Castles in the Sky
Trekking in Nepal
November 3 - 17, 2007

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Nepal! The word conjures up images of majestic mountains marching into the distance, casting off glorious panoramas as they go; of stoic porters bearing heavy burdens; and of brave climbers risking all to conquer the loftiest peak in the world—Everest. Nepal is among the most exotic tour destinations on earth. It was essentially cut off from the outside world during the 100 year reign of the despotic Ranas (1846 to 1951), who forbade entry into their kingdom by all foreigners—Westerners in particular. Those who were able to find a way in encountered more obstacles preventing interaction with the Nepalese people.
     Only a few decades have passed since a Westerner named Bill Tilman managed to wrangle permission from the maharaja to go hiking in the Himalayas—thereby becoming the father of modern-day trekking in Nepal. Contact with Western attitudes and lifestyles in the intervening years, however, has not altered significantly the “essential” Nepal, providing visitors a rare opportunity to experience what it would be like to travel backward in time.
     The land itself seems “inclined” to enforce the old isolationist policies. The Greater Himalayas stand at an average elevation of 20,000 feet, guarding a 1,500 mile arc extending from northeastern Pakistan to northeastern India. Virtually impregnable, these white and formidable “castles in the sky” tower above everything, barricading this narrow, landlocked country from its neighbors to the north.
     Some of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world have been carved out over eons by runoff from melting snow. Rivers crisscross the country, chiseling out canyons too wide for bridges to span, with currents much too swift for safe navigation. The network of waterways serves to isolate far-flung communities, rather than connect them.
     To this day, few roads extend into the higher regions. Insulated from outside influences, remote villages embracing many cultures have maintained the same way of life unchanged for generations. The only way to reach vantage points with ravishing views of Himalayan splendor is by the most deliberate, unhurried, relaxed, and intimate form of transportation used by man since the beginning of time—walking!
     The principle aim of this tour is, of course, to see the Himalayas with our own eyes, and to spend unhurried time hiking in their shadows. However, Nepal offers visitors a great variety of natural wonders to experience in addition to trekking. We begin by visiting the palaces and temples near Kathmandu. After trekking, we transfer to Chitwan National Park—a tropical jungle within a mere 100 miles of glacial peaks (a fact that in itself speaks volumes about the terrain). Borne high on the shoulders of elephants, we take a safari in search of rare Bengal tigers.
     Toto Tours invites you to journey with us, away from the frenetic pace of everyday life, to a place of incomparable beauty in the shadow of Nepal’s majestic Castles in the Sky. The expedition promises to revitalize both body and spirit through a blend of vigorous exercise in fresh mountain air, peaceful solitude for communion with nature, and joyful camaraderie with other gay men.

ITINERARY

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Departure from the U.S.

You will need to be on your way today, at the very latest, or it won’t be possible for you to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal by the time our tour begins on November 5th.

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Phantom Day

Crossing the International Date Line, you lose an entire day in the air, which you’ll recover again on the return trip home.

Monday, November 5, 2007
Arrival in Kathmandu

Please take into account any stopovers or overnight layovers in Asia when booking your flights. You need to be in Kathmandu by the afternoon today. Upon arrival you are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, where we spend our first two nights. This evening Toto Tours hosts a cocktail hour with introductions and a brief orientation about the adventures to come, followed by a Welcome Dinner.     (Dinner Included)

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Everest Flightseeing / Kathmandu Sightseeing

Very early morning wake-up today for an exciting flightseeing excursion with incredible views of the high Himalayas, including Mount Everest (weather permitting). Afterwards we enjoy a walking tour Bhaktapur, where narrow lanes are crowded with shops and street vendors. After lunch we go to the sacred Bagmati River to tour Pashupatinath, the sacred temple site considered most holy by Nepalese Hindus. Next, visit Boudhanath, one of the world’s largest temples, built by Tibetan refugees from the Communist invasion. The evening is free to sample the cuisine of a restaurant of your choosing.     (Breakfast)

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Transfer to Pokhara

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short (35 minute) hop to Pokhara (3,000 ft. elev.), then drive 1½ hours to our trailhead in Nayapul (3,600 ft.). We meet our porters and begin our first trek—a 3 hour walk to our camp at Syauli Bazaar (3,950 ft.)     (All Meals)

