Nepal Explorer

Grade 1 2 3 4 5
Grade 2 – Moderate
Treks in the foothills and the middle-hills going up to 10,000ft / 3,000m. Trails are mostly gentle and wide, but at times may involve more difficult stretches like a steep stone staircase. Average walking is 5 - 6 hours a day.

Click here for a full explanation of Trip Difficulty Grading

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Trek Difficulty Grading

Our treks vary from easy hikes in the foothills to challenging climbing adventures in the high Himalaya. More often than not, we use trails that have since ancient times been the only link between villages, settlements, and their inhabitants. The trails may take you through a well-inhabited area with many villages and tea-shops, or through a mountain wilderness without a single permanent settlement for days, but one thing is certain: there'll be lots of ups and downs as we walk from one Himalayan valley to another. Treks are graded on the basis of altitude, trails, walking hours per day, and length of trek.

Grade 1 – Easy
Treks in the foothills staying below 6,500ft / 2,000m. Trails are relatively gentle & wide, and average walking is 3 - 4 hours a day.
Grade 2 – Moderate
Treks in the foothills and the middle-hills going up to 10,000ft / 3,000m. Trails are mostly gentle and wide, but at times may involve more difficult stretches like a steep stone staircase. Average walking is 5 - 6 hours a day.
Grade 3 – Challenging
Fairly demanding treks, usually in the high Himalaya, going up to 13,000ft / 4,000m. Trails can be ill defined, narrow, steep, and rocky, and will usually take you into uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas. Average walking is 6 - 7 hours a day.
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.
Note on altitudes
The altitude definitions indicate elevations through the major part of the trek. Treks usually involve side-trips into elevations exceeding the altitude ranges defined for their grades. Grade 3 and grade 4 trek itineraries are designed to allow proper acclimatization, with acclimatization days when we take side trips to higher elevations where necessary.

 

14 days – Annapurna foothill trek, easy-grade rafting, and Chitwan wildlife safari
  • 4 days moderate trekking in the foothills (maximum elevation 2,510m / 8,230′)
  • Visit the major shrines and destinations of the Kathmandu valley
  • Discover the serene lake-valley of Pokhara nestled in the lap of the Annapurna Himal
  • Experience the thrill of rafting and camping on Nepal’s beautiful rivers
  • Explore the lowland jungles of the Chitwan National Park riding elephants, on canoes, and on foot
Nepal Explorer | 14 daysOur ultimate family holiday offers a comprehensive Nepal experience. The adventure begins with the 4-day Annapurna Panorama foothill trek from Pokhara, followed by a 2-day raft descent of the Seti Khola to a wildlife safari in the lowland jungles of Chitwan. This family classic introduces you to the best of the mountains, rivers, and jungles of this fabled Himalayan land.

The short foothill trek offers superb panoramas of the Central Nepal Himalaya and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Starting by the shores of the Phewa Tal (lake) in Pokhara, we climb onto the ridge-line and follow the beautiful Harpan Khola valley to the vantage point atop Panchase Lekh. Our trail loops back across the picturesque valley to the road-head at Naudanda. This long-forgotten, now seldom-trekked area is inhabited by Brahmins, Chhettris, and Gurungs, their pleasant settlements interspersed among the terraced hillsides and forested slopes.

The Seti is an excellent introduction to rafting in Nepal. Its warm blue waters flow through scenic gorges and cultivated valleys, punctuated with exciting rapids. You take-out from the river near Chitwan, and spend the next two days exploring the jungles on elephant-back, on canoes, and on foot, escorted by resident naturalists.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1  Arrival and orientation. Afternoon tour of old Kathmandu.
Day 2  Morning tour of Swayambhunath stupa and Patan. Afternoon flight to Pokhara.
Day 3  Boat ride across Phewa Lake (820m / 2,690′); trek to Bhumdi (1,600m / 5,250′).
Day 4  Trek to Panchase Bhanjyang (2,060m / 6,760′).
Day 5  Early morning climb Panchase Lekh (2,510m / 8,230′) for a sunrise panorama of the Central Nepal Himalaya. Hike back down to Panchase Bhanjyang. Trek to Bhadaure (1,660m / 5,450′).
Day 6  Finish trek at Naudanda (1,430m / 4,690′). Drive to Pokhara.
Day 7  Morning at leisure. Afternoon Pokhara Valley sightseeing.
Day 8  Early morning drive to rafting put-in point on the Seti. Start rafting after paddling demonstration and safety talk. Overnight camp.
Day 9  Morning continue rafting. Take-out at Gaighat and drive to Chitwan. Afternoon wildlife safari activity.
Day 10  Wildlife safari activities in the Chitwan National Park.
Day 11  Morning flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon tour of Pashupatinath temple & Boudhanath stupa.
Day 12  Morning at leisure. Afternoon tour of Bhaktapur.
Day 13  At leisure for shopping or optional activities.
Day 14  Depart for onward destination.

Dates and Pricing
We can operate this tour from October through May for a party of two or more. Best seasons are fall (October -November) and spring (March - April), with clear, warm and sunny days, and cool mornings and evenings; however, this is also the busiest tourist season. It is less crowded in winter, and although colder, days are warm and sunny.
  Standard HotelsSuperior HotelsDeluxe Hotels
4 or more personsUS$ 1,198US$ 1,436US$ 1,890
Children under 12US$ 935US$ 1,098US$ 1,281
Single room supplement US$ 248US$ 502US$ 842
Airfare Kathmandu - Pokhara; Bharatpur - KathmanduUS$ 240
Cost Information
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Cost Information

The trip cost quoted is the cost per person, and includes:

  • Hotels: Accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara on twin / triple room-sharing basis with breakfast.
  • Tours: Sightseeing tours indicated with a certified English-speaking guide.
  • Transfers: All land transfers by car (Toyota Corolla or similar) or van (Toyota Hiace or similar).
  • Trekking: Room-sharing accommodation in local lodges, all meals, services of trek crew (guide, sherpa(s), and porter(s) to carry all luggage & equipment), applicable trekking / ACAP permit / National Park entry fees.
  • Permits, Fees, & Taxes: All applicable permits, entry fees, and taxes.
  • Trek leader: We provide a trek leader on groups of six or more. A tour leader can be provided upon request for smaller groups, upon additional cost.

Not included in the cost are:

  • Meals other than indicated.
  • Flights: All internal flights are extra. Internal airfares indicated are subject to change without notice.
  • Personal clothing & equipment (upon confirmation you’ll receive a clothing & necessity checklist of items we recommend you bring, items you can hire / purchase locally are indicated).
  • Personal expenses, bottled / alcoholic beverages, and tips to crew.
  • Insurance: We strongly recommend that all trip participants be covered by their own personal insurance that also covers emergency evacuation.
  • Other unforeseeable expenses that may arise due to factors beyond our control, like bad weather or flight cancellations.
  • Nepal visa fee.

 
  Standard HotelsSuperior HotelsDeluxe Hotels
KathmanduNirvana Garden HotelHotel Royal SingiHotel Yak & Yeti
PokharaSampada InnTemple Tree ResortFish Tail Lodge
ChitwanJungle Villa ResortTigerland Safari ResortKasara Resort
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