EverestBase Camp16 days, ex KathmanduCode GIEB58India, Sri Lanka & the Himalayas - NepalThis is probablymy favourite tour inNepal. Chief of themany highlights is theSiklis trek which offersincredible views of theAnnapurnas butwithout any of thecrowds - there are notea-houses here so youwill camp in smallvillages in the mostspectacularlocations.Liddy says...''''The ultimatechallenge, a trek toEverest Base Camptakes you throughsome of the mostincredible Himalayanscenery you will eversee. I've chosen thisparticular versionbecause it includes onemore day on the trekthan usual itineraries,so you have more timeto acclimatise. You alsoget to see Kala Patar atsunset (rather thansunrise) which isamazing, and muchbetter for pictures!Liddy says...''''Book now at imaginative-traveller.com or call 01728 885561ACCOMMODATIONGuesthouse (9 nts), camping (5 nts) MEALS6 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 DinnersTRANSPORTBus, raftGROUPSIZEMaximum 12NOTE Maximum altitude is 3,056mStartFinish201207 Jan-21 Jan28 Jan-11 Feb18 Feb-03 Mar10 Mar-24 Mar14 Apr-28 Apr12 May-26 May02 Jun-16 Jun23 Jun-07 Jul01 Sep-15 Sep15 Sep-29 Sep29 Sep-13 Oct13 Oct-27 Oct27 Oct-10 Nov10 Nov-24 Nov24 Nov-08 Dec08 Dec-22 Dec22 Dec-05 Jan201305 Jan-19 Jan19 Jan-02 Feb02 Feb-16 Feb16 Feb-02 Mar02 Mar-16 Mar16 Mar-30 Mar30 Mar-13 Apr13 Apr-27 Apr27 Apr-11 MayACCOMMODATIONGuesthouse (2 nts), teahouse (13 nts) MEALSNo mealsTRANSPORTPlane, busGROUPSIZEMaximum 15NOTE Maximum altitude is 5,630mStartFinish201207 Jan-22 Jan14 Jan-29 Jan21 Jan-05 Feb28 Jan-12 Feb04 Feb-19 Feb11 Feb-26 Feb18 Feb-04 Mar25 Feb-11 Mar03 Mar-18 Mar10 Mar-25 Mar17 Mar-01 Apr24 Mar-08 Apr31 Mar-15 Apr07 Apr-22 Apr14 Apr-29 Apr21 Apr-06 May28 Apr-13 May05 May-20 May12 May-27 May19 May-03 Jun01 Sep-16 Sep08 Sep-23 Sep15 Sep-30 Sep22 Sep-07 Oct29 Sep-14 Oct06 Oct-21 Oct13 Oct-28 Oct20 Oct-04 Nov27 Oct-11 Nov03 Nov-18 Nov10 Nov-25 Nov17 Nov-02 Dec24 Nov-09 Dec01 Dec-16 Dec08 Dec-23 Dec15 Dec-30 Dec22 Dec-06 Jan29 Dec-13 Jan201305 Jan-20 Jan12 Jan-27 Jan19 Jan-03 Feb26 Jan-10 Feb02 Feb-17 Feb09 Feb-24 Feb16 Feb-03 Mar23 Feb-10 Mar02 Mar-17 Mar09 Mar-24 Mar16 Mar-31 Mar23 Mar-07 Apr30 Mar-14 Apr06 Apr-21 Apr13 Apr-28 Apr20 Apr-05 May27 Apr-12 May04 May-19 May11 May-26 May18 May-02 Jun. Enjoy gentle walks in the KathmanduValley. Raft the Trisuli River toour overnight camp . Hike through the remote Siklis region to Tara Top for panoramic viewsTour highlights. A 13-day lodge-based trek through Sherpa homelands . Spend two full days upclose to Everest at Kala Patar and Base Camp. Enjoy rhododendron forests, colourful, friendly villages and glacial landscapes. Experience the intrinsic Buddhist culture of the Himalayas. Time in KathmanduTour highlightsITINERARY... Days 1-2 KathmanduUncover Nepal's legendarycapital and visit the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project.Days 3-4 Kathmandu ValleyRelish a stunning sunrise over theHimalayas at the hillside retreat of Nagarkot before heading toBhaktapur. Day 5 NuwakotClimb to the ancient citadels ofNuwakot for breathtaking views. Day 6 Trisuli RiverWhite-waterraft on the Trisuli River. Camp overnight on the riverbank.Day 7 BandipurExperience traditional Newari life in this largelyuntouched hilltop village. Day 8 PokharaDiscover Pokhara, lyingpeacefully in the shadows of the Annapurnas. Days 9-12 Siklis TrekTake roads less travelled on a hike through the remote Siklis area.Day 13 PokharaFollow a stream down through the Pokhara Valleyand unwind in one of the many lakeside cafés, or take a boat rideacross the lake. Days 14-15 KathmanduArrive back in Kathmanduand hunt for the perfect souvenir or enjoy a final group feast.ITINERARY... Day 1 KathmanduArrive in Kathmandu.Day 2 PhakdingFly to Lukla in the heart of the Sherpa homeland.Begin our trail through the Dudh Kosi Valley. Towering above ourroute are the jagged icy peaks of Thamserku and Kusum Kanguru.Days 3-4 Namche BazaarOur steep ascent to Namche Bazaar isrewarded with amazing views, including our first glimpse of MtEverest. We stay at Namche for two nights to properly acclimatise.Day 5 KhumjungThis is a short walking day. En route, we visit theNational Park Museum, the Everest View Hotel and the local hospitalbuilt by Sir Edmund Hillary. Day 6 ThyangbocheWe head to themagnificent Thyangboche Monastery, set in a spectacular locationwith great views of Everest and the amazing peaks of Ama Dablamand Kantega. Days 7-8 