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A jazz festival in the Himalayas? That’s right and Travels with Teri offers a music extravanganza to Jazzmandu 2011 this October. The Kathmandu Jazz festival, or Jazzmandu, is an annual event organized by Upstairs Ideas Pvt. Ltd. primarily by Chhedup Bomzan of The Upstairs Jazz Bar, and Navin Chettri, drummer and vocalist for The Cadenza Collective. This year marks Jazzmandu’s ninth anniversary! Jazzmandu has been successful at promoting Jazz in Nepal and bringing world-class musicians to audiences in Kathmandu. Teri Goldstein invites you to join her!
October 13 – San Francisco/Kathmandu
Depart San Francisco on a Cathay Pacific flight to Kathmandu via Hong Kong.
October 14 – En Route
Cross the International Dateline
October 15 – Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu, where you are met and transferred to Dwarika’s Hotel, a boutique heritage hotel built in Nepal’s old Newari style from rescued art and artefacts sourced throughout the Kathmandu Valley.
Accommodation: Dwarikas (all nights but the overnight in Pokhara)
Meals: Dinner
October 16 – Kathmandu
Today’s tour of Kathmandu includes the Temple of the Living Goddess, Durbar Square, the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the 2,000-year-old Swayambunath Temple, and the colorful lanes and alleyways of the local market place. This afternoon travel to the southwestern end of the Kathmandu Valley to visit In the ancient city of Patan, the “City of Grace and Fine Arts,” famous for its exquisite temples and talented artists. See the Krishna Temple and the Tibetan refugee handicraft center.
Meals: Breakfast, daily
October 17 – Kathmandu/Pokhara
Today take a morning flight to Pokhara transfer to the Fishtail Lodge, located on a peninsula in the Fewa Lake. From your lodge you can enjoy a view of the western Himalayas that many consider to be the most beautiful in the world, including the peaks of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhawalagiri.
October 18 – Pokhara/Kathmandu
After a morning at leisure return to Kathmandu by flight and transfer back to Dwarika’s Hotel.
Oct 19 – Kathmandu/Bhaktapur/Kathmandu
This morning’s tour takes you to Bhaktapur, once the ancient capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century and now known for its traditional culture. Your tour of this historic city includes the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows and the Golden Gate. The afternoon and evening will be free to attend performances of the 9th annual Jazzmandu Festival.
October 20 – Kathmandu/Bouddha/Pashupatinath/Kathmandu
After breakfast travel to the outskirts of Kathmandu to see The Great Stupa of Boudhanath, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and one of the world’s largest stupas. The tour continues on to the Pashupatinath Temple, Hindu’s holiest shrine on the banks of the Bagmati River. The afternoon and evening will be free to attend performances of the 9th annual Jazzmandu Festival.
October 21 through 25 – Kathmandu
The next five days are free to attend Jazzmandu performances and workshops, including the festivities for the closing of the festival on the night of the 25th. Events of the festival take place throughout the Kathmandu Valley, so you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area and visit the many historic sights and experience the traditional Himalayan culture in between performances and scheduled events. During this time you will also visit Himalayan Healers for a tour of the center and enjoy a massage.
October 25 – Kathmandu
Enjoy a fare well dinner.
Meals: Dinner
October 26 – Kathmandu/San Francisco
Transfer to the airport for your Cathay Pacific departure flight back to San Francisco via Hong Kong, arriving home the following morning.
This itinerary is subject to change in order to accommodate performances and events for Jazzmandu 2011. The full schedule of events is expected to be released sometime in May.
Cost from $5900.00 per person based on double occupancy and space is limited
Cost includes:
* Roundtrip economy class airfare on Cathay Pacific from San Francisco
* Roundtrip airport transfers
* Accommodation as per itinerary with all taxes and service charges included
* Roundtrip air from Kathmandu to Pokhara
* Sightseeing as per itinerary with English speaking guide
* Breakfast daily with orientation dinner and farewell dinner
* All taxes and service charges included
* Performance tickets
* Massage
