Red Panda Trip in Nepal

Arrive at Kathmandu international airport. After completing the visa formalities and collecting your luggage at the airport, please exit the arrival hall. Your tour leader will wait for you outside the arrival hall and take you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Please see your name placard when exiting the arrival hall. And you will be taken to your hotel where you will be served welcome drinks and after you freshen up, your trip leader will brief you about your trip in the evening at your hotel lobby.

After an early breakfast, we set off on a guided tour of Kathmandu's primary historical sites. We will visit iconic monuments, temples, monasteries, palaces and UNESCO World Heritage sites including Boudhnath. As we wander through the exotic locales of Kathmandu, the more diverse cultural milieu of the valley welcomes us with warm hospitality. At Boudhnath, one of the largest stupas in Asia, we get a deeper insight into Buddhism. It can invoke your spiritual senses. There will be a brief orientation followed by Trip Preparation at noon in the hotel lobby.

Ilam – Travel – Today you will be transferred to the airport and domestic terminal. From here you will be taken on one of the world's most scenic domestic flights as you travel to the eastern border town of Bhadrapur (45 minute flight) if the weather is fine. 7 of the top 10 highest mountains in the world can be seen on a clear day from this flight. Once you land in Bhadrapur, you will drive north to the city of Ilam in your private vehicle. This is the closest big city to the wildlife viewing habitat and our resting place tonight.

Dobet and Red Panda Accommodation - Red Panda Tracking - Day 4 You will be transferred once again to our private jeep. This time you will be taken to true rural Nepal and the small village of Dovate (4 hours). The road will be bumpy as we head off the beaten path and into the wonderful world of Red Panda. The population of red pandas here is relatively new to science and it is because of the work of scientists here (from RPN) that we are able to go here to see red pandas.

Over the full days you will hike through rhododendron and oak forests in search of the Fire Fox, otherwise known as the Red Panda. During our time at Dobet we will contribute to the sustainable development of the village by supporting the local people and increasing the value of local wildlife to the villagers. It is very important to contribute to the local communities to conserve endangered species and ecosystems and that is why we use our accommodation, level - local tea houses. This helps to provide financial returns to the local people to keep the red panda habitat intact.

Trekking around the forest in search of red pandas is always worth keeping a keen eye out for other wildlife like leopards, leopard cats, mainland seros, Himalayan orange-bellied squirrels, yellow-necked martens, giant Indian civets and dozens of birds. This dense and spectacular forest with beautiful red pandas. Depending on local conditions we will try to arrange some spotlights in the forest after dark. This is a great way to catch a glimpse of rare predators such as marten, leopard cats and perhaps the Asiatic black bear. As RPN trains local people to track red pandas the success rate of finding them has increased to a current high of 95%, so we are very confident of getting great sightings of this small plant mammal within 3 days of being here.

Ilam – Red Panda Tracking and Traveling – Today you can look for red pandas through tea plantations and terraced farms before traveling from Dobate to Ilam (4 hours).

We wake up early in the morning, enjoy our rest/fast and get ready for the arrival of Bhadrapur Janachhu and our plane for the flight back to Kathmandu. On our touchdown at Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of your day is at your leisure.

Enjoy a free day in Kathmandu. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you wish to extend your stay.

Thank you for joining us on this trip and it has been a pleasure getting to know you during this time. We hope this venture has enriched your experience with happy memories. Keep in touch and hope to hear from you soon.