How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Best tour leader ever.
Just voted for su leader of yr"

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Good waterproofs!
Good boots for terrain on trek
Accommodation and food basic but embrace the way of life of the country"

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Kiran Bhatt our Tour Leader was outstanding & the best & most knowledgable we have met on all our tours. Nothing was too much trouble & he really went out of his way to include all & ensure everyone had an enjoyable time. 

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Prepare to be blown away by a cultural experience that is only surpassed by the amazing scenery.   This tour gives you a little bit of everything in two wonderful weeks.

Do you have anything else to add?

This tour is a good all round introduction to the Himalayan region and is suitable for teenagers right up to oldies, as it offers something for all ages.

 

I absolutely loved my time in Nepal. I had wanted to go for a while after consistently hearing great feedback from friends who had been. I am not a keen trekker but do enjoy walking so this trip was ideal for me as it involved a 4 day mini trek but also took in the main cultural and nature sights too so was a really well balanced tour. My highlights? It is hard to name just a few but if pressed I would say the white water rafting, the stunning views of the mountains (the Annapurnas whilst on trek and the Himalayas on an optional scenic flight), searching for wildlife in Chitwan NP on an elephant safari and discovering more about the fascinating culture. I would recommend it to anyone!

This trip was the holiday of a lifetime as I was not sure what to expect, but all aspects of the trip were so enjoyable. The trekking was awesome, which allows for amazing views of the countryside and for meeting local people, which makes visiting another culture more meaningful. I was sceptical about the 3 days camping, which is built into this trip being so used to home comforts but I needn’t have worried.  The small army of Sherpas, porters and kitchen staff who catered to our every whim made this one of the many highlights of the trip for me. On arrival to camp each evening we were always greeted by smiling faces with a hot beverage and snacks (you cannot beat a good cuppa) followed by a delicious selection of local foods for the evening meal. Next was a visit to Chitwan National Park, where Elephant Safaris are available and seeing 2 Sloth Bears in the early morning mist in their natural habit will stay in my memory forever.  I had a brilliant time in Nepal and found the country fascinating and would thoroughly recommend this tour if you like adventure and being active whilst on holiday. (RT - 6th November 2010)

The whole trip was one big highlight: The best group EVER The best trip EVER The best tour leader EVER - Sudarshan was such a wonderful leader, he had such a passion for life, travel & adventure which rubbed off on the whole group. We did not stop laughing and smiling for the 2 weeks we were in Nepal. The biggest highlight for me was attending a local wedding at a nearby village in Kurintar, our group were invited to join in the celebrations followed by a tour around the village houses and farmlands - you just cant put a price on these added extras!! if you havent been to Nepal yet you MUST go! (RT - 6th November 2010)

On what other holiday could you find the incredible diverse cocktail of experiences and adventures embedded in the Annapurna Panorama tour? We started with riverside cremations, spinning Tibetan prayer wheels, a living goddess, a royal palace and the smells, dust & excitement of chaotic Kathmandu. Then after the thrills of white water rafting we tested our calf muscles by climbing the hundreds of steps to the top of Gorkha ridge followed by a visit to a traditional village cut off from civilisation until a suspension bridge was built 18 months ago. The look of amazement on the children’s faces when they saw their digital photos or viewed the world through binoculars will stay with us forever.  After this, we travelled through the clouds by cable card to the most amazing sight, Manakamana Temple, where we saw huge numbers of goats, sheep, cockerels and coconuts (for the vegetarian Hindus) lined up with their loving owners ready to be sacrificed. The 4 day trek in the Annapurna foothills took us up to the Himalayan viewpoint where, with a brilliant blue sky, we could see for 250 miles. The real highlight was the Disney-like lightshow on the Annapurna and Fishtail mountains at dusk and dawn – for once nature beat technology hands down. Follow all this by a relaxing afternoon rowing on Pokhara’s lake photographing stunning birds then the excitement of rhino tracking on elephant back in the jungle, and speeding down the river in a dug-out canoe. Finally end with a flight over Everest on a crystal clear day. Add to this somewhat exhausting schedule the best tour leader in the world and we would recommend this holiday to everyone. (RT - 23rd October 2010)