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Syauli Bazaar to Ghandrung

After a leisurely breakfast begin today’s trek through several small villages, beautiful forests and terraced hillsides. Beginning gently along the river, the trail begins climbing in Nepalese fashion, up a “stairway to heaven” to Ghandrung (6,400 ft. elev.), center of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Here we will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Annapurna Massif and Machhapuchhre—also called Fish Tail Mountain. Our porters have our tented camp set up before we arrive, and welcome us with hot tea.     (All Meals)

Friday, November 9, 2007
Ghandrung to Banthanti

Ascend 2,600 feet while trekking through a dense rhododendron forest to the village of Banthanti (9,000 ft.). Our tented camp is near a small stream in a forest clearing.     (All Meals)

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Banthanti to Ghorepani

The trail to Ghorepani (9,187 ft.) requires trek through the forest, which emerges onto a ridge with close-up views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.     (All Meals)

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Poon Hill Ascent / Tirkhedunga

Arise very early for a 1-hour ascent up Poon Hill (10,500 ft.) where, if the weather is agreeable, you can witness a dazzling sunrise over the Annapurnas. Return to camp for a hot breakfast, then begin a 6-hour trek to Tirkhedunga (5,000 ft.). It will be our most strenuous day, including a stone staircase with 350 steps, but it’s downhill most of the way!     (All Meals)

Monday, November 12, 2007
Tirkhedunga to Pokhara

A beautiful walk to Birethanti (3,600 ft.), where our drivers wait at the trailhead to transport us to Pokhara (1½ hours), for our two night stay at the luxurious Shangri-La Village, where you will delight in a swim and a hot shower.     (Breakfast / Lunch)

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Free Day

Today is completely free to do exactly as you please. You may choose to just lounge by the pool with great views of the Himalayas off in the distance or take advantage of optional guided sightseeing tours in Pokhara and the surrounding area.     (Breakfast)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Pokhara to Chitwan

After breakfast drive to Chitwan National Park, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, depart on our first elephant safari and nature walk.     (All Meals)

Thursday, November 15, 2007
Chitwan National Park

Today embark on a full day adventure in the National Park, with outings by canoe, elephant, and on foot. If luck is with us, we may catch a glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger.     (All Meals)

Friday, November 16, 2007
Return to Kathmandu

Early morning wake-up for our last foray into the jungle. Transfer to Bharatpur Airport (45 minute drive) to board a flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to our hotel for the night. The afternoon is free for personal sightseeing and last-minute souvenir shopping. Tonight we celebrate the end of our Himalayan adventure with a Farewell Dinner.     (Breakfast / Dinner)

Saturday, November 17, 2007
Departure

The tour ends officially after breakfast. Arrange your flight for any convenient time today. We provide one group transfer to the airport for those people leaving this morning.     (Breakfast)

WHAT IS A TREK?

• It Is Not A Climbing Trip
  Trekking expeditions in Nepal generally focus on the Middle Hills region at elevations ranging from 1,500 feet to 10,000 feet. The highest elevation reached during this tour will be 10,500 feet.
  
• No Mountaineering Skills Needed
  We will always be on well-developed trails through villages and across mountain passes. We won’t have any reason to use ropes or crampons, or to rappel down a vertical cliff. Anyone who has ever walked on a mountain has all the skills necessary for this Toto Tours trek in Nepal.
  
• It Does Require Physical Effort
  A trek is physically demanding because of its length and the incredible changes in elevation. In this itinerary the greatest net increase in elevation during a single day is 2,500 feet. Most days offer an interesting mix of ascents and descents, so you actually climb more than the map says. The pace is leisurely and the physical exertion, though quite strenuous at times, is not sustained. You can take as much time as you need to rest along the trail.
  
• A Hiking Adventure Without All The Work
  Our camps are set up for us, meals and snacks served with regularity and plentitude, luggage borne on before. If you like to walk and are in reasonably good shape, you will be surprised at the ease of hiking carrying only a light day-pack.

