Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

For full tour itineraries, please visit us online at www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/tours INDIAN SUBCONTINENT 27 MEAL PLAN: All meals included ACCOMMODATION Kathmandu 3 nights 4 ★ Hotel Himalaya Bhandipur 1 night 3 ★ Guan Ghar Resort Pokhara 2 nights 3 ★ Fishtail Lodge Chitwan 2 nights 3 ★ Hotel Parkside 10 days from £1,499pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Buddhist stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Kathmandu ✔ Ancient temples in Durbar Square ✔ Panoramic views of the Himalayas ✔ Visit the hilltop village of Bandipur ✔ Devil’s Falls and Mahendra Cave ✔ Explore Chitwan National Park ✔ Enjoy a cable car ride to Manakamana’s hilltop temple ✔ Drives through rural landscapes This tour takes you to the city of Kathmandu and up into the hilltop settlement of Bandipur and lakeside city of Pokhara, then finishes in the jungles of Chitwan National Park for your chance to spot the elusive Bengal tiger. ROOMS AVAILABLE WITH NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT PACE: Bandipur Village DEPARTURES & FROM PRICES 2022 DEPARTURES AT 2021 PRICES CONTACT US FOR DATES • Prices based on flights from London Heathrow to India with Qatar (via Doha) • Regional departures available • Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £339 • Private Tour supplement from £489 A TASTE OF INDIA 3 nights Full Board from £499 INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE 6 nights Full Board from £749 MYSTICAL BHUTAN 4 nights B&B from £1,199 Visit our website to learn more about our extensions. EXTEND YOUR TOUR COLOURS OF NEPAL 09 Nov 20 £1,789 30 Nov 20 £1,699 04 Jan 21 £1,549 01 Feb 21 £1,599 01 Mar 21 £1,699 24 May 21 £1,799 21 Jun 21 £1,749 06 Sep 21 £1,499 11 Oct 21 £1,999 08 Nov 21 £1,869 DAY 1: UK TO KATHMANDU Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Kathmandu, via Doha. DAY 2: KATHMANDU D Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Patan, one of three royal cities in Kathmandu Valley. After an introductory meeting at the hotel with your guide, the afternoon will be at leisure to allow you to relax and take in your new surroundings. The group will reconvene in the evening to enjoy a welcome dinner together. DAY 3: KATHMANDU B/L/D Start your first foray into Nepal’s capital with a visit to Boudhanath, the largest and holiest Buddhist stupa outside of Tibet, before continuing to ancient Swayambhunath. Return to Patan and explore the enchanting temples and palaces of Durbar Square before ending your day with a shopping trip in Thamel. DAY 4: KATHMANDU TO BANDIPUR B/L/D After breakfast, drive to the hilltop settlement of Bandipur whose traditional Newari-style buildings and community are seemingly untouched by modern life. Following lunch, venture into the heart of this beautiful town to discover Bandipur Bazaar, an area of old shops and temples where you can appreciate an extraordinary view of the Himalayan skyline. DAY 5: BANDIPUR TO POKHARA B/L/D 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. DAY 6: POKHARA B/L/D After breakfast, take a tour to the stunning Devil’s Falls, a 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 the local handicrafts. Finally, take a peaceful boat trip on the serene waters of the lake. DAY 7: POKHARA TO CHITWAN B/L/D Depart this morning for Chitwan National Park, a haven for endangered wildlife. Stop en route at Manakamana where a cable car will take you to a spectacular viewpoint with a 17th century temple and shrine. After lunch, your journey will continue into the national park. DAY 8: CHITWAN B/L/D 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. DAY 9: CHITWAN TO KATHMANDU B/L/D Leaving Chitwan after breakfast, you will be driven back to Kathmandu, arriving in the late afternoon. DAY 10: KATHMANDU TO THE UK B Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, via Doha or continue on to your chosen extension. B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner FOR YOU TO KNOW: A visa and travel insurance are required when travelling to Nepal and must be obtained before travel. Tips: We recommend you allow approximately £27pp for the duration of your tour. Coach Kathmandu 3  < < 1 Bandipur  2 Pokhara 2   Chitwan National Park Patan Nepal 1 Number of nights