Description
Group Size: Up to 25 Participants
Tour Grading: Easy to Moderate
Activity: Cultural, Arts, Heritage, Nature, and Wildlife
Sights: Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Swayambhunath stupa, Boudhanath stupa, Ancient city of Bhaktapur, Chitwan National Park
Best Season: All Year Round
Trip Route: Kathmandu-Chitwan-Pokhara-Kathmandu
While Nepal is known as a country of hills and mountains, many visitors are pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the Terai, the lowlands bordering India. The Chitwan National Park is a jewel on the Terai. It has run a very successful one-horned rhinoceros breeding program, and visitors on safari are almost guaranteed to spot one of the spectacular animals, as well as other wildlife. This tour gives you time to fully explore the highlights of Chitwan while staying in some luxurious–as well as unique–accommodations.
Trip Highlights
- 2000-year-old Swayambhunath stupa (temple)
- Exhilarating one-hour mountain flight view of the dramatic Himalayas and glorious Mt. Everest
- Boudhanath stupa, one of Asia’s largest shrine
- Elephant back safari/nature walk with boat ride in Rapti river
- Jungle safari in Chitwan
- lives of Tharu people
- Explore lakes, gorges, and waterfalls in Pokhara
- Sunrise view from Sarangkot
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Welcome to Nepal. You are met on arrival in Kathmandu and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon tour of the capital city of Nepal, visit the temple of the Living Goddess, Durbar Squares with its array of temples; and Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Travel up to the 2000-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa-nicknamed the Monkey Temple, set high on a hill with commanding views of the Kathmandu valley.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 2: Kathmandu: Explore Kathmandu
Early this morning, enjoy the thrill of an exhilarating one-hour mountain flight (optional with additional cost) journey to view the dramatic Himalayas and glorious Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth. Back on the ground, spend the rest of the day exploring the valley.
Visit Pashupatinath Temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples in South Asia. See devotees taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati river. The cremation ground is near the temple, and the ashes of the people cremated are sprinkled into the waters of the Bagmati and eventually carried to the sacred Ganges.
Drive ten minutes to Boudhanath Stupa, Asia’s largest Buddhist shrine. The stupa with a 100-meter (328-foot) diameter and 40-meter (130-foot) height can be spotted from many viewpoints in Kathmandu. There are several Buddhist monasteries around, and the area is predominantly Tibetan, which reminds me very much of the Barkhor area of Lhasa, Tibet. Late afternoon, drive 14 km east to visit the ancient city of Bhaktapur, the third major town in the valley. Enjoy the cobblestone streets free of traffic and visit Lion Gate, the five-story Nyatopolo temple, and the Palace of 55 windows.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 3: Chitwan National Park
Drive to Chitwan National Park
Distance 175km-5hrs. This morning, drive to Chitwan National Park. It is a scenic drive, passing through many fascinating villages. This wildlife reserve, one of the best managed and preserved in Asia, contains many species of rare animals and birds. On arrival, a guest briefing will take place, followed by lunch and an elephant-back safari or nature walk with a boat ride in the Rapti River.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 4: Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park
Enjoy Chitwan National Park with Jeep jungle drives, nature walks, and elephant orientation. Afternoon visit to the nearby villages of Tharu. This provides an excellent and colorful introduction to the culture, farming, and crafts of the Tharu people. Also, learn about the flora and fauna of Chitwan.
In the evening, we will be entertained by local Tharu dances. Tharu are the aboriginal inhabitants of the area and still live today with their century-old lifestyle and traditions.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 5: Pokhara
Chitwan to Pokhara
Distance 185KM-5hrs. Leave for Pokhara Valley, situated in the lap of the mighty Annapurnas and fishtails. Pokhara, with its lakes, gorges, waterfalls, a mysterious cave temple, and gorgeous mountain views, truly makes it the natural capital of Nepal. We check out our hotel on the lakeside and set out to explore the wonders of the area. We begin at Davis-Fall, where water cascades down from the lake and disappears into Earth. You may also want to visit the Tibetan village and its monastery. In the evening, stroll around the lakeside.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 6: Pokhara
Explore Pokhara
Early in the morning, drive to Sarangkot (1992 m) for a sunrise view and Himalayan panorama. On a clear day, Sarangkot affords spectacular views of the western range of the Himalayas and the valleys. On the way back, we stop at Bindaebasini Temple, the most revered Hindu temple in Pokhara, and also stop at the vibrant Old Bazaar. If you are keen on hiking, hike to the Peace stupa at the ridgetop towering over the Fewa Lake. Take a boat trip to the Fewa Lake and visit the island temple of Goddess, it is probably the most visited of all temples in Pokhara. Depending on your interest, also visit the Mountaineering and National History Museums.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 7: Kathmandu
Flight Back to Kathmandu
Morning, take a 30-minute flight back to Kathmandu. Later on, travel south to the typical Newari village of Bungmati. Bungamati is revered as the home of Matsyendranath, the god of rain and compassion, worshipped equally by Hindus and Buddhists. The next stop is to visit Khokana, a small 7th-century Newari village that keeps itself aloof from all modern civilization.
Exploring Bungamati and Khokana will give an intimate picture of the primitive way of life that still exists in Nepal today. Free afternoon to pursue your interest.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 8: Departure
Today, transfer on time to the airport for your flight back home or onward destination.
'Tashi Delek'