8 Days Nepal Tour Offer

The Kathmandu Valley
The ancient city of Kathmandu is slowly turning into a modern metropolis, but numerous temples and monuments of great beauty and historical significance remain within its bustling streets and squares. The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal is synthesized in Kathmandu valley, representing a perfect example of harmony in urban design, elegant architectures, refined cultures, colourful bazaars and straightforward and hospitable people. Once separate kingdoms in it, Kathmandu valley contains three fabled cities – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Out of ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal, seven cultural heritage sites are in Kathmandu Valley. All those heritage sites are like open museums!

Some two hundred years ago, a Western visitor wrote that there were more temples than houses and many idols than people in the city. Indeed, Kathmandu boasts one of the largest assemblages of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built.

The Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by several viewpoints, such as Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Namobuddha and Chandra Giri and these viewpoints offer magnificent panoramic views of the Himalayas. The view is particularly memorable at the end of the day when the sun slowly sets beyond the horizon and the mountains glow in the evening light. Both sunrise and sunset, from these viewpoints, are genuinely breathtaking. Sometimes the lower valley remains under a thick cloud, setting off the mountains high above them. One needs a minimum of 6 days to visit all the historic sites of the valley, including seven world heritage sites and others.

Chitwan:
From Kathmandu, we take an extended trip to Chitwan National Park for a jungle safari experience. The Chitwan national park is one of Asia’s best national wildlife observation parks, making it an excellent choice for safari. It was created in 1973 and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

Our guides are native, English or any other language speaking with knowledge of the country, they are essential to enjoy the most incredible and authentic places. The guides proudly show the most tourist sites that we cannot miss and those places that you will never find in guide books, so your trip to the Himalayas country is a great experience.

Pokhara
Pokhara, one of the most beautiful cities in Nepal, is located in the midwest region of Nepal. Pokhara is 800m above sea level; therefore, its temperature is always warmer than in Kathmandu. The views of the Mountain are stunning. It has several beautiful lakes within its perimeter. It is a place to relax and enjoy tranquillity and beauty.

Trip Highlights

Trip Profile

Short Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (NEPAL)

DAY 2: VISIT SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA / PATAN / BASANTAPUR / ASHON

DAY 3: VISIT PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE / BHAKTAPUR CITY

DAY 4: DRIVE TO CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

DAY 5: FULL DAY SAFARI PROGRAM IN CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

DAY 6: DRIVE CHITWAN TO POKHARA

DAY 7: SARANGKOT VIEWPOINT, POKHARA & FLY TO KATHMANDU

DAY 8: PANORAMIC MOUNTAIN FLIGHT AND DEPARTURE

Short Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (NEPAL)

Our personnel will be waiting at the Kathmandu international airport to receive you with a traditional welcome. After checking into the hotel and refreshments, your guide of the circuit will inform you about the necessary formalities and the upcoming program. Depending on arrival time, you will have the choice of visiting nearby shrines or resting.

• Accommodation in the Hotel.

DAY 2: VISIT SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA / PATAN / BASANTAPUR / ASHON

After breakfast, we'll drive to Swayambhunath. Located on a lovely little hill, Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the fascinating architectural jewels of the country. This Buddhist shrine is said to have been built around 250 b.c. The white dome, the main feature of the stupa, is identified with the spotless, pure jewel of Nirvana and is crowned by a thirteen-tiered golden spire of conical shape. On the cube at the spire's base is a pair of the Buddha's all-seeing eyes, painted on all four sides. The stupa stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base, believed to have surfaced (self-originated) years ago from the lake that initially filled the Kathmandu Valley.

From the hilltop, one can enjoy a panorama of Kathmandu and the rest of the Valley. A long stairway reaches the stupa up the wooded hillside and past statues of the Buddha. But watch out for the monkeys! At the top, you'll see devotees making rounds of the stupa, spinning the praying wheels as they go around and around.

Another significant thing to be seen here is a magnificent two-tiered golden temple of Harati, the grandmother deity of children and smallpox, believed to be an Ogress until later converted into Buddhist and to be a great caretaker of the children. Next to the temple is the Dewa Dharma Monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings, destroyed by the 2015 earthquake and reconstructed.

The huge gold-plated Vajra, set on the Dharmadhatu mandala at the side of the stupa, the priestly symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism, is worth a close look.

