Mystical Nepal Tour

Nepal

Nepal is a small landlocked country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. By some measures, it is a land of different arts and indigenous cultures well preserved since time immemorial.  Hindu and Buddhist shrines found in the country are enriched with wood carving and bronzes, century’s old statues standing along the wayside and three popular historic cities – Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan have preserved their medieval splendor and architectural flavor till date.

Geography

Nepal is located in South Asia between China in the north and India in the south, east and west. While the total land area is 147,181 sq. km including water area of the country that is 3,830 sq. km. The geographical coordinates are 28°00′N 84°00′E. Nepal falls in the temperate zone north of the Tropic of Cancer. Nepal’s ecological zones run east to west about 800 km along its Himalayan axis, 150 to 250 km north to south, and are vertically intersected by the river systems. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region. The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Terai plains of Kechana Kalan in Jhapa (60 m). (Source NTB)

Nepal Visa

All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold passport and valid visa. Visa can be obtained at the Nepalese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. Visa is also issued at the entry points. It can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. Children under 10 years need not pay any visa fee. People willing to get entry Visa at the airport or any of the land entry points are required to fill a visa form with passport photograph.
* Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December).

Government Office Hours & Holidays

Sunday to Thursday: 1000hrs – 1700hrs (during summer)
Sunday to Thursday: 1000hrs – 1600hrs (during winter)
Friday: 1000hrs – 1500hrs.
Saturday: Holiday
You can find list of other national holidays in Nepal here

Language

Nepali, written in the Devanagari script, is the official language of Nepal. However, most people living in the city areas can understand and speak English fluently. Hindi language is widely understood across the country.

Pre-Trip Meeting

On arrival in Kathmandu, our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our pre-booked hotel. There won’t be any activity on this day. We will host a pre-trip meeting at the hotel lobby on the 2nd day of your itinerary in the evening. It will be an opportunity for you to meet your trekking guide and introduce each other. The guide will brief you about the trek and check your gear to ensure the smooth running of your trekking trip.

Tea House Lodge Trek & Meals

All accommodations will be on a twin sharing basis during the trek in family-run teahouse (lodge), with a large sociable central dining area and a cozy chimney burning fire. We recommend you to use your own sleeping bag. A typical lodge in Annapurna region offers muesli, porridges, Pancakes, bread with jam or eggs, fried eggs on toast, tea/coffee in breakfast and in dinner Dal, Bhat, lentil soup and other cuisines.

Bathroom facilities

Most lodges offer hot showers and in the ones that don’t a bucket of water. In Annapurna, we find many western toilets and in some places there are usually just the Asian squat type toilets.

Small Groups

Small groups provide a more intimate atmosphere allowing you to get to know your Sherpa guide/Tour Guide better and to develop lifelong friendships. Therefore, the maximum group size for this trek is 16 people. The minimum is 2 people.

Weather Information

The main tour season in Nepal begins from early October to mid-May. During this period temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15ºC to 35ºC in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10ºC above higher altitudes. Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.

Post Monsoon/autumn: Mid-September to November
This is the main trekking season in Nepal. While trekking in mountains weather will be sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as to minus 10ºC at the highest altitudes.

Winter: December to end February
Even it is cooler conditions this is an ideal time to trek in Nepal. Skies are usually very clear especially in December and the mountain views are at their best. Nights will be very cold with temperatures down to negative 12ºC to negative 20ºC at the highest altitudes but days are pleasant and sunny. The trails are also much less busy at this time of year

Pre-monsoon/spring: March to May
Both day and night temperatures will be warmer in general but cloudiness will be occurred up in the afternoons. Seasonal flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring.

Flora in the Annapurna region

The southern subtropical lowlands are enriched with lush subtropical forests consisting of chirpine and alder and in the northern highlands temperate forests of oaks, rhododendron, fir, and blue pine. The wet regions yield a variety of bamboo species. The higher altitude further North give rise to forests of birch, blue pine and juniper trees, which are replaced by juniper and rhododendron in the far North. In the semi-desert rain shadow region, behind the Himalayas, bushes of caragana and juniper species are found.

