Ready for an adventure? Join us in Nepal for a journey which incorporates both the iconic sights of Kathmandu and the Himalayas and local women’s cooperatives and home visits in the western plains. Our 10-night journey in Nepal begins in Kathmandu where we will explore Patan Durbar Square to explore temples and wander the streets and craft shops on a guided tour. Textiles will feature prominently here as we see carpets woven by Tibetan refugees, visit weavers who work with nettle, silk, hemp and bamboo, and have a felt making workshop.
Then it’s off to Chitwan National Park where we will experience the wild side of Nepal at our jungle resort for 2 nights. A jeep safari, a ride in a dugout canoe and a jungle walk to a local gharial breeding center will be balanced by time to relax on the resort’s veranda overlooking the river and to enjoy cultural events which will introduce us to the region’s Tharu tribal culture. Tharu tribal customs are quite localized and we will get an in depth look at several regions during our travels. If you are really enjoying the wild side, sign up for a rhino wake-up call at the resort and you will be notified if any rhinos come to graze on the resort's grass at 5:00 am!
Heading north, we will travel to Pokhara, perched at the edge of the Annapurna region of the Himalayas to tour the Women’s Skills Development Center. There we will make our own macrame souvenirs as well as learning about how they collect wool, dye their yarn, weave fabric and sew accessories for sale to support their community. A scenic boat ride will be icing on the cake with amazing views of the mountain backdrop.
From here we will fly west to experience an area of Nepal that is definitely off the beaten path. In Dang we will stay at the Tharu Cultural Center for 2 nights and learn in depth about the varied traditions of this tribal culture and how they were incorporated into the now illegal caste system imposed by India. The Tharu people are very proud and independent, and it is fascinating to see how they preserve, honor and celebrate their traditions while rejecting the position imposed on them by the caste system which still lingers even though it was abolished in 1963. Our time will be spent amidst the rice paddies, visiting homes and speaking with locals. We will learn traditional dances, eat traditional food, and meet with women who sew traditional costumes and weave baskets.
When we are thoroughly sated with local food and the warm hospitality of the locals we will fly back to Kathmandu for one final night before heading home.
This trip needs at least 10 participants in order to proceed (i.e. the trip is "guaranteed"). We strongly advise you to wait to purchase your flights until the trip is guaranteed by us to go forward. Unless otherwise stated, our regular Terms and Conditions apply to this trip and for any cancellations (click here to see our Terms and Conditions).
Tour Activity Level
We would describe this trip as a Woolly Wander.
Mobility Comfort Level = Mobility Level 3+
Two factors to be aware of are that you will need to climb in and out of a dugout canoe and enjoy a gentle mile-long walk through the forest. You will need to be able to use the occasional squat toilet that we may encounter in rural Nepal as we visit the homes of locals. All of our accommodations will have Western toilets.
Food
Due to local food customs we cannot guarantee access to vegetarian food in the West of Nepal and those with serious food allergies should be cautious eating food offered during home visits. We will do our best with our interpreter to notify locals of allergy requirements ahead of time, but may need to bring a back up supply of allergen-free food if there is any question of a misunderstanding. Please be clear if you have a life threatening allergy as we will not be close to a medical center.
Review our Tour Activity and Mobility Comfort Levels here.
Visa Requirements
A Tourist Visa is required to visit Nepal and can be applied for online with a final collection on arrival.
Travel Insurance Rowan Tree Travel highly recommends purchasing travel insurance. You may purchase through our preferred partner Arch RoamRight by clicking here or through your own provider.
Arranging Your Flights In order to gather easily for the tour, we provide an arrival and departure "window" at a major transportation hub - typically an international airport at your destination country. Flights scheduled outside the provided windows may result in additional transportation costs and missed tour activities. For this reason, we greatly appreciate your cooperation in booking travel that accommodates our specifications.
Please do not purchase airfare until the tour is guaranteed by RTTF to go forward.
