Von Delhi zum Annapurna I

[die Tourbeschreibung ist momentan nur auf Englisch verfügbar]

Day 1 to 3
Delhi - Samode - Jaipur

We meet in vibrant Delhi India's bustling capital with a population of almost 13 million, it is bound to be a city that keeps you on your toes no matter what time of day it is! On Day 2 your tour leader will assist you with sightseeing options. You can visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum or the infamous Red Fort. A popular way to discover Delhi for many people is to take a bicycle rickshaw tour and check out the view from Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

We take a day trip to peaceful Samode. The richly decorated Samode palace is number one on many visitors' ‘to see' lists, although you might want to take an optional jeep safari to visit the local villages and artisans, where you can buy souvenirs from bangle makers and cloth merchants, among many others. If you feel like spending the day relaxing, then a visit to Samode Bagh, a large 400 year old formal garden with pavilions and beautiful fountains, might be the ideal activity for you.
Then we make our way to Jaipur. Jaipur is Rajasthan's capital and most visited city, and is a bustling, lively destination. It is known as the ‘pink city' because of its pink wash buildings although time has faded some of this colour. Make sure you check out the Old City with its bazaars, palaces and havelis. There's also the popular Nahargarh (Tiger Fort) which is a small fort with towering walls. The walk there will take you through some picturesque local streets and then up a steep winding road for several kilometres. Alternatively you can reach it by the road via Jaiharh Fort. You may also wish to go on a group visit to Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is one of Jaipur's most famous attractions - a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below, out of sight of the people below. The following day there is free time to view the city independently. Try the fresh fruit juices from the street markets (remember to ask for no water or ice!). You could shop for souvenirs and look out for the Meenakaari (enamel work) and Kundankaari (inlay work with gems), which are the two styles of jewellery made by local artisans. Or you could wander around the old city taking in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Here you also have the option to take a traditional elephant ride. Or why not visit the Amber Fort, which used to be the capital of the city.

Day 4 to 7
Pushkar - Udaipur

After our time in bustling Jaipur comes to a close we make for the enchanting and mystic Pushkar, a desert-edged town which is famous for its revered lake and many temples. Brahma Lake is one of the country's most sacred lakes and continues to attract pilgrims today. Pushkar has the only Brahma temple that exists in the world and is a popular attraction for those interested in Hindu culture. You can take an optional tour of the lake and its 52 Ghats, or visit the main Sadar (bazaar) which is a busy marketplace selling goods and pilgrim odds and ends. There are literally dozens of temples in Pushkar – if you are up for it, the Savitri Temple will give you an excellent view of the town and surrounding desert, but you have to climb 3km up a steep hill to get there!

On day 6 we transfer to Udaipur, set in the Girwa valley. ‘The city of lakes' is located in southern Rajasthan. It is one of the most popular cities in the region with its placid lakes and green gardens. This is a truly captivating city and as a result it has been dubbed ‘the most romantic city in India'. Surrounded by beautiful lakes, marble palaces and stunning gardens, Udaipur will most likely offer a refreshing change to the desert surrounds you have seen so far. It provides an insight into the variety and geographical diversity that characterises India. Udaipur is also home to one of the most luxurious hotels in India, the Lake Palace, which is the former Maharajas Palace in the middle of the Lake. Why not indulge in a bit of extravagance and go there for a cocktail. There are many optional excursions and activities that you can try if you feel like involving yourself with the local culture and tradition, why not try a cooking, art or Hindi class? There are plenty of sightseeing options in Udaipur as well, including the City Palace, which is an impressive complex of several palaces.

Day 8 to 11
Jodhpur - Jaisalmer & Overnight Camel Safari

We depart the serenity and arrive in busy Jodhpur, Rajasthan's second largest city, dominated by its spectacular Mehrangarh fort. Located in Western Rajasthan you'll see endless golden dunes, camels slowly trekking into the distance and desert landscapes as far as the eye can see. You will have ample free time for sightseeing. After a visit to the Majestic Fort, you will see why Jodphur is known as the ‘Blue City'; many houses in the old city are painted blue and you can admire this amazing view from the fort. You can also choose to visit the old city with its stone temples and lively markets. Or take a wander through the new city, which houses several palaces, such as the art-deco Umaid Bhawan Palace, museums, Kaman art gallery for contemporary Indian art, and a small exotic zoo in the gardens of the Government Museum.

