Nepal Jungle Safari & Luxury Lodge Trek

Today we do some sightseeing in Kathmandu and surrounds. We will do a full tour of Baudhanath Stupa & Patan Durbar Square. You head to Bhaktapur, the best preserved of the Medieval cities of the Valley, its foundations around the Dattatreya Temple in the 9th century make for a casual walk through a fairly well-preserved though very much lived-in city, via ancient temples, some outstanding, others hidden via the Taumadi Square and it's great 5-storyed Nyatopola Temple to end in the Durbar Square with its monuments to the Malla Dynasty, responsible for the antiquity that surrounds.

We can lunch at a nice restaurant off the Taumadi Square, watch the daily life flow around and below.

We start early at dawn with a Jeep drive heading to Nak Dara, an excellent view point just in time to enjoy the sunrise and to experience nature waking up to a new day. This is also a good location to spot local Marsh Mugger crocodiles and other aquatic birds. On the way back we stop at Gaida Tal to look for the Asian one-Horned Rhino. Drive back to camp to enjoy a late cooked breakfast and few cups of fresh ground coffee.

You will have few hours at camp to relax and enjoy quiet time by the river. After lunch we will drive to Ghuti Camp to learn about Asian elephants from an expert and, if situation permits participate in elephant bathing at the river. Next we will hop back into our jeep heading towards Rato Matey with our fingers crossed for spotting the rare and elusive Royal Bengal tiger. After spending much time exploring this area we return to our camp.

We start early with a Safari drive up to Gaida Tal, and then head across the river to Thulo Shree as our pursuit of spotting the rare Royal Bengal tiger continues. After scouring the area for any signs of tiger activity, we drive back to camp for a much deserved breakfast. Leisure time at camp. After lunch we begin our drive to Ghuti for Elephant Safari through forest and grassland, followed by another Safari drive to Guthi Machan for spotting spotted deer, wild boar, rhino and wild peacocks. After a dramatic day in the wild we return to our camp to enjoy a full three course dinner and drinks.

Our walk will follow a ridgeline in the lower foothills of the Annapurnas with surrounding views of the Pokhara Valley. This route then drops to the Modi River Valley, where Birethanti Lodge (3,750 ft / 1,150 m) is located.

The lodge has magnificent views of the sacred and unclimbed Fishtail Mountain, or Machhapuchhre, as it is locally known. A picnic lunch is provided with a late afternoon arrival at the Lodge. Trek: 3-4 hours

After breakfast, we leave the lodge walking out through the outlying farms following the Modi River Valley. Soon we begin to climb out of the valley and up towards the mountains. The trail passes through small hamlets, terraced rice fields and forests with spectacular views of the surrounding valley. Snacks are provided along the trail. Hot lunch is served on arrival at the lodge in the early afternoon. It is from Ghandruk Lodge (6,600 ft / 2,012 m) that there are magnificent close up views of the surrounding mountains. Trek: 5-6 hours

We wake up this morning with tea and coffee served in the garden and watch the sunrise over Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and the Fishtail. After enjoying a relaxing breakfast and the glorious views from the Ghandruk Lodge, our guide will take us on an exploration of this mountain village and the surrounding countryside. Ghandruk was once a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha soldiers.

The women of Ghandruk maintain a local industry of weaving traditional Nepalese rugs. For those feeling active, there is an opportunity for a morning hike to head higher into the mountains and get an even better vantage point and view, with exploring of the town later in the day.

After breakfast, we leave the Ghandruk Lodge walking out through the village of Ghandruk. Buffaloes and goats graze in the surrounding fields and you may have to make way for the donkey and mule trains that convey goods to and from the Gurkha settlements. You may also meet some of the trekkers coming down from or heading up to the Sanctuary itself. We continue descending for about 2 or 3 hours until we reach Shauli Bazaar. From here, we follow along the Modi River until reaching the Birethanti Lodge for lunch. We leave the Birethanti Lodge and trek to Majgaon Lodge at (4,620 ft / 1,450 m).

We cross the bridge nearby the lodge and start trekking heading up the Modi River. This is a little used trail that starts off on a rocky path along the riverbank and then meanders though a forested area. We then reach a long, winding stone staircase, which we start to trek up. We reach the level ground at a small farming hamlet.

We then trek along this ridge to the village of Waday. From Waday there are far reaching views of the whole valley. Our trek then descends for a while to another bridge. After crossing this bridge, we have another uphill push, passing though small villages of Patlekhet and Majgaun before arriving at the Gurung Lodge. Trek time 5-6 hours.

This morning we start out trekking through the unspoiled village of Patlekhet. Our walk takes us through sub-tropical forests that include tree orchids, rhododendrons and magnolias. Along the way, we will stop at the village of Pothana where many Tibetan traders live and sell their souvenirs. After about 3.5 hours, we arrive at the Dhampus Lodge (5,000 ft / 1,525 m). From the lodge, there are sweeping views of the entire Annapurna Range. After lunch at the lodge there will be an optional walk through the old village of Dhampus. Trek: 3-4 hours

After breakfast, we depart along the ridge and descend through the wooded hillside and terraced farmland to the valley floor. Trek time 1.5 hours. We then transfer by vehicle to Pokhara town along Phewa Lake for an outdoor lunch. You have the afternoon to explore this lakeside city and shop and visit the quaint restaurants and cafes.

It is the gateway to the Annapurna region where many a trekker finds his Shangri-La. Pokhara’s spellbinding beauty has been the subject of many travel writers. Its pristine air, the spectacular backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Annapurna Range and the serene Phewa, Begnas and Rupa Lakes, makes this destination ‘the Jewel of the Himalaya’. It is home to exceptionally warm and engaging people and is the starting point for treks into the Annapurna Himalaya, which dominates the skyline.