Please Note the Following Rowan Tree Travel reserves the right to alter any part of this itinerary in order to address weather conditions, unforeseen circumstances or to improve the participant experience.
All accommodations during the scheduled tour
Breakfast is included every day
Workshop Fees & Supplies, unless otherwise specified
Entrance fees and activity fees, unless otherwise specified
An average of two meals per day. Prepare to purchase either dinner or lunch based on the day’s activities
Private group transportation in a private mini-coach
Soda, alcohol, cafe items
KATHMANDU
Our 10-night journey in Nepal begins in Kathmandu where we will explore Patan Durbar Square to explore temples and wander the streets and craft shops on a guided tour. Textiles will feature prominently here as we see carpets woven by Tibetan refugees, visit weavers who work with nettle, silk, hemp and bamboo, and have a felt making workshop.
CHITWAN
We're off to Chitwan National Park where we will experience the wild side of Nepal at our jungle resort for 2 nights. A jeep safari, a ride in a dugout canoe and a jungle walk to a local gharial breeding center will be balanced by time to relax on the resort’s veranda overlooking the river and enjoy cultural events which will introduce us to the region’s Tharu tribal culture. Tharu tribal customs are quite localized and we will get an in depth look at several regions during our travels. If you are really enjoying the wild side, sign up for a rhino wake up call at the resort and you will be notified if any rhinos come to graze on the resort's grass at 5 am!
POKHARA
Heading north, we will travel to Pokhara, perched at the edge of the Annapurna region of the Himalayas to tour the Women’s Skills Development Center. There we will make our own macrame souvenirs as well as learning about how they collect wool, dye their yarn, weave fabric and sew accessories for sale to support their community. A scenic boat ride will be icing on the cake with amazing views of the mountain backdrop.
NEPALGUNJ
From Pokhara we will fly west to experience an area of Nepal that is definitely off the beaten path. In Dang we will stay at the Tharu Cultural Center for 2 nights and learn in depth about the varied traditions of this tribal culture and how they were incorporated into the now illegal caste system imposed by India. The Tharu people are very proud and independent, and it is fascinating to see they preserve, honor and celebrate their traditions while rejecting the position imposed on them by the caste system which still lingers even though it was abolished in 1963. Our time will be spent amidst the rice paddies visiting homes and speaking with locals. We will learn traditional dances, eat traditional food, and meet with women who sew traditional costumes and weave baskets.
KATHMANDU
Thoroughly sated with local food and the warm hospitality of the locals we will fly back to Kathmandu for one final night before heading home.
Heather loves designing and leading knitting and fiber tours. She’s fascinated with local traditions, unique yarns, and the modern twist added to both by current designers. Her ever-widening exposure to both has led to a long queue of patterns and a dramatic accumulation of stash! She’s also been trying her hand at new wooly endeavors like felting and spinning. When not knitting, traveling or planning your next trip, Heather tends her small flock of chickens and ducks, volunteers in her local thrift shop, and spends time with her two dogs, her family, and friends in Dunbarton, NH.
Lindsay Roberts, aka “The Border Tart”, is a dyer, a stitcher, a maker and a lover of words. Inspired by color and pattern and passionate about Indian artisans and textiles, she values most highly all things made by hand. Lindsay uses both indigo and acid dyes to produce a full range of colors in her dye work. Her offerings are sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, but they seldom shout. She’s also a proponent of mindful stitching and hand work of all kinds. In her words, “Making with your own hands brings pleasure, calms the heart rate and imbues each piece with love.” Peruse her hand-dyed yarns and small edition stitching kits here. You’ll also find her images, thoughts and adventures on Instagram at @bordertart. We’re so pleased to collaborate with this wonderful Scottish artisan and teacher.
We design and facilitate small group tours rooted in an interest in craft, culture, unique environments and the friendships and memories that emerge from grand adventures. Since 2013, we have been, and continue to build, a network of devoted participants, friends, artisans and hosts that enrich every excursion.
