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ADVENTURE TOUR AND
TREK
Fall, 2010 -
Spring, 2011 |
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Two Options:
1. Tour, minimum walking, one-night camping on Pokhara ridge with rural village and mountain views overlooking Annapurna range(October 18-31)
2. Tour, and strenuous 9-day Annapurna trek over less-trekked route (October 18-November 5)
(Tours & treks offered in March 2011 – please contact for specific dates)
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I am a longtime friend
and trekking companion of Madan Pun. I have no business relationship
with Madan or his company (Nepal Study Treks & Expeditions) except to be
available to answer questions you may have about treks, tours or other
travel information.Please feel free to
contact me, Tom Arens, anytime for tour and trekking (and travel)
information at: 707-538-4577 (tarens@sonic.net)
I invite you to take a look
at the following itineraries Madan has planned for this fall, and spring
of 2011. Madan leads all his treks and tours personally. He lives in
Pokhara but he is from the Annapurna area and has been leading tours for
almost 20 years…I assure you that he is skilled at keeping people
healthy and satisfied.
Madan’s tour will get you out
of the city and into villages to observe the “real Nepal” and meet
people and get a better understanding of Nepal’s multi-ethnic culture
and present situation. There are several sightseeing days scheduled in
Kathmandu Valley, a visit to one of Asia’s best wildlife parks (in
Chitwan), and Pokhara of course, and, depending on your interests,
trekking and camping opportunities with spectacular rural village and
mountain views, and visits to local schools, health clinics and
artisans.
You may have read about the
changing political situation in Nepal. The national election held in
April 2008 elected an assembly to write a new constitution for the new
Republic of Nepal. The King’s powers have been entirely removed by the
new assembly. This year, when the constitution is completed, an election
will be scheduled to elect a new parliament and government. Nepal
struggles with this transition as the preparation of a new constitution
is behind schedule. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in Asia (for
example, maternal mortality is one of the highest in Asia) because of
lack of infrastructure and remoteness of most of the country.
Let Madan know of any
specific interests, for example, interest in observing a school and
talking with students and teachers, visiting a rural health clinic and
meeting nurse-midwives and other medical providers, a visit to a women’s
savings & credit group meeting, and/or anything you would like to do in
Nepal.
Despite the inconveniences of
travel (traffic, road work, strikes, etc.) in a developing country,
Madan will give you an opportunity to meet wonderful people and see the
most breath taking views and peaks in the world, including some of the
top ten highest mountains in the world.
Tom Arens
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Nepal Tour (14 days) |
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Monday, October 18
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Arrive Kathmandu - stay at
Hotel Malla near Thamel. Short welcome session and question & answer
discussion in the evening before dinner. |
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Tuesday, October 19
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Early breakfast and depart
at 8 AM for morning tour of historic city of Bhaktapur Durbar Squire
by van with city guide, and lunch provided in temple square. |
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Wednesday, October 20
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Following early breakfast,
depart 8 AM for Kathmandu Durbar Square by van, and walk back to the
hotel through old Kathmandu City and Asan Bazaar. Late morning,
depart hotel for women’s craft cooperative retail shop in Patan,
with lunch provided at the Patan Museum and tour of the Patan Durbar
Square, returning mid-afternoon. |
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Thursday,
October 21
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Mid-morning flight to Bharatpur (Chitwan
National Park) - stay at Chitwan Paradise Hotel, afternoon
sightseeing.
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Friday, October 22
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Continue
sightseeing activities at Chitwan. (elephant safari, animal and bird
watching, canoe ride, elephant breeding center, Tharu village visit,
sunset view, Tharu culture dance program, etc.
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Saturday, October 23
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After breakfast,
depart (10AM) for four-hour van ride to Bandipur with lunch provided
on the road. Stay overnight at Bandipur Mountain Resort with
excellent mountain viewing. |
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Sunday, October 24
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After breakfast, depart
(10AM) for three hour van ride to Pokhara. Stay at Hotel Barahi at
Lakeside. Dinner program of Nepali folk dancing and singing with
dinner. |
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Monday, October 25
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Day free. Home-cooked lunch
at Madan’s home to meet his family. |
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Tuesday, October 26
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Depart (2pm) in
van for Kalikathan for one night camping on the ridge with panorama
sunset-sunrise views of Annapurna range including Fishtail Peak.
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Included in the
one-night stay on the ridge: All meals, guide, cook and kitchen
helpers, (and their insurance), member tents, dining, bathing
and toilet tents, tables and chairs, sleeping bag & mattress, hot
washcloth, towel, flashlight. And, hopefully, good views! |
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Wednesday, October 27
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After breakfast
(10 AM)) return from ridge to Pokhara by van. Stay at Hotel Barahi.
