DISCOVER NEPAL

Do You

Know  What

to Pack?

The All In One Guide

did someone say

"Adventure"?

YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM DAY 1 TO DAY 14

HINTS TIPS INFO AND JUICY DETAILS

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO YOUR

PROJECTS

TREKKING EDITION

Y@H

D I S C O V E R N E P A L T H E U L T I M A T E T R A V E L G U I D E

hey there!Firstly, on behalf of everybody at Bamboo, I would like to offer you our thanks for choosing to

experience this incredible part of the world with us. We guarantee you an amazing time and we’re all

very much looking forward to meeting you in Kathmandu soon.

I imagine that right now you’re very excited about your upcoming adventure and this little guide has

been put together to help you understand more about what will be happening, what to expect, how to

plan and more. We guarantee your time with us will be unforgettable from start to end.  

Bamboo is growing as our style of 'travel' has proven to be the 'way' to travel. You are now a part of

this journey and we welcome you with open arms and hearts. This growing experience is down to

people like you, so do get stuck in, become part of our way of life, live every moment and take nothing

for granted.

Peace, Love & Bamboo

Mark (& the other pandas, Steve & Colin)

bamboo behind the scenes follow me on instagram @markbamboo

highlights of your tour

Guided city tour through nearby

Patan's best landmarks. Prepare to be

dazzled and amazed. 

KATHMANDU

Check out the breathtaking views on

the road during your trekking

adventure.

AMAZING VIEWS

Meet the kids of Shining Stars and

share a daal bhat dinner with the

people that part of your fee supports. 

DONATIONS

Get off the beaten track and

experience real, authentic Nepalese

communities.

CULTURE

Embark through the crisp lakeside

town of Pokhara.

DISCOVERY

Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. As

today is the arrival day, our team will be busy

working between the guesthouse and the airport.

Once you've been picked up and you're checked

into the guesthouse, the remainder of the day is

free for you to do as you please; catch up on your

sleep, check in on Facebook or get out and explore

the local area.

In the evening there will be a very informal get-

together for those who have already arrived.

This is a great way to break the ice, over a cold beer

and chat about just how insanely excited you are to

be in Nepal! 

Meals Included: You're on your own for this one!

DAY 1 (THURSDAY) KATHMANDU

After breakfast, we'll have a group orientation. This

will be a chance for our team to run through the

itinerary with you and answer any of your burning

questions. We'll take you through the day to day

stuff, explain more about the group split on day 4,

give you a few hints and tips on culture, customs

and traditions and make sure that you're set up to

get the most from your time with us.

There will also be a quick briefing for trekking and

volunteering. One of the key points of this briefing

is to make sure you have everything you need -

this is why it’s very important to make sure you also

read over the ‘packing suggestions’ later in this

guide.

Whilst volunteering you may still be walking

through tough terrain in the village and it can still

get quite cold. It’ll be an immensely enjoyable

experience, we just want to make sure you’re ready

for it. If you're missing anything that's deemed

important, there'll be time to find it and buy it

locally.

Today we'll head out for a tour of the city of

artisans,  Patan.

Once a fiercely independent city-state, Patan

(pah-tan) is now almost a suburb of Kathmandu,

separated only by the murky Bagmati River.

Many locals still call the city by its original Sanskrit

name of Lalitpur (City of Beauty) or by its Newari

name, Yala. Almost everyone who comes to

Kathmandu also visits Patan’s spectacular Durbar

Square – even after the 2015 earthquake, this

remains the finest collection of temples and palaces

in the whole of Nepal.

You meander through the bustling bazaar of this

charismatic town. Tucked away among the havelis

in the narrow pols you stumble upon rope or bidi

(traditional cigarette) makers, working on their

doorsteps. You go on a treasure hunt in search of

the unique patola and mashru weavers, the snow-

white Jain temples, the Hemachandracharya Jain

Gnan library of ancient Hindu and Jain texts

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner.

DAY 2 (FRIDAY) KATHMANDU

This morning we will drive to Pokhara which will take

around 7 hours.  Be sure to bring a book, or simply

sit back and take in the beautiful vista as you head

on to your next location.

On arrival, if time allows and if weather permits, we

may have the chance to take a boat across the

stunning lake here and hike up the hill to visit the

Peace Pagoda; one of the highlights of Pokhara.

In the evening we'll get together to run through the

group split tomorrow. The adventurous trekkers will

meet up with their guides for a briefing whilst our

lovely volunteers will hear from a representative of

our NGO partner.

