1 SUGGESTED CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST Footwear: Walking boots. A pair of water repellent boots with ankle support. Wool and liner socks. Casual shoes. Can be used in the hotels in the evenings. Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers (goretex or similar). Trekking trousers. Long sleeve shirts (not cotton). Micro fleece. Mid to heavyweight fleece. Sleeveless or body warmer type fleece. Thermals or base layer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic). Fleece pants. Medium weight down jacket (for winter treks) Handwear: Fleece gloves. Headwear: Wool or fleece hat. Sun hat. Bandana or scarf.
Headtorch. Bring extra batteries. Sunglasses. Personal Equipment: Backpack large enough to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing. Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best). Sunscreen and lipsalve with a high SPF. Insect repellent. Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira). Favourite snack food. Books, ipod and cards etc. Trekking poles. Camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Insurance certificate. Baby wipes (optional). Hand sanitizer (optional). Travelling: Suitcase or duffle bag for your personal gear on the trek [this will be transported on trek by our support vehicle from hotel to hotel]. Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag. Travel clothes. You will need casual clothing for air travel days and time spent in Kathmandu. Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc. Personal first aid kit: Note: we provide a comprehensive group first aid kit but please bring personal medications and other items you might use regularly such as:
Any personal medications. Blister treatment (Compeed patches are the best). Rehydration powder eg Dioralyte. Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin). Plasters and zinc oxide tape. Throat lozenges.
APPENDIX 2 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER PROTECTION In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with The Mountain Trekking Company Ltd ( The Mountain Company ) are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of The Mountain Company. There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This insurance is only valid for packages booked that do not include flights. Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to The Mountain Company. If you have booked and/ or paid direct to a Travel Agent for a holiday with The Mountain Company please request proof of how the booking is secured as this will not be covered by IPP Ltd in this instance. For further information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Insurers who are members of the Association of British Insurers & Lloyds Syndicates. Claim procedures: download claim form from www.ipplondon.co.uk, any occurrence which may give rise to a claim should be advised within 14 days to: International Passenger Protection Limited, Claims Office, IPP House, 22-26 Station Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0PR, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 208 7763752. Fax: +44 (0) 208 7763751. In order to deal promptly with any claims hereunder it is essential that you retain all bills, receipts and other documents relating to your travel arrangements. Claims forms must be submitted to IPP within six months of date of insolvency they cannot consider or pay claims received after this date.