SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Transcription
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST - POKHARA SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST - POKHARA This new and exciting Quest takes you on a journey that is less frequently visited by international trekkers than other regions in Nepal. Its a little paradise that takes you across the calming Lake Phewa, trekking to the Panchase peak, rafting down the pristine Kali Gandaki river, an adrenaline fueled day of mountain biking and exploring the cities of Pokhara and Kathmandu. Read on to discover the adventure that awaits you! INTRODUCTION We have built the trip around the concept of experiencing a good well rounded Nepal Himalaya trip but keeping your time constraints in mind. You will be able to experience a variety of activities: you will be able to go white water rafting down the pristine rivers, experience an adrenaline fueled day of mountain biking, explore the city of Pokhara and see the magnificent mountains of the Annapurna Panorama. The area we have chosen for you is Pokhara which is Nepal’s second city, but is a far cry from the hustle and pollution of Kathmandu. It is located roughly in the centre of Nepal and is surrounded by the Annapurna Himalaya range that has three of the World's ten highest mountains. These are Annapurna 1, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. It is also home to the stunning Machapuchare (fishtail) mountain. The trip will take rafting and mountain biking, as well as on a short 2 day trek into some of the most beautiful parts of the Nepal Himalaya. Panchase peak (2,500m) is your goal, with unreal views of the Annapurna range almost within touching distance. After your trek, there is plenty of time to relax in Pokhara and explore the stunning medieval Capital of Kathmandu. We will be with you with our guides for the duration of the trip 2 THE ITINERARY Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu, Fly Pokhara and relax We will meet you at the international airport when you arrive and transfer you to the domestic airport and your flight to Pokhara. This is a stunning half hour flight along the Himalayan Range, see four out of the world’s fourteen giant mountains over 8000m; Daulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu and Shishapangma, before landing in Pokhara. An experience not to be missed! You will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel and the rest of the day is free to relax or to explore this charming lakeside town, with its abundance of things to do, regardless of whether you are in an adventurous or relaxed frame of mind: visit one of the Tibetan refugee villages that dot the area, where Tibetan carpets and other handicrafts are available; hire a bike and cycle along the lakeside; you can try your hand at tandem paraglide with a professional pilot, an ultralight flight, or even take a ride on the new zipline! Of course it is also lovely to just relax and take in the surroundings in one of the many lakeside cafes. Lunch is free to choose the food of your choice – Please ask us if you would like some guide to restaurants/cafes as we can give some good recommendations for great places. In the afternoon you will meet your there guide and have a trip briefing at your hotel and then your guide will take you out for a big welcome dinner! 4 Day 2: Boat across Lake Phewa, Trek to Bumdi [1520m] From Pokhara, a short boat trip across the beautiful Phewa Lake will take you to the start of the trek. The first climb through the forest will take you up to the steps leading to the World Peace Pagoda. This Buddhist stupa is one of over 80 Peace Pagodas worldwide, built in an attempt to unite people from all over the world and promote world peace. As well as being an impressive sight in itself, from this vantage point you also get stunning views over mountains, Phewa Lake and the city below. After a chance to wander round this truly peaceful stupa, you continue down through the forest on small walking trails, before climbing back up to join an open jeep trail snaking round the hill, which will take you through the village of Lukum Swara. The final climb of today takes you up to Bumdi village, home to Gurung and Brahman people, where you will spend the night and can learn more about these cultures. Day 3: Trek to Panchase Bhanjyang [2065m] After a short climb to really wake you up, the track continues through beautiful forest where you can see mountains regularly peeking out between the trees. Today is a great day for nature lovers, as the path winds amongst diverse trees and plants and you can hear the birds above – you may even catch a glimpse of a monkey! Emerging from the trees briefly at Thulunchour you then continue under the cover of the forest until the path joins a dirt road, from which you can see panoramic views of the mountains. These include the Annapurnas, Lamjung, Gangapurna and 5 Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) as well as three peaks over 8,000m: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manalsu, in the distance. Continuing along the jeep trail takes you gently uphill to Panchase Bhanjyang. Similar to last night’s stay, this village is home to Gurung and Brahman people. Day 4: Trek to Bhadaure [1670m] This morning you climb the stone steps up to Panchase peak at almost 2,500m, the highest point of your trek. From here you will again be rewarded with stunning views over the mountains, and there is the option of getting up extra early to ascend to this point in time for sunrise! After catching your breath and taking in your surroundings, you descend down the far side of the hill to Alldanda. This afternoon consists of a gentle walk down to your campsite, with regular views of the mountains above and villages below. Tonight you stay just above the town of Bhadaure, where you can experience a mix of cultures as there are a range of residents including Gurung, Kami and Brahman. Day 5: Ride to Kusma Today we get on the bikes for a full day of on road and off road mountain biking. We start with a little climb out of Bhadaure on a lovely little jeep trail. We stray on this jeep trail for the next 6 km after which we join the main Pokhara to Mustang road. Though this is a big road there is hardly any traffic and the ride from here down to the bottom of the valley at Naya Pul is an amazing downhill. We will stop for lunch at Naya Pul before continuing onwards to Kusma, where we finish our ride and check into our hotel for the night. Time for a shower and maybe a little repack before we start the rafting tomorrow. 