We'll have you fully prepared and ready for what

comes next! It’s about to get seriously

 adventurous.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

DAY 3 (SATURDAY) POKHARA

Limber up, stretch the legs, and brace for the next

week of trekking through the foothills of the

Himalayas.

Our first morning we’ll drive to Khande to the

Annapurna mountain range. Here, we’ll climb

through jungle and to the breathtaking cliffside

vistas. The trek is steep...and then gentle...and then

steep again. So don’t try doing this in flip-flops.

Wild deer, monkeys, yaks, and thousands of species

of birds frequent the dense, mountainous jungles,

so pack a camera or, at least anti-monkey invasion

spray (which doesn’t exist, but they will try taking

your food).

Our excursion ends with a venture back with the

local villagers of Pokhara, where stories of your tales

crossing stony terrain and encountering the troll or

two (you probably won’t provided you know a

riddle).

By evening, you’ll be swapping stories, laughs, and

readying for your next adventure to Everest.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 4-10 (SUNDAY- SATURDAY) TREKKING

DAY 11 (SUNDAY) POKHARA

We begin the day with an early start at one of the

most famous view points to gaze in awe at the

breathtaking sunrise over the mountains, The

Annapurna Massif.

The sunrise offers views over the giant Annapurna

ranges, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Dhaulagiri and so on. This is

a photographers dream and without a doubt one of

the highlights of your time in Pokhara.

The rest of the day is yours to explore. The more

touristy town offers shopping and local coffee

shops or perhaps you want to experience a spot of

paragliding. Whatever you choose just let one of

our team know and we’ll be happy to assist.

Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 12 (MONDAY)  POKHARA TO KATHMANDU

After breakfast, it’s time to head back to

Kathmandu via a short flight*. We’ll have you back

in the capital in no time, and it’s the perfect

opportunity to get some last minute souvenirs or

capture some photos.

We will conclude the experience with a final group

dinner, reminisce on our time together, and have

one for the road.

*Flights are subject to the weather, alternative road

transport will be arranged if we are unable to fly.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 14 (WEDNESDAY) DEPART NEPAL 

DAY 13 (TUESDAY) KATHMANDU

We’re going on a guided city tour through

Kathmandu's best landmarks. Prepare to be dazzled

and amazed! There will be many opportunities to

take epic photos so make sure your camera is

charged and ready!

Before final goodbyes, we will have one last group

dinner. This is the time to reflect upon the past 2

action packed weeks of adventure!

Meals included: Breakfast.

Two weeks – gone in the blink of an eye. Don’t mind

our sniffling.

The tour may have ended but the stories you’ll

soon tell are only beginning. It can take weeks to

realize what all you accomplished in such a short

time with Bamboo.

Rather than saying goodbye, we prefer to say, “see

you soon.” You’re part of The BamFam now.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

The Trek

The Annapurna region of Nepal is a land so

beautiful, it has long been the ultimate

trekking dream for hikers. Here, the sacred

peaks of Annapurna, Machapuchare and

Dhaulagiri, shining with snow year round,

tower over ancient rhododendron forests, icy

rivers and temperate jungles where tigers still

roam.

This trek will take you to off-the-beaten-

track villages, where you will stay in village

communities, giving you first-hand

experience of the real Nepal. It's for those

with a real sense of adventure, who are

happy to embrace basic living conditions in

order to experience rural, mountain people’s

life in Nepal.

This trek is considered moderate, with

occasional strenuous days and thus a

reasonable level of fitness is required . We'll

be trekking between 4 and 8 hours per day

depending on the speed of the group. The

trek starts at around 1800m above sea level

and reaches 4450m at Mardi Himal Base

Camp on day 6.

The trek is a mixture of steep climbs and

gentle inclines, make sure you bring suitable

footwear and drink enough water

throughout each day.

Accommodation on this trek is basic and on a

shared basis, with basic washing facilities and

limited chances to do laundry unless you

wish to brave the cold communal village tap! 

What's includedDISCOVER NEPAL TOUR

1. Airport Arrival Pickup on the

official start date between 6am &

8pm

2. All Accommodation throughout

3. All Activities outlined above

4. A city tour of the Nepali capital

5. Donation to Shining Stars

Childrens Home

6. Our team with you you 24/7

7. Dinner with the kids of SSCH

8. All meals stated above 

9. Qualified guides to accompany

you during your trek

FAST FACTS:

VISAMost countries can  buy a visa

on arrival

VISA entry is YOUR

responsibility

Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, is

the living cultural museum of

the world.

