YOU
ARE INVITED to join a small group of women
who want to experience Nepal as a journey not just a tour.
Travel to Nepal where customs and languages are
as diverse as her terrain and day-to-day life follows
a religious calendar with many colorful festivals; and
art, architecture, literature, dance and drama incorporate
these beliefs combining various strands of both Hinduism
and Buddhism. Nepal, where the Buddha was born
in 624 BC.
Discover
Adventure Nepal, the only Hindu Kingdom in the world,
a small country, where the Royal Bengal Tiger
and the Great Indian Rhinoceros roam in the lowland
jungles and where you see the massive treeless rock walls
and snow capped peaks of the highest mountains in the
world.
Feel
the Adventure on elephant safari and white water rafting.
Experience Nepal where small villages, each with there
own mythology, dot the hills checkered with fertile terraces
and ancient cities and strange legends of deities mixing
with mortals abound.
Be
presented with some opportunities few Western tourists
have experienced, including invitations to peoples homes;
programs to assist women and children; dialogue with University
professors; and special pujas and meetings with lamas
as we explore this diverse land.
ITINERARY
Day
01: Depart from the USA
Day
02: Arrive in Kathmandu where you will be met
and transferred to our hotel in Thamel, the area
of the ancient city of Kathmandu known as the melting
pot for cross cultural experience. This evening we will
have dinner together followed by a brief orientation.
Dinner included.
Day
03: After breakfast, we are met by our English speaking
guide and drive to Bhaktapur the Kingdom of Malla
kings known as the City of Devotees with stunning
medieval art and architecture. We will visit the palace,
picture gallery, and temples. You will enjoy time on your
own to explore the cobbled alleyways to watch potters
at work; discover spectacular woodcarvings; buy spices;
and interact with the gentle folks living here.
We
stop for lunch enroute to Patan City, kingdom of
the Malla kings, founded in 250AD known as Lalitpur
renowned for its fine crafts in metal. Visits here include
the Patan museum originally the palace of King Pratap
Malla, the Royal Baths, City Square and temples.
Before
returning to Thamel, we will offer puja for peace
at the Krishna temple. The evening is free for independent
exploration.
Breakfast
included.
Day
04: This morning we fly by small plane, with amazing
views of snowcapped peaks, to Pokhara. This delightfully
scenic valley is surrounded by the Annapurna massif with
Machhapuchhre the peak that dominates, seemingly
levitating in the skyline. This fishtailed pinnacle is
the archetypal snowcapped, needle pointed mountain and
is considered an abode of Shiva and therefore sacred
and off limits to climbers.
We
will be met and transferred to our hotel. After we explore
caves, visit the bazaar and temples and go boating on
Phewa Lake stopping at the Barahi temple,
the most important monument in Pokhara. Built almost in
the center of Phewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda
is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima,
the protectress deity representing the female force Shakti.
This
evening we will participate in a discussion with a lama
at the monastery. Dinner will be Lakeside.
Breakfast included.
Day
05: After breakfast we drive to the put in and begin
our three-day rafting expedition on the Kali
Gandaki, a holy river named after the goddess Kali.
There is abundant wildlife including red pandas, otters
and leopards. The scenery is breathtaking and varied with
snowcapped peaks and lush jungle like vegetation. The
Kali is an exciting pool drop river with some rapids
being class 4.
We
will be in oar rafts with guides and equipment that meets
or exceeds international safety standards. When we stop
for the day, staff will set up th
e
camp and a trained cook will prepare our meal as we relax,
hike and/or enjoy the children who come down to the camp
to visit.
Breakfast and dinner.
Day
06: Raft and overnight camp.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day
07: End rafting and return to Pokhara. We spend
two nights and two days at the ultra deluxe Fullbari Hotel
and Spa.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day
08: The Fullbari Resort's on-site leisure facilities include
a fully equipped fitness center and spa with exercise
rooms, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, aerobics and yoga,
regular and herbal oil massage and more. Their outdoor
heated infinity swimming pool with a large Jacuzzi seems
to extend forever.
This
is definitely the perfect place for your own day--- a
day that is just for you! You might want to arrange a
trek; spend time in town or on the lake; or arrange a
special massage and relax by the infinity pool.
Breakfast included.
Day
09: After an early breakfast, we drive to Royal
Chitwan Park to experience wildlife on an intimate
basis.
Perched
on elephants, we go on safari through the towering
grasslands in search of wildlife. Royal Bengal tiger,
leopard, Greater One-Horned rhinoceros, gaur, four kinds
of deer, two species of monkey, two types of crocodile
and 450 different birds all live in the park.There
are nature walks, bird watching expeditions, jungle treks,
and viewing from constructed machans (blinds), and land
rover drives.
Royal
Chitwan Park lies in a jungle area of the Gangetic
Plain. Before the 1950's, Nepalese kings depended on the
jungles as sort of Great Walls, southern version. Instead
of vertical stone keeping out the Mongols, malaria kept
out the British.
The
cultural history of Nepal's Terai region begins
with the nomadic Tharu people. This malaria resistant
group has made Chitwan their home for over 800 years.