Afternoon free - sightseeing/shopping
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Thursday, October 28
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Fly from Pokhara-Kathmandu
on the morning flight. Transfer to Hotel Malla with afternoon free.
Ask Madan about the optional Mountain Flight for Thursday or Friday. |
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Friday, October 29
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Morning free with
late afternoon visit (3PM) of Boudha Stupa and monasteries. Dinner
(provided) at Thamel House with culture dance. |
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Saturday, October 30
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Free
day for optional activities or sightseeing or shopping. |
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Sunday, October 31
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Depart Kathmandu
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Tour & Annapurna-Khopara Trek: (19 days) |
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Monday, October 18
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Arrive Kathmandu
- stay at Hotel Malla near Thamel. Short orientation in the evening
before dinner. |
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Tuesday, October 19
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Early breakfast
and depart at 8:30 for morning tour of historic city of Bhaktapur
Durbar Squire by van with city guide, and lunch provided in temple
square. Evening (before dinner), orientation for the tour. |
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Wednesday, October 20 |
Following early breakfast,
depart 8:30 for Kathmandu Durbar Square by van, and walk back to the
hotel through old Kathmandu City and Asan Bazaar. Late morning,
depart hotel for women’s craft cooperative retail shop in Patan,
with lunch provided at the Patan Museum and tour of the Patan Durbar
Square, returning mid-afternoon. |
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Thursday,
October 21 |
Mid-morning
flight to Bharatpur (Chitwan National Park) - stay at Chitwan
Paradise Hotel, afternoon sightseeing. |
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Friday, October 22 |
Continue sightseeing
activities at Chitwan. (elephant safari, animal and bird watching,
canoe ride, elephant breeding center, Tharu village visit, sunset
view, Tharu culture dance program, etc. |
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Saturday, October 23 |
After breakfast,
depart (10AM) for four-hour van ride to Bandipur with lunch provided
on the road. Stay overnight at Bandipur Mountain Resort with
excellent mountain viewing. |
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Sunday, October 24
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After breakfast, depart
(10AM) for three hour van ride to Pokhara. Dinner program of Nepali
folk dancing and singing with dinner provided. Stay at Hotel Barahi
at Lakeside. |
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Monday, October 25 |
Day free. Home-cooked lunch
at Madan’s house to meet his family. |
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Tuesday, October 26 |
7am. Drive about one hour
to Nayapul and trek to Ghandruk
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Wednesday, October 27 |
Continue trek to Deurali
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Thursday, October 28 |
Trek using
little-used route to Bayali |
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Friday, October 29 |
Trek to Khopara -
with close-up views of Dhaulagiri
1(24,500 ft) and
Annapurna 1 (24,273 ft) |
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Saturday, October 30 |
Trek to Showanta
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Sunday, October 31 |
Rest day in
Showanta |
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Monday, November 1 |
Trek to Banthanti/Ulleri |
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Tuesday, November 2 |
Trek to Nayapul
and drive to Pokhara. Stay at Hotel Barahi |
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Wednesday, November 3 |
Fly from Pokhara-Kathmandu
on the morning flight. Stay at Hotel Malla, afternoon free. As Madan
about the optional Mountain Flight for Thursday. |
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Thursday, November 4 |
Morning free with
late afternoon visit (3PM) of Boudha Stupa and monasteries. Dinner
(provided) at Thamel House with culture dance. |
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Friday, November 5 |
Depart Kathmandu
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Included in 8-day Annapurna Trek:
All meals, guide and porters (and their insurance), local lodges,
sleeping bag, towel, walking sticks, Annapurna Conservation Area
trekking permit, van to trekking point (Nayapul) and return to
Pokhara. Altitudes will exceed 10,000ft. |
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Costs: |
Nepal Tour: Total cost per person for tour and trek:
$1925
based on
double-occupancy; single supplement:
$365
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Nepal Tour: Total cost per person for tour and trek:
$1925
based on
double-occupancy; single supplement:
$365
Tour & Annapurna Trek: Total cost per person
for 19-days: $2225
based on double occupancy; single supplement:
$365
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Payment:
Banking information available on website (
www.studytreks.com)
(Please email or phone if you have
questions). An advance of $300 is required three months before the
tour by check. The advance is refundable one month before the tour
starting date. Balance is requested on arrival in Kathmandu or a
deposit for the balance may be wired to the Nepal bank account for
Nepal Study Treks & Expeditions.
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