Fall Festival Tour 2007 - Nepal Study Treks and Expedition

FALL NEPAL CULTURAL TOUR (Oct 11-24, 2009)

Kathmandu Valley– Pokhara – Annapurna Region – Chitwan National Park – Kavre District (northeast of Kathmandu)

I invite you to visit Nepal with me in the fall of 2009. I’ve lived in Nepal and been involved in development activities since the early 1970s, and now enjoy returning every year to keep up-to-date and share this beautiful country with others. Consider this personalized trip if you want the tour to result in a better understanding of Nepal’s present situation and culture. The tour will get us out of the city and into the villages to meet and talk directly with people and observe their progress in development, particularly in women’s health, credit and savings. We’ll observe a busy rural clinic in action providing maternal health and general health services. We’ll see local schools and interact with teachers and students. We’ll spend several sightseeing days in Kathmandu Valley, a visit to one of Asia’s best game parks (in Chitwan), and a trek into the fringes of the Annapurna Range with spectacular rural village and mountain views.

You may have read about the changing political situation in Nepal. The national election held last April (2008) has 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. In two years, when the constitution is completed, a parliamentary election will be held to elect a new parliament and government. Nepal struggles with this transition, and to its credit is resolving many of the social and political problems with compromise. It seems to be dealing with the urgent problems of increasing costs of fuel and food. It is one of the poorest countries in Asia (maternal mortality is one of the highest in Asia) because of its lack of infrastructure and remoteness. Despite the difficulties of traveling in a developing country, join me in this visit to meet wonderful people and see the most breath taking views and peaks in the world, including two of the world’s highest ten – Annapurna 1 and Dhaulagiri – on our trek.

Tom Arens

Sunday, Oct 11	Arrive Kathmandu – stay at Malla Hotel near Thamel
Monday, Oct 12	Short orientation to discuss our itinerary. Morning tour of historic city of Bhaktapur, with lunch in temple square. Evening walking tour of Durbar Square, Asan Bazaar, and old Kathmandu City.
Tuesday, Oct 13	Full-day project site visit to a rural community and health clinic about 2-hour drive from Kathmandu. Discuss needs and opportunities with local management committee and clinic staff and users. Visit nearby village to observe women’s savings & credit group. Lunch provided at the health center by local committee. Return to Kathmandu and hotel in the evening for dinner.
Wednesday, Oct 14	Mid-morning flight to Bharatpur (Chitwan National Park) - stay at Chitwan Jungle Lodge within the park; afternoon sightseeing.
Thursday, Oct 15	Continue sightseeing activities at Chitwan. Local Tharu community cultural dances in the evening.
Friday, Oct 16	Four-five hour van ride to Pokhara with lunch “on the road”. Stay at Fishtail Lodge on the southern edge of lake Phewa Tal with views of the Himalayan peaks and reflection in the lake.
Saturday, Oct 17	Free day in Pokhara
Sunday, Oct 18	Begin with early morning drive to Nayapul and begin trek through the Modi Khola Valley – stay at lodge with views of Fishtail Peak. Celebrate Luxmi Puja (Festival of Lights) in the evening.
Monday, Oct 19	Continue trek to Ghandrung (altitude of 6,600 feet) and enjoy the views of the Annapurn peaks.
Tuesday, Oct 20	Trek back through the Modi Khola via Lamakhet and Majgaon staying in a lodge overnight.
Wednesday, Oct 21	Return to Pokhara – stay at Fishtail Lodge.
Thursday, Oct 22	Morning return flight to Kathmandu. Stay at Malla Hotel.
Thursday, Oct 22	Mid-morning visit to Association for Craft Producers (ACP) workshop in Kathmandu, a self-sustaining craft producer and marketing organization, followed by visit to the Association’s retail outlet for shopping, and “late” lunch at Patan Museum. Late afternoon and evening free.
Friday, Oct 23	Final day in Kathmandu. Optional Everest Mountain Flight in the early morning. Afternoon tour of Boudha Stupa and Pashupati temple. Departing dinner at traditional Nepali restaurant with traditional folk music and dancing.
Saturday, Oct 24	Depart Kathmandu


	Included in the tour:

