actionchallenge in An exhilarating six day ride into the breathtaking Himalayas where we meet Buddhist monks, camp beneath the snowcapped Annapurna mountains and take on the cycling challenge of a lifetime. We visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage site, before jumping on our bikes and heading across the plains towards the Himalayan foothills. As we begin our climb into the mountains, up a tough ascent over 34 km, we ride past waterfalls and through a stunning lush gorge. Our route takes us on a rollercoaster ride up steep valleys, down exhilarating descents and along gently undulating country roads. We see the Kali Gandaki River at Ramdighat, the bazaar town of Walling and explore the charming town of Pokhara with its beautiful lake and surrounding forests. The mountain scenery is stunning, with the skyline dominated by the sacred Macchapuchhre and the Annapurna mountains. We have the chance to meet young Buddhist monks at a Tibetan refugee camp before we climb up to Kaare at 1,770 meters and drop down into the dramatic Modi Khola valley carved out by glaciers. On our last day we have a real treat as we form a peloton to make an adrenaline-pumping 32 km descent through incredible scenery all the way down to Pokhara. We finally put on our brakes as we arrive at an orphanage to a very warm welcome from the children! at a glance trip highlights Activity: Cycling - Touring Location: Lumbini to Kathmandu Duration: 10 Days / 6 days cycling Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 300 km Group size: 15-25 people Enjoy a 10 day all inclusive group challenge Visit Lumbini the birthplace of Buddhism Camp under the Himalayan stars Enjoy a dramatic 32 km descent from the mountains Drop into the Modi Khola valley Take in magic views of Macchapuchhre Explore Kathmandu and Pokhara Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life. www.actionchallenge.com
introduction This fully-inclusive adventure to will begin as soon as you register! You will receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all the formalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offer pre-challenge briefings to prepare you for this tough and demanding trip. On the day of departure you will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whether you re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will board our flight to Kathmandu, ready to take on and the cycling adventure of a lifetime! brief itinerary Please visit our website for more details All inclusive trip cost from 1,929 Initial 399 deposit to sign up Three payment options available Please visit our website for more details Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Depart London Lumbina Butwal Tansen Tansen - Syangja Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Pokhara Nayapul Pokhara Project Kathmandu Arrive in London what s included International and domestic flights Action Challenge cycle guide Full support team, including local guides UK medic High quality touring bike hire All accommodation All meals, except in free time Airline taxes Treated drinking water All transfers in local vehicles National Park entrance fees Celebration dinner Invitation to a challenge briefing in London Fitness and training guide Discounts from UK retailers Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health This cycle has been classed as moderate as the majority of our cycling days will be under 40 km, with the longest day being only 80 km. This cycle would therefore suit anyone that was looking to take their cycling hobby to the next level and see the beautiful sights of. One of the best times to visit and complete the challenge is between October and November, when the country is at its most beautiful after the rains. The temperature is pleasant and visibility is excellent, ensuring you get the most stunning views throughout the trek. February and March are also good times to be trekking, with slighter warmer temperatures than during the latter part of the year.
itinerary DAY 1 - Depart London DAY 2 - The Birthplace of Buddha After landing in Kathmandu we make our way to the domestic terminal for a stunning flight to Bhairawa where we are met by our team and transferred to our hotel in Lumbini. There will be a chance to relax and freshen up before our bike fitting and briefing on the challenge ahead. It is here in Lumbini that Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautam, who in turn, as the Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. This afternoon we visit the magnificent monasteries and temples that are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening there will be a welcome meal before we sleep and recharge for the start of our ride. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel DAY 3 - Butwal Our first day in the saddle takes us through the beautiful lowland (Terai) countryside, close to the border with India. Gradually the Himalayan foothills appear and the Mahabharat range comes into view. We make our way along small country roads to Butwal, where the plains meet the hills. Tonight we camp in Butwal forest where we have a good dinner to prepare ourselves for tomorrow s first hill climb. Breakfast each morning will be in our hotel whilst lunches will be en route. All dinners will be at the hotel or a local restaurant, except in free time. These meals are likely to include local foods such as flat bread and humus, falafel, lentils and various meats and fish. Four nights in comfortable 2 / 3* hotels along the ride Two nights camping One night in a traditional ese tea house All accommodation is on a twin/tripleshare, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where possible. If you wish to share a room with someone you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 46 km DAY 4 - Tansen After a hearty breakfast we leave the plains behind us and start climbing into the hills. We ride past waterfalls, across causeways and up through a magnificent verdant gorge. It s a tough but steady climb all the way to the turn off for Tansen at 34km. Here we have lunch before making our way up to the village with its magnificent view and continuing just a little further to our hotel for the night. If you decide that you would like to have your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of places. Please email us for more information Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 54 km DAY 5 - Syangja We start our day descending 25km from Tansen down to the banks of the Kali Gandaki River at Ramdighat. From here the next climb is shorter than yesterday s with a 15km cycle to the top where the road levels off, followed by an undulating route up through the valley to Walling, a big bazaar town, in time to relax and lunch. This afternoon we continue up through the valley to Syangja were we set up camp for the night. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Distance: 84 km Insurance - approximately 60 Tourist Visa - 20 Vaccinations - Up-to-date on boosters Tips for local staff - $60 Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150.
