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Nepal Annapurna Panorama

General Information This tour is designed as an all round introduction to Nepal and its beauty, including a short trek, a rafting and a wildlife experience, commencing in the shadow of the Annapurnas. If it is your first time to the country and you are not sure about going on a longer trek, or if you like multi activity holidays, then this tour is for you! Dominating the mountains of central Nepal is the mighty Annapurna Himal. This region to the north of Pokhara has rightly gained the reputation for being one of the finest trekking regions in the country. Our route not only shuns the heavily trekked trails to the west but ventures into a region that few have travelled before. It skirts under the graceful 'fish tail' of Machapuchare (22,492ft) and the great crest of Annapurna II (26,041ft). In the lower valleys we pass through Brahmin and Chettri villages, while higher up we will meet Gurungs and Magars, those hardy hill folk famed for their exploits as Gurkha soldiers. The river rafting begins from Chauradi and offers the excitement of whitewater rapids as well as relaxation as we descend the Trisuli River to The Chitwan National Park. Here activities include safaris on elephant back, canoe and on foot. If you are very lucky one may catch sight of the elusive Bengal tiger. On the way back to Kathmandu, you have a night in a resort with some of the best panoramic views of the mountains anywhere in the country Grade This trip is graded moderate. It is well within the capabilities of any normally active person, but to gain the best rewards you should be physically fit. Like all Himalayan treks it does have its ups and downs. And some steep and sometimes muddy slopes. Difficulties with altitude should not be a problem as the maximum elevation is 8695ft. Climate Weather in the world's highest mountain range is never totally predictable but we would expect clear and settled conditions. In the early stages the days will be warm, around 70 F/20 C. As altitude is gained, though the days will still be pleasantly warm, it will be chilly early morning and night time temperatures can be down to freezing. Included All ground transport as specified in the itinerary, 3 nights accommodation at a 5* hotel in Kathmandu on a bed and breakfast basis, half day excursion of Kathmandu with an English speaking guide and all entrance fees.  1 welcome evening meal in Kathmandu, 1 night at hotel in Pokhara, 1 night at Everest Panorama Resort on a full board basis, 2 days whitewater rafting with complete camping services.  2 nights accommodation at Chitwan National Park on a full board basis with all jungle activities & National Park fees.  8 days full catered camping trip in the Annapurna region with breakfast, lunch & dinner and all the trekking support crew.  National park fees, conservation fees and all entrance fees.  Trekpack for use during the trek, which includes down or fiberfill jacket, duffel bag, two insulated mats, a poncho, air pillow, sleeping bag with inner liner and a t-shirt as a gift. Not Included: International flights (unless you are have requested them), passport, visa, insurance, immunization fees, lunch and evening meals while in Kathmandu (budget $35 per meal without drinks), airport transfers and taxes. Flights Please speak to a member of staff at Breakaway Adventures if you wish to discuss us booking your flights for you, we can check availability and handle all of this on your behalf. The Trekking Day A typical day begins just after 6 a.m. with an early morning mug of tea served through the tent flap. After a hot breakfast, during which the camp will be struck and the porters loaded, we begin our walking in the pleasant cool of the morning. Lunch is around 11 a.m. This midday break usually lasts about an hour or so. After walking for around  three hours in the afternoon, we will aim to pitch camp around 4 p.m. You will have an hour or so to relax and reflect before the day is rounded off with a hot three course meal. However, there may be the opportunity of visiting a nearby village to have contact with the local people. The two rafting days also have a similar  structure about them. Health Matters A medical kit will accompany the trek. We do, however, recommend that each person carry a small personal first aid kit. A suggested list of contents will be sent to all members, as well as more general information on health matters.  Trip Medical insurance with a medical evacuation/repatriation benefit is a requirement for all travelers on trekking holidays.  Please contact our office for more details on obtaining this coverage. Documents A visa is required for Nepal and you must have a valid passport. Visas for Nepal if applying directly with the Nepal Embassy contact the Nepal Embassy for more information. Trekking documents are required, but these are organized by us in Kathmandu. You can purchase visas on arrival into Kathmandu but we would not recommend this option as the lines are long and the situation on this can change at any time. Books & Maps For information on the sights of the Kathmandu valley, its history and culture, we suggest ‘Rough Guides’  & ’ Lonely Planet travel guides’.  A good general guidebook (although without so many hints) is the Insight Guides series Nepal.  There are many books on Trekking in Nepal. Perhaps the most well known are those by Stephen Bezruchka, or Stan Armitage.  A usefully realistic account of what happens on trek is found in Mike Harding's Footloose in the Himalayas.  There are accounts of the most important great expeditions such as John Hunt The Ascent of Everest. Reinhold Messner The Crystal Horizon.