Then we'll head on to Patan. Patan, located at a distance of 7-kilometres, was once an independent Buddhist city-state and a rival of Kathmandu, from which the Bagmati River separated it. It is also called Lalitpur, literally the City of the Arts. The old centre has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Patan boasts a multitude of temples and wonders of art in and around its Durbar Square (Palace square). We'll visit the Royal Palace, which occupies one side of the square, where works of art in every piece of wood, stone, and metal are in the exhibit in the open air. We also visit the temple of Krishna, the temple of Jagat Narayan, the Golden Temple and the Temple of Thousands Buddha, among other sites.

At around the end of the tour, we'll also visit the Museum of Patan, located inside the medieval palace, which is a must for anyone interested in Asian Art, the history of Nepal, curatorial science, or religion. It is a world-class museum that displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Its home is an old residential part of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley. The gilded door and window face one of the most beautiful squares in the country.

The museum also exhibits a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects. Buddhism and Hinduism are explained in detail in extensive labels within the living traditions and context.

In the evening, we'll visit Basantapur, Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old palace complex that exhibits a multitude of temples and palaces. The main attractions are the Gaddi Baithak Durbar, a Palace constructed in the Rana style in 1908, Basantapur Durbar, the main building of the old royal palace, Kumari Chowk, the residence of the Living Goddess and Kumari Bahal, where the family of Kumari resides.

Some two hundred years ago, a Western visitor wrote that there were more temples than houses and more idols than people in the city. Indeed, Kathmandu boasts one of the largest assemblages of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built. Duly recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the city's heart. Locally, it is also called Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square. The fascinating part of this Palace complex is the towering Nine Storey Palace, overlooking the beautiful cityscape and the vast Basantapur Square. In the 1768 A.D., King Prithivi Narayan Shah built a mansion to commemorate his conquest of the Valley is known for intricately carved wooden doors, roof struts and massive lattice windows full of mythical figures.

Finalize the tour and exit through Ason Bazaar, an old city centre and market, where one can see and experience a bit of what the Nepalese use in their daily life. The walk takes us to the hotel.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the hotel.

DAY 3: VISIT PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE / BHAKTAPUR CITY

After breakfast, we'll set off to Pashupatinath temple, considered one of the holiest of Hindu shrines. Pasupati has remained the presiding deity of all Hindu Nepalese royalty. The precinct occupies an area of 281 hectares. The main temple, displaying a golden tiled roof, is off-limits to non-Hindus. To view the main temple and one of its few main gates, you have to cross the river and climb steps to the terrace lying opposite. Along the way, you may come across Hindu sadhus and Santas there on a pilgrimage. These ghats (cremation group) along the Bagmati River are where the bodies of recently deceased Hindus of the Valley are cremated.

The trip takes us to Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur, located about 15-kilometres east of Kathmandu, is the third major city in the Valley. Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon, literally "the City of Devotees", is truly a living museum. There is the 55-windowed Royal Palace, the temple of Taleju, the palace of the Kumari, the temple of Pasupati, the main square of Tanmadhi Tole, Nyatapola (the temple of the Five Pagoda Roofs, the tallest such in all of Nepal), the temple of Akash Bhairab (the second most important temple of Badhgaon). We will also visit the square of Dha Hateya and the Square of the Potters. UNESCO recognizes Bhaktapur as a World Heritage Site. Finalize the tour and drive back to Kathmandu.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the Hotel.

DAY 4: DRIVE TO CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

From Kathmandu, we set off for Chitwan. The first phase of the drive takes us out of Kathmandu valley, which crosses the busiest section of Thankot, the only entry and exit toward the south. Then we enjoy a thrilling highway drive to Chitwan.

The trip will last approximately 4 hours. Upon arrival, a welcome drink will get served, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, the naturalist guide takes us for an Elephant Back Safari to explore the jungle and wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros, several types of deer, monkeys, wild boars, and bison, sloth bear, leopard and, if lucky, the royal Bengal tiger. This exciting ride lasts for 2-3 hours.

At the 7-PM slide Presentation: One of our jungle experts introduces background data, the history of the Royal Chitwan National Park, and some other topics relating to wildlife. OR. Tharu Stick Dance: farmers of the nearby village will show some of their traditional skills and dances. At around 8:00 PM. Dinner in the central dining hall.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the Safari Resort.

