EXOTIC NEPAL: THE LAND OF STUPAS, SADHUS & SHERPAS

17 DAYS (1 night in Hong Kong & 12 nights in Nepal)
FEB 12-28, 2010

$3500 WITH AIR

sign-up deadline nov 1, 2009

The greeting heard so often in Nepal “Namaste”, means “I greet the divine inside you.” Nepal is a blend of traditions, religions and cultures- it is like nowhere you have ever been! We will explore many of the UN World Heritage Sights in the magical country whose fusion of culture and architectural delights, such as the many hundreds of temples and palaces, have been around for centuries. Receive good luck from the Kumari, or Living Goddess,” a Hindu God reincarnated as a prepubescent girl, from her balcony in Kathmandu’s Square. Receive a blessing from one of the famous “sadhus”, or holy men, who wander from temple to temple with their dreadlocks, painted foreheads and orange robes. Take a short hike up to one of the many Tibetan temples and monasteries where exiled monks worship through chanting daily prayers, using prayer wheels and beads.

Nepal also offers some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. It is the most mountainous country in the world-here you can watch the sun rise over the Majestic Himalayas. Or watch the reflection of some of the world’s most beautiful mountains in the waters while canoeing on Lake Pohkara. Here you can also take a safari through the grasslands of Chitwan National Park to catch a glimpse of the rare tiger or one-horned rhino before riding an elephant into the river for its daily bath.

Nepal is a land of great natural beauty, rich in culture and history. After several years of political unrest, the climate is now stable and calm. The U.S. dollar goes far here. The weather during this time of year is perfect for beautiful views of the Himalayas. You will see temples and traders, mountains and monks. Whether you want to do outdoor activities or just experience the fascinating culture, this trip is guaranteed to be like no other.

PRICE OF $3500 per person INCLUDES…………………

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Leave US on flight headed for Hong Kong from San Francisco. Please be at the airport by 11pm.
DAY 2: Day in flight.
DAY 3: Arrival into Hong Kong at 7am. Transfer to hotel. Free day to rest or take an optional tour. Overnight.

DAY 4: Morning and afternoon free for sightseeing in -go on your own or optional tours offered. Leave for airport for flight to Kathmandu at 7pm. Arrive at 10pm and transfer to hotel in Thamel, the tourist neighborhood of the capital city. (B) DAY 5: Free morning to rest.  Before lunch, we will begin our exploration of Kathmandu with a visit to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square with its many temples, including the temple that Kathmandu was named for. At noon, we will visit the home of the Kumari, or Living Goddess. She appears daily so that her followers can get a quick glimpse. Free time for lunch here then return to the hotel in the afternoon for free time. This evening we will have dinner in Thamel at the famous Everest Steakhouse.  Optional live music at a local bar. (B, D) DAY 6: After breakfast, head to the World Heritage Site at Bhaktapur, about 1 ½ hours outside of Kathmandu. This is an all-day exploration of this fascinating city, home to century-old buildings and charming winding streets. Here you can see how the Newari people live. We will also visit the nearby town of Changu Narayan with its open-air museum of stone carvings. Return to Kathmandu for free time and dinner on your own. (B, L)