DAY 6 - Pokhara With good visibility, the views today are incredible. We start with a gentle climb and a lovely ride up through the river valley. We make our final 200 m climb to Naudanda before cresting the hill and starting our downhill descent into the Pokhara valley. From here it is downhill almost all the way to our lake-side hotel in Pokhara where we check in and have a shower before heading out for lunch. This afternoon we take our bikes for a short run around Phewa Tal, Pokhara s beautiful lake. At 800 m, this is a special town with a laid back charm and incredible Himalayan skyline dominated by the sacred Macchapuchhre and the Annapurna mountains. A kit list will be sent to you on receipt of registration. Many everyday items can be used on this challenge, and we offer a kit hire service to keep costs down. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent Distance: 35 km DAY 7 - Nayapul We leave Pokhara and head west on a quiet road past Tibetan refugee camps where we can stop to meet some of the young Buddhist monks. The road continues past Phedi, where the trek to Annapurna base camp starts, before we start the steady climb to Naudanda. It is quite a climb but we finally top out at Kaare at 1,770 meters before dropping into the Modi Khola valley. From here there is a short walk to our overnight stop past Naya Pul (New Bridge) which is the starting point of the Ghorepani/Poon Hill treks. We spend the night in the cozy tea house a little off the highway in Birethanti. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Teahouse Distance: 46 km DAY 8 - Pokhara For our final cycling day we make our way back to Pokhara. The last leg of our journey beins with a 13 km transfer to the summit of the hill we cycled up yesterday. From here, we finish our ride in style with a fabulous, exhilarating 32 km descent, ending at an orphanage with a very warm welcome from the children! We have worked with the orphanage for several years so we will get the chance to join the children for a simple lunch and spend time with them before making our way back to our hotel by mid afternoon. There will be time to freshen up before a well deserved final celebratory dinner by the side of the lake. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 32 km If you would like to join the group in Lumbini or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land only option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet your group at the hotel on day two of the itinerary. Please email us for more information Personal kit / equipment Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150. DAY 9 - Akathmandu / Depart Today we head to the airport for our short domestic flight back to Kathmandu. Back in Kathmandu we have a free day in this amazing city. This evening we regroup and make our way back to the airport for our overnight return flight to the UK. Meals: B,L,D DAY 10 - Arrive UK
payment options A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of 399 (for 2016) is required to secure your place. We offer 2 deposit payment options: OPTION 1: Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration. OPTION 2: Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when you register and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the following month. For this option, a 10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment. ATOL is a scheme that protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad if your travel company collapses. Action Challenge is 100% ATOL bonded, which provides you with full financial protection. On receipt of your registration fee, you will receive an ATOL certificate explaining your protection. Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost. Full details are on our website. 1) SELF FUNDED For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It s then completely up to you whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice. The total all inclusive cost of this trip is 1,929 (for 2016), which, after you pay the 399 Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of 1,530. This final balance is due for payment 10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline. 2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising a significant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least 3,160 (for 2016) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues, and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 3,160 (for 2016), your charity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 1,530 (the same as if you were you were Self Funded ) - the charity will retain at least 1,630, to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. how to book To book on to this challenge, please visit our website; www.actionchallenge.com for a full list of prices and all available dates. private groups If you are a charity, business, school or private group with a minimum of 10 people and fancy your own bespoke trip, please call us on +44(0)207 609 6695 or you can send us an email to events@actionchallenge.com for more information. 3) MIXED FUNDED A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and also fundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal for anyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT is happy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with your registration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights & accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship in respect to the challenge component of their trip. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 2,350 (for 2016), your charity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 900. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balance yourself, which will be a figure of 630 (These two amounts add up to the same as the Self Funded final balance) - the charity will retain at least 1,450 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. @actionchallenge www.facebook.com/actionchallenge Action Challenge UK Ltd United House North Road London N7 9DP United Kingdom