Nepal Express
Nepal Express
Nepal Express
8 Days Starting and ending in Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Visiting: Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara, Sarangkot Road
Tour operator:
Tour code:
88
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 12
Age range:
Over 9s
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Safari Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This 8-day tour of Nepal gives travellers a great introduction to their time in Nepal. We include an arrival airport transfer, a hotel in the tourist district of Thamel in Kathmandu, a walking tour to get a feel for the city, several iconic Hindu & Buddhist temples and stupas, public coach travel between cities for added local flavor and lower cost, wildlife safaris in Chitwan National Park including an elephant ride, jungle walk, boat trip, village walk, and time in the lakeside town of Pokhara at the foot of the Annapurna mountain range before we return to Kathmandu. The tour can also be finished in Pokhara which is the main base in Nepal for travellers to start trekking and rafting trips from. A range of additional bolt-on extras can be added for people wanting to do more. These can be booked in advance or while in Nepal.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Into Kathmandu
Location: Kathmandu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
We greet you on your arrival in Kathmandu airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the Thamel tourist disctrict of the city. Our rep will help you settle in and familiarise you with the local area before the rest of your day is free. In the evening our rep will take you on an evening walk through Thamel to check out the numerous bars, restaurants and nightlife on offer. You may have your first taste of Nepal's traditional dish tonight - Dal Bhat (rice and lentil curry).
Day 2 : Kathmandu City Tour
Location: Kathmandu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our tour starts with a guided walk from our hotel in Thamel through small back streets full of numerous tiny shops, workshops, temples, and stupas to Durbar Square with its array of wooden and stone carved temples and palaces. You'll really get a feel for the bustle and chaos that is Kathmandu. After lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Durbar Square, we visit the important and contrasting pilgrimage sites of Bouthanath Buddhist stupa and Pasupatinath Hindu temple. Boudhanath has a serene calm to it with many monasteries surrounding it and peaceful music playing. Pasupatinath however is more chaotic but equally important religiously and you will see the riverside ghats where bodies are cremated amidst prayers and rituals.
Day 3 : Local Transfer To Chitwan National Park
Location: Chitwan National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We leave the Kathmandu Valley today and take the tourist bus out on the main road to India through steep sided hills and valleys. You may well see white water rafters on the Trisuli River far below you. After a break and a total drive of 6-7 hours you arrive in the plains that border India and we take a local transfer to our lodge at Chitwan National Park. After settling in we take a village walk to learn more about the typical rural village life of the local Tharu people.
Day 4 : Chitwan National Park Wildlife Safari
Location: Chitwan National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We spend today exploring Chitwan National Park in search of, amongst others, tigers, rhino and wild elephant. In the morning we'll take a walk through the jungle and enjoy a canoe trip. Later on in the afternoon we take a jeep safari into the park. Elephant safaris are also available in Chitwan though are not offered by Encounters Travel for animal welfare reasons.
Day 5 : Chitwan To Pokhara
Location: Chitwan National Park, Pokhara
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we have a walk dedicated to bird watching, or you can take another jeep safari into the park (at extra cost) before taking a tourist bus to the lakeside town of Pokhara which sits at the foot of the mighty Annapurna range of mountains. After settling into our hotel, the rest of the day is free to relax and explore this picturesque lakeside town. Our rep will take you on a walk through the Lakeside area which teems with trekking equipment shops, restaurants and bars.
Day 6 : Sarangkot Walk And Free Time
Location: Sarangkot Road, Pokhara
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We get up early this morning and take a taxi up to the top of the nearby viewpoint at the top of Sarangkot hill. Here you can get fantastic morning views of the Annapurna mountain range which may inspire you for some trekking to come. We walk downhill back to Pokhara for a couple of hours, stopping at tea shops and enjoying the views. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy Pokhara, perhaps taking a rowing boat out on the lake or enjoying an optional sightseeing tour.
Day 7 : Pokhara, Return To Kathmandu
Location: Pokhara, Kathmandu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
If you wish, you can finish the tour in Pokhara today (discounts apply). Our local rep will then be available to help you with any further activities you may like to do, whether this be to do some trekking in the mountains, try some fun white water rafting or just chill out some more in Pokhara.
Alternatively, the main tour itinerary returns to Kathmandu on the public tourist coach today (approx. 7 hours driving). Your last night is then free to enjoy the bars and restaurants and shops in Thamel before the tour ends tomorrow.
Day 8 : Kathmandu, Tour Ends, Transfer To Airport For Departure
Location: Kathmandu
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning, and your time is free until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. If you will be staying on in Nepal, then our local rep will be happy to help you with information, advice and any onward arrangements.
What's Included
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Accommodation
2* -
All accommodation as stated in the itinerary in clean and friendly hotels and lodges around the 2-star level
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All transfers, including 24-hour airport arrival transfer service vehicle transport
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All transport including public tourist coach from Kathmandu to Chitwan to Pokhara to Kathmandu, and local transport including jeeps in Chitwan
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Services of a local escort throughout the tour
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Specialist city guides and wildlife safari guides in Kathmandu and Chitwan
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All national park entry and activity fees
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Meals as indicated in the itinerary (7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners)
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All entrance fees to sites visited in the itinerary
What's Not Included
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International flights (available on request)
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Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities)
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Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
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Meals not indicated in the itinerary
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Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
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Tips for guides, drivers & tour leader
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Any other items not mentioned above
Mode of Transport
Local tourist coach
4x4 jeep
Accommodation
2 to 3-star hotels
Check out our Q&As
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities. Many nationals can obtain their Nepalese visa in Kathmandu airport upon arrival (including UK, EU, US, CA, AU, NZ, SA citizens). The costs for a single entry visa are currently: - up to 15 days - US$ 25 - 16 to 30 days - US$ 40 - 31 to 90 days - US$ 100 An additional $20 fee is charged to convert these into a multiple entry visa which will be needed for any tours returning to Nepal after visiting Bhutan or Tibet. The visa is obtained in the immigration area at the point where your passport is stamped. Forms to fill in are available in this immigration hall and may also be given out on your flight (if so, do fill them in before you land as it will reduce your queuing time). You will also need to fill in an arrivals card. Once your paperwork is completed, head to the immigration desk and hand over your forms, 2 passport photos, your visa fee and passport. The visa fees are set in US Dollars, but you can also pay in other currencies, but don't rely on getting given change. Passport Photos: You will need two passport photos for your Nepal visa if you are obtaining it on arrival. If you are doing any trekking, rafting or visiting a National Park (i.e. on many of of our tours), you should bring extras, as some of the permits we may need to get require these. Please bring at least 4 passport photos with you - they will always come in useful later if you don't need them all.
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What currencies are required for this tour?
The local currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NRs). There are a banks and several ATMs in Kathmandu where you can use a debit/credit card to withdraw cash (Visa, Mastercard), but these are not generally available out of Kathmandu or Pokhara. There are numerous money change shops in the main towns. Travellers cheques can be changed in some banks in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but not elsewhere. You should ensure you have all the Nepalese rupees you think you will need before you leave for any trekking or visiting any more remote areas (including Bardia National Park). Try to obtain as many small denomination notes as possible, as higher value notes can be very hard to change in remote areas. You can pay with US Dollars cash in some places but should not rely on this.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation. Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are: Nepal: Additional vaccinations: Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Bhutan: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Tibet: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. In general the lowland regions Bhutan are considered malarial zones, while higher altitudes including central Bhutan including Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Bumthang are not. Nepal is considered mainly low risk with prophylactics not normally required. Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation may be required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate with you and to hand if necessary. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have.
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Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.