Tangata

Provided we can survive the Ganges cruise with Dogster, we are off to Kathmandu for six days in mid October.

We will be staying at the Crowne Plaza as I have enough points for a week there.

We have read Kathie’s very helpful report and have decided on what we want to do. In summary:

First day Durbar Square and Freak Street, close enough to the hotel for us to be able to walk.

Second day, Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath in the morning, Patan in the afternoon.

Third day, an early start to Nagarkot to see the sunrise, followed by Changu Narayan,
Bhaktapur Dubar Square and the Golden Door. Then in the afternoon Swayambhinath.

Fourth day, a full day excursion to Pokhara including Phewa Lake, Devi's Falls and the Tibetan Refugee Camp.

Fifth day, a flight to Everest in the morning and the afternoon left for a wander around on our own.

Sixth day, fly out.

So, to the questions:

Are we trying to do too much?

Should we schedule the flight for an earlier day in case the weather is unsuitable?

Should we arrange in advance for a car, driver and guide or can we do that when we arrive? If so, does anyone have any recommendations?

Do we need to arrange airport transfers in advance, or do we haggle with a taxi driver?

Kathie

It is a lot, but might be do-able if everything works flawlessly - not a given in Nepal.

Are you flying to Pokhara in the morning and flying back in the evening? Those flights do normally fly, but can be delayed by fog or low clouds or whatever. This is the part of the trip that looks the most difficult to me - is it likely that both flights will go approximately on time?

The Everest flight is spectacular, but again, may be delayed. However, if you book the first flight in the morning, if it can't fly then it will likely fly later and your position as someone on the first flight will assure you get on the first plane that does fly.

No need to pre-arrange a car and driver. Just negotiate with a taxi driver to take you where you want to go. One of the nice things about doing it that way is that you can meet the driver first and decide if you want to negotiate for him to drive you for a half day or a day.

Check with your hotel - they likely send a van to meet all of the flights.

It all sounds like a great trip!

Tangata

Thanks Kathie,

I was hoping that you would reply.

We were hoping that it was possible to drive to Pokhara and back in a day. Is that too ambitious? The drive was a major part of the attraction.

Tangata

I have just had a look at the distances involved. Very doable in Thailand but not, I think, in Nepal. I guess we will have to find something different to fill that day. At least it gives us some slack.

Any suggestions for surviving Dogster for 15 days? (LOL)

Kathie

You might want to drive to Nagarkot, a place people go to see the sun rise over the mountains. Nagarkot itself is not very interesting, but seeing the surrounding countryside is worthwhile.

Surviving dogster for 15 days? Well, you'll soon be able to tell us. Pack your sense of humor, sense of adventure and perhaps a bottle of good wine from duty-free.

dogster

Surviving Dogster? Easy.
A day trip to Pokhara - DRIVING?
Mmmm - we-e-ell, six hours there, maybe seven. Hmmm, maybe then a brief look at where the mountains should be, if they weren't covered by cloud - which they will be] a cup of coffee - then you can pop back in your car and drive the six hours back to KTM.

Mmmm - sounds like a great day to me...

You haven't allowed for the two days you'll need to spend getting over the hashish grilled cheese slices.

An early start to see the sunrise in Nagarkot. So, you're happy about getting up at 4.00 a.m. for a two hour drive to see something that almost certainly won't be there? And, if any of it IS, it'll be covered by cloud and haze within 30 minutes.

You know - apropos the Everest flight. If you got creative - you could fly to Paro from KTM on your way home to BKK - now THERE'S an Everest flight. Gobsmacking.

AND - do you notice how this post disappeared off the list after about a minute on the main page? This is gonna start to piss people off soon. I'm bringing it back up to the top so you get some more responses.

JohnH

I spent a full day in Bhaktapur, I really loved it. It's essentially a small town with a restored center, and there's quite a lot to see and a very enjoyable place to just wander around and get lost. It was about a 90 minute drive from the Hyatt in Kathmandu. Adding Swayambhinath to that day seems like a lot to me.

I agree, try to get the earliest Everest flight as they told me it is often clear at dawn and then becomes cloudy later in the morning. If you're doing the flight, maybe it isn't necessary to see the sunrise at Nagarkot also? I haven't been to Nagarkot, but the Everest flight was spectacular. I would also consider scheduling it earlier than your last day in case the weather is bad - that way you'll have another chance to do the flight.

Kathie

Dogster, I knew you'd have some input!

Actually, my thought about Nagarkot wasn't so much to see the "sunrise over Everest" which is rarely visible, but to drive there at a reasonable hour just to see the countryside.

rhkkmk

we need to know all the lurid details about the dog...keep a notebook handy and record his every move...