A TYPICAL TREK DAY

6:00am — Wake Up Call
Tea, coffee and a bowl of warm water for washing are brought to your tent. Guests pack their duffels and day-packs. Porters carry all your gear. You carry only your day-pack, with water, sunscreen and other essentials.

6:45am — Breakfast
Consists of oatmeal porridge, muesli (granola), eggs, bread or chapati with butter and jam. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are available.

7:30am — Depart Camp
Hit the trail at a comfortable pace.

11:30am — Lunch Break
Hot lunch is prepared by an advance kitchen crew. It might consist of rice, daal, meat, vegetables, fruit and tea.

1:00pm — On The Trail Again

4:00pm — Arrive At Camp
Enjoy tea or coffee with biscuits. Time to relax or explore the camp environs.

6:00pm — Dinner
The evening meal is served in the mess tent, in the warm glow of pressurized lanterns. There are three courses: soup, entree, and dessert. Tea and coffee are also proffered in plentiful quantities.

9:00pm — Early To Bed
Even those who are usually “night owls” will be ready to burrow into their sleeping bags after a long, active day!

ACCOMMODATIONS
(Click hotel name to read description)

Kathmandu:  Hotel de l’Annapurna

Pokhara:  Shangri-La Village

Chitwan:  Machan Wildlife Resort

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements:  Passport (minimum validity of six months) and visa required, extendable. Tourist visas can be purchased upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at all other ports of entry. If you applying for the first time within the current year, visa fee is $30 for 60 days (single entry) and $80 for 150 days (multiple entries). For additional information, contact the Royal Nepalese Embassy, 2131 Leroy Pl., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/667-4550), or Consulate General in New York (212/370-3988). Internet: www.nepalembassyusa.org
     You need to bring four passport-sized photos with you—two for the visa, and two for your trekking permit. Check with your airline for visa and immunization requirements in countries you visit en route.

Airport Departure Tax:  A tax of US$24 per person is due (in US currency only) at the time of departure.

Immunizations:  No immunizations are currently required for entry into Nepal. However, it is always wise to have your inoculations up-to-date. Are your tetanus and hepatitis boosters current? We recommend you consult with your health care provider about the immunizations that would be advisable for your personal health. Also, review the information provided on the website of the Centers for Disease Control for the South Asia Region at: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm

Conditioning:  You will definitely need to undertake strength-building and conditioning exercises prior to departure. Start walking everywhere! Try to walk several miles at least twice a week for one month prior to departure. Climbing stairs or working out on a stairmaster is ideal for strengthening the muscles needed for this trek. Your enjoyment of this active adventure will increase proportionately with the amount of effort you put into your conditioning program.
     Condition your feet ahead of time. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Coat them with a thin layer of Vaseline after your shower, and slather on moisturizing lotions. Chapped, cracked feet will cause misery with every step in the dry mountain atmosphere!

Altitude Considerations:  Many visitors to the Himalayas experience what is known as “mountain sickness”—a feeling of dizziness and nausea accompanied by a throbbing headache. It happens when your body isn’t getting all the oxygen it wants. The Nepalese can’t relate because their bodies have adapted to the high altitude by producing more red blood cells. Unless you happen to live at 10,000-12,000 feet, you can expect to experience some degree of discomfort. It’ll be a male bonding thing!
     This tour has been designed to enable us to acclimate gradually to the ever-increasing altitudes, beginning in Kathmandu then slowly hiking our way upwards. If you think you’ll have a serious problem with the altitude, consult your physician and ask him to prescribe Diamox. It greatly lessens the symptoms of “mountain sickness.” You should also plan on drinking large quantities of water as the high altitude causes rapid dehydration.

On-Line Nepal Travel Guide:  The iexplore.com site has excellent information, and it is worth spending some time reading through the various links at this site: http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Nepal

WHAT TO BRING

This is an outdoor adventure, so leave behind fancy clothing, jewelry, and any nonessential items you will not use during the trek. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for giving some poor porter a coronary! Forget colognes, electric razors, hair dryers, conditioners, mousse and skin toners. The one acceptable indulgence is a bottle of moisturizer. There is virtually no humidity in the air, so your skin will need extra in packaged form.
     In November the weather is moderate in the Kathmandu Valley and the sun is warm, even high in the mountains. For much of the time spent hiking you will probably be comfortable wearing shorts—given the heat generated by walking uphill and down. But if the sky turns overcast you will feel an immediate chill in the moisture-deficient air. Locals protect themselves by wearing layers they can easily take off or put back on as the weather changes.
     Our outfitters provide all the necessary camping gear, including eating utensils, a foam pad and a “down-filled” sleeping bag. If you prefer to bring your own, just be certain it is “down-filled” and rated for temperatures below freezing. Count on it—the nights will be brisk!