DAY 7: Today we will venture to the valley of Kathmandu, to visit another of the World Heritage Sites-Patan with its many beautiful architectural gems. We will also visit a Thangka gallery to hear the explanation of the meaning behind this ubiquitous religious paintings. Next we will visit a carpet factory to hear more about these famous works of art. Then this evening, we will have a Newari cultural show with dinner. (B, D)
DAY 8: After a late breakfast, we will head to Pushupatinath Temple, one of the holiest Hindu sites in the world. Here we will see the famous temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva (from the outside) and burning ghats along the Bagmati River where bodies are cremated. Next, we will visit the World Heritage Site at Bodhnath. This is one of the most picturesque temples in the city. We will have time for lunch here before our tour. Bodhnath is home of one of the largest stupas in the world. This is the center of the Tibetan exile community in Nepal and you will see hundreds of Tibetan monks and other people in prayer. Then, return to the hotel for free time and dinner as a group at the Roadhouse Cafe. Live Nepali band show tonight optional. (B, D)
DAY 9: After a late breakfast, we will board our bus for the 4 hour journey to Royal Chitwan National Park. Along the way, you will see some beautiful countryside and interesting traditional villages. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel and have lunch. We will have a short jungle walk with our local guides. Return to the hotel in the evening for free time and dinner. (B, L, D)
DAY 10: After breakfast, we will explore the forest from the top of an elephant in search of more animals. Afterwards, we will have lunch at the hotel and free time. Then, we will head out on a canoe ride through the national park in search of some of the local wildlife, including crocodiles, birds, monkeys, elephants, tigers and rhinos. After dinner, watch a cultural show of the local tribe, the Tharu, to see the famous drumming and “stick dance.” (B, L, D)
DAY 11: Morning free. Optional jeep safari to search more wildlife. After lunch, we will head to town. Here we will have time to use the internet, shop and visit the National Park headquarters. We will also see the mahout station, where the government elephants are kept. Next, we will visit the local Elephant Breeding Center, where more than 50 elephants have been bred over the years. We will be able to see various baby elephants who are being trained to work with rangers to patrol the forest for poachers. Here it is possible to bathe an elephant in the river-if you don’t mind getting wet. After the one-hour ride, we will stop at the river to have a drink and watch the sunset. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B, L, D)
DAY 12: After breakfast, checkout and then head to the scenic lakeside town of Pohkara.  We will stop for lunch along the way. After the 4 hour journey, check into our hotel. Free time this evening to walk around and have dinner in this charming town. (B, L)
DAY 13: After breakfast, free time to rest or explore town. This afternoon we will have a tour to the World Peace Pagoda and a canoe ride on the lake in Pohkara. This evening we will have a cultural dinner show featuring traditional singing and dancing of the mountain peoples. (B, D)
DAY 14: Wake up early for our ride to Sarangkot, to watch the sunrise over the majestic Annapurna Mountains, part of the Himalayas. Return to our hotel for breakfast. Free time in the morning to sleep or do some shopping. After lunch in town, we will visit one of the local Tibetan Monasteries.  Free time for dinner on your own. (B, L)
DAY 15: After a late breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to Kathmandu by bus. We will stop for lunch along the way. Farewell dinner in Kathmandu as a group at the Roadhouse Cafe. (B, D)
DAY 16: After a late breakfast, we will take a short hike up to the Monkey Temple, called Swayambhunath. There are fantastic views of the city from above. Have lunch at the New Orleans Café. Free time this afternoon for shopping before we head to the airport around 8pm for our return flight. Return to the U.S. via Hong Kong. (B, L)
DAY 17:  Arrive into San Francisco at 10am.

NEPAL cultural only tour
WILL BE OFFERED AGAIN IN 2009
Cultural nepal

Durbar:
	Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is one of the most important sites in the city. A World Heritage Site, it is home to the temple that from which the capital got its name and the palace that is home to the Kumari, or Living Goddess.
Patan:
	Patan, located in the Kathmandu Valley, is another important tourist site. It dates back to the 14 - century and is home to more temples per square capita than Kathmandu.
Pohkara Lake:
	Take a relaxing canoe ride on the lake to enjoy the fantastic scenery.
Viewlake:
	The view from the World Peace Stupa shows the lake and the majestic Annapurna Mountains in the background.
Shiva:
	This temple, called a Shivalinga, at Pushupati Temple is one of the many dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva.
Bodnath:
	The Buddhist eyes are part of the Buddhist Stupa at Bodnath, located outside of Kathmandu.
Bodnath2:
	The many Tibetan prayer flags line the stupa and surrounding town, home to many Tibetan exiles.
Monastery:
	This is one of many Tibetan monasteries in Nepal.
Sadhu:
	Another friendly “sadhu”, or holy man, dressed in orange robes.
Monk:
	Nepal is home to many Buddhist monks who use prayer wheels and beads in their daily rituals.
Prayer:
	The Buddhist prayer wheel is found at all of the Buddhist religious sites.
Safari:
	An elephant safari through Chitwan National Park.
Rhino:
	The one-horned Black rhino is found in the grasslands of Chitwan National Park.
Canoe:
	A canoe ride reveals many species of animals, including this Gharial crocodile.
Babies:
	The Elephant Breeding Center at Chitwan National Park has bred more than 50 elephants, including very rare twins.
Sunrise:
	Sunrise view of the Annapurna Mountain Chain, part of the Himalayas, from Sarangot, near Pohkara.
Masks:
	A collection of masks to ward off evil spirits.
Holyman:
	A sadhu who has painted his body with ash.
Rickshaw:
	A rickshaw driver waits for a tourist in the Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu.
Temple:
	A sacred cow roams the streets of Kathmandu, at one of the hundreds of century-old Hindu temples.