On day 9 we venture deep into the desert to Jaisalmer, ‘the golden city', where you can take an overnight camel safari into the Thar Desert, which is a great way to unwind after experiencing the hustle and bustle of urban Indian life. You'll see that there is no shortage of markets or camels here, each in fierce competition with each other! You can go on an overnight camel safari on Day 16 and your tour leader will accompany this. If you choose not to go on the safari you will stay in Jaisalmer (unescorted). Jaisalmer's main attraction is its medieval mud fortress, which is the only fort in the whole of India that still has people living in it today.

Overnight Camel Safari
We begin our travels into the photogenic Thar Desert. This region is sparsely populated by some of India's most colourful and resourceful people, such as Bhati Rajputs, who are descended from an ancient warrior called Bhatti. We will pass through traditional villages and gain an insight into how the locals live their lives. We then reach the vast sand dunes where we will begin our overnight camel safari, which will give you the opportunity to experience desert life from a camel's back. Camel breeding is a common practice in this area. You will meet with your village herdsman and camel who will be your companions for the next two days. We venture out into the golden sea of sand and will have the chance to see nomadic herders, remote parts of the Thar Desert, rolling sand dunes and desert villages. We will camp under the stars and have a traditional meal cooked for us. The following day we continue our journey back to civilisation. The scenery becomes more fertile and densely populated as we near Jaisalmer.

Day 12 to 15
Bikaner - Shekhawati - Delhi

We then visit Bikaner in the north, the home of the impressive Junagarh Fort surrounded by what was once an elaborate moat. Bikaner is also referred to as an ‘oasis town'. Here you could visit Lalgarh Palace, which is a red sandstone building surrounded by sand dunes and rocks. Outside of Bikaneer lies one of the most unusual attractions, the Karni Mata Temple, where some 2,000 rats reside. The rats are seen as holy and are revered and protected because it is believed that they have souls of the followers of Karni Mata in them. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the temple every year to pay their respects to Karni Mata and her followers.

On day 15 we head to Shekhawati, a relatively underdeveloped town, and here you can visit local villages and admire the painted havelis and temples before we return to Delhi. As we make our way back towards the capital, we have one night in Shekhawati, in the town of Mandawa. There are many havelis to admire here and we will take a tour of the nearby ones. Shekhawati is also a hub for traders and businessmen. Relatively undeveloped, the town is not as touristy as other places we will have seen. You will be able to get a great cultural insight into the way of life here and there's time to explore the sights at your leisure. We then return to Delhi, where there's time for some last minute souvenir shopping or to check out any sights you may have missed first time around.

Day 16 to 17
Varanasi - Lumbini

Varanasi is one of India's most holy cities and attracts many Hindu pilgrims. We join the crowds along the holy ghats (steps leading down to the water) lining the sacred Ganges where pilgrims take a purifying dip in the river. We take an early morning boat trip to view the river in all its glory and the significance it plays in the lives of the people. The rest of the day is free to wander through the old city with its maze of narrow alleyways, and visit the temples of one of the oldest and longest inhabited cities in the world.

On day 17 we cross over the border into Nepal to the World Heritage site of Lumbini. Lumbini lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal. Lumbini is said to be the place where Gautama Buddha ‘the apostle of peace and the light of Asia' was born in 623 B. C. The most important temple at Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple, marking the traditional site of the Buddha's birth. The temple stands on the site of earlier temples. The area around Lumbini is entirely Hindu, but many Buddhist temples and shrines from various nations are scattered around the holy site itself.

Day 18 to 20
Chitwan National Park - Pokhara

We travel to Chitwan National Park. The park is UNESCO World Heritage listed (1984) and is home to one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and also of the Bengal tiger. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The area comprises the Tikauli forest - from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat - extending over an area of 175 sq. km. The area became the country's first National Park in 1973. There are many optional excursions within Chitwan National Park for you to try such as elephant safaris, jungle walks, and river trips.

