Nepal View Tour - 12 Days

After you step off the aircraft at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), your first stop is immigration. If you didn't secure your tourist visa beforehand, head straight to the electronic Visa on Arrival kiosks.

Once your slip is printed, you'll pay your entry fee at the counter. From there, collect your bags and head toward the exit.

To save you from the overwhelming swarm of local taxi brokers waiting outside the terminal gates, our airport representative will be waiting for you at the arrival exit. We will welcome you with a traditional silk Khada (welcome scarf) placed around your neck. We’ll then load your bags into a private, air-conditioned vehicle for the short, lively drive to your hotel.

The drive to Thamel takes about 20 to 30 minutes, giving you your first look at Kathmandu's colorful, bustling streets. Once you check in at your hotel, take a few hours to unpack, freshen up, and shake off the jet lag.

After breakfast at our hotel, we begin the day with a private vehicle to avoid the traffic in Kathmandu and travel to our first stop of the day; the legendary and beautiful Kathmandu Durbar Square, an ancient complex that is made of stone and brick and served as the seat of the Malla and Shah dynasties.

While at Durbar Square, you can visit Kumari Ghar, which contains a beautiful red-brick courtyard and provides you with the opportunity to see the Living Goddess (Kumari) on very rare occasions. Additionally, you will have the chance to see the many weapons and royal carriages displayed at the Basantapur Palace Museum.

Afterward, we make a short drive up to the hilltop Swayambhu Stupa, famously known as the Monkey Temple. While you enjoy a panoramic view of the entire valley, keep an eye out for the holy monkeys leaping through the trees, and admire the majestic, limestone-washed dome that locals believe self-erected out of a lotus flower centuries ago.

After a quick lunch at a local restaurant on our way, we head to the sacred banks of the Bagmati River to visit Pashupatinath Temple, the spiritual epicenter of Hindu culture in Nepal. While only Hindus and Buddhists can step inside the main double-roofed golden pagoda to see the giant statue of Lord Shiva’s bull, Nandi, we will cross the river to get a stunning view of the entire 216-hectare complex.

From this vantage point, you will witness ancient religious ceremonies and can respectfully observe the traditional open-air cremations along the riverbanks. It is a deeply moving, authentic slice of local life that requires utmost sensitivity and respect, offering an unvarnished look at Hindu life-cycle rituals.

The final stop is the famous Boudha Stupa, a huge white dome statue of a 'mandala' representing cosmic balance. The best to visit would be around the late afternoon when the setting sun creates a warm light, the intoxicating scent of wax candles fills the air, and people are completing their evening 'kora' (circumambulation) with mantras from Buddha.

The last way to end the day is to enjoy a hot spicy hot tea or smoothie from the rooftop café while enjoying the light shining from the stupa while everyone in the courtyard is full of positive energy. This will provide a peaceful conclusion to a unique day before we go back to your hotel.

The trip today begins before sunrise. You will depart from Tribhuvan International Airport at 5.30 am for a 50-minute Himalayan Mountain Flight. You will board the flight at 6.00 am, then you will get to experience the thrill of seeing the views of Kathmandu valley from your window as the twin otter takes off into the sky.

As the aircraft climbs into the air, you will get incredible panoramic views of the highest peaks in the world such as Mount Everest, Gauri-Shankar, Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and the Annapurna Range.

After we arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), we will begin our exploration at Patan Durbar Square, which features magnificent intricate stone carvings and the oldest Newari metalwork. From there, we will travel to Bhaktapur, an ancient brick town, for a traditional lunch.

This area has a stone pathway through it, and walking down it gives you a taste of the medieval Malla period, especially at five stories above you is the Nyatapola Temple. Following lunch, we will search for the original Juju Dhau ("king curd"), which is a unique curd made from rich Buffalo milk that has been fermented inside the porous clay pots used for making this product; it has a sweet silky texture.

Afterwards we will walk through Pottery Square, which is open air; here we will see potters using their craft on large wooden spinning wheels, and if you want, you can attempt to create your own pottery while using the potter's wheel by rolling up your sleeves.

We leave Kathmandu Valley's bustling streets behind and start a scenic, five-to-seven-hour drive to the Terai lowlands. Our private vehicle follows the winding Prithvi Highway alongside the Trishuli River, where colorful rafts navigate white-water rapids. That highway, a classic Nepalese adventure, offers stunning views of lush green hills and terraced farms but is prone to traffic and widening projects.

We start early to avoid morning traffic and stop near Malekhu for sweet milk tea and seasoned chickpeas. As we descend, the crisp hill air gives way to Sauraha's warm, tropical humidity. After arriving at your lodge and taking some time to refresh yourself, we will prepare you for your first wilderness experience at Chitwan National Park, one of the most beautiful areas of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Depending on what options suit you best, you can choose to experience the park using either of three different modes of transportation. It includes a 4x4 open-topped jeep, on an elephant, which will allow you to travel through the three metres tall elephant grass, or by walking through the jungle floor with an experienced guide/naturalist.

