Nepal Tour Geology Trip and Holiday

Itinerary

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programmes may vary depending on local weather conditions. While the standard of accommodation in the towns is very good, local guesthouse accommodation in the mountains will be the best available (in some cases that can be basic with less than perfect plumbing and electrics). There will be five days on which treks are offered but only two days when participation in the trek is required.

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. You will be greeted by an airport pick-up service and taken to the Kathmandu Guest House hotel (KGH)

Day 2: To Pokhara. After an early breakfast, we drive westwards to Pokhara through a subtropical region of Nepal, passing from Quaternary lacustrine sediments of the Kathmandu Basin to crystalline rocks of the Kathmandu Nappe and on into low grade metamorphics of the Lesser Himalayan Series. Among these are Precambrian rippled quartzites viewed near a Gurkha Village a short distance beyond Mugling Bridge. Overnight at the luxurious Hotel Fish Tail Lodge overlooking the Phewa Lake

Day 3: To Tatopani. At Pokhara view mountains of Annapurna Range and visit limestone caves. An option exists to get up early and see the sun rise at Sarangkot just outside Pokhara. Drive to Tatopani via Beni following the Kali Gandaki river upstream much of the way. Metamorphic rocks of the Lesser Himalayan Series and Quaternary lake deposits and landslides can be seen along the way. Stay night at Hot Springs Hotel giving easy access to the hot springs of Tatopani

Day 4: To Kalopani. Journey from Tatopani to Kalopani with spectacular views of the main Kali Gandaki gorge. Crossing the Chomrong Thrust we pass into higher grade metamorphic rocks of the Greater Himalayan Series with abundant garnet schists, gneisses, calc silicates and evidence of anatexis. We commenced the day in sub-tropical vegetation but at Kalopani we are in a temperate climatic zone. A voluntary trek is along the Annapurna Circuit from Dana to Ghasa broadly parallel to the road. Stay night at Angel Hotel

Day 5: To Marpha. Circular trek to Kunjo away from the main valley to see Quaternary deposits and more high grade metamorphic rocks. This is a 10 km trek which can be shortened if required. Drive from Kalopani to Marpha. Crossing the South Tibetan Detachment we see dramatic folded strata of the Tethyan Himalayan Series in the hill sides, all virtually un-metamorphosed. Among these are the folded Lower Palaeozoic Nilgiri limestones. Marph is the ‘place of the apples’ where the vegetation includes pine, cypress and juniper forest. The apples are used for apple juice and apple brandy. Stay night at Marpha Palace hotel

Day 6: To Kagbeni. Drive to Jomsom via the Tibetan refugee settlement of Syang where we take morning tea. Fabulous views of Mount Nilgiri North (7061m). Quaternary lake deposits are present on the hill sides. Passing beautiful water-worn rocks in the river bed we trek from Jomsom to Kagbeni, known as the ‘Gateway to Mustang’, through deformed Mesozoic strata of the Tethyan Himalayan Series. The trek is 11kms with less than 100m height gain and usually takes about 5 hours. Impressively folded rocks are visible in the cliffs on either side of the wide valley. We pause to study the Lupra Fault and the inverted strata of a large-scale recumbent fold. Dramatic mountain scenery amidst arid ‘Tibetan’ landscape. Search for Jurassic ammonites in the river bed. Visit Lower Cretaceous plant-bearing deltaics on river margin at Kagbeni (2,804m). Observe Quaternary fluvial, lacustrine and alluvial fan deposits. Overnight at the Yakdonald Guesthouse, Kagbeni, where yakburgers are on the menu.

Day 7: To Chele (Mustang). Journey from Kagbeni to Chele via the pilgrimage centre of Muktinath (3,710m). This is a major local pilgrimage site, with numerous temples. Visit these temples and the ‘everlasting flame’, a natural methane flame that has burned for centuries. Spectacular views of folded strata in the hills in front of Dhaulagiri (8167m). Voluntary trek to Jhong, a medieval village and back to Kagbeni where the jeeps are rejoined (4 hours). Jurassic ammonite-bearing nodules (holy ‘shaligrams’) can be collected from the hillsides and streams around Muktinath and Kagbeni. The journey proceeds by road onwards into the restricted region of Mustang, through Chhusang, a typical Tibetan settlement, to Chele. Our route allows the study of dramatic cliffs on either side of deep ravines. These expose Cretaceous clastics with plant remains and Mio-pliocene terrestrial deposits of the Thhakola Graben. We discuss the origins of this extensional graben. Stay night at the Mustang Gateway Guest House of Chele.

Day 8: To Ghami. Drive from Chele to Ghami via Syanboche studying the Neogene sedimentary fill and basin boundary faults of the Thakkhola Graben including the ‘painted rocks’. At Syanboche exposure of Neogene lacustrine microbial mats with oncolites. Stay night at Royal Mustang Guest House

Day 9: To Tsarang. Drive from Ghami to Dhakmar and on to Tsarang for visit to local temple and fort. At Dhakmar view spectacular scenery and discus the origin of the brilliant red and ochre cliffs. Stay night at Mya Hotel

Day 10: To Lo Manthang. Visit Ghar Gumba monastery involving a short walk. Boulders of leucogranite and high grade metamorphic rock along this path give evidence of the geology to the northwest on the west side of the basin bounding fault. Drive to Lo Manthang (3,840m) observing lacustrine deposits within the colourful stratified fluvial sandstones. This Neogene fill of the basin forms dramatic cliffs. Voluntary trek taking the path from Ghar Gumba to Lo Manthang. Two nights at Tashi Delek Guest House

Day 11: At Lo Manthang. Visit temples within the old city walls of Lo Manthang. Drive north via river crossing near Kimalang where boulders of leucogranite and augen gneiss give further evidence of the Northern Himalayan crystalline rocks northwest of the basin bounding fault. Travel on to the dramatic Choser caves and climb inside these sandstones to see the life of the hermit. We spend a second night in Lo Manthang

Day 12: To Jomsom. Drive back south to Jomsom taking lunch at the Red House in Kagbeni. At Jomsom visit small museum with good displays about the natural history of Mustang. Splendid views of mountains surrounding the small airstrip. Jomsom is located partly on Quaternary glacial deposits and partly on lacustrine deposits, visible on both banks of the river. In the cliffs behind, major folds and faults can be seen the Jurassic limestones. Night at Neeru Guest House.

Day 13: To Kathmandu. Fly Jomsom to Pokhara, a spectacular flight through the mountains, and on to Kathmandu. Panoramic views of the mountains can be seen on the flight to Kathmandu. Two nights at Kathmandu Guest House

Day 14: In Kathmandu. Visit some of the following: the Museum of Fossil Mammals from the Siwaliks, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunaath Temple (the monkey temple) and the UNESCO Pashupatinath Temple

Day 15: Depart Kathmandu. Transfer to Kathmandu Airport for flight home.

Photo galleries and reviews of previous trips