6 7 Day 6 & 7: Rafting the Kali Gandaki In the morning we walk from our hotel down to our put in point below Kusma. Here we meet our rafting team, have a safety briefing and then start rafting. The Kali Gandaki river has carved out one of the deepest gorges in the world as it tumbles down from the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. It borrows its name from the goddess Kali, who is considered the Divine Mother but also a destroyer and, true to its name, this river is a source of life but the wild water can also cause destruction. You will experience some wild and adrenaline pumping rapids that are going to make your heart race. This rafting trip is one of the 'must do things' in Nepal, giving you an awesome experience of white water thrills, plus seeing Nepal’s nature and culture at its best, while allowing some time to relax around the campfire on a white sandy beach. We finish rafting at Mirmi mid-afternoon on the 2nd day, say goodbye to our awesome crew and then drive 1 hour off road to where we meet the main highway from Butwal to Pokhara. Another hour takes us to the lovely hill town of Tansen, here we check into our hotel. Day 8: Drive back to Pokhara, Afternoon free for activities We have the option to get up early this morning to go and see the sunrise over a seriously huge Himalayan panorama before breakfast and our onward drive. The drive to Tansen from Pokhara is seriously beautiful and winds its way up over a couple of small passes and then drops back down into the valleys. We will have a local lunch on the way and arrive in Pokhara in the early afternoon, with the rest of the afternoon being free to relax, shop or ex- 8 plore. In the evening we will meet up at the hotel to go out for a final dinner to celebrate our awesome adventure together. Day 9: Fly to Kathmandu, depart for home This morning we are free to relax or explore town a little and do some last minute gift shopping for those back home (or for yourself!) before we take you to the airport for that stunning half hour flight back to Kathmandu. On landing we will transfer you to the tourist hub of town, Thamel, where you can have something to eat, hit the shops or just take in life on the street as you enjoy a drink on a café terrace. When it is time to go for your homeward flight we will transfer you to the international airport and bid your farewell, for now…we hope to see you again soon in the Himalayas! 9 WHAT TO EXPECT Food - Food will be prepared in the teahouses and on river camps and will be international in nature. Pastas, potatoes, meat and vegetables. Breakfasts will include eggs in different ways, cereals, teas and coffees. The food and drinks will be clean and well prepared, giving us all the energy we’ll need for our trip. Accommodation - In Kathmandu and Pokhara we’ll be in well-run, clean hotels, with en-suite bathrooms, in-room TVs, 24 hour hot water and power and laundry facilities. Rooms will be on a twin-share basis. We will be staying in tea houses, which are small family run homes that have been converted for tourists, on a twin share basis, and with separate shared toilets and eating areas. Gear - We will provide all participants with a full kit list that is provided separately. This is a highly recommended list of important items that will make your journey with us comfortable, as well as safe. Please refer to the list for full details. Trekking Assistance - we will be accompanied by a full compliment of porters and guides who will be ensuring our safety and helping us with our excess luggage. Rafting days will see us carrying nothing on our person, with food and drinks provided by our guides. Our gear will be provided to us at the end of each day, ensuring that it stays safe and dry during the day. 11 INCLUSIONS EXCLUSIONS - Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara - International flights to and from Kathmandu - All domestic transportation - Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (allow USD 10-15 per meal) - All meals and accommodation outside of Kathmandu and Pokhara - Carbonated and alcoholic drinks - Fully qualified guides - Tips - All adventure activities - Travel and medical Insurance (covering rescues) - Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc. - Rescue and early departure from the trip - Personal gear 12 PRICE AND OPTIONAL EXTRAS Price - The price for the whole adventure discussed so far comes to: 4,995 AED / $1,430 per person. Please ask for single supplement charges. Please contact us at [email protected] or at +971 4 368 2687 / +971 50 644 9130 for more information, or to book. www.mountainquests.com 14 ABOUT MOUNTAIN QUESTS Based on the philosophy of ‘Live, Don’t Exist’, Mountain Quests was set up in April, 2011 by Matt Farr whose passion for mountain climbing led him to Nepal on a regular basis to conquer the majestic peaks of the Himalayas. After years of successfully putting his climbing skills to the test all over the world, including a two week adventure in the Alps climbing seven mountains in 12 days, Mountain Quests was born. With offices in both Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Kathmandu in Nepal, Mountain Quests is in full control of its operations, logistics, safety and security to offer clients options of both tailormade trips and pre-arranged itineraries. The essence of every trip is a culturally rich and diverse travel experience that will appeal to people seeking a unique adventure or looking to push physical and emotional boundaries. The types of trip vary to accommodate different abilities and include hiking, trekking, expeditions, mountain biking as well as extreme pursuits including survival trips and adventure sports such as bungee jumping and paragliding. The core destination of Nepal make up the portfolio with the addition of Northern India planned towards the end of 2015. 15
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