Worldwide Escorted Tours

What’s included ✔ Return flights Heathrow to Nepal with Qatar Airways (via Doha). See p130-131 for regional flights ✔ Where you’ll stay Kathmandu, 4 H Hotel Himalaya Bandipur, 3 H Gaun Ghar Resort Pokhara, 3 H Fishtail Lodge Chitwan, 3 H Hotel Parkside Chitwan ✔ 23 meals ✔ 7 excursions ✔ Expert local tour guide Tour pace: Intermediate Day 1: UK to Kathmandu Depart the UK on your overnight flight. Day 2: Kathmandu D Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Patan. Day 3: Kathmandu B/L/D Following breakfast, explore Nepal’s capital city. Begin with Boudhanath, the largest and holiest Buddhist stupa 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. 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. Day 4: Kathmandu to Bandipur B/L/D In the morning you will begin your drive to 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. 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. 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, a tour to the stunning Devil’s Falls follows. Next visit Mahendra Cave to appreciate the stalagmites and stalactites before making a stop at the Tibetan refugee camp. Finally, 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, depart for Chitwan National Park, one of the largest havens for the endangered Bengal tiger and home to the rare one-horned Indian rhinoceros. Stop en route at Manakamana to take a cable car ride to the summit of a spectacular viewpoint. Following lunch, continue into the sub-tropical lowlands of the national park where, in the evening you will experience a 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. Next, visit the elephant breeding centre where you will have the chance to watch mother and baby elephants interact. After lunch, proceed further into the jungle for a guided Jeep safari. Day 9: Chitwan to Kathmandu B/L/D After breakfast, travel back to Kathmandu, stopping for lunch along the way and arriving back in the city in the late afternoon. Enjoy your final dinner with the rest of your group. Day 10: Kathmandu to the UK B Transfer for your return flight, or continue on to your chosen extension. What you’ll see  Uncover the Buddhist stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath  Visit the hilltop village of Bandipur and explore its bazaar  Explore the ancient temples and opulent palaces of Durbar Square  Enjoy the lakeside city of Pokhara  Embark on a wildlife safari through Chitwan National Park  Witness breathtaking views of the Himalayas Nestled between India and Tibet, Nepal is a melting pot of diverse ethnic groups, stunning mountainous landscapes and dense ancient cities. This wonderful tour takes you to evocative Kathmandu then up into the hilltop settlement of Bandipur and lakeside city of Pokhara, before finishing in Chitwan National Park. Colours of Nepal Kathmandu THIS TOUR EXPLORE Includes all meals Departures & from prices Jun 24 £2,099 May 25 £1,999 Sep 24 £2,099 Jun 25 £2,199 Oct 24 £2,399 Sep 25 £2,399 Nov 24 £2,499 Oct 25 £2,599 Jan 25 £2,199 Nov 25 £2,399 Feb 25 £2,099 • Lead-in price based on 19 May 25 • Tipping paid locally £30 pp per tour No Single Supplement Rooms with no single supplement are available. Once sold, supplement starts from £389 Extend your tour A Taste of India, 3 nights, 4 H Full Board from £499 India’s Golden Triangle, 6 nights Full Board from £769 Mystical Bhutan, 4 nights from £1,499 Includes: Private vehicle & driver/guide or driver and local guides; return flights; accommodation, meals & excursions as per Group Tour PRIVATE TOURING FROM ONLY AN EXTRA £399 PP • AVAILABLE DAILY • 24  Central Asia, India & Sri Lanka Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk