An adventurous itinerary
Himalayan mountains, subtropical jungles, ancient cities, untouched villages, age-old cultures, spirituality and you.
A Close Look at our Journey
Day 1 & 2: Kathmandu, Nepal
Our adventure begins in Kathmandu, Nepal’s intoxicating and amazing capital, home to many famed Hindu and Buddhist temples. We settle into this bustling city, adjust to our surroundings and get to know our fellow travllers. We'll also explore some of the amazing sights of Kathmandu including the famed Hindu temple of Pashupathinath.
Day 3: Bandipur, Nepal
We depart Kathmandu and head west towards central Nepal. Our overland journey brings us to a little and quite unexplored town called Bandipur. Distinctly known for its preservation of Newari culture by its people, the town boasts 18th century architecture and medieval ambience. We spend the night here to enjoy stunning sunset and sunrise views of the Himalayas.
Day 4, 5 & 6: Pokhara, Nepal
Late morning we make our way further west to the lake side town of Pokhara - gateway to the world famous Annapurna trek. With endless views of the rooftop of the world, the Himalayas, this lake side town will be where we begin our study - exploring the fine art of meditation. Where better than the Himalayas to learn about meditation. We will also enjoy daily hikes and explore the neighboring villages and towns.
Day 7 & 8: Chitwan National Park, Nepal
We leave our lake side town of Pokhara and head south to one of Asia's premier wildlife viewing parks, Chitwan. Our cottages are deep within the park itself, a rare and but much welcomed opportunity to be so close to the animals. We'll spend 2-nights here with much time to go jungle trekking either on foot or on an elephant's back. The chances are high to spot one-horned rhinos, deer, monkeys and around 450 species of birds. And for those fortunate ones perhaps even leopards, sloth bears, wild elephants and if you are really lucky, the royal Bengal tiger.
Day 9: Dhulikhel, Nepal
We head east from Chitwan and make a long overland journey to the small town of Dhulikhel located on the eastern side of Kathmandu. Here we rest from our week of exploration in Nepal, further our study and enjoy more breathtaking views of the Himalayas. A stunning panorama of peaks which include Langtung Lirung (7246m), Gauri Shankar (7145m), Dorje Lakpa (6966m) and more.
Day 10: New Delhi, India
After a night of rest in Dhulikhel we make our way to the airport, bid farewell to Nepal and begin our journey to India. Our flights takes us to New Delhi, the nations capital. We stop here for a night, a transit before we head back to the Himalayas on the India side of the border.
Day 11: Bagdogra & Darjeeling, India
Our morning flight takes us across this subcontinent and brings us to Bagdogra, the starting point of our journey up to Darjeeling, located in the Himalayan foothills. We board our jeeps and wind our way up the slopes passing countless tea plantations. We arrive in Darjeeling and check into our beautiful hotel, our home for the next four nights.
Day 12, 13 & 14: Darjeeling, India
Our days in Darjeeling will see us pursue the final leg of our study. We'll also spend time exploring the amazing surroundings. An early morning visit to Tiger Hill to watch the sun rise over the Himalayas is a must. An ineffable experience as the sun rises behind 250kms of Himalayan range. Two of the world's tallest peaks are visible from here on a clear day - the mighty Everest (8850m) and Kanchenjunga (8598m).
Famous world wide for its tea Darjeeling hosts superb tea plantations and among some of the finest teas you'll ever drink. We'll explore some of these plantations and sip tea while we gazing at Kanchenjunga as it towers over this town. Darjeeling, like many other places in India, has played host to the hundreds of thousands of Tibetans that have escaped China ruling Tibet. Here we'll visit the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and meet some amazing Tibetans who have made India their new home. The Centre hosts an orphanage, home for the aged, clinic, school, gompa and craft workshop that produce carpets, woodcarvings, leatherwork and woolen items.
Darjeeling is also home to many fascinating Buddhist monasteries which we will visit.
Day 15 & 16: Kolkata (Calcutta), India
On Day 15 we make our way down the Himalayan foothills and return to Bagdogra where we board our flight to Kolkata. With a population of over 15 million people, India's second-largest city, is a kaleidoscope of human existance. Colourful, busting at its seems with activity Kolkata boasts rich Indian history and culture. We wrap up our Himalayan adventure here, taking back with us countless experiences and lessons to weave into our daily lives.
Date begins: 17th October 2010
Date ends: 1st November 2010
Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Places we will visit
Kathmandu, Nepal
Bandipur, Nepal
Pokhara, Nepal
Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Dhulikhel, Nepal
New Delhi, India
Darjeeling, India
Kolkata (Calcutta), India
