Discover Nepal

Arrive in Kathmandu this morning and transfer on to your comfortable boutique hotel in Bhaktapur. The Heritage Hotel is in keeping with the Newari-style and is influenced by the rich art and architecture of the ancient city of Bhaktapur.

Later in the afternoon, admire Bhaktapur’s fine collection of Newari architecture on a sightseeing walk. The cobbled streets take you to highlights such as the Lion Gate, the Art Gallery, the famous Golden Gate and the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. The terracotta comes alive in the evening sunshine and makes for great photography.

This morning, check out of your hotel after breakfast and drive (1 hr) to the sacred Namobuddha stupa, one of the holiest Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas.

The stupa celebrates the compassion of a young prince who encountered a starving tigress about to devour a child, and offered his own flesh instead – a sacrifice that ensured his canonization as a bodhisattva. A steep path leading up to the ridge is festooned with prayer flags; in a small shelter near the top is a famous stone relief sculpture of the prince feeding his flesh to the tigress. The air is fresh and crisp, perfect for shaking off any jetlag or tiredness. On days of good visibility, there are excellent views of the surrounding peaks.

Later, embark upon an optional but rewarding hike to Balthali village from the stupa. The hike goes down the valley through terraced rice fields and thatched farm houses to the rural settlement of Balthali, where your vehicle will be waiting to pick you up.
Drive to Kathmandu (1.5hrs) and check into your hotel

Kathmandu is a melting pot of cultures with Hindu influence to the South and Buddhist to the North.
Enjoy a full day’s city guided tour with a local expert at hand to explain the history and cultural importance of each site.

Visit the famous historical monuments constructed in the 14th century. Visit the temple, restored by King Mahendra Malla in 1562, and the Durbar Square which incorporates the royal palace, Kastha Mandap and Kumari Devi temples. The House of the Living Goddess is where the virgin goddess known as Kumari resides on the exquisitely carved windows of the upper floor.

Your tour includes the intriguing and atmospheric religious sites of Pashupatinath and Boudhnath. Boudhnath is a lovely place to enjoy a cup of tea at one of the many cafes and watch as monks and nuns file past whispering mantras. Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley, situated beside the sacred waters of the Bagmati River.

This morning, continue your cultural exploration with a guided tour around Patan, an aesthetically pleasing city of arts and architecture founded in 250 A.D. Visit Patan’s famous Durbar Square, Royal Baths, Mahaboudha, Krishna Mandir and the Golden Temple. The last stop on your tour is the Patan Museum, set within the former presidential palace.

Later, back in Kathmandu, explore the city markets and food stalls — a great spot to try some momos (dumplings). The buzzing streets of Thamel offers Nepal’s largest gathering of shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs, while Durbar Marg specializes in high-end products. Handicrafts are also sold around Jhochhe and at the Durbar Square night market.

An early start to the day as you transfer to Kathmandu airport and take an early morning scenic flight to view the world’s highest mountain peaks, including Mt Everest. The views of these magnificent Himalayan peaks are truly spectacular.

The wilds of Chitwan National Park are calling next, and to get there, hop on board your short flight to Bharatpur in southern Nepal. On arrival in Bharatpur, you will be met and driven (1 hr) to your lodge, situated along the banks of the Rapti River and overlooking the National Park. Enjoy your lunch once you have settled in.

This afternoon, enjoy your first safari into the reserve provides a chance to spot Tigers and Rhino among other mammals like striped hyenas, honey badgers and spotted deer.

In the evening, spend time gazing upwards at the beautiful, star-lit skies, taking advantage of the minimal light pollution in this natural landscape. Enjoy the cultural dance performance by the local Tharu and Kumal communities, and great dining at your lodge.

Chitwan is the oldest National Park in Nepal, and a haven for all manner of wildlife. There are plenty of activities, including jungle walks, river safaris and jeep safaris to enjoy on your stay here.