DAY 5: FULL DAY SAFARI PROGRAM IN CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

You are given a wake-up call early in the morning. After a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits, you can start the day with a short nature walk. Breakfast get served at around 8:30 a.m. Then, the tour guide takes you for an Elephant briefing program: Learn more about these fascinating animals during a visit to the elephant stable. Then return to the resort for a hearty lunch.

After lunch, the guide takes you on a Jeep Safari/canoe trip. First, drive to Kasara, the headquarter of The Royal Chitwan National Park, to see the Gharial (Alligator) hatchery project, founded by the Frankfurt Zoological Society. After a short briefing about the project, drive to the oxbow lakes (Laxmi Tal and Tamar Tal) by Land Rover through dense sal forest to encounter various plants and wildlife. And a brief walk to the canoeing put-in point. Then, start canoeing in a traditional dug-out canoe that takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view aquatic birds, crocodiles, and the river bank animals.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the Safari Resort.

DAY 6: DRIVE CHITWAN TO POKHARA

You get a wake-up call early in the morning. After a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits, you can start walking to the village. The naturalist briefs you about the social and cultural aspects of the villagers and shows you their lifestyle. Return to the hotel for breakfast. At around 9:30 a.m., prepare the suitcases and drive Pokhara.

The 200-kilometres are covered in about a 5-hour drive enjoying a thrilling highway drive to Pokhara. We make several stops at different points to visit, take photographs, and have lunch. The sceneries on the way to Pokhara are vast valleys, cultivated land, villages scattered over the green hills and giant mountains and rivers.

The city of Pokhara is renowned for its setting rather than its historical or cultural endowments. It has many beautiful lakes, and on the far horizon, a panorama featuring Annapurna, Fishtail and Lamjung. Arrive in Pokhara, check into the hotel, and remain free the rest of the time.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the hotel.

DAY 7: SARANGKOT VIEWPOINT, POKHARA & FLY TO KATHMANDU

Today we visit the Sarangkot View Point, International Mountain Museum of Pokhara, David’s fall, Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Barahi Temple.

Early in the morning, drive to Sharangkot hill tower to enjoy the sunrise view. Sharangkot is one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Pokhara for its exceptional panorama of Annapurna I, II, III, Mt. Lamjung, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Fishtail etc.

After visiting Sharangkot, drive back to Pokhara for breakfast. Breakfast and visit the International Mountain Museum, which is devoted to the mountains of Nepal and the mountaineers who climbed them. Inside, you can see original gear from many of the first Himalayan ascents, as well as displays on the history, culture, geology and flora and fauna of the Himalayas.

Then we continue to David's fall, the point from where all the water from the lake Fewa goes underground, forming a big waterfall. The name given to this waterfall is given after when a person called David became a victim falling into the drainage.

Then we also visit the Tibetan refugee camp and the Tibetan art centre, where one can visit the monastery of the Tibetan refugees, their carpet knitting centre and other handicrafts for sale. After visiting all the interesting points of this small town, drive to the lakeside to enjoy a hearty lunch.

After lunch, we drive to the airport to board a 40 minutes short domestic flight to Kathmandu. Finally, arrive at our hotel in Kathmandu, check into the rooms, and remain free for the rest of the time.

In the evening we enjoy farewell dinner in one of the best local restaurant in Kathmandu.

• Breakfast.
  
• Accommodation in the Hotel.

DAY 8: PANORAMIC MOUNTAIN FLIGHT AND DEPARTURE

Early in the morning, before breakfast, your guide and driver with a car will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport of Kathmandu. A flight leaves early in the morning to let us enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the Himalayas from their closest distances, with a sunrise view. During the flight, one can enjoy Dorje Lhakpa, Phurbi Chaychu, Choba Bamare, Gauri Shankar, the Numbur mountain, Karyilung, Cho-Oyu, Gyachung Kang, Pumori, Nuptse and, finally, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Makalu. Our service includes flight and transportation to and from the airport.

After Landing back in Kathmandu, we drive to our hotel, take a hearty breakfast and have free time till the time limit. Our office representative and vehicle will arrive at your hotel to serve you till the airport at the indicated time. Drive to Kathmandu international airport (TIA); see off formalities, go through immigration and departure.

• Breakfast.
  

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