No matter which option you choose, there is an exhilarating sense of adventure from being able to move soundlessly through the brush. While looking out for rhinoceros, wild boars, Asian elephants, with the added excitement of trying to catch a glimpse of the very elusive Royal Bengal tiger. In addition, the banks of the Rapti River are home to massive, long-snouted gharial crocodiles that lie basking in the sun.

We head out at dawn to Chitwan's sal forests, where our guide leads us on a quiet jungle walk, then a jeep safari. Look for tiger tracks in the damp soil or a massive rhino crashing through the tall grass. The forest gives way to the Rapti River, where we paddle a hand-carved canoe.

The serenity of the river is only broken by the gentle splash of the paddles as they dip into the water, with opportunities to see brightly colored blue kingfishers, herons, storks and (if you’re exceptionally lucky), the critically endangered Bengal Florican hiding among the tall grass along the banks of the river.

Later in the evening, we take a stroll through a traditional Tharu Village. For our dinner, we have our first chance to enjoy authentic Tharu cuisine that you will not find in any typical tourist restaurant, such as Dhikri (steamed cakes made from rice flour), and Ghonghi (local freshwater snails cooked with local spices).

The village will then gather together to perform the Lathi Nach (stick dance) where the village will tell age-old stories of protection by using sticks to hit together in a rhythmic pattern (Lathi Nach). Finally, we will watch the Jhijhiya dance, where the Tharu women will "dance" with a clay pot containing a lit candle on the top of their heads, to thank the gods and ward off evil spirits. This will be an incredible way to end our short, wild adventure in Chitwan National Park.

We head out early, skipping crowded buses for a private 4WD Scorpio jeep to drive 130 kilometers west to Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace. The Narayanghat-Butwal highway expansion is almost done, making travel times way faster than before. We'll zoom along at up to 80 km/h on new, straight four-lane sections of the East-West Highway.

But then we hit the 14-kilometer Daunne hill section, it's steep and winding, with a 40 km/h speed limit due to uneven sections. Keep a dust mask handy for the rough patches. We stop midway at Kawasoti or Butwal for snacks, then turn south at Bhairahawa to reach Lumbini's peaceful gardens in 4 to 5 hours.

Start your day early, around 6:00 AM, to experience the Sacred Garden's most authentic and peaceful spiritual energy. Walking clockwise around the Pushkarini Pond, a practice known as a kora, is magical in the soft morning light. The Maya Devi Temple's sanctuary is home to an ancient marker stone marking Buddha's birth site, beneath a 4th-century stone nativity relief.

Don't forget to remove your shoes to enter the temple; the brick walkways get extremely hot by afternoon. Bring a pair of thick socks to protect your feet.

The historic Ashoka Pillar, with 249 BCE Brahmi inscriptions, stands just outside. Explore the vast Monastic Zone at your own pace by renting a bicycle. You can easily visit the Myanmar Monasteries' golden bell and the Sri Lankan temple's white-and-gold stupa.

End your day watching the sunset at the World Peace Pagoda. Sitting by its base as the evening cools down is the absolute best way to connect with the deep, timeless calmness of this spiritual sanctuary.

The 205-kilometer drive from Lumbini to Pokhara via the Siddhartha Highway is a scenic, incredibly twisty mountain journey. As we leave Lumbini's peaceful, flat plains, the humid Terai air cools; we wind our way up through the rugged cliffs of the Tinau River gorge. We will have a brief stop at the cliffside Siddhababa Temple, believed to be a spiritual guardian for a safe journey.

We then take a break for lunch in Tansen, a charming Newari hill town in Palpa. If we are traveling during the late autumn or winter months, we make a point to stop at Syangja's roadside stalls to buy sweet, freshly harvested mountain oranges directly from local farmers. After navigating these beautiful terraced hills and valleys, we arrive in Pokhara by late afternoon, just in time to catch the golden sunset over Phewa Lake.

We will wake you up before dawn for a thirty-minute drive to the Sarangkot hilltop, just in time to watch the early morning sun turn the jagged peaks of Mt. Fishtail (Machhapuchhre) and the towering Dhaulagiri range. Then, we take a peaceful three-hour hike to Naudanda village on a scenic, gently ridge trail.

This route is far less crowded than popular routes like Poon Hill and passes by the ancient palace ruins of Kaskikot village, where we can interact with local Gurung and Magar families. At the Naudanda viewpoint, we rest and enjoy a hot, freshly prepared lunch of local dal bhat with sweeping views of Phewa Lake glistening far below, before our private vehicle picks us up for a smooth forty-five-minute drive back to Pokhara.