After a successful battle to eradicate the Terai of its
mosquito population in the 1950's, immigrants began to
take up residence to farm the fertile lowlands. The Bahuns,
Chepangs, Chetris and Tamangs moved in from other areas
of the country. The current generation of these people
making their life from mustard and rice crops.
The
dominant tree of the region is the sal (Shorea robustia),
a tropical hardwood that has some value as lumber. Teak
also grows in the area, but the next most common big tree
is the saj. The ecosystem associated with the sal forest
is extremely rich. Many vines and creepers spring up from
the forest floor. The trees branches and upper reaches
are host to many different epiphytes, including several
orchids.
Ban
Devi is the goddess of the jungle and protector. The
Ban Jhakri (shaman) in the area are known to ask her for
protection from wild animals when entering the forest
to collect herbal remedies. We will call upon her for
protection as well.
We
will surely depart with an appreciation for the parks'
sheer sub-tropical richness and memories of the sounds
of the forest birds and insects, the powerful girth of
the hardwood trees, the rampant vines and the welcoming
Tharu people.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day
10: We have a full day to experience and appreciate.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day
11: Most of us will get up very early this morning
for one more Elephant Safari. Later this morning
we fly to Kathmandu. Upon arrival we are met and
transferred to our Hotel. This afternoon is free for independent
activities.
We
are invited to participate in a group discussion on Nepal
facilitated by Mrs. Bindu Pokhrel a sociologist
and Head of the Woman's Studies Department of
Tribhuvan University. After we will have dinner together
at Rum Doodle.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day
12: Today is a day for independent activities. Late
this afternoon we will meet at our hotel and be taken
to our assigned Nepali family for a homestay
as their special guest. These gracious families are involved
in crafts, social work and/or active spiritual practices.
We will match your family to your special interests.
Breakfast included.
Day
13: This morning we meet and then visit Boudhanath,
a major Buddhist pilgrimage site to visit the stupa and
some monasteries. Here we find a major Tibetan
community with shops displaying many antique Tibetan artifacts,
singing bowls, prayer flags and more. We will have lunch
at the Himalayan Buddhist Center.
After
lunch we walk along a dirt path through fields and small
communities to Pashupatinath --- Nepal's most Sacred
Hindu shrine. It is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus.
Here you will find Burning Ghats very much in use, Sadhus
and many pilgrims and monkeys.
Later we visit Maiti Nepal, a program that takes
in orphans and rescues young girls who have been sold
into prostitution. We will meet the staff, the children
and some of the young girls who are recovering through
kind and knowledgeable care.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day
14: On our last full day we visit Tewa, an
affiliate of the Global Trust for Women;
Dhaka Weaves at Thankot run by a woman activist;
and spend time at the Vedic ashram at Lalitpur.
A special ethnic Tibetan vegetarian lunch will be prepared
for us.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day
15: A full day on your own to explore, shop and pack.
This evening we share a farewell dinner.
Breakfast
and dinner included.
Day
16: Transfer to the airport for your international
flight home. Arrive USA same day.
ABOUT
YOUR LEADER: Ellen Lyon, holds a Masters degree
in social work. She has had a life long interest in cultures
and spiritual systems. Much of her work has been devoted
to creating and presenting training programs to professionals
on multicultural issues. Ellen has traveled extensively
from budget through ultra deluxe. She has been to six
continents. This is her seventh journey to Nepal.
She
has led highly successful groups to both India and Nepal.
Her familiarity with and contacts in these countries enables
her to offer itineraries that provide out of the ordinary
experiences and real contact with the people, the spirit
and the culture. With Ellen, you will truly experience
a journey not just a tour.
LAND
COST: USD$ 2796.00 per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement: USD$457.75
INTERNATIONAL
AIR: We will be happy to work with you to find the
best possible airfare.
TOUR
INCLUDES: Fully escorted tour; services of English
speaking guides; all transportation inclusive of flights
within Nepal; transfers; admissions to sites; hotel accommodation,
breakfast daily; and other meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
NOT
INCLUDED: International airfare; departure taxes;
visa fees; meals not listed above; gratuities to guide
and driver; and items of a personal nature.
CANCELLATIONS
AND REFUNDS: All cancellations are subject to a $200.00
per person cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled 30
to 60 days prior to departure date are subject to a cancellation
fee in the amount of 50% of the trip cost. Reservations
cancelled less than 30 days from the day of departure
are nonrefundable. We recommend travel insurance, which
covers trip cancellation protection and will send you
information within seven days of receipt of your deposit.
TO
REGISTER: Please send a $400.00 per person deposit
to:
Imagine
Journeys, Inc.
800-E Fairview Rd., Suite 132
Asheville, NC USA 28803.
A
payment of $1000.00 is due by December 01, 2001. The balance
is due January 25, 2001.
If
you have questions or would like to expedite your registration
you may contact Ellen Lyon directly by E-mail or phone.
E-mail:go@journeystravelcenter.com
Phone:
828 299 3648 or Toll Free:888 760 4338
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