Into Nepal: Walks & Wildlife

Experience Overview

This immersive adventure is the perfect introduction to Nepal and Himalayan trekking. Our route takes us through the Annapurna foothills, staying at low altitude and certainly one of the most spectacular of the Himalayan massifs. Throughout the trek, we pass through villages among steeply terraced fields, where in spring the rhododendron forests provide a colourful foreground to the splendid mountain vistas. And after, we explore another side of Nepal by going in search of roaming wildlife at Chitwan National Park. With the help of an expert naturalist, we explore the home of the one-horned rhino, while also spotting birds, crocodiles, deer and boar. Why trek with Exodus? More than 30 years’ experience organising treks in Nepal Exodus annually commissions independent air-safety audits on domestic carriers in Nepal and only use those approved as part of the audit Experienced English-speaking local leaders who are qualified in first aid All staff (leaders, guides and porters) are fully insured and paid a fair wage Speak to Exodus office staff who have done the trek themselves
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 jungle lodge), 5 Simple nights (teahouses) — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and one internal flight — Six days of walking with full porterage — Small group size (maximum 16 clients). Minimum age: 16 — Low altitude throughout (maximum altitude: Poon Hill summit at 10,531ft/3,210m) — Good introduction to Himalayan walking
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 jungle lodge), 5 Simple nights (teahouses) — Travel by air-conditioned private bus and one internal flight — Six days of walking with full porterage — Small group size (maximum 16 clients). Minimum age: 16 — Low altitude throughout (maximum altitude: Poon Hill summit at 10,531ft/3,210m) — Good introduction to Himalayan walking
Trip For You
This trip has been graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.   It is a great introduction to Himalayan trekking with six days of walking and full porterage throughout, so you need only carry a daypack. You also visit Pokhara and Chitwan, both popular destinations that complete a well-rounded experience of Nepal. When trekking in the Annapurna region, many of the trails include stone steps which can be uneven in places. A fairly decent level of fitness is required, with experience of hill walking as there are quite a few steep uphill walks and stone steps with some long ascents and descents. The most challenging section of this trip is on day three (first trek day) where you will have a continuous ascent of steps to tackle for up to three hours (with water/tea breaks). This could be even more of a challenge for anyone suffering knee problems and we highly recommend you bring walking poles to assist you. Altitude is not a concerning factor, the maximum height you reach is on the Poon Hill summit at 10,531ft (3,210m) with an average altitude of 7,362ft (2,244m). The ascent is taken at an even pace and each night is spent at low to medium altitudes (below 9,840ft/3,000m). There are three to five hours of walking on most days. Exodus has more than 30 years’ experience organising treks in Nepal and our experienced English-speaking local leaders receive regular training and are qualified in first aid. Nepal flight safety Many of our treks in Nepal use domestic flights to reach the trekking areas. The mountainous Nepalese terrain is subject to changeable weather, which makes flying conditions complex and challenging, and unfortunately there are significantly more incidents here than in other countries, including fatalities. The EU highlighted the poor safety record in Nepal in 2013 by including all Nepalese-registered airlines on the EU banned list, which prevents them from flying in EU airspace. While no Nepalese-registered airlines currently fly within the EU, the EU instigated this ban to highlight the risk of flying in Nepal to EU citizens. These airlines are unlikely to be members of internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations. Flying within Nepal is therefore a known risk, and we strongly encourage you to consider this carefully before booking. We suggest you refer to the following sources: The current travel advice for Nepalissued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Air Safety Network entry for Nepal In response to concerns over this safety record, Exodus arranges for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the suitability of the available carriers. We then restrict our use to only those approved as part of this audit. In emergency situations, we will need to use helicopters, so we also have a list of approved helicopter carriers. Should concerns arise regarding the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will remove the carrier from the list immediately, and it would only be reinstated once our air-safety auditors are confident the airline meets acceptable safety standards. We appreciate you may have concerns about flying within Nepal, so we ask that you consider all the information above when deciding to book this trip.