We head out early to catch the morning light in Dhampus, a gorgeous Gurung village sitting on a ridge. The private 4WD jeep navigates the winding roads of the Hemja valley. From the ridge, the sheer, close-up wall of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna South is absolutely breathtaking. On the other hand, a quick one-hour hike uphill through the quiet oak and rhododendron forest brings you to Australian Camp for an even wider mountain panorama.

In the afternoon, we make our way back to Pokhara, and we cross the calm waters of Phewa Lake by boat to visit Tal Barahi, a two-storied pagoda temple sitting on a tiny island. Next, we head to David’s Fall, where the roaring Pardi Khola river suddenly vanishes into a dark underground passage. Moving on, we cross the road to the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, and crawl through the low, damp tunnel behind it.

It opens up into a thundering, misty cavern where you can stand directly underneath the crashing, subterranean waters of Devi's Fall. We wrap up the afternoon at Mahendra Pul, peering down into the Seti River gorge, one of the deepest in Nepal. It is a geological marvel where the white-water river is squeezed into a gap only 2 meters wide but a staggering 20 meters

We head east along Prithvi Highway away from Pokhara's lakeside area, following the Seti River to a bridge crossing it into Damauli. After about 70 km, we arrive at Dumre. Dumre is a dusty crossroads where you enter Annapurna's original route. We'll head off the main road and take a steep 8 km climb up to Bandipur.

There are no cars or jeeps allowed on the main street, so Bandipur is a peaceful place to explore. We walk along the main bazaar, which is a polished stone road lined with old style Newari houses built from bricks in the 1700s, featuring wooden balconies hanging low over the street.

In the afternoon, we hike up to a viewpoint that has a fantastic view of the deep Marsyangdi River valley below. We also see the great snow-capped mountain peaks of Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal range.

We're heading back to the Kathmandu Valley after breakfast, driving 6 hours along the Prithvi Highway. The road passes terraced hillsides, fast-flowing rivers, and tiny roadside settlements. As we approach Kathmandu, we will bypass the busy city traffic at the Thankot checkpoint and head straight east toward Nagarkot. This quiet hill station is located just 30 kilometers outside the capital.

The drive up the ridge is incredibly peaceful, taking you through cool pine forests and beautifully sculpted terraced farmlands. We will check into our resort in the late afternoon, giving you plenty of time to grab a warm drink, sit out on your balcony, and watch a dramatic sunset light up the Langtang mountain range all the way to Mt. Everest in the far distance.

You will head down the winding path from the mountain to Bhaktapur. The road down from the ridge can be a little rough and dusty due to the ongoing construction work for the new highway. But the view of all the terraced green hills and the fresh air makes the slow drive up really enjoyable.

We will reach the very old city of Bhaktapur and, to really feel the vibe of this old city, you should walk over to Pottery Square (Talako Tole in the local language) past the beautifully carved Palace of 55 Windows, where local craftsmen are still spinning clay on large wooden wheels. Just to the east of the very tall Nyatapola Temple (5 stories tall), you will want to stop at a very small, legendary place called Aama ko Bara Pasal where Bikumaya Bajracharya has been making delicious fried lentil “bara” for more than 40 years.

Before leaving Bhaktapur and heading back to Kathmandu, please remember to indulge yourself in some Juju Dhau (King's Yoghurt). Juju Dhau is fermented in unglazed clay bowls and absorbs excess moisture, giving it a rich creamy texture that is very similar to a thick pudding consistency.

We will spend your final full day southwest of the city, in Thakot, riding the Chandragiri Hills cable cars. Within around 11 minutes, you will ascend from the base station (1,550 m) to the station (2,551 m). Once you have ridden the cable car, take some time to walk to the stone steps of Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple. You can enjoy the fresh air from the mountains and ring the heavy brass bells for protection on your trip home.

After a full day of sight-seeing and riding the cable car, we'll head back to Thamel, the narrow, brick-paved streets known for shopping. Instead of purchasing generic souvenirs, be mindful of purchasing true items representative of Nepal. For example, you can purchase dried jimbu, a wild Himalayan aromatic herb that turns standard lentil dal into a true culinary experience, or timur "pepper berries" at one of the many small shops featuring spices. If you are looking for an authentic pashmina shawl, you can find a number of outlets near Narsingh Chowk.

You will be transported from your hotel in Thamel to the Tribhuvan International Airport to catch a flight back to your home country. When travelling to airport, please ensure that you have a printed or digital copy of your air ticket readily available.

When you are packing your luggage early this morning, please note that you may not pack power banks, spare batteries, or jars of local Himalayan honey or achars (pickles) in any checked luggage that you wish to take to the airport because these items will be flagged when airport security scans your bags and will require for you to unpack your suitcase at the security check.

Please keep your power banks in your hand-luggage and also have your original currency exchange receipts available should you need to convert any remaining Nepalese Rupees back into currency at the TIA airport currency counter.