Fauna in the Annapurna region

This region is rich with several species of wildlife. There are around four hundred and seventy-four species of birds, and around a hundred species of mammals. The region serves as an excellent habitat for rare and endangered mammals like the snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, red panda and many of Nepal’s brilliantly plumaged pheasants

Possible views of Mountains during the trek

Annapurna (8091m) Nilgiri(6940m), Tilicho peak(7134m)   Dhulagiri (8167m),Manaslu (8156m), Lamjung Himal (6983m),Machhapuchhare(6993m), Tukuche peak (6920m),

Safety

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home – you don’t need it while travelling. Many of hotels in Nepal have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage

Different ethnic communities in the Region

• The Gurungs form the largest group in the Annapurna region. They come from Tibeto – Burman stock. Some Gurungs follow Buddhism and others Hinduism. They dwell the higher northern slopes of the Annapurna, Lamjung,Chuli and hills around Ganesh Himal. A large number of Gurung youths serve in the British and Indian armies. The low part of the Annapurna region is largely populated by Chettris and Bahuns (Brahmins). The Magars inhabit the lower trail between Baglung and Dana. They live high on the steep ridges along the tributaries of the Kali Gandaki.
• Another ethnic group of this region is the Thakalis. Known throughout the country as accomplished hoteliers and skilled traders, they are noted for their aggressive trading spirit. The Jomsom trek passes through Thak Khola, the Thakali homeland.
• In the valley of the Muktinath live the Baragaun Bhotiya. Their lifestyle is similar to that of the Tibetans. Another group of people who share a close affinity to the Tibetans are the Lopa people of Mustang, north of Kagbeni. Some of them practice the ancient pre-Buddhist religion of Bon which is infused with animistic and shamanic belief and ritual. The people living in the upper Marshyandi valley are generally known as Mananges. The Nyeshang area, under which fall the villages of Manang, Braga and Ngawal. The people are of Tibetan origin. But their language Nyeshang is not a Tibetan dialect. This area is popularly known by the name of its largest village Manang.

Jungle Activities

The Elephant Safari
This is an excellent way to see the jungle and the animals. You ride on top of the elephant on a square wooden box built to  t   people, one in each corner. During the safari you will approach closer to view some of the world’s rarest animals such the Great one-horned rhinos, sloth bears, deer, etc. If you are lucky, you will and an elusive tiger in the bushes. You will hear the sounds of insects and birds piercing the air as you ride through open Savanahs and grass lands. The trip will last for about one and a half hours.

Elephant Breeding Centre 
This is the first elephant breeding center in Asia and is situated only one and half km from the hotel. Our nature guide will take you there to show how the baby elephants socialize with their parents, how the elephant meals are prepared and how they eat. He will explain the nature and habits of the elephant. The center is government owned and its purpose is to raise the young elephant to secure a viable population.

Nature Walk 
With our experienced naturalists you will walk through more specialized habitats. You will become more aware of your surroundings .You will observe a bird nest on the high branch where a mother bird is feeding her young; or a song-bird hopping from limb to limb, pausing to the air with his clear, melodious calls; or a woodpecker busily searching for insects in the bark crevices.
A small tree lizard so similar the color of the wood seems to disappear. This protective camouflage helps conceal the lizard from both its prey and the hungry predators that seek it for food. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a squirrel scampering through the branches.

While making your nature walk, your observations will not be limited to trees and insects. The passage of wildlife through an area leaves signs for all to see. Each species of animal has its own distinct footprint, and by learning to identify them, you will be able to tell which animals have walked where you are walking. When the deer, wild boar, leopard and other animals come to drink, their tracks are recorded in the moist soil around the water’s edge. Spending some time in the outdoors on a nature walk you may be surprised at the variety of living things you will encounter.

