Trip Dossier

Day 1: Arrival Kathmandu at the Tribhuwan International Airport

You will find our representative awaiting your arrival by displaying a plastic board with your name highlighted in large letters on the board.  Our office vehicle will be parked at the airport to pick you up and drop you to your designated hotel. On reaching your hotel, enjoy your welcome drinks and refresh. Our senior trek leader will later meet you at the lobby of your hotel to brief you on the details of your trek. Get familiar with your surroundings, have supper and get rid of the jet lag with a good night’s sleep. Your first overnight in the valley of temples, probably the most in the world.
 
Day 2: Free at your own leisure

After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about what to do in your next free day.

The choice is yours: either you can stroll around the nearby market on your own or you can opt for a half/full day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu at places of interest. The cost for this extra tour is not added in the trek cost and you have to pay extra depending on the places you choose to visit. This extra tour gives you deep insights into Nepal’s iconic monuments that have been recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites.  Sansui Treks will give you an orientation on your program & you will also get the opportunity to ask us any questions you may have regarding our upcoming adventure. When this is done, you might find time to shop around the city in the evening time if you need any gears for the trek. Overnight at your hotel

Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, takes about 40 minutes.

This flight offers you enchanting aerial views of the jungles and Himalayan Range. Stay overnight at pretty comfortable lodge.
 
Day 4: Fly from Nepalgunj to Jumla (2370m.), takes about 35 minutes. 

Today is also an opportunity for us to enjoy the views of Sisne Himal, Dudu Kundari Himal and other unnamed mountains that stretch far beyond the horizons. We bunk out at a lodge
 
Day 5: Trek from Jumla to Patmara (2920m.), this takes approx 6 hours. 

The early part of the trail is flat and after some distance we begin a steep ascent to Patmara. En route we pass pine forests, green hills and some charming villages. These villages are mostly inhabited by Chhetri, brahmans and Thakuri communes. Hereabouts, you find the local people exercising their distinct cultural and social practices. Patmara is a relatively big village with chortens, prayer flags, Mani walls and temples dedicated to hindu gods and goddesses. People living here follow either the Buddhist or Hindu religion. We set up camp for the night
 
Day 6: Trek from Patmara to Bhargaon (2690m.) this will be approximately 6 hours. 

We trek along a steeply ascending path for an early two hours. After we cross Kharila pass (3050m.), the trails go down gently until we reach Nyawer (2670m.). This is a small village with terraces, mud roof houses and is mainly inhabited by Chhetris. Now your trail goes gently up crossing a suspension bridge over Nyawer Khola (stream) to Bhargaon. En route we move through forests covered with pine, oak, juniper, bamboo and other local vegetation. Bhargaon is relatively a big village where there are monasteries, chorten, and prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. We crash out in our camps for the night
 
Day 7:  Trek from Bhargaon to Pina (2380m.), this takes about 5-6 hours. 

The trails we plod through gently ascend until we cross a suspension bridge. Again we trek along an ascending path until reaching the check point of Rara National Park at Bhulbule (3130m.). Hereabouts, we have to pay an entrance fee in order to get inside the National Park. The trail to Ghurchi La Pass (3460m.) is a steep ascent before turning steeply downhill all the way to Pina. En route, we get to enjoy hiking through forests covered with pine, oak, juniper, rhododendron, bamboo, wild animals and local birds. This is an ideal place to camp out for the night
 
Day 8:  Trek from Pina to Gumgarhi (2580m.) This takes approximately 4-5 hours.

Today we cross a wooden bridge over Jhari Khola (stream) and follow a mostly ascending path. At some places the trail goes downhill. On the way, we can study musk deer and pheasant in forests covered with pine, juniper, oak, rhododendron and other natural vegetation. We come across several villages rich in terraces, monasteries, chortens, prayer flags, mani walls and observe the local folks following Tibetan lifestyles. Gumgarhi is yet another village mostly inhabited by Sherpa, Gurung and other communities. We crash out here in camps for the night
 
Day 9: Trek from Gumgarhi to Rara Lake (3060m.) this takes about 4-5 hours.

The path today is mostly downhill but goes uphill for some distance. We come across lively villages and forests. This is a special day in that we look forward to the sight of the splendid lake that we all know is the Lake Rara, the subject of our journey this far. Naturally formed, Rara Lake is the biggest natural lake in Nepal. And camping out here is virtual bliss
 
Day 10: A well earned day of rest to savour at Rara Lake. 

This is just the kind of day we’d want to walk around and explore the lake; we can watch the wild animals and their ways, listen to the merry chirping of birds and the beauty of nature found around this most tranquil part of Nepal is probably one of the best in the world. The ecosystem hereabouts is one of the most natural ever known. We’ll have plenty of pictures to take home to adorn the walls of our homes. Another night of camping by the lake
 
Day 11: Trek from Rara Lake to Jhari (2500m.) this takes about 6-7 hours. 

To get to our rendezvous at Jhari, we trek on a steeply descending path following forests and a wooden bridge over the Jhari Khola while hiking through pretty villages. Jhari is a small village where we can look into monasteries, chortens, prayer flags and houses of Tibetan style. This part of the trek is mainly inhabited by the Gurung community whose lifestyles are almost similar to the Tibetan people. Overnight in camps
 
Day 12: Trek from Jhari to Bhargaon (2690m.) this takes about 5-6 hours. 

