The 'Annapurna Sanctuary trek' takes you into a hidden bowl in the heart of the Annapurna range, where you are surrounded by a spectacular panorama of towering peaks, ten of which are over 6,000m. One of the more popular Annapurna treks, this trek takes you as far as Annapurna Base Camp at 4,095m. We reach the sanctuary after a beautiful and varied trek through the Himalayan foothills, passing through small villages, mixed forests and terraced farmland. En-route we enjoy great mountain views at sunrise from Poon Hill. An excellent introduction to Nepal and trekking in Annapurnas.
You begin your tour in Kathmandu where you'll have a free day to explore the sights and sounds of the capital at your leisure. From Kathmandu you have a scenic road journey to Pokhara where your trek begins from nearby Naya Pul. Staying in lodges throughout, you will get to meet and talk with other trekkers and guides each evening, and discuss the places you've visited, and the route ahead, as well as making a contribution to the local economy.
Starting in the foothills, immediately north of Pokhara you start the trek by climbing to Ghorepani, where you can enjoy beautiful sunrise views of the Annapurna range from Poon Hill. From Ghorepani you cross several valleys and then ascend along the beautiful Modi Khola valley. Deep Rhododendron forests, with sprinklings of a whole range of orchids, and bamboo forests replete with chattering monkeys, are a dominant feature of this trek.
As you walk further up into the centre of the Annapurna Himal, you will visit Machhapuchhare Base Camp followed by Annapurna Base Camp itself. As you enter the Annapurna Sanctuary (a mountain ringed amphitheatre of immense proportions), you will be rewarded with spectacular views of 10 snow-capped peaks above 6,000m. The peaks include: Fang, Glacier Dome, Homunculi, Annapurna, Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Annapurna 3 and Machhapuchhare. All of these, combined with the impressive backdrop of the south face of Annapurna 1 (8,090m) make this trek a truly unique and unforgettable experience. After some time exploring the Sanctuary, you retrace your steps for a couple of days to leave, before trekking back towards Pokhara, stopping along the way at the hot springs near Jhinnadunda.
You have a free day in Pokhara which we leave to give you time to relax in this peaceful lakeside town, and to allow for any delays on the trek itself. From Pokhara you travel by road back to Kathmandu and have a little free time to do some last minute shopping or a little more sightseeing around the city and surrounding valley.
Extensions are available to visit Chitwan or Bardia National Parks, try some white-water rafting or perhaps even a home stay in a nearby Newari village.
Join us on this full-day tour of two of the most important sites in Mongolia: Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Terelj National Park.
The Chinggis Khaan statue is a 40-meter tall stainless steel statue representing the founder of the Mongol empire on a horseback. It is the world's tallest equestrian statue. Located on the north of Tuul river, the statue faces east toward Khaan's birthplace. Visitors can walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck, from where they can have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. There is also a museum exhibiting artefacts relating to the Bronze Age and Xiongnu archaeological cultures in Mongolia, and to the Great Khaan period in the 13 and 14th centuries.
After the tour of the statue complex, you will visit Terelj National Park, which is set in a spectacular valley only an hour drive from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Visitors can view fascinating rock formations against a backdrop of pine-covered mountains and wander along the tree covered banks of mountain stream. They can also stay overnight in a snug Mongolian Ger (traditional Mongolian dwelling) or in cozy guest rooms. It is an ideal place for taking a trip on horse along the Tuul river or the valley and visiting a local family.
Mountains, lagoons and waterfalls! This adventure will take you out of the heat of the city to experience what an amazing landscape Vietnam truly has. One not to be missed when you are in Hue City.
Itinerary:
At 7:00 am, we'll pick you up at your hotel in Hue city and depart to Bach Ma National Park. Stop at the Visitor Centre to be given an introduction about the park. Drive to the summit of Bach Ma and from this peak, Hai Vong Dai (Sea-view tower), to see the wonderful panorama of mountains, lagoons and East Sea. After a hike to the Five Lakes, swim in the cool and clear streams of water and take a rest at the huge rocks.
Lunch at local restaurant with Vietnamese food.
In the afternoon, we'll visit the beautiful Rhododendron Falls, with a height of 300m, located in the rhododendron flower forest.