Canoe Trip 
Canoeing at River Rapti is truly a wonderful experience. While floating down the tranquil river your rafting guide will show you some crocodiles basking at the riverbank, various birds along the shore and wildlife species that frequently come to drink into the river. Canoeing trip lasts around 45 minutes and you will be dropped at put off point to continue other jungle activities.

Bird Watching 
The park is a habitat for over  ¬  residential and migratory birds. Our bird specialist guide will help you to view and identify them. Most of them are rare species such as the great pied Hornbill, Bengal Floricon, Peregrine Falcon, lesser adjutant and others like storks. Cormorants, egrets, storks, cranes, jacanas, minivets, ibis, woodpeckers, hawks, osprey, falcons, kestrel, hornbills, floricans, kites, cuckoos, kingfishers, swallows, orioles, babblers are common in sight. A bird watching trip with our the nature guide will be a memorable experience

Culture Dance (Stick Dance) 
Chitwan is the lowland region of Nepal where many ethnic groups live in harmony. Here, we can encounter their unique culture and traditional customs. Folk dances and musical traditions vary among Nepal’s many ethnic groups. During Safari trip to Chitwan different types of local cultural dances are performed by men and women accompanied with drums and guitars in the late evening in the courtyard of the hotel. It would be a fun-filled evening and the Tharu cultural dance program lasts for around 45 minutes.

Warnings and Dangers

Malaria, dengue and kalaazaar:
Mosquito and sand-fly borne diseases that are really unpleasant. Take care to be dressed properly and oiled for the occasion.

Bears:
There are two bear types in Chitwan, of which the sloth bear is by far the most bad-tempered and dangerous animal in Chitwan. The sloth bear might be encountered while hiking in the jungle, and orderly retreat is the only way out – the bear will not give way and if attacking will seek to claw its perceived opponent.

Tiger:
As compared to the tiger, the other cats are nothing in terms of danger potential. A tiger, if surprisingly encountered or in a tight corner would be very deadly. Another aspect with tigers is that they may be man-eaters, actually stalking people as potential prey. Guides will know. Don’t go at the jungle’s edge in tiger land during Dusk/Dawn/Darkness.

Crocodiles:
The gharial will seek to escape after a mock attack, the mugger crocodile may chance to take a bite out of you if threatened. The bigger ones may be stalkers as well, but the muggers are now few and far between.

Snakes:
There are a number of venomous snakes in Chitwan, some of them actually thrive nearby humans where there are rats. The main dangerous species are cobras and kraits, but also certain vipers are found. The reticulated python may bite in self-defense if surprised or threatened, but not really feast upon you directly. The good news is that snakes are largely hiding during the tourist season due to the cold but in monsoon time they come out from the hides.

Bright Clothing:
You should always avoid wearing bright clothing while visiting Chitwan and Bardia National Parks. Some animals like rhinos are agitated by the bright colours. So, for personal safety, it is best to avoid bright clothing.

INSURANCE

Before joining a tour, we recommend you to take out a travel insurance which should cover cancellation, medical expenses, helicopter evacuation and emergency repatriation. Please send us the following details such as your full name, policy number and the insurance company’s 24 hour emergency contact number prior to departure. We also strongly recommend that your policy must cover personal liability, flight/trip cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

Safety

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home – you don’t need it while travelling. Many of hotels in Nepal have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage

Rescue/ Evacuations

Though we hope for the best trip, you sometimes might be in need of rescue or evacuation in case of a serious sickness or a personal prolonged health issue. During such emergency you will be rescued by a helicopter. You are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation services. We request you to make sure when you purchase insurance from your country that your policy must cover these expenses or you should remain prepared to pay or sign on Helicopter Evacuation Form before you get on the Helicopter.

Overland Transportation Delay or Halt

If the main highway between Kathmandu Pokhara & Chitwan areas is blocked by a landslide or any natural calamity during the transfer, in such a situation the extra cost for food and accommodation has to be borne by the clients.