Hiking the Himalayas' Annapurna Trail with Tigers of Ranthambore Extension - Private Tour

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving/ trekking times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

Important: Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

British passport holders can now obtain their Nepal visa prior to departure for Approx £25 per person on this website https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/online A Nepalese visa can also be purchased on arrival into Kathmandu; but you will need to complete and download a form from the Nepal Embassy website and present this completed form on arrival at immigration together with your payment (currently USD $30). You must print the form with the barcode and take it with you for arrival. The barcode is only valid up to 15 days after issue so please complete this form within 2 weeks of travel. When applying for the visa on arrival you will need to ensure you apply for a multiple entry visa.

For entry in to Nepal your passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity from the date you arrive in Kathmandu and a minimum of two blank pages. You will also need to complete an ‘arrival card’ at the airport. We recommend you check the following website before travelling for all the most up to date advice, requirements and any changes uk.nepalembassy.gov.np. We strongly advise you to check with your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding required passport validity.

You must bring at least 2 passport-sized photographs for the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and the Trekkers’ information management system (TIMS) card. Both are required for trekking in Nepal.

India visa requirements

A visa is required for entry into India. British Citizen Passport Holders will need to obtain a tourist visa. You can apply for an E-visa no more than 30 days in advance. Your E-visa must be valid for your whole trip so please ensure the expiry date is for the whole duration of your stay. Alternatively you can visit The Indian Visa Application Centre in London: 142-148 Goswell Road, London, EC1B 7DU. We also work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Additionally, you will need to complete an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your arrival. This can be done on the Indian visa website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before you enter India. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.

Please note we will require your APIS/Passport information at least 2 months in advance to pre purchase your Safari passes, this can be uploaded via our website on "Manage My Booking".

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Flying insects including mosquitos are common in this part of the world, you may find it useful to wear long-sleeved, long-legged clothes and use repellents which contain DEET.

Altitude Sickness: Altitude sickness is a fairly common condition that can occur when you ascend to a high altitude (generally higher than 2,500 metres above sea level) quickly. The decrease in atmospheric pressure can make breathing more difficult as the body is not able to take in as much oxygen. Most cases are mild with symptoms that can include: headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. Several of the places on your trekking holiday are located at high altitude. Therefore, you may find you experience some symptoms at this altitude. It is advised that at these high altitudes, you keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness during your tour, ensure you tell your guide immediately who will be able to advise the best thing for you to do. It is advisable to consult your doctor before your holiday for any advice on the effects of altitude sickness and if you have any health problems that this could affect. It is advisable to carry the name, address and telephone details of your GP, in the event of becoming unwell your insurance company may require this information.

For this trekking holiday, previous experience and a good level of fitness & stamina are recommended. Trekking will be along well-worn paths at different paces. You will need to be prepared to negotiate steep inclines and uphill treks climbing stone steps. Your treks will be between mountain lodges and daily distances will vary from 6 to 13 kilometres. You will be able to take short breaks during your treks and you can look forward to arriving at your lodge, on average, in time for lunch. Please do consider the pace may vary depending on the abilities within the group. Most of the treks will take place in the morning allowing you to have the afternoons at leisure to relax or make the most of exploring the local area. It is important to note altitudes vary between 1170m and 1780m for most walks; the highest altitude that you will reach will be around 2000m. We recommend carrying a small backpack and if you are in any doubt as to the tours suitability, please speak to your GP as soon as possible as this is a physically challenging holiday.

The tour pace for Hiking The Himalayas Annapurna Trail is challenging. A higher level of fitness as required as you may be on your feet for most of the day though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, trains, boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. There may be some time spend at high altitude. You will stay in variety of hotels, possibly including overnight trains, and accommodation standards may not match those you are used to at home.

Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.

The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee or NPR, divided into 100 paisa. US dollars are also often accepted should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. You can take cash or travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in Nepal.

ATM’s are widely available in only in Kathmandu and Pokhara to withdraw money in local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any lunches and dinners where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200- £300 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.

Tippinf

It is customary to tip your guide and driver. This is at your discretion, but we recommend you allow approximately £4-£5 for each guide and £2-£3 for each driver per person per day. It is asked that you tip in pounds and not local currency, please do not give coins as these are difficult to exchange. If you want to tip your bell boy, porter etc this is up to your discretion. All tips will be collected by your guide at the beginning of your tour for your convenience.

This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a backmarker on each of your treks.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

This is a partially escorted extension. A rep will be available during your transfers and throughout check-in and check-out. Otherwise, please speak to reception or contact Earthen Experience using the contact details in 'Emergency Contact Information' in case of any queries.

