Kathmandu Valley Trek

On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.

While nowhere near as challenging as a multi-day trek at an altitude such as Everest Base Camp, you will still need excellent fitness for this trek as you will be trekking 5 to 7 hours a day on Days 1 to 3.

Take note of the time of year you are trekking to know what to expect weather wise. While June-August is monsoon, weather conditions can be unpredictable at any time of the year including rain and fog which can make views cloudy and the ground muddy.

A duffel bag is provided on this trip, along with a porter. Your porter can carry up to 8 kg per traveller. Other luggage can be left in Kathmandu.

1. This trip starts in Kathmandu on day 1 at approx 8.30am and finishes in Kathmandu on day 4 at approx 1.00pm. Please meet at our Kathmandu office the day prior to the tour start at 5.00pm for a pre-departure meeting.
2. This is a join-in trip rather than a scheduled group trip, so if other travellers have booked on the same date you will share included activities.
3. If you have booked on this trip by yourself and without other travel companions, then you will be assigned a single room on this trip on Days 2 & 3. Other nights will be in shared accommodation.
4. This trip was previously called Inside-Out Kathmandu.
5. Please be aware that in the event of an emergency evacuation, Intrepid does not have control over which helicopter service may be used. Some helicopters are not in regular use with Intrepid and have not passed our internal safety auditing.

TREKKING EQUIPMENT
Trekking boots (broken in)
Waterproof 3/4 season jacket and trousers (can be hired/purchased in Kathmandu)
Good quality socks
Thermal underwear/layers
Down jacket (can be hired/purchased in Kathmandu)
Trousers - lightweight, loose fitting, trekking trousers.
Shorts or skirt for summer
Sleeveless fleece and extra layers for winter departures (Dec-Feb)
Warm hat and sun hat
Sunglasses with UV protection
Head torch (spare batteries)
Sunscreen and lip balm
Light weight towel
Sarong
Personal first aid kit
Biodegradable wet wipes/toilet paper
Hand sanitizer gel
Trail mix/nuts/muesli bars
Hot water bottle (winter months)

Daypack - Must have the capacity for the items you may be carrying on a day's walk: rain jacket, trousers, warm clothing, water bottle, camera equipment, washing items and other personal effects. A hip/waist strap provides additional comfort. You should consider day packs of at least a 30 to 40 litre capacity.

OTHER PACKING GUIDES:
For other guides to packing for treks: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/packing-guide-for-trekking-in-nepal/
If you are spending further time in the region, please see some ideas for regular travelling gear to pack.
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

Hotel Marshyangdi Travel Information Desk, Lobby of the Hotel Marshyangdi Chaksibari Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, NEPAL, Phone: +977 14700105

Alternate Joining Point

SHORT BREAK ADVENTURES
There are two pre-paid taxi booths inside the terminal, one on each side as you exit the baggage claim area. They have fixed rates of NPR800 to anywhere in the Thamel area from 6am-8pm and NPR1000 from 8pm-6am. Otherwise you will need to bargain hard from the taxi rank outside of the airport - aim for NPR600. The drive into Thamel takes 30 to 40mins dependent on the traffic.

Please make your way to the Hotel Marshyangdi lobby where you will find the Travel information desk. Please meet there at 17:00 (5:00pm) the day prior to departure so that we can brief you on the trip and acquaint you with your group leader or local representative.
If you arrive after 17:00 on the day prior to departure, please contact us for a briefing on:
+977 980 112 3617

Accommodation at the Hotel Marshyangdi is not included as part of the Short Break Adventure but is available before or after your trip on request.

Hotel Marshyangdi, Chaksibari Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, NEPAL, Phone: +9771 4700105

Alternate Finish Point

A taxi to the airport will cost about NPR 800 from 06.00-20.00 and NRP 1000 from 20.00-06.00. Hotel reception or your group group leader or local representative or local representative can help you organise a taxi.

Normal check out time is 12 noon. If you are departing later in the day or evening, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

Breakfasts included: 

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 

FOOD IN NEPAL:
In Kathmandu and Pokhara there are plenty of restaurants and cafes for all tastes and budgets. For a glimpse at what traditional Nepali cuisine entails, check out our guide here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guide-to-nepali-cuisine/

Nepal caters very well towards vegetarians and vegans with almost all restaurants having a veg section of the menu. Your group leader or local representative will be able to direct you towards restaurants that are known to have better hygiene, especially in tourist areas where they are travelling with our groups regularly.

SEASONAL INFORMATION:
Nepal's climate varies greatly depending on the season:

JUN - SEP: the monsoon rains (mostly at night) bring landslides in regional areas. Cloud cover often obscures mountain views with rain, mud, and leeches deterring most trekkers at this time of year. Treks running in September can be hot and very humid at lower altitudes. See what it's like to trek during monsoon here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/nepal-during-monsoon-season/

MAR-APR: Spring brings warm weather and spectacular rhododendron blooms. A popular time to visit and one of the peak times to trek.

OCT - NOV: Clear skies and warm days make autumn the peak season.

DEC - FEB: Winter brings cold temperatures and snow to the mountains. Good trekking,but remember to rug up. Make sure to bring appropriate winter clothing.

Some towns, including Kathmandu, experience very high levels of seasonal smog which can lead to decreased scenic visibility.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency please contact our office responsible for trips in this region, which is located in Kathmandu:

Intrepid’s Local Operator: +977 980 112 3617

TEAHOUSES:
Accommodation at local lodges - better known as teahouses - are simple but comfortable. Toilets and washing facilities are shared and rudimentary, and the food is plain and filling. In a teahouse, travellers are provided with small twin share rooms with twin beds, mattresses and pillows. At times, in high seasons, and in places where there are limited number of teahouses, travellers may have to make do with dormitories. In some places, teahouses don't have access to electricity, depending on solar powered lighting instead. In more remote regions, teahouses don't have running water and toilets can mean just a hole in the ground. Hot shower facilities are available in some teahouses for a price but occasionally a hot shower means a bucket of hot water, enough to wash your body. Electricity to charge devices as well as WiFi is usually for an additional fee when available.

TRAVEL BETWEEN KATHMANDU & POKHARA:
On itineraries that include road travel between these destinations, past travellers have often decided to fly this route independently to avoid the long overland journey (200km, approx 6+ hours). The flight takes around 35mins. Should you decide to fly, this will be at your own expense with no refunds for road travel available.

ROAD TRAVEL IN NEPAL:
Roadworks and infrastructure projects can cause significant delays on major roads within cities and highways between destinations. Road travel can also be disrupted due to demonstrations and bandhs (strikes) without warning. Major roadworks are currently ongoing in and around Kathmandu and the roads to Chitwan National Park. Delays, heavy traffic, poor road conditions and dust are a reality of road travel in Nepal.

MONSOON:
The monsoon season is from June to September and weather conditions can disrupt travel during this time due to flooding and landslides. Disruption of air travel and airport closures are also possible. Be prepared that the itinerary may need to change at short notice.