Retreats and Tours for Women

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  • 15 - 22 March 2023
  • 7 Nights / 8 Days
  • Weather 18 - 25 C
  • Fitness - Med - walk up to 5km a day
  • Price Range - $$

 This tour starts and ends in Kathmandu. Arrival and departure will be at Kathmandu. 

This is not a hiking tour, but a nature and cultural tour taking in cities and surrounding landscapes. 

Kathmandu

The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu has a history that spans 2,000 years. Apart from being rich in culture and spirituality, the city offers myriad of temples that lies in the magical realm of the Himalayas, definitely a scenic place that is perfectly picturesque.

Nepal’s capital is surrounded by a valley full of historic sites, ancient temples, shrines, and fascinating villages. Mingle with locals and animals amid Durbar Square’s monuments, or join mountain trekkers in the bustling Thamel District. Explore shops for exquisite work by local artisans—carpets and paper prints are specialties.

Pokhara

Pokhara is the ‘Tourist Capital of Nepal’.  Many writers enjoy Pokhara’s relaxing beauty due to its pristine air, snowy peaks of mountain ranges and surrounding greenery. Pokhara is also famous for ancient lakes, waterfalls and gorges, and, of course, majestic views of the Himalayan Mountains.

Chitwan

Located 150 km West of  Kathmandu, Chitwan is the best place for nature lovers. Chitwan means ‘heart of the jungle’ with a  sub-tropical climate. Chitawan National Park is the first established national park in Nepal. It belongs to a World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited places in Chitwan. This national park conserves different species of wild animals and birds including Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, and Asiatic elephant.

Nepal is a landlocked, mountainous country located between India and Tibet. It is well known for the impressive Himalayan range and deep valleys that shape the landscape. Nepalis have a reputation for being dependable and resilient people who can withstand difficult conditions. This was recently exemplified in the stoic national response following the devastating earthquake of 2015. Nepalis often exhibit patience and calmness, and are generally not overly dramatic people. Their tolerance has enabled many different faiths and ethnicities to coexist quite harmoniously. Much of Nepal’s culture is deeply steeped in tradition and religion. However, new values and ideas are being introduced to the general population in light of a new democratic political order.

Nepalis are generally deeply loyal to their citizenship and culture. They are very proud that their country has never been colonised, seeing this as a key distinguishing fact between them and India. The Gurkhas (Nepali soldiers) continue to be highly admired for their role in this regard. Nepalis understand the worth and beauty of their land. The culture is enigmatic with many religious customs, rituals, festivals, processions and local secrets. Yet, people also share a sense of sadness regarding the widespread poverty and mismanagement of their country. Indeed, poverty is an undeniable social issue. This, coupled with an unstable political situation, means the primary ambition of most Nepalis is generally to secure a stable future for their family.

Nepal is largely underdeveloped with limited social services and public infrastructure. There are very few urban centres outside of the capital city of Kathmandu. An estimated 83% of the population live in rural areas (2011). The geographical isolation that the mountains create has generally led many villages to be secluded from outside influence, meaning many have retained quite a distinct cultural identity. Tribal and nomadic practices continue in many places. The diversity of customs and values between regions means Nepal cannot be broadly generalised. However, typically it can be observed that the more remotely situated a community is, the more visibly traditional their cultural practices will be. Meanwhile, those regions with access to better education are likely to have diverged from some aspects of traditional social customs. Kathmandu in particular is becoming very outward looking, drawing influence from across the globe. Recent cosmopolitan transformation is visible in fashion as traditional Nepali attire is now usually only worn in rural areas.

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Trip Highlights

  • Kathmandu sight-seeing - visit the sacred Hindu Temple Pashupatinath, one of the most important & sacred holy pilgrimages sites for Hindu devotees all around the world.
  • Look into the gorgeous giant eyes of the historic Buddhist shrine Bouddhanath. See the beautiful Tibetan Thangka painting being crafted. Hear the monks chanting their morning prayers. Spin the prayer wheels so your wishes get taken to the Gods.
  • Visit Kathmandu Patan’s Durbar Square a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a signing bowl demonstration and the local museum dedicated to the Newari architecture.
  • Learn how to make the local food of Momos at a local cafe, (dumplings)
  • Visit the Womens Skills Development Organisation, a non-profit Fair Trade organization that has been working since 1975 to empower socially and economically disadvantaged women of rural Nepal.
  • View the entire city of Pokhara and Phewa lake at World Peace Pagoda which lies 1100m above sea level.
  • Take a 4WD wildlife discovery drive through Chitwan National Park.
  • Walk around Tharu village, an indigenous ethnic group in Chitwan.

Your Host

Sandy

loves to travel, especially to the far away and exotic, discovering new and old cultures, sunshine, walking in nature be it amongst snow capped mountains or a coastal beach walk, reading a good book and watching a great movie, rice paddies green, jumping into freshly washed sheets, textiles, Asian food and her beautiful kids.