Group Description
The group will generally be between four and 16 people. We have representatives in Kathmandu who look after your transfers to and from the airport and will be available to answer other questions you may have about your trek. There is an Exodus desk and noticeboard in the Hotel Ambassador in Kathmandu. The desk is manned morning and evening. All departures will have an English-speaking Nepali tour leader throughout the trip. All Exodus leaders are highly experienced and have undertaken Exodus leader training courses and wilderness first-aid training. The trekking guides are licensed by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and receive additional training through Exodus. The leaders are assisted by additional guides (where necessary) and there is one porter for every two passengers to carry the kitbags. All your main gear is carried for you and you only need to carry whatever you require for that day’s trek. Porters carry two client kitbags each – kitbags should be restricted to 22lb (10kg). All the trekking staff are insured by our local partner in Nepal.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners are included in this trip. The breakfasts on trek are fixed set menus, usually porridge or muesli with either toast, chapatti or pancake, plus an egg or omelette and a cup of tea/coffee. You may also be able to supplement your included breakfast with additional items on the teahouse menu should you wish. Items not included in the set breakfast should be ordered and paid for separately. We do not include lunch and dinner on trek allowing you to choose what you want to eat. Lunch will be taken at a teahouse en route. Dinner will be in the same teahouse that you sleep at (this is custom in Nepal as teahouses base their room rate on it). The menus in the lodges are almost identical to one another but offer a varied choice, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat to pizza and apple pie. Dhal bhat is the staple diet in Nepal and comes in many different forms but generally comprises curried lentils and meat or vegetables, rice, and a pickle/chutney. Another popular snack is momos, a type of Nepalese dumpling, fried or steamed and filled with meat or vegetables. Although meat is available in the teahouses, we advise against eating it on trek. The meat has often been carried in the heat from lower altitudes for several days before reaching the lodges and can cause stomach upsets or illness. Germs can also be spread by handling dirty money – we recommend using hand sanitiser. If you have a gluten-free diet, we strongly recommend you bring extra food and snacks with you to supplement the food on trek as there will be little variety available to you, particularly for breakfast. Even many of the soups are from powder/packets and contain gluten. If you buy imported food and drink on trek, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Drinking water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity, on this trip it is generally recommended to carry a 33floz (one litre) water bottle and drink at least 67floz (two litres) per person per day. However, we strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the trekking areas of Nepal. You can top up water bottles at tea breaks and lunch stops along the way with some villages offering safe drinking water stations selling UV-treated water for about 50 rupees (US$0.40) per litre. The teahouses also sell boiled water for approximately 150-300 rupees (US$1.15-US$2.30) per litre (the price increases the higher you trek) which should not require treating. This is also perfect for a bedtime refill as it can double up as a hot-water bottle. Alternatively, all teahouses provide free cold water. Although this should not be drunk untreated, we recommend you bring a reusable bottle/water bladder/Camelpak (ideally two) and use an effective form of water treatment. There are a wide range of products available including Steripens or purification tablets, which are the quickest and easiest options to use on trek – we recommend talking to an outdoor retailer for the latest advice as technologies are improving all the time. Make sure to check the product’s performance in cold/freezing conditions and consider battery life (lithium batteries are best in cold conditions). Exodus has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates more than 99.99 percent of all microbiological contaminants from any non-saltwater source – visit Water-to-Go for more information. Exodus customers can claim 15 percent off their first order and, better still, 15 percent of the purchase value will be donated to the Exodus Travels Foundation. These bottles filter the water as you drink through the spout may not be the most efficient while on the go on a trek. Please note, if the water freezes it will clog up the filter. In this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes.
Transportation
A private air-conditioned minibus with seatbelts is used for the main road journeys and private hired jeeps are used in Chitwan National Park. An internal flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is included in the tour. All internal flights in Nepal are subject to weather conditions; if the flight is cancelled due to fog or bad weather, for example, travelling by road will be unavoidable. This point-to-point trekking trip requires you to walk between each overnight stay under your own steam. Other forms of transport may be available along the route (horses, jeeps etc) but Exodus is not able to take responsibility for the safety or cost of any transport that customers choose to take even if provided with the assistance of our leader or staff. Nepal flight safety Many of our treks in Nepal use domestic flights to reach the trekking areas. The mountainous Nepalese terrain is subject to changeable weather, which makes flying conditions complex and challenging, and unfortunately there are significantly more incidents here than in other countries, including fatalities. The EU highlighted the poor safety record in Nepal in 2013 by including all Nepalese-registered airlines on the EU banned list, which prevents them from flying in EU airspace. While no Nepalese-registered airlines currently fly within the EU, the EU instigated this ban to highlight the risk of flying in Nepal to EU citizens. These airlines are unlikely to be members of any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations. Flying within Nepal is therefore a known risk, and we strongly encourage you to consider this carefully before booking. We suggest you refer to the following sources: The current travel advice for Nepalissued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeThe Air Safety Network entry for Nepal In response to concerns over this safety record, Exodus arranges for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the suitability of the available carriers. We then restrict our use to only those approved as part of this audit. In emergency situations, we will need to use helicopters, so we also have a list of approved helicopter carriers. Should concerns arise regarding the safety of an airline on our approved list, we will remove the carrier from the list immediately, and it would only be reinstated once our air-safety auditors are confident the airline meets acceptable safety standards. We appreciate you may have concerns about flying within Nepal, so we ask that you consider all the information above when deciding to book this trip.