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Squeezed between India and Tibet, Nepal is a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, stunning mountainous landscapes and dense ancient cities brimming with pagoda-topped temples.
Depart London Heathrow on your scheduled, overnight flight to Kathmandu, via Dubai.
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Patan, one of three royal cities in Kathmandu Valley.
Following breakfast, your group will commence its first foray into Nepal's capital city. Kathmandu is not only the country's core in terms of trading and religion but is also known for the sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes which keep watch from the stupas and temples dotted amongst the chaotic jumble of buildings that spread across the valley. Begin with Boudhanath, the largest and holiest Buddhist stupa (a hemispherical shaped monument containing Buddhist relics) outside of Tibet. Continue on to the ancient religious complex of Swayambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple due to the families of macaques that live and roam around the grounds. After lunch your tour returns to Patan, a sprawling city which has almost merged with Kathmandu, separated only by the murky waters of the Bagmati River. Explore the enchanting melange of temples and former royal palaces of Durbar Square before concluding your day with a shopping trip in Thamel where you can barter for souvenirs or take a break to enjoy a sweet pastry from one of the local bakeries.
In the morning you will begin your drive to the hilltop settlement of Bandipur, arriving in time for lunch. With winding lanes, traditional Newari-style buildings and a community of farmers and traders, this beautiful town is seemingly untouched by modern life. Following a local lunch, venture into the heart of Bandipur to discover Bandipur Bazaar, an area of old shops, houses, temples and meeting places where you can appreciate the extraordinary view of the snow-clad Himalayan skyline.
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Bandipur before journeying to Pokhara, the gateway to the peaks and valleys of the Annapurna mountain range. This sleepy lakeside city enjoys a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere and is the perfect base for day walks or hikes into the spectacular surrounding mountains. Arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon there will be some time to unwind before your evening meal.
After breakfast at your hotel, a tour to the stunning Devi's Falls follows where the group will follow a series of underground streams and small walkways before reaching the cascading waterfall that bursts through a tunnel and falls into a cave deep below. Next visit Mahendra Cave to appreciate the stalagmites and stalactites before making a stop at the Tibetan refugee camp to browse for handmade jewellery, pashminas, trinkets and local carvings. Finally your group will take a peaceful boat trip on the serene waters of the lake before enjoying a riverside lunch. Returning to your lodge in the afternoon the rest of the day is at leisure.
Today you will depart Pokhara after breakfast for Chitwan National Park, one of the largest havens for the endangered Bengal tiger and home to a rare population of one-horned Indian Rhinoceros. A stop will be made en route at Manakamana to take a cable car ride to the summit of a spectacular viewpoint. Arrive at the hillside temple and a mountain shrine which dates back to the 17th century and is believed to be a place where the goddess Bhagwati has the power to grant wishes to those who are able to make a suitable sacrifice. Following lunch, your journey will continue into the sub-tropical lowlands of the national park where, in the evening you will experience the traditional dances of the Tharu Cultural Show.
Your full day tour of Chitwan National Park begins in the morning with a canoe ride up the Rapti River where you may encounter the rare gharial, a fish-eating crocodile whose population is estimated at less than 235 individuals. Next visit the elephant breeding centre where you will have the chance to watch mother and baby elephants interact whilst grazing in the jungle and warding off pesky mosquitos by covering themselves in dust. After lunch the group will proceed further into the jungle for a guided Jeep safari, led by the locals guides, who will be keen to help you spot deer, rhinoceros, antelope and perhaps even a glance of the 'King of the Jungle', the Bengal tiger.
Leaving Chitwan after breakfast, you will be driven back to Kathmandu, stopping for lunch along the way and arriving back in the city in the late afternoon. Enjoy some free time to venture out into the bustling streets to pick out any last minute gifts before enjoying your final dinner with the rest of your group. The sounds of bicycle bells and chanting monks and the intoxicating aromas of Nepalese delicacies will leave you with a memory to cherish for years to come. Namaste - 'the spirit within me salutes the spirit in you', goodbye and farewell.
Transfer from your hotel to Kathmandu airport for your return flight to the UK.
