We will be flying from Chicago to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on a direct flight on Etihad Airways (the national airline of U.A.E.) We should arrive around 8:00 at night. We will transfer to a hotel for the night. Next morning a little beach time (should be in the 90's) and a little sight seeing before our 2:00 flight to Kathmandu, Nepal.
Here's an oddity: For who knows what reason Nepal's time is just wrong (in my mind). It's roughly 9:00 in the morning here in Willow Springs. Abu Dhabi is 6:00 p.m. tomorrow (ok, that makes sense). BUT it's 7:45 p.m. tomorrow in Kathmandu. Nepal is 45 minutes off...... Why not an even time? Who knows?
Here's the answer:
Nepal Standard time (NPT) is the time zone for Nepal. With a time offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) of +05:45, Nepal Standard Time is one of only two official time zones with a 45-minute increment form UTC. The Chatham Islands, which uses Chatham Island Standard Time also has a 45-minute increment from UTC, it;s time zone being UTC+12:45.
So now you know why, but WHY?
We leave Abu Dhabi on Etihad at 2:00p.m. and arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal at 7:45 p.m. after a flight of (who knows)? The itinerary says 4 hours........ We will deplane and head to the Hyatt Hotel Kathmandu for some rest (or a late dinner) hopefully both!
Here's a link to the hotel:
http://www.kathmandu.regency.hyatt.com
After 2 days in Kathmandu we have a 1 hour flight on Buddha Air from Kathmandu to Pokhara (2nd largest city in Nepal) the "stepping off" place for most of the treks in Nepal. We will be transported by mini bus to the end of the road where we commence to walk, walk and walk some more....
First stop:
http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Indian-Subcontinent/Nepal/Accommodation/Basanta-Lodge.aspx
A 3 hour hike - arrive in time for lunch.
Day 2:
http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Indian-Subcontinent/Nepal/Accommodation/Gurung-Lodge.aspx
Hike "slowly" for 7 hours.
Day 3:
http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Indian-Subcontinent/Nepal/Accommodation/Sanctuary-Lodge.aspx
Hike 3 hours downhill. Yes!
Day 4:
http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Indian-Subcontinent/Nepal/Accommodation/Himalaya-Lodge.aspx
Hike 4.5 hours - the map makes it look longer.
This place is the only one that Rich Rediker (Travel family leader) has not been able to stay at. It is in high demand and because of it's small size is regularly booked. Rich secured the entire hotel for our group almost 18 months in advance. This place is the farthest North and has the best views of the Himalayas (although they all look pretty sweet to me)!
Day 5:
Back to the Sanctuary Lodge for another night. Should be another 4.5 hours.
Day 6:
Walk 2 hours back to the "New Bridge" and a road where we will be transported back 1.5 hours to Pokhara for a overnight stay:
http://www.hotelshangrila.com/pokhara/
Day 7:
After breakfast bus transfer of 1.5 hours to Damauli and the Seti River. A little white water rafting (about 3 hours) with a picnic lunch on the banks of the river. We then camp out for the night:
http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Indian-Subcontinent/Nepal/Accommodation/Seti-River-Camp.aspx
Day 8:
More rafting (2 to 3 hours) and then a 4 hour bus transfer back to Kathmandu at the Hyatt. Packed lunches will be provided. Time for a little shopping?
Day 9:
Part of the group will continue for another week in Bhutan. Connie and I have the day in Kathmandu before a 9:00 p.m. flight back to Abu Dhabi. We arrive just after midnight and have a reservation at the International Hotel right in the airport. Time for some rest and a shower before we return to Chicago at 10:25 that morning. 14 hours (or so) and we'll be back to O'Hare and eventually Willow Springs!
21 days and we're off!
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