	ITINERARY
	The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and may be subject to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and group progress. We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) any trek at any time if necessary. 1000m=3281ft. 1km=.62 miles. Day 1: Flying into Kathmandu along the northern border of Nepal on a clear day is in itself an unforgettable experience with the entire Nepalese Himalayas sprawling out below you.  After transferring to your 5* hotel, you will be given a chance to catch your breath, meet the other group members that weren't on your flight and then be given a briefing on all relevant aspects of your holiday by your Group Leader. A traditional Royal Nepali feast then highlights the evening. Day 2: Half day excursion visiting Kathmandu with its many temples and pagodas, afternoon free. Day 3: Your group leader will meet you at your hotel in the morning and take you to the airport for the flight to Pokhara. On a clear day, the views are breathtaking and it is a good idea to have your camera in your daypack ready for any photographic opportunities that the flight provides. You will be met at Pokhara by our Trekking Crew who will drive you to the trek start point. This day's walking is through a mixture of rarely trekked farmland country and deep shady forests to Bhumdi, our first night's teahouse, and the first opportunity to watch the mountains gild themselves golden as the sun gives up the day's struggles and drops below the horizon. Day 4: Trek to Panchase Bhanjyang, 6 hours, 2110m. C ontinuing on, we enter a section of uninhabited forest cut by small bubbling streams and carpeted in wild flowers (in Spring); providing bright flashes of color in the deep green, until  a gradual change to open grazing grass lands, heralds the arrival of Panchase Bhanjyang and our next camp. Once again, magnificent views are available and dinner is often served on the cropped grasses as twilight deepens to dark. Day 5: Trek to Bhadaure, 1500m 5 hours via Panchase Peak (2509m). Panchase Peak is tackled early in the morning. This is the highest point of your trek and the track follows up through forests of oak and rhododendron and a steep narrow ridge to one of the best viewpoints of the Annapurna Himal at the summit. Machapuchare, Annapurna II, the Lamjung Himal and Dhaulagiri dominate the northern horizon. There is plenty of time for picture taking before heading downwards as we wind along the trail to the small village of Bhadaure where we camp. Day 6: Trek to Nayapul. 5 hours, 1030m. Continuing downwards, we cross the Rati Khola (river) at a natural ford and often travel a short distance upstream to a small ‘Tal’ (lake), where the cool waters are a blessing on warmer days. A short climb takes us to the crest of the Tharmajung ridge and then down through rainforest to Nayapul and the Modi Khola, the fast and powerful river rushing headlong to India from the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Usually a pleasant camp is made along the river and the night is often spent watching the myriad fireflies and listening to the soothing murmur of the waters. Day 7: Trek to Ghandruk. 6 hours, 1951m. Following the Modi Khola upstream, we come to Birethanti and join the main trail system. Birethanti is part of the Annapurna Circuit and contains all the necessary supplies that trekkers may need. From here we follow the Modi Khola to where the trail heads uphill to the large Gurung township of Ghandruk. Seemingly close enough to reach out and touch, the peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli dominate the town and provide a spectacular backdrop to this fascinating village. Day 8: Trek to Pothana. 6 hours, 2010m. The next morning, time permitting, we visit the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) Headquarters where displays of the Project's aims and achievements are on display and, if possible, your leader will arrange a viewing of a short film on ACAP's efforts to control the environmental damage that careless trekkers cause. After the ACAP visit, a short and steep track leads us down to the Modi Khola and we then climb up to Ghandruk's sister village, Lhandruk, and continue upwards through deepening and beautiful forest to the ridge crest and Potana, our next campsite. Day 9: Trek to Kholamukh. 5 hours, 1015m. Dropping down once more, we head for our next campsite at Kholamukh. Day 10: Trek to Pokhara. 