Escorted Tours 2023-24 1st Edition

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 at your hotel, a tour to the stunning Devil’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. Day 7: Pokhara to Chitwan B/L/D 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. 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, 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. Day 10: Kathmandu to the UK B Transfer for your return flight, via Doha or continue on to your chosen extension. Chitwan National Park Pokhara Durbar Square Bandipur India’s Golden Triangle Meal plan: All meals daily Accommodation: Kathmandu, 4 H Hotel Himalaya Bandipur, 3 H Gaun Ghar Resort Pokhara, 3 H Fishtail Lodge Chitwan, 3 H Hotel Parkside Chitwan Flights: London Heathrow to Nepal with Qatar Airways (via Doha). Regional flights available, please see page 168-169 Tour pace: Intermediate Extend your tour A Taste of India, 3 nights, 4 H Full Board from £519 India’s Golden Triangle, 6 nights, 4 H Full Board from £769 Mystical Bhutan, 4 nights, 3 H from £1,999 No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £399 Departures & from prices 22 May 23 £2,199 26 Feb 24 £2,399 19 Jun 23 £2,299 20 May 24 £2,399 4 Sep 23 £1,799 17 Jun 24 £1,999 9 Oct 23 £2,349 2 Sep 24 £1,899 6 Nov 23 £2,449 7 Oct 24 £2,199 1 Jan 24 £2,099 4 Nov 24 £2,199 29 Jan 24 £2,299 • Tipping paid locally £30 pp per tour 31 Southern Asia Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk