Post on 16-Jul-2020
DISCOVER NEPAL
Do You
Know What
to Pack?
The All In One Guide
did someone say
"Adventure"?
YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM DAY 1 TO DAY 14
HINTS TIPS INFO AND JUICY DETAILS
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO YOUR
PROJECTS
TREKKING EDITION
Y@H
D I S C O V E R N E P A L T H E U L T I M A T E T R A V E L G U I D E
hey there!Firstly, on behalf of everybody at Bamboo, I would like to offer you our thanks for choosing to
experience this incredible part of the world with us. We guarantee you an amazing time and we’re all
very much looking forward to meeting you in Kathmandu soon.
I imagine that right now you’re very excited about your upcoming adventure and this little guide has
been put together to help you understand more about what will be happening, what to expect, how to
plan and more. We guarantee your time with us will be unforgettable from start to end.
Bamboo is growing as our style of 'travel' has proven to be the 'way' to travel. You are now a part of
this journey and we welcome you with open arms and hearts. This growing experience is down to
people like you, so do get stuck in, become part of our way of life, live every moment and take nothing
for granted.
Peace, Love & Bamboo
Mark (& the other pandas, Steve & Colin)
bamboo behind the scenes follow me on instagram @markbamboo
highlights of your tour
Guided city tour through nearby
Patan's best landmarks. Prepare to be
dazzled and amazed.
KATHMANDU
Check out the breathtaking views on
the road during your trekking
adventure.
AMAZING VIEWS
Meet the kids of Shining Stars and
share a daal bhat dinner with the
people that part of your fee supports.
DONATIONS
Get off the beaten track and
experience real, authentic Nepalese
communities.
CULTURE
Embark through the crisp lakeside
town of Pokhara.
DISCOVERY
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. As
today is the arrival day, our team will be busy
working between the guesthouse and the airport.
Once you've been picked up and you're checked
into the guesthouse, the remainder of the day is
free for you to do as you please; catch up on your
sleep, check in on Facebook or get out and explore
the local area.
In the evening there will be a very informal get-
together for those who have already arrived.
This is a great way to break the ice, over a cold beer
and chat about just how insanely excited you are to
be in Nepal!
Meals Included: You're on your own for this one!
DAY 1 (THURSDAY) KATHMANDU
After breakfast, we'll have a group orientation. This
will be a chance for our team to run through the
itinerary with you and answer any of your burning
questions. We'll take you through the day to day
stuff, explain more about the group split on day 4,
give you a few hints and tips on culture, customs
and traditions and make sure that you're set up to
get the most from your time with us.
There will also be a quick briefing for trekking and
volunteering. One of the key points of this briefing
is to make sure you have everything you need -
this is why it’s very important to make sure you also
read over the ‘packing suggestions’ later in this
guide.
Whilst volunteering you may still be walking
through tough terrain in the village and it can still
get quite cold. It’ll be an immensely enjoyable
experience, we just want to make sure you’re ready
for it. If you're missing anything that's deemed
important, there'll be time to find it and buy it
locally.
Today we'll head out for a tour of the city of
artisans, Patan.
Once a fiercely independent city-state, Patan
(pah-tan) is now almost a suburb of Kathmandu,
separated only by the murky Bagmati River.
Many locals still call the city by its original Sanskrit
name of Lalitpur (City of Beauty) or by its Newari
name, Yala. Almost everyone who comes to
Kathmandu also visits Patan’s spectacular Durbar
Square – even after the 2015 earthquake, this
remains the finest collection of temples and palaces
in the whole of Nepal.
You meander through the bustling bazaar of this
charismatic town. Tucked away among the havelis
in the narrow pols you stumble upon rope or bidi
(traditional cigarette) makers, working on their
doorsteps. You go on a treasure hunt in search of
the unique patola and mashru weavers, the snow-
white Jain temples, the Hemachandracharya Jain
Gnan library of ancient Hindu and Jain texts
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner.
DAY 2 (FRIDAY) KATHMANDU
This morning we will drive to Pokhara which will take
around 7 hours. Be sure to bring a book, or simply
sit back and take in the beautiful vista as you head
on to your next location.
On arrival, if time allows and if weather permits, we
may have the chance to take a boat across the
stunning lake here and hike up the hill to visit the
Peace Pagoda; one of the highlights of Pokhara.
In the evening we'll get together to run through the
group split tomorrow. The adventurous trekkers will
meet up with their guides for a briefing whilst our
lovely volunteers will hear from a representative of
our NGO partner.
We'll have you fully prepared and ready for what
comes next! It’s about to get seriously
adventurous.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
DAY 3 (SATURDAY) POKHARA
Limber up, stretch the legs, and brace for the next
week of trekking through the foothills of the
Himalayas.
Our first morning we’ll drive to Khande to the
Annapurna mountain range. Here, we’ll climb
through jungle and to the breathtaking cliffside
vistas. The trek is steep...and then gentle...and then
steep again. So don’t try doing this in flip-flops.
Wild deer, monkeys, yaks, and thousands of species
of birds frequent the dense, mountainous jungles,
so pack a camera or, at least anti-monkey invasion
spray (which doesn’t exist, but they will try taking
your food).
Our excursion ends with a venture back with the
local villagers of Pokhara, where stories of your tales
crossing stony terrain and encountering the troll or
two (you probably won’t provided you know a
riddle).
By evening, you’ll be swapping stories, laughs, and
readying for your next adventure to Everest.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
DAY 4-10 (SUNDAY- SATURDAY) TREKKING
DAY 11 (SUNDAY) POKHARA
We begin the day with an early start at one of the
most famous view points to gaze in awe at the
breathtaking sunrise over the mountains, The
Annapurna Massif.
The sunrise offers views over the giant Annapurna
ranges, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Dhaulagiri and so on. This is
a photographers dream and without a doubt one of
the highlights of your time in Pokhara.
The rest of the day is yours to explore. The more
touristy town offers shopping and local coffee
shops or perhaps you want to experience a spot of
paragliding. Whatever you choose just let one of
our team know and we’ll be happy to assist.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 12 (MONDAY) POKHARA TO KATHMANDU
After breakfast, it’s time to head back to
Kathmandu via a short flight*. We’ll have you back
in the capital in no time, and it’s the perfect
opportunity to get some last minute souvenirs or
capture some photos.
We will conclude the experience with a final group
dinner, reminisce on our time together, and have
one for the road.
*Flights are subject to the weather, alternative road
transport will be arranged if we are unable to fly.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 14 (WEDNESDAY) DEPART NEPAL
DAY 13 (TUESDAY) KATHMANDU
We’re going on a guided city tour through
Kathmandu's best landmarks. Prepare to be dazzled
and amazed! There will be many opportunities to
take epic photos so make sure your camera is
charged and ready!
Before final goodbyes, we will have one last group
dinner. This is the time to reflect upon the past 2
action packed weeks of adventure!
Meals included: Breakfast.
Two weeks – gone in the blink of an eye. Don’t mind
our sniffling.
The tour may have ended but the stories you’ll
soon tell are only beginning. It can take weeks to
realize what all you accomplished in such a short
time with Bamboo.
Rather than saying goodbye, we prefer to say, “see
you soon.” You’re part of The BamFam now.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
The Trek
The Annapurna region of Nepal is a land so
beautiful, it has long been the ultimate
trekking dream for hikers. Here, the sacred
peaks of Annapurna, Machapuchare and
Dhaulagiri, shining with snow year round,
tower over ancient rhododendron forests, icy
rivers and temperate jungles where tigers still
roam.
This trek will take you to off-the-beaten-
track villages, where you will stay in village
communities, giving you first-hand
experience of the real Nepal. It's for those
with a real sense of adventure, who are
happy to embrace basic living conditions in
order to experience rural, mountain people’s
life in Nepal.
This trek is considered moderate, with
occasional strenuous days and thus a
reasonable level of fitness is required . We'll
be trekking between 4 and 8 hours per day
depending on the speed of the group. The
trek starts at around 1800m above sea level
and reaches 4450m at Mardi Himal Base
Camp on day 6.
The trek is a mixture of steep climbs and
gentle inclines, make sure you bring suitable
footwear and drink enough water
throughout each day.
Accommodation on this trek is basic and on a
shared basis, with basic washing facilities and
limited chances to do laundry unless you
wish to brave the cold communal village tap!
What's includedDISCOVER NEPAL TOUR
1. Airport Arrival Pickup on the
official start date between 6am &
8pm
2. All Accommodation throughout
3. All Activities outlined above
4. A city tour of the Nepali capital
5. Donation to Shining Stars
Childrens Home
6. Our team with you you 24/7
7. Dinner with the kids of SSCH
8. All meals stated above
9. Qualified guides to accompany
you during your trek
FAST FACTS:
VISAMost countries can buy a visa
on arrival
VISA entry is YOUR
responsibility
Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, is
the living cultural museum of
the world.
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
A visa is necessary to enter Nepal and there are two
options for obtaining one.
You can obtain one before leaving home from any
Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your own
country.
Alternatively, you can buy a visa on arrival at the
Tribhuvan International airport, please check the
immigration website for exceptions:
www.nepalimmigration.gov.np
Multiple entry tourist visas can be obtained by
paying 25 USD for 15 days, 40 USD for 30 days or
100 USD for 90 days. *prices are subject to change
T H E I N F O R M A T I O N Y O U N E E D T O K N O W B E F O R E W E B E G I N D I S C O V E R N E P A L
THE NITTY GRITTY
VISA and passport requirements are YOUR responsibility.
ACCOMMODATION
KATHMANDU
Rooms here will be twin shared (2 beds) . All rooms
include air conditioning, a satellite TV, a mini fridge
and a private bathroom.
FUJI HOTEL
POKHARA
Your accommodation will be twin shared (2 beds) . All
rooms are fitted with a private western style
bathroom.
Free WIFI & air-conditioning is available throughout
the hotel.
POKHARA ECO RESORT
POKHARA VILLAGEHOMESTAY
Your accommodation will be traditional and basic. An
outhouse squat toilet is available for volunteers to
use but there is no hot running water. This is all part
of the true Nepali experience.
Dinner will be prepared in a traditional manner by
the host family but volunteers are more than
welcome to help.
FAST
FACTS: MONEY
Basic costs of things:
Local meal (Dal Bhat) 250 rupees
Bottle of beer 290-450 rupees
Bottle of water 25-30 rupees
Memories - Free of charge
The currency in Nepal is known as
the Rupee or NPR
Remember to tell your bank that you
are leaving the country to avoid your
card being suspended
When it comes to advice on how much money
to bring, it’s impossible to say. All our intrepid
explorers are very different. Where some go all
out, others are on a budget. You can find both
high end and budget restaurants, bars and
shops across Nepal. A rough guide for meals
and drinks can be found below:
Typical exchange rates are:
$1 - 105 rupees
£1 - 137 rupees
ATMs, or cash machines, are prevalent
throughout Nepal and will issue the local
currency. If you do plan on bringing your ATM
card with you, we recommend that you inform
your bank. This should prevent your card being
suspended due to irregular withdrawals.
We don’t recommend bringing traveller 's
cheques with you. The reason is that banks
across Nepal have odd hours of operating, and
it may cause unnecessary hassle finding a bank
open when you wish to make a transaction.
Negotiating a purchase, known as bartering,
still happens in the tourist areas of Nepal
however not so much outside of these areas.
If you’re unsure as to whether or not you can
barter for a discount please speak to your
guide.
MONEY
FAST FACTS: TRAVEL
For up to date information about the best travel
vaccinations to have before arriving in Nepal we
urge you to contact your own GP, a travel health
clinic or to check the World Health Organisations
website. Bamboo are not medical professionals and
therefore can’t offer you medical advice.
TRAVELVACCINATIONS
FLIGHTSThanks to the world wide web we all now have
access to great flight deals through websites such
as Skyscanner, Google Flights and more. If you’d
rather use the services of a booking agent, the likes
of STA Travel, Trailfinders and Flight Centre, are all
available online.
Please remember that this tour starts in
Kathmandu and finished in Kathmandu
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Once you have booked and confirmed your flight to
Kathmandu, please make sure that you have shared
your flight arrival time and flight number with our
team. Without those details, we will be unable to
guarantee that one of our team will be at the
airport to meet you on arrival.
Did you know that?
The handshake is not very common in
Nepal. People of Nepal put their
palms together, bow their forehead
and say Namaste.
Did you know that?
On a flight the bathroom door isn’t
really locked when you’re inside.
Lavatory doors can be locked and
unlocked from the outside for a
multitude of reason. It allows flight
attendants quick access to locked
lavatories in case of emergencies. In
other instances, it allows the cabin
crew to restrict access to bathrooms
during takeoff and landing.
ARRIVALS INFO
ARRIVALKathmandu’s International Airport is a very busy
airport and can be a confusing place.
You will be staying at Fuji Hotel. Please keep this
address handy as it will be requested upon your
arrival:
Fuji Hotel, Brahmakumari Marg, P.O Box: 6209,
Jyatha, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Once you’ve passed through Immigration (Passport
Control) you’ll need to collect your luggage from
one of the carousels. Make sure you keep your
airline baggage slips as you will need to show these
in order to exit the baggage hall. Once you have
your bags please make your way to the exit passing
through the ‘nothing to declare’ channel. Once
through you will enter the busy main arrivals area.
Please keep a look out for our team. They should be
easily recognizable with their Bamboo
T-shirts and holding a sign showing the Bamboo
logo. Once you’ve spotted our team, please head
over and introduce yourself. You’ll then receive
further instructions. Please bear in mind that we
may be waiting for others to arrive so your transfer
to the hotel may not be immediate but we’ll get
you there as soon as possible.
In the unlikely event that you can’t find our team,
please don’t panic. As long as you have provided us
with your correct flight details one of our team will
be there. Please check again in the arrivals area. If
you still cannot locate one of our team please call
the following number +977 9849 141067.
If you have supplied us with a mobile phone
number, please make sure your phone is turned on
as we may be trying to contact you.
On arrival to the hotel, we’ll help you to check in
and give you more details of what’s happening
next.
Your hotel transfer will be around 30-
40 minutes from the airport to the
heart of Kathmandu
Keep your eyes peeled for the
smiling face that holding our Bamboo
logo
Pick up is only available between the
hours of 6am - 8pm on the official start
date.
If you are arriving outside of these hours
and are getting a taxi to the hotel please
make a note of the hotels contact
information.
Name: Fuji Hotel
Num: +9771 425 0435
FUN FACTS: TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT
The journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara will take
approximately 7-8 hours. Transportation times can
vary according to the season, traffic and the road
conditions at the time.
We will take a private comfortable A/C minivan or
bus (depending on numbers) and we will have
plenty of toilet breaks, snack stops and chances to
take photos of the incredible scenery along the
way.
If the map of Nepal is turned 90
degrees clockwise, it looks very
similar to the map of Portugal.
Nepal is home to one of the few
places on earth where you can see
both the Bengal tiger and the one-
horned rhinoceros
KATHMANDU TO
POKHARA
POKHARA
TO KATHMANDUAfter a busy time in Pokhara we have decided to
treat you to a short flight back to the capital!
This flight will depart mid morning on day 12 and
will take approximately 30minutes.
FAST FACTS: GUIDES
GUIDESAny tour is only as good as the guide – fact. The
input of a tour guide cannot be understated. Their
input in to your tour, their little insights, the off-
the-beaten-track adventures, the knowledge and
experiences that they share with you will make or
break your time wherever you are in the world.
At Bamboo we take the selection and training of
our guides and coordinators very seriously. Each
guide undertakes a structured training program of
three months and only once we’re convinced that
they are genuine representatives of Bamboo are
they signed up to the family.
Each of our tours have English-speaking guides to
support you, answer your questions, educate you
and to ensure that your time is unforgettable. From
time to time we may have new guides-in-training
on our tours. If you’re lucky to have a trainee on
your tour, please be patient. They are undergoing
training and therefore their knowledge won’t be
that of the trained and experienced guide who will
be accompanying them.
TIPPING
Although not in any way expected or encouraged,
anybody who goes over and above the call of duty
to ensure that you have the very best time may
deserve a special little thank you.
Did you have extra special service in a restaurant?
Did the bus driver make an additional pit-stop just
for you? Did your guide go out of the way so that
you could experience something unique? At
Bamboo, we’re firm believers in Karma – what goes
around most definitely comes around!
Our guides are the face of Bamboo,
and they come in all shapes and
smiles.
We love each and every one of them
more than Elephants love bananas.
Whilst most of them are elite travel
mavericks in their own right, you may
come across newbies who are on the
path the greatness.
If you 're lucky enough to meet a
fresh-faced newbie, be sure to show
them your support and patience,
most guides remember their first
tours forever, so let 's play nice.
TERMS & CONDITIONSPlease read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they form the basis of your contract
with WeAreBamboo. This agreement is made at the time of booking and becomes legally
binding upon payment of your deposit. By booking a program with WeAreBamboo, you
signify you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions
All programs advertised on our website and/or on Facebook are offered and/or operated
by WeAreBamboo Ltd. (trading as Bamboo and referred to as Bamboo or ‘we’ herein
after) with company number 59926953 whose registered office is:.
WE ARE BAMBOO LEVEL 2
61 SEAVIEW ROAD LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND 5010
All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions. Bamboo reserves the
right to update the Terms and Conditions at any time.
Please view our full terms and conditions here:
https://www.wearebamboo.com/about/legal.php
Please note that the information in this pack is subject to change at any time without notice.