4 hours, 915m Return to Pokhara and our camp at Phwea Lake to watch the sunset. Nearby "Lakeside", full of souvenir shops and other distractions, is soon explored in the rush to get an ice cream and return to camp for the traditional end of trek party! Days 11 & 12: Rafting. Early morning sees us busing from Pokhara to our rafting put-in point. The trekking crew return to Kathmandu and we meet our rafting guides and crew. A full safety briefing is given and then it's onto the river to practice some of the various paddle strokes you will need to know before entering the first of the rapids and excitement. With names like "Upset" and "Surprise", you can be sure of having fun! During the stretches of quieter water, we can let the world drift by and take in our new surrounds. Rafting days are more relaxed than trekking days, but follow the same general route. Each raft will be guided by an experienced Raft Captain and assistant, and is fitted with a waterproof canoe barrel for storage of clothing and equipment. This barrel is not bottomless however and only essentials should be taken with you. Lunches and camps are made on the riverside on lovely little sandy beaches that provide excellent opportunities to swim and sunbathe. Remember that the sun here is strong and if you burn easily, you will need a good sunscreen. Also important is that the river is rocky and before diving into the water, please check to make sure it is clear to do so! Our second day's rafting is a further continuation of the fun and has the added advantage that the countryside changes as the Trisuli meets the Marsyangdi River at Mugling and turns southwards to India. The river narrows and some beautiful gorges are passed, often monkeys are seen scampering through the trees and the river takes on an almost primordial aspect with dense forests of tall trees and clinging vines right down to the water's edge. Days 13 & 14: Chitwan. A short bus ride from our night's camp and we are in the Terai and soon at the pick-up point for Chitwan Jungle. Four-wheel drive vehicles or sometimes elephants are used to take us from the main road to the camp. You are given a twin bedded room with hot showers and towels! The temptation is to luxuriate in them but the jungle beckons. After a briefing from the naturalist guides you will commence an exploration of this intriguing area. The Lodge has a program that allows you to experience all the different activities such as elephant safari, jungle walks, canoe rides down the nearby Rapti River, elephant briefing, bird watching and so on. The main animals that people come to see are the One-Horned Rhino and the Bengal Tiger but both animals are extremely rare and difficult to find, especially the tiger. The jungle is thick and dense, unlike the plains of Africa, and the activities not to miss are the dawn and dusk tours when the animals are at their most active, as during the day they often lie up through the heat. The day is the time of the birds and with over 400 species in the park, this incredible variety is well worth the jungle walk and view tower visit. You will be together as a group on all activities and the real secret to seeing animals in Chitwan is to work together. When you go out on activities, the quieter you are and the more subdued the clothing the far greater chance you have. Day 15: Everest Panorama Resort. Transfer by private bus to the E.P.R  for a relaxing day enjoying this wonderful hill country. From this resort in early morning, before the clouds bubble up, or at dusk, you can get perhaps the finest overall views of the Himalayas in Nepal. You should get an extensive glimpse of an array of mountains from Dhalaugiri to Makalu! Afternoon activities are available for those who would like to experience the excitement of mountain biking, fishing, pony trekking or a monastery walk nearby.  After a delicious buffet dinner, a party in the coziness of the "Base Camp Bar" is not unknown as the sun slips down over the mountains. Day 16: Return to Kathmandu and your hotel in the morning. Your group leader will collect the "Trekpack" from you and then you're free, with time to continue exploring this wonderful city, shopping for souvenirs and trying out the various restaurants in Thamel. Day 17: Depart. Time to fly home. Please make sure that you have collected all your valuables from the security deposit and settled all your hotel bills. Coordinating with your flight time, the transport staff will pick you up and take you to the International Airport for your flight home. Each day may vary from this schedule as walking times differ with every group, some taking longer and others takes less, plus trails and lodge conditions need to be taken into account. The guide in charge of your trek will alter the schedule if necessary.