ENTRY

REQUIREMENTS

A visa is necessary to enter Nepal and there are two

options for obtaining one.

You can obtain one before leaving home from any

Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your own

country.

Alternatively, you can buy a visa on arrival at the

Tribhuvan International airport, please check the

immigration website for exceptions:

www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

Multiple entry tourist visas can be obtained by

paying 25 USD for 15 days, 40 USD for 30 days or

100 USD for 90 days. *prices are subject to change

T H E I N F O R M A T I O N Y O U N E E D T O K N O W B E F O R E W E B E G I N D I S C O V E R N E P A L

THE NITTY GRITTY

VISA and passport requirements are YOUR responsibility.

ACCOMMODATION

KATHMANDU

Rooms here will be twin shared (2 beds) . All rooms

include air conditioning, a satellite TV, a mini fridge

and a private bathroom.  

FUJI HOTEL

POKHARA

Your accommodation will be twin shared (2 beds) . All

rooms are fitted with a private western style

bathroom.  

Free WIFI & air-conditioning is available throughout

the hotel.  

POKHARA ECO RESORT

POKHARA VILLAGEHOMESTAY

Your accommodation will be traditional and basic. An

outhouse squat toilet is available for volunteers to

use but there is no hot running water. This is all part

of the true Nepali experience.  

Dinner will be prepared in a traditional manner by

the host family but volunteers are more than

welcome to help.

FAST

FACTS: MONEY

Basic costs of things:

Local meal (Dal Bhat) 250 rupees

Bottle of beer 290-450 rupees

Bottle of water 25-30 rupees

Memories - Free of charge

The currency in Nepal is known as

the Rupee or NPR

Remember to tell your bank that you

are leaving the country to avoid your

card being suspended

When it comes to advice on how much money

to bring, it’s impossible to say. All our intrepid

explorers are very different. Where some go all

out, others are on a budget. You can find both

high end and budget restaurants, bars and

shops across Nepal. A rough guide for meals

and drinks can be found below:

Typical exchange rates are:

$1 - 105 rupees

£1 - 137 rupees

ATMs, or cash machines, are prevalent

throughout Nepal and will issue the local

currency. If you do plan  on  bringing your ATM

card with you, we recommend that you inform

your bank. This should prevent your card being

suspended due to irregular withdrawals.

We don’t recommend bringing traveller 's

cheques with you. The reason is that banks

across Nepal have odd hours of operating, and

it may cause unnecessary hassle finding a bank

open when you wish to make a transaction.

Negotiating a purchase, known as bartering,

still happens in the tourist areas of Nepal

however not so much outside of these areas.

 If you’re unsure as to whether or not you can

barter for a discount please speak to your

guide.  

MONEY

FAST FACTS: TRAVEL

For up to date information about the best travel

vaccinations to have before arriving in Nepal we

urge you to contact your own GP,  a travel health

clinic or to check the World Health Organisations

website. Bamboo are  not medical professionals and

therefore can’t offer you medical advice.  

TRAVELVACCINATIONS

FLIGHTSThanks to the world wide web we all now have

access to great flight deals through websites such

as Skyscanner, Google Flights and more. If you’d

rather use the services of a booking agent, the likes

of STA Travel, Trailfinders and Flight Centre, are all

available online.  

Please remember that this tour starts in

Kathmandu and finished in Kathmandu

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Once you have booked and confirmed your flight to

Kathmandu, please make sure that you have shared

your flight arrival time and flight number with our

team. Without those details, we will be unable to

guarantee that one of our team will be at the

airport to meet you on arrival.  

Did you know that?

The handshake is not very common in

Nepal. People of Nepal put their

palms together,  bow their forehead

and say Namaste.

Did you know that?

On a flight the bathroom door isn’t

really locked when you’re inside.

Lavatory doors can be locked and

unlocked from the outside for a

multitude of reason. It allows flight

attendants quick access to locked

lavatories in case of emergencies. In

other instances, it allows the cabin

crew to restrict access to bathrooms

during takeoff and landing.

ARRIVALS INFO

ARRIVALKathmandu’s International Airport is a very busy

airport and can be a confusing place.

You will be staying at Fuji Hotel. Please keep this

address handy as it will be requested upon your

arrival:

Fuji Hotel, Brahmakumari Marg, P.O Box: 6209,

Jyatha, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal

Once you’ve passed through Immigration (Passport

Control) you’ll need to collect your luggage from

one of the carousels. Make sure you keep your

airline baggage slips as you will need to show these

in order to exit the baggage hall. Once you have

your bags please make your way to the exit passing

through the ‘nothing to declare’ channel. Once

through you will enter the busy main arrivals area.

