Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu

After everyone arrives and settles into our chosen hotel in Kathmandu, we'll head out to a local Nepalese restaurant to mingle, listen to traditional Nepalese music and sample local Nepalese cuisine.

And if you have forgotten any supplies for the trip, now is the ideal time to buy these last minute things.

It's also a chance to see the shops and streets of Kathmandu first hand.

I loved having tour guides who knew where we were going!

Comment: Imagine listening to Nepalese music, making new friends and drinking from a glass which had the letterings 'Everest' on it.

Let me tell you the story later of where that took me!

Transport  

Bus: Bus To Hotel.  

Walking: Easy and Light Going With Truly Inspiring Company.  

Day 2: Embrace The Feast Of Vista Views From Nagarkot 

We'll drive from Kathmandu to Nagarkot, a distance of approximately 32 km and stay the evening at Nagarkot Fort Resort. 

The vistas from the Fort Resort are truly sensational. It is a great place to do a Facebook Live or record an inspirational message for friends.

It truly is a beautiful place to recharge with a beautiful backdrop, engage in entertaining conversation or simply watch the stars. 

Comment: You will be mesmerised by the beauty of the place in the magic of the moment. Bright sunsets meet the majestic peaks of the Himalayan Ranges.

Remind me to look out one of the Facebook Lives which I did from there.

Transport  

Bus: 2-3 Hours.  

Walking: Easy, Inspiring and Light With Enquiring Conversation With Inquiring Minds AND Perhaps Some Fiddle Music.  

Day 3: Foothills Walk To Dhulikel

We'll be trekking through forests and rice terraces on our walk to Dhulikel and complete the trip to Dhulikel by car.

The accommodation for the evening will be the Gaia holiday home. Sunrise and sunset vistas are spectacular from this 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. 

One of my favourite early morning backdrop scenes was from the Gaia holiday home.  

And you will be amazed by the neatness and geometry of the rice terraces.  

Comment: The rice terraces are very neatly set out and really make for great photo opportunities. 

The landscape on the walk is pretty spectacular, a bit like out of a story book or novel

Transport

Car: 2 Hours 

Walking: 4 Hours. Medium With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music. 

Day 4: Village School Visit

A percentage of the trip fee supports Sacred Journeys Nepal Philanthropic Fund to build schools which were damaged by the earthquake. 

The day will be spent visiting one of the recently built schools, Kalika School. 

The students and teachers at the school are a treat to speak with and the vista from where the school is situated is quite a remarkable and breathtaking one.  

Comment: The visit to the school is a very memorable one, visiting the classrooms, hearing the pupils singing and seeing how happy everyone is with the school.

Transport 

Car: 2-3 Hours 

Walking: 15 Minutes. Light With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 5: Pilgrims Walk To Namobuddha 

In the morning, we continue with a 4-5 hours walk along the Pilgrim's Way to the Namobuddha Eco Resort. 

The Resort is run by Germans and is a great place to recharge and reflect. Vistas along the way are breathtaking and make sure you have your phone and camera fully charged. 

Namobuddha is a sacred Buddhist site with an active monastery and is one of the most popular destinations for Buddhist pilgrims.  

Comment: The views from the monastery are quite breathtaking and experience of the beauty of the visit to the monastery can elevate appreciation of architecture, sculpture and art to a new level.

Transport

Car: No  

Walking: 2-3 Hours. Medium to Strenuous With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 6: Trek to Balthali

The trek to the hilltop village of Balthali is 4-5 hours. Views of the Himalayas along the way are breathtaking and make sure you take loads of pictures! 

Our stay at Balthali Village Resort offers vistas second to none, apart from what you have seen on the treks so far! Imagine having breakfast, watching the sunrise and sunset on a hilltop! 

It certainly puts things in perspective! There is a certain calm to the Nepali countryside. I am definitely in agreement with this.  

Comment: This part of the trekking is a great place to reflect on the beauty of the countryside. Have your camera and phones fully charged!

Transport

Car: No 

Walking: 4-5 Hours. Medium to Strenuous With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 7: Village Day In Balthali 

Today is a day on which we visit a local school, relax and explore the local village! 