The tour ends at about 5:30 pm at your hotel in Hue.
Halong Bay, literally meaning "descending dragon bay", is one of the Seven World Wonders, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Halong Bay has an area of around 1,553 km squared, including 1,960-2,000 islets, most of which are limestone.
Our driver and tour guide will meet and pick up at your hotel by in between 8.00 am to 8:30 am for the journey east of Hanoi (approximately 3 to 3.5 hours) to Halong City, the gateway to Halong Bay. En route, you will pass fields of busy workers farming their rice fields using traditional methods of cultivation.
12:00 pm You will embark on the boat. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board while cruising around this magnificent bay and among thousands of islands in this spectacular natural environment.
The main cave of the cruise trip will be Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Grotto), located on a remote island in the bay. As the name suggests, the cave adorned with fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Coloured lights transform the scene into a fairy tale palace.
We continue to cruise to the southern part of the Bay, where we will admire the view of many strange-shaped islands. Then cruise back to the pier, disembark and join the bus to return Hanoi.
There will be a stop on the way at a ceramics village in the middle on our way where artisans create superb ceramic vases and other masterpieces in their kilns and have the opportunity to purchase many of their products at a fraction of the price that you could expect to pay outside of Vietnam.
Arriving at about 7:30 pm, we drop you off at your Hotel. Finish the unforgettable Halong Bay full day trip!
This is a full day tour with the departure time of 8.00 am. This tour will take you to various destinations where the time in each can be flexible as per your request.
At 8.00 am, you will be greeted and picked up at your hotel’s lobby by a local tour guide who will take you to the summit by car. Along the way, it is a good idea to visit Cau Hoi lagoon and Chan May Port on such a sunny day. You will pass through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, mountains scenery and bamboo ranges there.
Once arriving at Bach Ma National Park center, you get an overview of the park at the center before being transferred to the summit of the mountain which is 20km away. Then, you will visit Hai Vong Dai by trekking along the path through forest. At Hai Vong Dai, you can have a 360-degree view of the surrounding area which is always shrouded in mist and clouds.
At about 11.00 am, you will be taken to the parking area by car to explore Five Lakes. You stop at Lake No. 5 to take a rest, have a light lunch and then soak in cool water of the lake. The climate in Bach Ma National Park and Five Lake is cool making it comfortable and enjoyable.
Following the morning adventure and a rest after lunch, you will continue the tour by trekking ahead to visit the the picturesque Do Quyen waterfall. This waterfall is named after the flowers at the stream under the waterfall that make Bach Ma attractive. You trek up and down about 700 steps on foot to admire the whole fall as silver water running from the height. It is a must-see destination in Bach Ma National Park. From the top of the waterfall, you will have a good view of water falling onto the rocks, see the forest below and clouds on the sky.
At about 4.00 pm, you finish the tour and return to Da Nang. The car will drop you off at your hotel in Hue city.
End of tour.
I just finished a month long of travelling with Intro Travel Thailand and Vietnam legs.
I really enjoyed the tours and the activities that were offered as well as the opportunity to meet some amazing people (both guests and group leaders) from all walks of life and around the world. In short, this experience was life-altering and has shaped my cultural understanding of Thailand and Vietnam as a whole.
In particular, I want to give a shoutout to my Vietnam group leader, Danny. He was truly amazing and catered to all your needs as a friend first then a group leader after, AND I WAS NEEDY ‚.
P.S, Rhi (My group leader from Thailand) was amazing too when I was feeling homesick and down!
I have just completed the 17 day Japan tour and it has been an incredible trip. The itinerary is packed with a wide variety of experiences from an origami class, staying in a 1000 year old temple, seeing snow monkeys (if you are lucky!) and a Samurai class to name a few. There is also plenty of free time throughout the trip to shop and explore which I appreciated as there were a few things I wanted to do which weren’t part of the itinerary.
My group leader Dan is an absolute legend!! It is my second tour with him and he always goes above and beyond to ensure we all have the best experience possible. He truly cares about each individual in the group and ensures everyone feels included. When we had free time Dan gave us plenty of recommendations of things to see and do and took us to additional places. He has an extensive cultural knowledge of Japan and I learnt a lot about Japan which I didn’t know about prior to the trip. It was also my birthday on the second day of the trip and it will definitely be a birthday that I will always remember!