Sandy believes in the power of meditation, female empowerment, being your authentic self, that if we could stop human trafficking the world would be a much better place, respecting all cultures and living life to the fullest. 

She is committed to fair-trade which gives back so much to those in need and in so many ways. 

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Investment
  • Twinshare – $3375 AUD
  • Single Room – $3775 AUD

*FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED

This tour has a $500 deposit and the remainder is due 75 prior to departure. 

If you want to make the most of your adventure you can join  our “The Best Exotic Marigold Adventure” before this trip. 

If you book both India and Nepal tours combined, you receive a $200 discount which will cover your flight. This discount has already been applied to the final price.

Find about our INDIA tour HERE

Inclusions

  • Private vehicle and domestic airport transfers as per the itinerary.
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off facilities
  • A professional English speaking guide during the whole trip with special guide in Kathmandu and Naturalist guide in Chitwan.
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis on BB plan.
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Chitwan on twin sharing basis.
  • Complementary farewell dinner in a typical Nepali cultural restaurant.
  • All government taxes 13% VAT, tourist service charges and official expenses.
  • Temple and monastery entry permit fees.

What is not included

  • International air fare to/from Nepal.
  • Entry Visa fees - at present $25 for 15 day. US$40 for a 30 day and US$100 for three months visa on entry into Nepal.
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Bar bills and personal expenses
  • Tips and gratitude provided to staff. We recommend $20AUD per day = $140.

Requirements:

This tour has a lot of walking and requires a moderate level of fitness. There are steep stairs and uneven roads. A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy all the sites we visit. Some of the days we are out and about all day you do need to be able to walk up to 5km a day and sometimes at pace. Other times its more of a stroll however please consider if you think you would hold the group up. We cannot unfortunately have women travel with us who require assistance.

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Itinerary

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5/5
"My third retreat with Vibrant Women and it was, as ever, a blissful event. Tranquil environment, delectable food, inspiring and nourishing content and practices, topped off by fantastic company with like-minded and yet a diverse mix of individuals. I cannot recommend Tammie and Vibrant Women enough - whoever you are and whatever you're seeking, there's bound to be something in one of these retreats for you."
Kathy
2022
5/5
"This was my first guided tour that I’ve been on. It was wonderful and I plan on doing more tours with Vibrant Women Travel. Tammy is so well organised and flexible too. The standard of accommodation was exceptional and the variety of excursions/day trips were all so meaningful, interesting and educational. Did I mention fun…? Yes, it was all so fun! They really are a one stop shop for travel where they are there to organise and/or iron out any hiccups. Nothing is ever a problem that they can’t remedy. If you’re a ‘tentative’ traveller Vibrant Women Travel is the way to go. Everyone is well looked after! I look forward to the next one with bells on."
Suzanne
2022

FAQ's

The Trip Notes on this link are always the most up to date version. When booking a tour in advance things can change, please always refer to these notes on the website as the most recent version of trip notes for your tour.

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Arrival is the 15th of March 2023 and departure is the 22 March 2023.
Arrival and Departure Airport is Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu.
 

All travelers must have a printed copy of the International Traveler Online Arrival Form before traveling to Nepal. The form must be first completed online.
Source – https://ccmc.gov.np/arms/person_add_en.php

Flights
If you need assistance with FLIGHT BOOKINGS we use Kerstin Rheinlander – Contact details : Mobile: 0448 958 366 Phone: 1-300-024-856 Email: kerstin.rheinlander@travelmanagers.com.au
Website: https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm/KerstinRheinlander
Kerstin can assist with flights and also provide you with travel insurance and additional support if you want to extend your tours.

You can add our India “Best Exotic Marigold Tour” to your booking when booking this tour. If you combine tours you receive a $200 discount.  You don’t require any extra nights accommodation to join the India and Nepal tours but you do no need to book an international flight. We suggest booking Air India  AI215 Departing Delhi at 12:25pm arriving to Kathmandu at 14:25pm. The price for this flight is approx. $150AUD. 

Up until 75 days before the start of the tour a $500 non-refundable deposit will be retained.  For between 75 days and 45 days,  50% of the final payment, this is in addition to the non refundable deposit will be forfeited.  For less than 45 days or for no shows the entire amount will be retained as we would have already had to pay for accommodation, transport, flights and activities, and this money will not be returned to us.  Once the tour has commenced no monies will be returned to you.  This is why travel insurance is compulsory.

Tourist Visa

Tribhuvan International Airport is the only international airport of Nepal. Immigration Office, TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport) under Department of Immigration has been facilitating tourists flying to Nepal by providing Visa on Arrival. ‘On Arrival’ visa procedure is very quick and simple. You can expect some queues during peak Tourist season. If you wish to skip those queues, you can also consider getting Visa from Nepalese Diplomatic Missions stationed abroad prior to your arrival. Choice is yours.