There is also a chance to hear the school children sing. Perhaps you might start to recognise some of the local favourite songs which have been heard on the trip so far!

I discovered that $6,000 AUD provides meals to circa two hundred school students, some of whom walk two hours to and from school.

Comment: The visit to the school and the village can transport you to memories of different parts of the world. You could be in Switzerland with the mountain backdrop or perhaps Scotland in a field which has a small river running through it.

Transport

Bus: None 

Walking: 1-2 Hours. Light To Medium With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music. 

Day 8: Pokhara Waterfront

Today we drive back to Kathmandu to catch a flight to the lakeside town of Pokhara in the Anapurna Region of Nepal. 

The layout of the lake and its surrounding scenery remind me of Loch Earn in the Highlands of Scotland. Our accommodation for the duration of the stay in Pokhara is the majestic Waterfront Hotel. 

Imagine having breakfast whilst watching the sun rise over the lake or seeing parachutists casually land on the ground in front of the hotel next to the lake or noting how happily the cattle graze in the area next to the hotel.  

Comment: There is a certain juxtaposition to the vistas around the Waterfront Hotel. From seeing paragliders land in front of the hotel to horses and cattle happily grazing in the paddock next door.

Transport

Bus: 2-3 Hours  

Walking: 1-2 Hours. Light To Medium Evening Stroll With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music. 

Day 9: Explore Pokhara

Today is a chance to visit and experience Pokhara in its true magic, enjoying the local restaurants and lakeside cafes. .  

It was really interesting to discover that the International Mountain Museum is located in Pokhara and it is a great place to buy your Christmas presents! .  

Imagine finding out about Edmund Hilary's ascent of Mt. Everest or deciding to have a walk along the Lakeside Waterfront. The French might call the lakeside walk to 'Faire Une Promendade'

Comment: There is a beauty to Pokhara which is in the Anapurna Region of the Himalayas. On one of the mornings at the Waterfront Hotel, there might be the chance to have outdoor breakfast with a vista of the lake.

Transport

Bus: No  

Walking: 3-4 Hours. Light To Medium To Strenuous Depending On Chosen Terrain With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 10: Himalayan Sunrise

Drive up to Sarangkot lookout to catch the magic of the morning sunrise as the sun rises over the Himalayas! 

Return to the Waterfront Hotel for early morning breakfast. In the afternoon, we'll take a canoe Lake Pokhara to climb the hill to the Peace Pagoda.  

The view from this forested hill is absolutely amazing as we look across to the lake and the mountains. 

Late afternoon brings us back across the lake to the hotel and the evening is left free to sample the restaurants in town.  

Comment: The sunrise is both mesmerising and beautiful and you will be in awe of the view from the Peace Pagoda.  

Transport 

Canoe: 30 minutes  

Walking: 1-2 Hours. Medium To Strenuous With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 11: Drive To Kathmandu 

The return trip to Kathmandu is 7+ hours and follows the river back to Kathmandu. 

An alternative is also to fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. On return to Kathmandu, we will stay in the Bhaktapur Heritage Hotel. 

There is a a free evening to dine at the hotel or explore Bhaktapur.  

Comment: The return flight from Pkhara to Kathmandu created room for an event to fly over Mt. Everest. It's a spectacular experience. 

Transport

Bus: 7+ Hours With Stops  

Walking: 1-2 Hours. Light To Medium With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.  

Day 12: Farewell to Everyone

The world heritage town of Bhaktapur is walking distance from the hotel. Explore the cobbled streets, marvel at the temples and mandala painting school. 

An alternative is also to fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. On return to Kathmandu, we will stay in the Bhaktapur Heritage Hotel. 

In the afternoon, we visit a local school and round off the day and trip with a farewell evening meal.

Comment: You will marvel at the history in Bhaktapur and the rebuilding which is taking place after the earthquake.

Transport

Bus: None 

Walking: 1-2 Hours. Light To Medium With Inquiring And Inspiring Conversation and Fiddle Music.