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Ambassador, Lazimpat Rd, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal Phone: +977 1-4514432 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately Airport: Kathmandu Airport (KTM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 25 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Kathmandu Airport (KTM) from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time, and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15C to 30C (59F to 86F). Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking. Mid-September to November: The main trekking season in Nepal. Daytime temperatures will be up to 25C (77F). Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping to about 5C (41F). December to end of February: Despite the cooler conditions, this is an ideal time to trek in Nepal. For this particular trip, December is the best month to go to this area as the skies are usually very clear, the days are sunny, and the mountain views are at their best. Early mornings and evenings are cold with temperatures down to about 5C (41F) but days are pleasant and sunny with temperatures up to 22C (72F). The trails are also much less busy at this time of year. Chitwan will be cold in the early mornings and evenings but pleasantly warm in the daytime. March to May: Both day and night temperatures will be warmer in general but haze will often build up in the afternoons and there can be rain. Temperatures rise to 30C (86F) and above in Chitwan and in Kathmandu. On trek, the days will be hot (up to 25C/77F). Nights will be a bit cooler. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to trek at this time. The Annapurna region is famous for its rhododendrons at this time. Please remember that in any mountain area the weather is never wholly predictable; you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.
Spending Money
We recommend taking your personal spending money in cash (US dollars, British pounds or euros can all be changed easily). Please note that any marked, torn or damaged notes may not be accepted. Please remember, £50 notes, Scottish or Irish currency cannot be changed in Nepal. Cash can be changed easily at the airport on arrival in Kathmandu or at money changers in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Hotels in Nepal can also change up to US$300 per person. Please note, travellers cheques can NOT be exchanged in Nepal. Our staff will advise you about how much money to take with you on the trek. You need to withdraw/exchange enough money in Kathmandu to last the duration of your trek – to cover meals, drinks, tipping and other incidentals. It is a good idea to carry spare cash on the trek in case of an emergency. Carrying cash is unavoidable so we suggest splitting it up into a few different places – but remember to keep track of how much you have stashed where. Prices of food and amenities in teahouses are generally more expensive than you may expect. Please allow 4,000 - 5,400 rupees (US$30-US40) per day for lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, showers, toilet roll and charging on trek, and for meals not included in Kathmandu or Pokhara (where costs will be at the top end of the scale). This amount is given as a rough guideline only. Optional excursions Several optional tours and activities are available from Kathmandu and Pokhara. Prices for a half-day sightseeing tour start from approximately 4,600 Nepalese rupees (US$35) per person, based on a group of six and above. For all trips, return transport and a qualified sightseeing guide are included. The price does not include lunch or entry fees. Please inquire with your leader in Kathmandu, who can provide further information. An optional Everest sightseeing flight is available on your free day (weather permitting) from around 27,750 rupees (US$210) per person – subject to change. Anyone taking an internal sightseeing flight in Nepal should pay attention to the statement ‘Flying in Nepal’.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Nepal and usually expected. Tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour leader will usually offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which will be used to tip hotel porters, local guides, assistant guides, porters, and the drivers. Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but a rough guideline is provided below. A tip for the leader is at your discretion and separate to the amount he will suggest for the other staff. We suggest you send an envelope around the group at the end of the trip and you can put in what you like and give to the leader on the last evening. The following are guideline amounts received by each staff member from the group as a whole. Tour leader: 32,500-36,000 rupees (usually tipped on the last night in Kathmandu) Your trekking crew (tips are usually given on the last evening of the trek in Ghandrung) Trekking guides: 21,000-26,000 rupees for each guideTrek porters: 12,000 rupees for each porter General tipping guidelines: Drivers: Pokhara to/from Biretanthi (per each-way transfer): 500 rupees in total from the groupPokhara to Chitwan: 1,500 rupees in total from the groupChitwan to Kathmandu: 1,500 rupees in total from the group Hotel porters: 105 rupees each time for each roomTeahouses and lunch stops on trek: it’s customary to round your bill up to the nearest 50 rupees or 100 rupeesRestaurants: 10% of the bill if good service To help budget for the tips, generally there will be one member of trek staff (leader/guide) for every four clients. You also have one porter for every two clients to carry your luggage. If you are unsure on how much to personally budget, you can check with your leader when you arrive in Kathmandu. Please try to give all tips in local currency.

Highlights