 If you have obtained visa from Nepalese Diplomatic Missions, then you must enter Nepal within six months from the visa issued date. Your total stay is counted starting from the day you enter into Nepal.

Visas obtained on Arrival at the Entry and Exit points are ‘Tourist Visas’.  They bear multiple Re entry facility. Tourist Visa ‘On Arrival’ is the only entry visa to Nepal. If you are visiting Nepal for the purposes other than Tourism (sightseeing, tour, travel, mountaineering, trekking, visiting friends and families), you should still get ‘ Tourist Visa’ to get into the country.  However, you must change the category of visa as per your purpose and length of stay in Nepal from Department of Immigration by producing required documents. *Please bring USD cash and passport photos for your visa with you

  1. Please follow these simple procedures for Tourist Visa on Arrival at the airport (TIA)  if you have not acquired Visa prior to boarding the plane.
  • 1st  Step
    • Fill in ‘ Arrival Card ‘
    • Fill in Online ‘Tourist Visa ‘form ( you can fill it in prior to your arrival  visiting our official website  Department of Immigration / fill it in using Kiosk machines upon your arrival at the airport).  If you fill it from the website, you will get submission Receipt with barcode, please print it out and bring it along for acquiring visa. It works for fifteen days and becomes invalid then after.  If so, you will have to fill it in again.
  • 2nd  Step
    • Make payment  at the bank according to your visa requirement ( 15/30/90 Days)
    • Get the receipt

While you can use different modes of payments (at visa fees collection counter), we advise you to carry some cash to be on the safe side.

On Arrival Visa Fee at Entry Points

15 Days – 30 USD

30 Days – 50 USD

90 Days – 125 USD

  • 3rd Step
    • Proceed to the Immigration Desk with your online form,  payment receipts and your passport
    • Hand in your documents to immigration officer for visa processing. He/she issues visa to you upon his/her satisfaction.

Visa Extension Fee 

  • Tourist visa extension is done for minimum 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days.
  • In the case of delay less than 150 days additional USD 5 per day as late fine.

Domestic airlines in Nepal allow 15 kilos of checked baggage. We suggest if guests are travelling with more than 15 kilos that they bring a second small foldable bag that they can leave some items in Kathmandu to be collected at the end.

The Nepalese rupee. The Nepali Rupee (ISO code NPR) has been the official currency of Nepal since 1932. The most commonly used symbol of the Rupee is Rs or ₨.

Nepalese Cuisine combines a range of ingredients, techniques and characteristics from its neighboring countries with its own gastronomic history.

Set against the backdrop of the Himalayas, the people of Nepal have many different backgrounds and ethnicities, and this multitude of influences is reflected within the country’s cuisine. Nepalese dishes are generally healthier than most other South Asian cuisine, relying less on using fats and more on chunky vegetables, lean meats, pickled ingredients and salads. Whilst Nepal does take heavy influences from its closest geographical companions such as India, China and Tibet, this mountainous country only opened up its borders to outsiders in the 1950s. This factor, in addition to transport and trade difficulties Nepal’s geographical setting, has maintained a focus on using locally grown produce.

Common ingredients found across Nepalese cuisine include lentils, potatoes (which are particularly popular within the Newar communities in the Himalayas and Pahar region), tomatoes, cumin, coriander, chilies, peppers, garlic and mustard oil.

Yoghurt, or dahi is popular across Nepal, and is eaten for its healthy attributes and adaptable nature, as it can be used as a side dish or as an ingredient in drinks (Lassi) and desserts (Sikarni). While establishing a group of foods that are distinctly Nepalese is no easy task, there are some dishes that are mainstays when visiting the culturally diverse Nepal.

*Please let us know of any allergies **Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate complex dietary requirements only anaphylaxis allergies. To travel with us if you have specific dietary needs you will need to be able to manage these yourself without it impacting on the rest of the group.

Kathmandu experiences warm and sunny days throughout March. You can experience a good amount of sunshine, about 8 to 9 hours a day. The average daytime temperature generally hovers around a pleasant 26°C (79°F) whereas the average minimum temperatures generally drop down to 5°C (41°F).

IType C socketn Nepal the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in Nepal, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa).

 

 Please remember to take enough prescribed medication for duration of the tour.  You may not be able to replace medication in Nepal. Take appropriate precautions against having to do this. 

A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy all the sites we visit. Some of the days we are out and about all day you do need to be able to walk up to 5km a day and sometimes at pace. Other times its more of a stroll however please consider if you think you would hold the group up. We cannot unfortunately have women travel with us who require assistance. to walk, for example if you use a walking stick you will not be able to get to many of the sites we visit.