British passport holders do not need to obtain a visa for Nepal prior to departure. A Nepalese visa can be purchased on arrival into Kathmandu; you will need to complete and download a form from the Nepal Embassy website and present this completed form on arrival at immigration together with your payment (currently USD $30). You must print the form with the barcode and take it with you for arrival. The barcode is only valid up to 15 days after issue so please complete this form within 2 weeks of travel. You will also need to complete an 'arrival card' at the airport. When applying for the visa on arrival you will need to ensure you apply for a multiple entry visa. We recommend you check the following website before travelling for all the most up to date advice, requirements and any changes http://www.nepembassy.org.uk/visa.php. We strongly advise you to check with your destinations Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding required passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of €300pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Flights are operated with Emirates, departing London Heathrow via Dubai. Each passenger is entitled to 30KG of hold luggage plus 1 item of hand luggage not exceeding (Max 10kg - 55cm/38cm/ 20cm) in size. Weight restrictions will be finalized on any final documents. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check- in. Check-In should be at least 3 hours before departure.
IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 40. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee or NPR, divided into 100 paisa. US dollars are also often accepted should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour, depending on how much of a bargain-hunter you are!
| Depart UK | Arrive UK | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Dates | |||
| 01 Jan 2024 | 10 Jan 2024 | SOLD OUT | |
| 29 Jan 2024 | 07 Feb 2024 | €2575.00 | |
| 26 Feb 2024 | 06 Mar 2024 | €2687.00 | |
| 20 May 2024 | 29 May 2024 | €2687.00 | |
| 17 Jun 2024 | 26 Jun 2024 | €2239.00 | |
| 02 Sep 2024 | 11 Sep 2024 | €2127.00 | |
| 07 Oct 2024 | 16 Oct 2024 | €2463.00 | |
| 04 Nov 2024 | 13 Nov 2024 | €2463.00 | |
| 18 Nov 2024 | 27 Nov 2024 | €2463.00 | |
If the group departure dates are not suitable for you and you would prefer a more personal and flexible experience then you can choose to book a private guide for your tour at a reasonable supplement.
Nepalese Rupee
11 hours
12 °C / 25 °C
Weather can vary quite considerably throughout the year, so please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.
Thank you so much - your talent in designing cultural holidays and ability to coordinate travel via knowledgeable guides allows us to be carefree whilst enjoying the wonders of the world!
Hotel accommodation was as expected in Bandipur but better than expected in Chitwan.
Thought the staff were very friendly and helpful in both hotels and loved the meal and festivities they put on. Other hotels were fine except the last night in Delhi where they had an all night disco which kept us awake .
All hotels were fine but Fish Tail Lodge shone head and shoulders above the rest! It was superb!
All excellent.
We had a great holiday thanks to our excellent guide and driver..
We would recommend this tour ,
Excellent vegetarian food at all hotels. The occasional power cuts were not confined to the hotels and their own power generators remedied the situation in each case, save for at Chitwan, where the storm had caused damage. This did not reduce our enjoyment of the trip, and did not diminish the helpfulness nor amicability of anyone with whom we came into contact.
I was pleased with all of the hotels, the facilities were great and were good value. The drinks prices were madly expensive but I expect they have to make money somehow!
Excellent trip, your Tour Guide and Driver were very good.
All hotels were in good locations. Hotel Himalaya and Fishtail Lodge in Nepal, City Hotel (Thimphu) and Tashi Phumstock (Paro) were excellent, with high standards and good locations. The Hotel in Bandipur was OK, but I felt claustrophobic in the room. The bathroom at Rhino Lodge smelt, and there was no hook for the shower head which made washing awkward; the bedroom was fine, The food, was amazing except for Chitwan where the toast was like warm bread, and not a lot of selection.
All hotels excellent,rooms clean and staff friendly
Good overall value and well organised. We enjoyed all the hotels and the guides and drivers were brilliant. It was a good sized group and the meals were excellent.
Excellent!
Once again, a lovely holiday - the elephant ride was a highlight for us!
Travelling from Kathmandu to Heathrow on Jet Airways we were only offered spicy food. I cannot eat spicy food so was hungry!
All hotels were well picked by Mercury, the staff and food at all the hotels was in my opinion perfect. Everything went well.
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