I highly recommend doing this tour, you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much Dan! 😊
One of the best things Ive done as a solo traveller. Our tour guide Caro was the best and we had an unforgettable time! Cant wait to book another one soon!
India was INCREDIBLE! The safari, markets, forts, temples & food were all outstanding (especially the Taj Mahal). Ethan & Yoni were great leaders and looked after us so much the whole way! Our local guide was also outstanding and had so much cultural knowledge for us. 10/10 tour and cannot wait to do another!
Borneo with Contiki was honestly one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. Our trip leader was amazing and made everything feel so easy and fun. I met such a great group of people, and seeing orangutans in the wild was something I’ll never forget. Every excursion was packed with adventure I had the best time!
Discover the rich culture and breath-taking landscapes of Nepal on this 13-day Essentials adventure tour. Explore the temple-filled Kathmandu Valley and the beautiful Newari town of Bandipur. Spot wildlife on safari in Chitwan National Park, meditate in Lumbini and go boating in Pokhara. End your adventure with a spectacular 3-day Poon Hill trek in the Himalayas or opt to stay in Pokhara for a serene yoga retreat. This value-packed tour showcases the very best that Nepal has to offer, without breaking the bank, with hostel and homestay accommodation.
Combine the best of South Korea and Japan. Starting in South Korea's vibrant capital of Seoul, visit the Demilitarized Zone and embrace the historic sights of Andong and Gyeonju. Then, fly to Japan where you'll embrace the modern metropolis of Tokyo, explore temples in Kyoto, bamboo forests in Kamakura, and see the breathtaking Mt Fuji.
PRIVATE TOUR: See the best of the Indian Ocean. Discover grand temples, intricate ruins and a rich, intriguing culture combined with beautiful gardens and leafy wildlife parks in spectacular Sri Lanka. Then, breathtaking beaches and idyllic pleasures are waiting to be experienced in stunning Maldives.
This trek combines the quiet and little visited paths of the Tamang Heritage Trail, formerly a restricted area for trekkers, with the spectacular high mountain scenery of the Langang National Park.
Often overlooked, Langtang treks mountainous region to the north of Kathmandu provide some of Nepal's most spectacular scenery, and trekking in this area is as good as anywhere in the country. The soaring, snow-capped mountains at the head of the Langtang valley, and the rich cultural heartlands of the Tamang people in the lower foothills combine to make this a perfect trekking alternative to the better known Everest and Annapurnas treks.
You begin your tour in Kathmandu where you'll have a free evening to explore this bustling city. There's also time for any last minute purchases to take on your trek.
Following the Trisuli River north out of Kathmandu, we drive you to Syabrubesi, a Sherpa village located at the very edge of the Langtang National Park where your trek begins and you spend the first night in a trekking lodge. Staying in lodges allows you to spend more time meeting and talking with other trekkers and guides in the evenings, as well as enjoying a little more comfort at the end of each day and contributing to the local economy.
From Syabrubesi, you spend the first leg of the trek following the quiet Tamang Heritage Trail through an area heavily influenced by Tibet which was a restricted area for trekkers until 2014. You'll see lush terraced farmland, tiny homesteads and villages and learn a lot about typical rural Nepali mountain life. The tour then heads up the Langtang valley, crossing the river several times as you travel up along the gorge-like, lower section of the valley. You pass through oak and rhododendron forests and trek across glacial moraine on your way to the village of Langtang which was hit hard by the 2015 earthquake.
A little further up the valley is Kyangin Gompa, where you spend 3 nights and have plenty of time to explore the local area. You can do several day-walks from here such as ascending Cherko Ri (4984m) for some amazing views, or continuing up the Langtang Khola to Langshisha Karka.
After backtracking down the valey, you then travel through Sing Gompa for some more spectacular views before finishing the trek and driving back to Kathmandu. Extensions are available to visit Chitwan or Bardia National Parks, try some white-water rafting or perhaps even a home stay in a nearby Newari village.