You will be accompanied by a naturalist while on the safari. Due to the number of vehicles allowed into the reserve at any one time, the safaris are a shared service with other guests.

Safari Vehicles

Your safari will be taken in a canter, this is a large open roofed truck that seats up to 20 people. Safari drivers take you to areas of the park where wildlife are more likely to be seen but as with all wildlife experiences nothing can be guaranteed. Please note that many paths inside the park are bumpy and dusty.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to lodges and home stays. Hotel accommodation is basic, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Nepal. If you are staying in a lodge during your tour, plumbing and electricity supplies can vary and, in some cases, infrequent, with electricity only being accessible during certain times of the day. Please note hot water is based on solar power, due to weather conditions this can be infrequent, in this case a hot water bucket can be purchased for $5 per bucket. Please note the lodges and guest houses on the trek do not have star ratings. Accommodation is basic, with neat and clean rooms. All accommodation features either a shared bathroom or en-suite bathroom. Water provided by the lodges are heated using solar panels, therefore it is recommended to shower at the end of the day. Electricity is available in all lodges/ Guest Houses, despite their location. During your stay in lodges throughout your tour, plumbing and electricity supplies can vary and, in some cases, infrequent, with electricity only being accessible during certain times of the day. Some lodges and guest houses do not have a heating system, we advise that you follow the ‘What To Pack’ and ‘Clothing’ section to ensure you are well prepared. The Mountain Lodges/Guest Houses you’ll stay in are welcoming and offer fantastic views. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotels. In lodges breakfast will be local Nepalese food each morning. Lunch and dinner on your tour where stated will be taken at local restaurants or at your hotel with some packed lunches. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes.

Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian and non-spicy meal options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. On the trek, bottled water is not provided. Passengers to carry their own refillable bottles. Filtered water can be bought from lodges.

Please note that plastic bottles are banned in the national parks so keep a reusable water bottle for your tour.

Please note that all mobile phones are banned from India’s National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Phones will need to be left at the hotel when you are on safari. You will still be able to bring cameras into the parks and reserves to take photos.

On your arrival in Kathmandu you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Earthen Experiences, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Earthen Experiences representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

Tigers of Ranthambore: On your arrival in Delhi you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Jayasree Travels & Tours, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Jayasree Travels & Tours representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries you may have.

Earthen Experiences: A – Earthen Experiences, 2 DDA Commercial Complex, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017 Telephone Number: 0091 11 4921 1000 (09:30 – 18:00)

Monday to Fridays E-mail: info@earthenexperiences.com

Please find below the emergency contact details:

Mr Laba Budhathoki – 0097-79841442602 or

Mr Bijay Nepal- 0097-79851115939

Tigers of Ranthambore: Jayasree Travels and Tours Address: F 341-Ground Floor Lado Sarai New Delhi 110030. Telephone Number: 0091 471 2505067

Emergency contact information:

Mrs Samitha Azhar 0091 974 471 3380, Mr Biju Unnikrishnan 0091 952 618 8860, Mr Harish Kumar 0091 952 618 8859, Mr Amit Bhardwaj 0091 995 898 8719

• Sunscreen, insect repellent and hat
• Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Camera and charger
• An electric plug converter - three different plug sockets are used, so it is best to bring a multi adapter
• Loo paper for public WCs
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Torch, batteries and bulb
• Water bottle and chlorine dioxide to sterilise water
• Light-weight towel or sarong
• Trail mix / nuts / muesli bars (bring zip lock bags from home)
• Trekking poles with rubber points are recommended
• Daysack/ rucksack to use during treks; we recommend 30-35 litres
• Plastic Bags
• Four Season Sleeping Bag. Sleeping bags can be hired from Kathmandu for approximately $3-$5 USD per sleeping bag, per day however, for your comfort we recommend you bring your own
• Sleeping bag liner
• Refillable water bottle – This can be refilled for approximately $1 for cold water and $5 for hot water.
• Anti-bacterial hand wash
• Long trousers - For everyday walking, light cotton or linen trousers are the most suitable. Jeans are not recommended as they are often difficult to walk in over longer distances
• Warm clothing - A thick fleece or sweater is necessary as nights can be very cold at altitude
• Down jacket - After sunset, temperatures can fall below freezing
• Waterproof, lightweight jacket
• Hat and gloves – thermal types are most appropriate
• Tracksuit or fleece pants for evenings
• High quality hiking socks
• Walking boots – we recommend you bring boots with ankle support that have been worn-in and comfortable before you start your trekking
• Light /comfortable clothing, suitable for layering as it can get warm during the walking