		Domestic airfare with airport taxes Kathmandu-Pokhara, and Bharatpur-Kathmandu All ground transportation, airport pick-up/drop-off (including tips for baggage), sightseeing, van or mini-bus for project visit and to/from the starting point for the trek and transport to Chitwan from Pokhara Trek includes guide, porters (and their insurance), lodge, meals, and Annapurna Conservation Area entry fees All breakfasts; all other meals except 1 lunch and 7 dinners Chitwan Jungle Lodge includes elephant rides, jungle walks and bird watching; all tours with qualified naturalist Entry fees to Boudhanath, Pashupati, Bhaktapur and Patan Guide for city and temple tours, including tip for guide & driver Final evening’s dinner at a Nepali restaurant in Kathmandu

Total cost of tour: $ 2,145 per person based on double occupancy

Single supplement: $ 250

Not included in the cost:

-Nepal visa on arrival - $25 (15-day tourist visa)

-International Airport Departure Tax ($20) at the time of departure from Nepal

-Dinners and lunches not indicated in the itinerary

-Tips are included only for transfer of luggage and City tours. Tipping of guides in National Park walks, and to the guide and porters following the trek, is usually expected, and best managed as a group

Tour Details:

Altitudes for this tour will not exceed 6,600 feet, with trek grading in the category of “Easy-Moderate”. The distance from Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 130 miles (approximately 30 minutes by plane). Pokhara to Chitwan by van takes about 4-5 hours. Chitwan to Kathmandu is about 80 miles (approximately 25 minutes by plane).

During the field visit you’ll have an opportunity to visit a rural clinic managed by a local committee. Nearby, a visit will be arranged to a local village where women have formed a group to save and loan money to members, and address local issues such as drinking water, sanitation and protection of local forests. This tour will not only give you a much deeper understanding of the country and culture, but the status of the country’s development and a working knowledge of key development issues.

Nepal is clearly a country with extreme diversity - lowland tropics and high snow-capped peaks, different ethnic groups, languages and cultures. We’ll visit the low hills and higher Himalayan areas during the trek and clinic visit. On the visit to Chitwan National Park we’ll be in what is called the “Terai” – the low altitude flat area of Nepal which borders northern India. The park is one of the finest wildlife preserved areas in Asia and covers almost 1000 square kilometers. Covered with Sal forests and tall elephant grass, it is home to rare wildlife such as one-horned Rhinoceros, Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, four species of deer, wild boar, gharial, monkeys, pythons, fresh water dolphins, and many other animals. 450 species of birds (migratory and residents) have been recorded. The park has been named as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in November 1984.

For current public health information, go to www.cdc.gov and click on “travelers health” and select the county (Nepal). Generally, during October, mosquitoes are less in Chitwan with post-monsoon cool nights. However, because the monsoon rains can sometime extend into September it is best to be prepared and travel with repellent (Deet or Picaridin, etc.).

If you are a good walker and can sustain a brisk walk for several hours, you’ll have no difficulty with this tour. Trek-days will average 3-5 hours daily with elevation gains of 1,500-3,000 feet. Good walking shoes are required, as is a water bottle and small day-pack to carry personal effects. A small duffle bag is recommended to repack your trekking clothes (in Pokhara) not to exceed 12-15 pounds. Sleeping bags will be provided unless you prefer to bring your own (temperatures will not drop below freezing on our trek). For more information on Nepal and a list of recommended clothing and other items, check out: (www.studytreks.com).

It’s suggested that you bring a torch light, sun hat, sun glasses, casual and comfortable clothing for layering, and particularly for Chitwan, a pair of binoculars and insect repellent.

Tourist visa is $25 for the first 15-day stay in Nepal, available on arrival at the airport. Before arrival, you can download a Nepal visa form from: www.treks.com.np/visa/. The visa process is greatly simplified if you have exact change and a completed visa form on arrival at the Kathmandu airport, with two passport-size photos.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the tour and/or about flight arrangements, and want to reserve a place in the tour: Tom Arens, 707-538-4577 (tarens@sonic.net); or our local contact in Nepal and tour organizer - Madan Pun, of Nepal Study Treks and Expeditions (nste@wlink.com.np).


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