This morning, embark on a Walking safari in the park, The walking safari is ideal for keen bird watchers and anyone wanting to experience pristine nature at close quarters without the sound of a vehicle engine. The lodge’s trained and knowledgeable naturalist will ensure that your safari is safe. You’ll walk 5-7 km on this half day tour.

Later in the afternoon, embark on a gentle canoe ride down the Rapti River, the perfect setting from which to observe life along the banks, with mugger and gharial crocodile’s regularly seen on the river banks. The river ride is also an excellent way to spot some more bird species.

This evening, enjoy the cultural dance performance by the local Tharu and Kumal communities, and great dining at your lodge.

This morning, take a boat ride across the Rapti into the National Park where your 4 wheel jeep awaits to take you on a safari to spot a wide array of wildlife. Half way through the safari, stop for breakfast a sumptuous picnic spread is laid out for you.

In the afternoon, go for a Tharu Cultural Walk, to learn about their fascinating culture and practices. You’ll see village life, traditional housing and go to the community run museum accompanied by a local guide and translator.

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and catch a short flight to Pokhara from Bharatpur airport.

Lying along the shores of Phewa Tal, Nepal’s second largest lake, Pokhara is the gateway to the Himalayas. Pokhara once lay on the important trade route between India and Tibet. It sits in the foothills of the Annapurna range, overlooked by the “Fishtail” mountain of Machapuchare.

Once settled in to your hotel, perhaps you’d like to enjoy a walk along the lakeside. Views of Machapuchare are the main scenic draw in Pokhara, and there are plenty of places dotted around the lakeside and town that make the most of the panoramas. Pokhara is perhaps one of the few places on earth from where mountains exceeding 6,000m can be seen unobstructed from an altitude of just 800m within a distance of 28 km.

An early morning rise for a trek to Sarangkot (1592m) to catch the beautiful sunrise overlooking the Pokhara Valley, the Annapurna range, the Dhauligiri range and Phewa Lake. The scenic hike winds through small villages and patches of jungle. Return to Pokhara for breakfast.

Before lunch, visit the International Mountain Museum to gain insight of how life here is intertwined with the majestic landscape.

This afternoon, embark on a sightseeing tour beginning with Devi’s Fall steeped in legend and mystery. Next, view the impressive Seti River, which flows right through the city, from Mahendra bridge. Continue to the colourful town bazaar and visit one of Pokhara’s most important Hindu shrines.

Finally, visit Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the Kingdom, where you will sail or row a hired boat across to the water or visit the island temple in its middle.

Today, an early morning start to driving to the hilltop settlement of Bandipur (3 hrs drive away)

Bandipur is a predominantly a Newar town which still retains its age-old ambiance through its temples, shrines, sacred caves, innumerable festivals, and the architecture.

The hills are ideal for hiking short trails that pass through tribal villages, verdant forests, and hilltop shrines that once doubled as forts; it is also the home to Nepal’s largest cave Siddha Gufa.

If you fancy it, the temple located at the top of the hill (a steep 30 minute hike) provides a stunning 360-degree view of the town of Bandipur, Annapurna range and the hills that surround it.

Drive to Kathmandu (4hrs) and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

In Kathmandu, visit the golden-topped Buddhist stupa of Swayambunath, magnificently set atop a conical hill 2km west of Thamel. The hill commands a sweeping view of the Kathmandu Valley, and the temple complex is overrun with pilgrims and monkeys.

Observe the Buddhist pilgrims making a full circumambulation (kora) of the hill, queuing up to spin the gigantic fixed prayer wheels and the six thousand smaller ones that encircle the perimeter, and frequently twirling their own hand-held ones.

Later, if time permits, visit the city’s National Museum for an appreciation of the intertwining of religion, art, myth and history in Nepal. The museum houses some fabulous stone, metal and terracotta statues, cloth painting, Buddhist Thangkas and manuscripts.