The route in the beginning moves downward and after some distance turns up until we cross Ghurchi La Pass at (3460m.). From here the route travels up and down for a while before descending to Bhargaon. It is a village dominated mainly by Chhetris and a few other communities. En route, we pass through forests covered with pine, oak, rhododendron, juniper, green hills and several vibrant villages. Overnight in camps
 
Day 13: Trek from Bhargaon to Patmara (2920m.), takes about 6-7 hours.

As we set out from Bhargaon, we follow a steeply descending path all the way to Khari La Pass and then the route turns steeply down to Cherry (2009m.). The route then moves through gentle flatland all the way to Patmara. Patmara is a relatively big village with chortens, prayer flags, mani walls and temples dedicated to hindu gods and goddesses. People living here follow either the Buddhist or hindu religion. Overnight in our camps
 
Day 14: Trek from Patmara to Jumla (2370m.) this takes about 4-5 hours. 

Today we trek down coolly whistling our favourite tunes because we hike through a steeply descending path all the way down to Jumla passing lovely views of green hillocks, lush forests, friendly villages and ridges. Overnight at our lodge
 
Day 15: Fly from Jumla to Nepalgunj, a 35 minute flight.

We enjoy our scenic flight as we fly down to the teeming town of Nepalgunj, which is Nepal’s border to India. We rest up for sometime after a great trip of substance. This is where our trip actually concludes. Overnight at our lodge
 
Day 16: Fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu, a 40 minute flight

Today, we fly down to Kathmandu and probably a connecting flight home; if this is the way we’ve planned our trip. If you have an open air ticket, then you can hang around for one more day and do some shopping for souvenirs to take home. Otherwise, our vehicle will be on standby at your hotel to drop you to the airport for your connecting flight home sweet home.

Trip Information

Accommodation

A ‘Camping trek’ is a term used for sleeping in tents. The tents we provide are ‘Two men or couple domes’ or ‘A’ shaped. A foam mattress with insulation underneath is used for sleeping. Clients need to have their own sleeping bag. Bags or cloth packs are used as pillows. It’s a matter of choice, if you want, you bring your own ‘Air pillow’ and freak out anyways, and this is adventure in the wild…the rougher it gets the better. We have a pool of hotels in Kathmandu under 3 Star categories which we provide to clients in connection with this program, unless it is mentioned otherwise or clients have a choice of their own. You can check on the description of such hotels through our website. Accommodation is never a problem, the choice exclusively yours.

Dining     

At ‘Incentive Holidays’ – its zero tolerance on cutting of cost when it comes down to feeding our trekking guests, because we know how tough it is on the trails; we ensure that the lodges provide three tasty, bountiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast is ‘king size’ [the first meal of the day] consisting of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereals followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. After a lengthy gritty day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3 course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, rice and pasta dishes completed with a simple dessert. Don’t be surprised if the delectable ‘apple pie’ lands on your plate, it’s literally ‘yummy’’, even better than the ones you come across in Thamel.

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. The lodges always use as much fresh produce as possible and special diets are regularly catered for. The local trek leaders are able to maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and also within the group with focus on personal hygiene. This has allowed us to maintain extremely high standards of health over many years of planning treks - and good health is vital to an enjoyable and successful trek and climb. All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. Boiled water is served for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for. ‘Gluttony is a sin’ but there are no restrictions on the grub we serve to our guests on the mountains; we leave it up to our trekking guests who are the best judge of their own appetites…Bon Appétit!!

Cost Inclusion/Exclusion

Cost Inclusion

• 2N Hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis at KTM                                 
• Normal hotel or lodge / Tented camp during trekking
• One English speaking Trekking guide
• Porter (1Porter for 2Pax)
• All meals during the trek that includes breakfast, Lunch and dinner
• National park fees
• Airport pick up and drop
• All ground transfers as per itinerary
• Domestic Air ticket KTM-KEP-JUM-KEP-KTM

Cost Exclusion

• Personal Travel Insurance
• International Air Fare
• Daily Meals (Lunch & Dinner) while staying in Kathmandu
• Tips to Guide & Driver
• Entrance Fees
• Bar Expenses
• Telephone, Laundry and Internet
• Personal Expenses
• Emergency Evacuation
• Nepal visa fees 

Popular Sightseeing places in Kathmandu:

• Kathmandu Durbar Square
• Bhaktapur Durbar Square
• Patan Durbar Square
• Pashupatinath Temple
• Boudhanath Stupa
• Swayambhunath Stupa

Half day sightseeing includes visit two of these places and full day sightseeing includes three of these places inside the ring-road of Kathmandu. Besides the above mentioned places, the charges will apply depending on the distance accordingly.

Travel Dates

The best time to visit for a trip of this kind would be in the Spring and Autumn.  It is wonderful during this time of the year when an overall beauties of the landscapes found in these trips are so distinct & stunning, due to clear weather pattern & sunny blue skies. Our program could be changed to accommodate individual group choices and preferences in order to give you proper holidays that become signature ventures for a lifetime.