Nameste! This has been on our bucket list for years and we finally got the time to go. Well what can we say from the moment we got off the plane to the moment we left this was an experience of a lifetime. Not only was the scenery spectacular, the people welcoming, the food glorious, the sense of peace and tranquility inside a teaming city of cars, motorbikes, monkeys and buffalo (in the road) has to be seen to be believed.
We were fortunate enough to have in our package a tour of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Pokhara and Chitwan. Each destination had so much to offer it would be impossible to give an account that in anyway would do them justice. Each area was different from the hubbub of Kathmandu and Pokhara, the majesty of the animals and scenery of the Chitwan National Park to the almost transcendental experience of the sunrise onto the Himalayas at Nagarkot which was breathtaking. Throughout the trip we were extremely lucky to have the services of what we feel was a truly magnificent guide, Phadinra. He was knowledgeable about the customs and traditions of his Country helpful to the extreme with any questions we had and went the extra mile to make this a truly memorable and breathtaking holiday. He even went out of his way to take us to the Ghurkha museum as we had grown up in a garrison town which housed these remarkable troops. We cannot express how much gratitude we have for both him and Rajan for making this a trip of a lifetime for us. Also throughout the holiday we had the services of private drivers who took us gladly from destination to destination, waiting patiently whilst we visited each experience. Things to remember if you take this trip -
1 There is no downhill everything is up no matter what they tell you to keep you walking :).
2 When they say it is not spicy take this with a pinch of salt and preferably with a glass of water:)
3 Take good walking boots, small backpack and water bottles
4 Remember dark clothes if visiting Nature Reserves
5 Take a good camera (our one regret we thought the phone camera would suffice)
6 The hotels have hairdryers and all essentials to save the trouble of packing
7 last but by no means least - try the Mo Mo's.
Our most endearing memories from this trip are the people we have met along the way, from the teenagers shyly asking for a photo opportunity with us, the humbling Tibetan's in the refugee camp, the hotel staff's levels of service and the many shop keepers with whom we enjoyed a friendly haggle to fill our suitcase with memorabilia. We can not wait to return and am sure you would feel the same - there is so much to see and experience that one trip would never suffice. We wish the Team at GAT every success for the future.