Please keep a look out for our team. They should be

easily recognizable with their Bamboo

T-shirts and holding a sign showing the Bamboo

logo. Once you’ve spotted our team, please head

over and introduce yourself. You’ll then receive

further instructions. Please bear in mind that we

may be waiting for others to arrive so your transfer

to the hotel may not be immediate but we’ll get

you there as soon as possible.

In the unlikely event that you can’t find our team,

please don’t panic. As long as you have provided us

with your correct flight details one of our team will

be there. Please check again in the arrivals area. If

you still cannot locate one of our team please call

the following number +977 9849 141067.

If you have supplied us with a mobile phone

number, please make sure your phone is turned on

as we may be trying to contact you.

On arrival to the hotel, we’ll help you to check in

and give you more details of what’s happening

next.  

Your hotel transfer will be around 30-

40 minutes from the airport to the

heart of Kathmandu

Keep your eyes peeled for the

smiling face that holding our Bamboo

logo

Pick up is only available between the

hours of 6am - 8pm on the official start

date.

If you are arriving outside of these hours

and are getting a taxi to the hotel please

make a note of the hotels contact

information.

Name: Fuji Hotel

Num: +9771 425 0435

FUN FACTS:  TRANSPORT

TRANSPORT

The journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara will take

approximately 7-8 hours. Transportation times can

vary according to the season, traffic and the road

conditions at the time.

We will  take a private comfortable A/C minivan or

bus (depending on numbers) and we will have

plenty of toilet breaks, snack stops and chances to

take photos of the incredible scenery along the

way.

If the map of Nepal is turned 90

degrees clockwise, it looks very

similar to the map of Portugal.

Nepal is home to one of the few

places on earth where you can see

both the Bengal tiger and the one-

horned rhinoceros

KATHMANDU TO

POKHARA

POKHARA

TO KATHMANDUAfter a busy time in Pokhara we have decided to

treat you to a short flight back to the capital!  

This flight will depart mid morning on day 12 and

will take approximately 30minutes.  

FAST FACTS: GUIDES

GUIDESAny tour is only as good as the guide – fact. The

input of a tour guide cannot be understated. Their

input in to your tour, their little insights, the off-

the-beaten-track adventures, the knowledge and

experiences that they share with you will make or

break your time wherever you are in the world.

At Bamboo we take the selection and training of

our guides and coordinators very seriously. Each

guide undertakes a structured training program of

three months and only once we’re convinced that

they are genuine representatives of Bamboo are

they signed up to the family.

Each of our tours have English-speaking guides to

support you, answer your questions, educate you

and to ensure that your time is unforgettable. From

time to time we may have new guides-in-training

on our tours. If you’re lucky to have a trainee on

your tour, please be patient. They are undergoing

training and therefore their knowledge won’t be

that of the trained and experienced guide who will

be accompanying them.  

TIPPING

Although not in any way expected or encouraged,

anybody who goes over and above the call of duty

to ensure that you have the very best time may

deserve a special little thank you.

Did you have extra special service in a restaurant?

Did the bus driver make an additional pit-stop just

for you? Did your guide go out of the way so that

you could experience something unique? At

Bamboo, we’re firm believers in Karma – what goes

around most definitely comes around!  

Our guides are the face of Bamboo,

and they come in all shapes and

smiles.

We love each and every one of them

more than Elephants love bananas.  

Whilst most of them are elite travel

mavericks in their own right, you may

come across newbies who are on the

path the greatness.

If you 're lucky enough to meet a

fresh-faced newbie, be sure to show

them your support and patience,

most guides remember their first

tours forever, so let 's play nice.

TERMS & CONDITIONSPlease read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they form the basis of your contract

with WeAreBamboo. This agreement is made at the time of booking and becomes legally

binding upon payment of your deposit. By booking a program with WeAreBamboo, you

signify you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions

All programs advertised on our website and/or on Facebook are offered and/or operated

by WeAreBamboo Ltd. (trading as Bamboo and referred to as Bamboo or ‘we’ herein

after) with company number 59926953 whose registered office is:.

WE ARE BAMBOO LEVEL 2

61 SEAVIEW ROAD LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND 5010

All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions. Bamboo reserves the

right to update the Terms and Conditions at any time.

Please view our full terms and conditions here:

https://www.wearebamboo.com/about/legal.php

Please note that the information in this pack is subject to change at any time without notice.