Internationale groepsreis Edits: Mountain Vistas & River Quests in Nepal

On the transfer from the airport, you’ll get a glimpse of Kathmandu’s colour and chaos before arriving at Hotel Mulberry, a calm oasis in the buzzing Thamel area. Head to the rooftop infinity pool to catch the views before joining the welcome briefing with a complimentary cocktail (or mocktail). Tonight, dinner with your new group is included at New Orleans Cafe, a popular local haunt. 

Your first full day in Kathmandu has you fully immersed in its sights, sounds and flavours. After breakfast, you’ll step out into the city’s alleyways on a street food and sightseeing tour. Travelling alongside the locals on foot and by cycle rickshaw, you’ll get under the skin of this intoxicating place, visiting Asan Tole, the busiest market square in the city. You’ll try chiya, milky tea, and check off the city’s architectural and cultural highlights: Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath ‘Monkey Temple’.For anyone wanting to do an optional Everest mountain flight, these generally take place in the morning (weather permitting) so it’s a trade off with some of the sightseeing.

You’ll leave Kathmandu behind after breakfast, taking a 30-minute morning flight to Pokhara. This lakeside town is the gateway to the Annapurna Range and the adventure capital of Nepal. It’s where your four-day mountain trek begins.You’ll have a briefing at the trekking office before an hour-long drive to the start point. Today’s three to four-hour walk follows a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas, before descending to the Modi River Valley. A picnic lunch is provided on the way.Tonight, you’ll stay at Ker & Downey’s Sanctuary Lodge at Birethanti. You’ll arrive in time for drinks and nibbles at happy hour with views of the sacred and unclimbed Mount Machhapuchhre, or Fishtail Mountain.

The trek continues after breakfast, following the Modi Khola River and past small farms with an ever-present backdrop of Mount Machhapuchhre. A long climb up stone steps follows, passing through the rice fields and forest. After about five hours’ walking, you’ll arrive at Ker & Downey’s Himalaya Lodge in Ghandruk in time for a late lunch. Now at 6,500 feet, you’ll see distant villages and terraced fields, surrounded by the iconic mountains.

The sunrises from Ghandruk are worth getting up early for. Enjoy the tranquillity of the view before your trek continues, descending steeply down the valley to cross a suspension bridge that leads to a stone staircase rising to Landruk village. You’ll pass under the cliffs where honey hunters climb up on ropes to harvest wild honey (seasonal). Lunch will be ready as you arrive at Ker & Downey’s La Bee Lodge. The afternoon is yours to savour the views or explore the village with your guide and learn about the Gurung community.

There’s a more leisurely day of trekking ahead today, with no steep inclines. You’ll pass through villages and farmlands on the way to Majgaon, where lunch is in a village house with a demonstration of how rice wine and selroti bread is made.  Tonight we stay in another comfortable Ker & Downey lodge; either Gurung or Mala Lodge (varies depending on departure date).

After breakfast, you’ll trek for about an hour to the village of Chandrakot. Enjoy the views before continuing for another half hour to Lumle where you’ll be met and transferred back to Pokhara, about an hour’s drive away.You’ll check into Atithi Resort, an elegant hotel that will feel heavenly after your trek. A spa, sauna and pool provide some well-deserved post-trek pampering.

Namaste. Start the day right with a morning yoga class. A cookery class follows where you’ll learn to make momo dumplings and devour them for lunch.An afternoon bike ride explores the countryside around Lake Phewa, with its mountain backdrop reflecting off the water.

You’ll leave Pokhara behind after breakfast today, ready for a day on the water. After driving through the countryside to Damauli for about  90 minutes, you’ll meet an experienced rafting crew for a briefing before hitting the Seti River. You’ll raft through two small Grade II rapids, but the majority of today’s raft ride is gently floating past villages and jungle, stopping for a picnic en route.You’ll reach Ker & Downey’s Seti River Camp where home for the night is in a safari-style tent with a veranda and en suite bathroom.

The rafting adventure continues this morning, upping the ante with five Grade II rapids. Long sections of calmer waters in between means there’s ample opportunity to enjoy the lush surrounds. After a few hours, you’ll be driven to Chitwan National Park, a famous reserve of marshland and grassland that’s home to Indian one-horned rhinos, monkeys, elephants and the elusive leopards.At Jagatpur Lodge, you’ll meet your naturalist guide before heading out on a bullock cart ride to visit a Tharu village. Tonight, there’s a bush BBQ dinner.

A jam-packed morning exploring Chitwan is lined up today. There’s an early morning birdwatching walk before breakfast. Then a trip along the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, looking for crocs.Before dinner, there’s a jeep safari, making a stop in a scenic spot for sundowners. If you’re lucky, you may encounter some rhinos or some of the several species of deer.

There’s an optional birdwatching walk this morning, before a late morning flight from nearby Bharatpur to Kathmandu.Back in the city hullabaloo, the afternoon is yours to explore.

After breakfast, a transfer will return you to Kathmandu airport.