Suggested Packing List

Please click on the link above to open a Word document which contains a comprehensive packing list of equipment recommended for trekking in Nepal. We suggest you print it and follow it carefully when packing.

Another List For Cross-Reference

We obtained an additional list from another source which contains more information about what might be considered optional and what is truly required, and also what is readily available for purchase in Nepal. It also includes a suggested list of what to pack in your medical kit. This additional list is merely for your information. Remember, your sleeping bag and pad are being provided by our outfitters in Nepal.

MONEY MATTERS

The currency unit in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR) = 100 paisa. Notes are in denominations of NPR1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25 and 10 paisa.
As of December 20, 2006, the interbank exchange rate was 73.04 Rupees to the U.S. $1.00.

Tipping—There will be many times during the tour when it will be appropriate to give a group tip, such as to our porters and guides and drivers. To make this easier for the group we will collect a suggested tip amount during the Welcome Dinner, which will be disbursed throughout the tour by the tour leader and an “auditor” selected from the group. Suggested tipping guidelines will be provided prior to departure so you can come prepared to participate.

RESERVATIONS

To reserve a place on this tour, click on the “Reservations” link above. Type in the information requested in each field, print the form, then sign and mail it to Toto Tours with your $500 deposit check. You also have the option to pay for your tour deposit with a Visa or MasterCard. The remaining balance is due 80 days prior to departure (by August 15, 2007). Tour registration is not complete until we have received both the form and your deposit check or credit card authorization.
     Toto Tours does not accept credit cards as a form of payment except for the amount of the tour deposit ($500 maximum can be charged per tour). An installment plan is possible. Our mailing address is: Toto Tours, 1326 W. Albion Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626-4753. Make checks payable to: Toto Tours, Ltd.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
     We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in Nepal! We will provide the necessary forms upon receipt of your deposit, or you can apply online by following the link at the bottom of this page.
     The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of seven participants.
     Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.

• fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
• good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
• undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
• willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
• eager to try new things & test limits;
• punctual;
• not whiners!

Raise your sights as high as the Himalayas themselves! Elevate your body and spirit while trekking with Toto Tours in Nepal amidst the Castles in the Sky. If you have any questions, please call us toll free at: 800-565-1241.

THE BOTTOM LINE
(tour prices per person)

Price:  $2,695 double occupancy

Private Room and Tent:  $400 extra, if available. (Paying a single supplement is not required. Toto Tours can match you with a roommate if you are traveling alone and prefer to share a room.)

Deposit:  $500 (Due at time of registration for the tour. May be paid with a credit card.)

Remaining Balance:  $2,195 double / $2,595 single
(Assumes $500 deposit has already been made)

Remaining Balance Due:  August 15, 2007

Included:  13 nights accommodations; all meals, transportation, activities, and guided excursions described in the itinerary (except those listed as “optional”); airport transfers; Everest flightseeing excursion; $30 Conservation Fee for trekkers; domestic flights within Nepal; Welcome and Farewell Dinners, fully escorted and guided tour.

Not Included:  Round-trip air transportation to/from Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal tourist visa; airport taxes and fees; items not specifically covered in the itinerary; insurance; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes; or any other expenses of a personal nature. Tips to drivers and guides are not included. We will make a collective group tip to them at our Farewell Dinner.

Note Regarding Airfare:  We highly recommend that you consider booking your international flights through Delhi or Bangkok. These major cities have frequent service to Kathmandu, and are excellent places to break your journey for a day or two on the way to Nepal to adjust your body rhythms to life on the other side of the world. We can help with hotel reservations in either city.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with AIG Travel Guard to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please follow the link below or call us for more information.