BALTHALI TREK - A SHORT TREK AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY
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mhe recommends: BEST TIME TO GO is SPRING (MARCH/APRIL) AND AUTUMN (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER)PLEASE NOTE: As this is an adventure holiday, we require you to have comprehensive travel insurance cover which includes cancellation and rescue evacuation, should this be required.
KATHMANDU VALLEY - WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND STUNNING MOUNTAIN VIEWS
This short trek takes you to the Kathmandu Valley rim and beyond to rural Nepal. You trek through lush green forests, traditional farming villages and terraced fields. You visit a sacred Buddhist shrine and can even stay at a monastery, all with amazing views of the Himalayan Range!
Getting out of the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, your trek starts just a short drive out of town on the very edge of the Kathmandu Valley rim. You hike up onto the rim, gaining classic Himalayan views from Nagarkot, and then you continue to Dhulikhel, Namobuddha and Balthali before turning for home, via Panauti. Though you can stay in the comfort of hotels or small guest houses, you will trek through small villages, terraced fields and a beautiful valley of orange orchards, getting to experience real life in the Nepali countryside. You also have lush forests, sacred temples and impressive views up to the Himalayas. This is an incredible short trek, so accessible, so authentically Nepali and so stunning! PLEASE NOTE: As this is an adventure holiday, we strongly recommend you have comprehensive travel insurance cover which includes cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be required. |
PRICE PER ADULT:
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Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: FLY TO KATHMANDU
On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel. If time permits, short sightseeing and exploring will be arranged for you. Overnight at hotel.
Meals: None
Meals: None
Day 2: DRIVE TO JHULE, TREK TO NAGARKOT
Your trekking guide will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and you will drive out to the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, at Jhule. Here you commence your trek with a good, steady climb up to Nagarkot, well known as a retreat from Kathmandu. From here you have amazing views of the Himalayan Range from the Annapurnas in the west to the Everest region in the east. In addition there is the beautiful rural scenery of terraced fields and traditional farmhouses in the foreground, a sight which is stunning in its own right, even if there was not a huge range of snow peaks in the background!
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3: TREK TO DHULIKHEL
Today it’s worth rising early to catch the sunrise over the Himalayas (weather permitting as always) and enjoy your breakfast with this incredible view. When it’s time to hit the trail, you trek out along the ridgeline to the southeast of Nagarkot, passing through community forest, terraced fields and small villages that rely not only on farming and livestock, but also on the forest for their daily needs. You are accompanied by the great Himalayan views throughout the day and your destination of Dhulikhel is equally famous for incredible views, as well as having an old town centre to explore dating from the days this was an important stop on the trading route to Tibet.
Overnight hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4: TREK TO NAMOBUDDHA
Another beautiful sunrise and breakfast with a view. Life is good. Shoulder your pack and head out onto a lovely forested trail which skirts around the hillsides to the little location of Namobuddha. Here you are far, far away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, the main roads and larger towns. This is a Tamang community, people who came from Tibet over 800 years ago and whose name originally meant ‘horse warrior’! There is a beautiful and very sacred Buddhist Stupa here, which commemorates Siddhartha Gautam’s selfless act of offering his body to a hungry tigress, which is said to have contributed to his ability to achieve enlightenment and, ultimately, Buddha-hood.
A newly built Tibetan monastery provides a contrast to the Tamang Buddhist tradition and you have the chance to learn more as you can stay either in a beautiful eco-resort or in the Monastery guest house.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A newly built Tibetan monastery provides a contrast to the Tamang Buddhist tradition and you have the chance to learn more as you can stay either in a beautiful eco-resort or in the Monastery guest house.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 5: TREK TO BALTHALI
From Namobuddha we trek to the charming village of Balthali, lying to the south. Today is a day of rural Nepal at its best! From the ridgeline on which the stupa and the monastery lie, you make your way down through fields and orange orchards to the quiet village of Balthali, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. There is a charming swinging bridge to cross a river and then a hike up into the village though extensive fields planted either with potatoes, wheat or rice depending on the season. You stay in the Balthali resort, a simple but charming affair from where you again have amazing views to the mountains and can enjoy the charm of village life – even though it’s a steep hike back down into the village after you have dropped your pack in the hotel, it’s worth the effort.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 6: Trek TO PANAUTI, DRIVE TO KATHMANDU
This morning at breakfast you can track your progress on this trek as you can see most of the areas you have trekked so far – a great photo, especially with the mighty Himalayas in the background! Well fuelled for the last day on the trail you set out on a small dirt road which we follow for most of the day. Our trail passes through small villages and terraced fields, all the while with the Himalayas off in the distance. You can rightly wonder that you are so close to Kathmandu, as it really feels a world and a half away!
Your trek finishes in the fascinating village of Panauti, once a large and important centre in the old Newar Kingdom of Banepa. The Newars at the ethnic community famous for the old palace complexes in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and Panauti was build in similar design and it is fascinating to see how the old centre of town has survived today, even without the UNESCO support seen inside the Kathmandu Valley. It is located on a sacred confluence of two rivers, with a third, invisible river said to meet at this point also and it is the site of a huge mela every 12 years.
After lunch and exploring the old town you can take the weight off your feet for a while as you relax in the car back to Kathmandu, taking in the sights along the way.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast , lunch.
Your trek finishes in the fascinating village of Panauti, once a large and important centre in the old Newar Kingdom of Banepa. The Newars at the ethnic community famous for the old palace complexes in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and Panauti was build in similar design and it is fascinating to see how the old centre of town has survived today, even without the UNESCO support seen inside the Kathmandu Valley. It is located on a sacred confluence of two rivers, with a third, invisible river said to meet at this point also and it is the site of a huge mela every 12 years.
After lunch and exploring the old town you can take the weight off your feet for a while as you relax in the car back to Kathmandu, taking in the sights along the way.
Overnight Lodge/Teahouse. Included meals: breakfast , lunch.
Costs Include:
- 6 nights accommodation in hotels, lodges on twin sharing basis.
- 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, and 4 Dinners.
- All government taxes included.
- All transfers on private vehicle
- Fully qualified trekking guide throughout the trek
- Porter to carry your luggage during the trek (on a 1:2 ratio)
- All necessary documentation for the trek: trekking permits, TIMS card and any National Park permits
Costs Do Not Include:
- International/Domestic air fare or train fare.
- Unforeseen expenses that demand a change in itinerary like natural forces, changes in weather, road blockages, flight/train cancellations and illness.
- Medical, Travel, or Evacuation insurance.
- Expenses of a personal nature - tips, laundry, phone calls, beverages.
- Visa fees and international airport charges