DingbocheOur trail follows the valley toPangboche. Numerous snow-covered peaks surround us and Everestseems almost at touching distance. We spend two nights inDingboche and enjoy a day exploring the Imja Valley to furtheracclimatise. Days 9-11 Lobuche - Gorak Shep - Kala Patar - BaseCampWe climb to Lobuche, then follow the Khumbu Glacier toGorak Shep. Here we trek to Kala Patar for brilliant, close-up viewsof Mt Everest. The following day we head to Everest Base Camp.Days 12-14 Thyangboche - Monjo - LuklaWe retrace our stepsback to Thyangboche, before continuing on to Monjo and Lukla, toreceive a traditional song and dance farewell from our Sherpa crew.Days 15-16 KathmanduUpon arrival back in Kathmandu there'stime to wander through the streets, shop or relax in a cafe, and soakup the atmosphere of the Nepalese capital. Our trip ends Day 16.PlusTraveller£565ppFlight ex London fromTour price from£845ppSee website for details£565ppFlight ex London from£723pp£600ppTour (paid in advance)$200ppLocal Payment (paid locally in US$)So what will it cost me?Based on current exchange ratesNepalAdventure15 days, ex KathmanduNEWCode IHNXABasicTraveller

59India, Sri Lanka & the Himalayas - Nepal, TibetThe journey fromLhasa to Kathmandutraverses the Himalayasand truly takes you tothe roof of the worldwith high passes andimmense views. Tibet ishome to a strong andunique culture and youwill be mesmerised bythe colourfulmonasteries redolentwith the smell ofburning yak butter andpopulated by friendlymonks in maroonrobes. You also get totry momos, Tibet'sdelicious answer todumplings. Yum!Liddy says...''''For trip notes, availability and more, enter the trip code at imaginative-traveller.comITINERARY... Days 1-2 KathmanduArrive in Nepal's colourfulcapital, where the constant stream of traffic includes monks, goatsand sacred cows. Explore brightly painted temples and chaoticmarkets or sit back and drink chai at a rooftop restaurant.Days 3-7 LhasaBoard a flight to Lhasa and visit the awe-inspiringPotala Palace. Join Tibetan pilgrims as they prostrate themselvesalong the holy Barkhor Circuit, and shop for prayer wheels andcarpets at a market outside the Jokhang Temple. Day 8 GyantseDescend into the green farmlands of the Nyang-chu Valley andadmire the imposing Dzong Fortress. Perhaps stop by the amazingKumbum Chorten - a Buddhist stupa covered with thousands ofcolourful murals. Day 9 ShigatseHead to Shigatse, home of thePanchen Lama who is ranked second to the Dalai Lama. Check outthe town's well-preserved monastery and explore ancient bazaarsthat are buzzing with local life. Day 10 SakyaAdmire the highwalls and Mongolian architecture of Sakya's famous monastery - awonderful place for local interaction. Perhaps take a walk aroundthis quaint city and spot local monks performing their daily rituals.Day 11 Everest National ParkTravel to Rongphu - one of theworld's highest monasteries - on an exhilarating drive through theHimalayas. For the energetic, there is an optional two-hour trek upto Everest Base Camp. Day 12 TingriGet a feel for Tibetan life inthe tiny settlement of Tingri. Look behind the colourful prayer flagsto see a towering Mt Everest. Day 13 ZhangmuBid farewell to theTibetan plateau and head for the cliff-hugging town of Zhangmu.Travel across the border into Nepal and follow the Arniko Highwayas it snakes its way above the raging Sun Kosi River.Days 14-15 KathmanduReturn to Kathmandu, the perfect placeto chill out in a café and reminisce about this amazing adventureacross the high peaks of Tibet.ACCOMMODATIONGuesthouse (14 nts) MEALSNo mealsTRANSPORTPlane, busGROUPSIZEMaximum 14NOTE Maximum altitude is 5,000m. Take the phenomenal flight over the Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet. Visit the famous sites of Lhasa including the Potala Palace . Monastery-hop across the vast Tibetan plateau. Visit one of the world'shighest monasteries, Rongphu . Optional trek to Everest Base CampTour highlightsStartFinish201201 Apr-15 Apr15 Apr-29 Apr29 Apr-13 May13 May-27 May03 Jun-17 Jun17 Jun-01 Jul24 Jun-08 Jul08 Jul-22 Jul22 Jul-05 Aug05 Aug-19 Aug19 Aug-02 Sep02 Sep-16 Sep16 Sep-30 Sep30 Sep-14 Oct07 Oct-21 Oct14 Oct-28 Oct28-Oct-11 Nov11 Nov-25 Nov201307 Apr-21 Apr21 Apr-05 May05 May-19 May19 May-02 Jun02 Jun-16 Jun16 Jun-30 Jun30 Jun-14 JulBasicTraveller£565ppFlight ex London fromTour price from£1,385ppSee website for detailsTibetUnplugged15 days, ex KathmanduNEWCode ICFRE