On day 20 we head to the stunning lake town of Pokhara with spectacular views of the Annapurnas. The town is situated on the banks of Lake Phewa Ta, the second largest lake in Nepal. This town itself is very quiet and laid back providing a great base for trekking.

Day 21 to 23
Kathmandu

We travel to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu which is the hub of traditional Nepalese culture and art. Here you will have plenty of free time so that you can enjoy the mountain views or visit the multitude of sights. Durbar Square is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprising of palaces temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. It is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu's old city. On the other side of the square, the Kasthamandap temple is an open pavilion topped by a pyramidal tower, said to be created from the wood of a single tree. It is purportedly the Valley's oldest building, and the city of Kathmandu derives its name from this ancient temple. The golden spire of the 5th-century Swayambhu stupa or ‘Monkey Temple' overlooks the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. It is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Legend has it that the history of the Valley began with the draining of an ancient lake by an Enlightened Being to reveal the Valley and a lotus flower was transformed into the hill and the shining light became the stupa itself. This area is steeped in history other sites include Kumari Chowk, Pashuratinath (temple of living Beings), Hanuman Dhoka Square, Basantapur Temple, Royal Palace, or the Kopan Monastery.

Day 24 to 26
Pokhara - Jomson - Kagbeni (2810m) - Muktinath (3802m)

We return to Pokhara, passing through various low-lying villages. There are even more beautiful views of snow-capped peaks, blue lakes and rivers to take in. The deep valleys and high mountains surrounding the Annapurna Himal include varied terrain, from subtropical jungle to a high, dry landscape.

On Days 25-26: We take an early morning scenic flight to Jomsom, a small village and headquarters of Mustang region, and then we make our way to the trek starting point. We trek to the Kaligandaki basin, crossing the Kaligandaki River Bridge. We then reach the Ekali Bhatti settlement, which is equipped with three or four Tea Houses. Following on, the gradual winding route takes us to the Kagbeni village at the base of two rivers. The next day we follow the Gandaki River and hike to the Jharkot Village with its amazing old fortresses in the Kali Gandaki valley, known for its black glass fossils. From here we climb gradually to reach Mukinath Temple, a three-storey temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists with a Gompa and pagoda style. Pagoda is dedicated to Lord Bisnu.


Day 27 to 28
Muktinath - Marpha (2670m) - Ghasa (2080m)
The trail from Muktinath descends again towards the Kaligandaki river basin and follows the path to reach Marpha village, which is famous for its apple orchards and the small fruit processing units. The cider made from Apple fruit is famous here. After a night here, we follow the path along the river basin, continuously descending, and reach the Ghasa village.

Day 29 to 31
Ghasa - Tatopani (1189m) - Ghorepani (2724m) - Tadopani (2540m)
Gradually going down to Tatopani, we approach the beautiful Rupse chhahara (waterfall) before heading the village of Dana for lunch. After lunch, we continue our walk to Tatopani through the bank of Kaligandaki River where we'll stay overnight. We gradually descend in the Gandaki valley and finish at the hot water springs in the Tatopani. The next day we have a 6 hour trek, ascending to Ghorepani. Here the trail winds through thick forest of Rhododendron and reaches Ghorepani. The best view for sun set over Mt Dhaulagiri and Annapurna can be seen from here making it a popular stop in the busy season. On day 31 we begin with a small trek to Poon Hill (3210m), where we will see a beautiful sunrise over the snow-capped Himalayas and several mountains in the distance including Annapurna (8091m). We then follow the trail through pine and rhododendron and arrive in Tadopani. This region has stunning scenery and beautiful villages.

Day 32 to 33
Tadopani - Ghandrung (1950m) - Nayapul (1070m) – Pokhara
Today we descend steeply through forests and then the trail eases as we reach Ghandrung, which is the village of Gurung people, one of Nepal's unique ethnic groups. The village also has a conservation office and museum in the Annapurna sanctuary. After a night here we continue along the descending path to the bridge at Nayapul, which is the last resort on the trek. From here we will drive to Pokhara.

Day 34 to 35
Pokhara - Kathmandu

We depart Pokhara in the morning and return to Kathmandu. You have the rest of the day free to relax and unwind after the trek or enjoy some more sightseeing. The tour ends after breakfast on day 35.