Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini

You can obtain a Nepal visa upon arrival. Bring one passport picture and US$ 25 cash to pay in visa fee. After clearing immigration and custom, meet your guide and driver at the arrival gate.

After introductions, your guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel in the city (35 minutes). After wash up and change, with your guide and driver, proceed for sightseeing. 

First, visit Swayambhunath Stupa - the 2000-year-old Buddhist monument situated atop a hillock on the western fringe of the city. The monument is associated with the evolution of the Kathmandu valley. The monument complex includes the stupa, an array of small shrines, temples, and monasteries. Swayambhunath is a popular pilgrimage destination for Buddhist as well as Hindu followers, and we will have the opportunity to watch the rituals performed by them.

The stupa complex also offers a panoramic view of the valley and perhaps Himalayan mountains on a clear weather day.

From here, we descend and drive to the Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of the city. Several of the temples and palace complex here are devastated by the last earthquake, but we are still able to see many other structures here. We will visit the Kumari House, among other temples. The house has rich wood carving at its door, windows, and balconies but more importantly, this is the residence of Kumari - the living goddess of Nepal! We will request for a glimpse of the goddess who briefly appears in the balcony if she is available.

We will take leisurely walk through the streets of Indrachowk and Ason - the traditional business hub and end up in Thamel - the popular tourist destination for budget accommodations, restaurants, and handicraft stores.

In the evening, we invite you to a Nepali welcome dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant. The restaurant also entertains the guests by Nepali folklore dancing.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, meet your guide at your hotel lobby and proceed for sightseeing.

Our first stop will be at Boudhanath Stupa, which is the largest Buddhist monument of Nepal. This stupa is also the holiest Buddhist temple outside Tibet. There are several active monasteries associated with different Buddhist schools. Tibetan refugees primarily dominate the area and remind of small Barkhor Square.

Next, we proceed to Bhaktapur, about 10 miles northeast of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is the smallest of the three medieval principalities but the best-preserved one. With stone-paved streets, medieval-looking houses and temples, the city look like an open-air museum. We visit the durbar square with the former palace complex. Other attractions of Bhaktapur include the 5-storied Nyatapola Temple that survived two large earthquakes, Duttratray square with Duttratray Temple and Pujarimath Complex. Stroll through the narrow-cobbled lanes between the private dwellings and also visit the potter's square. We stop by the workshops of local carvers and painters and appreciate their skills of generations-old arts.

Our final stop of the day will be at Pashupatinath Temple - the holiest Hindu temple of Nepal. The temple lies by the sacred Bagmati River - one of the tributaries of the holy Ganges. The main temple sanctum is reserved for the Hindu worships and non-Hindus are not allowed inside, but we can watch the temple and rituals here from another side of the river. The river also has some pyres for Hindu cremation services. If we wait till late, we can watch the Hindu arati ceremony with oil lamps that wrap up the rituals of the day.

Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Pokhara. It's a 30-minute long scenic flight. Upon arrival at Pokhara airport, your local guide will greet you.

You will have time to settle into your room before your guide takes you on sightseeing. 

First, we visit the Bindhyabasini Temple -the center of religious activity in the old bazaar. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Bhagawati - a manifestation of Shakti.

Next, visit Devi's Falls, or Davi's Falls - an impressive waterfall where we can witness the waters of the lake cascading down and disappearing into the earth! Legend has it that a trekker, named David or Davis was washed away by the waters of the lake and disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.

Nearby is the entrance to a nearly 3 miles long cave, called Gupteswar Gupha (cave). The cave holds special importance to Hindus as a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva was found inside, when the cave was discovered first. Our next stop will be at the Tibetan Refugee village. We will visit the Tibetan monastery, a Tibetan hand-made carpet factory, school, etc. in the village.

Finally, the stop of the day will be at the International Mountain Museum. The museum has an interesting collection of old high-altitude mountaineering equipment and its evolution over the decades, document and chronicle the past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world in general and to preserve the saga of the momentous feats in the history of mountaineering in the Himalayan peaks in particular.

The museum is situated just 0.5 km south of Pokhara airport. The spot is rightly selected as we can enjoy the unique view of 3 massive mountain peaks; Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu which are above 8000 meters. No place in the world offers us such a panoramic view. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back off to your hotel in Pokhara, or you can choose to explore further or eat at the lakeside market on your own. 

Overnight at the hotel.

This morning, we will go for a sunrise tour of Sarangkot. Situated at an altitude of 1592m (5,221 ft.), Sarangkot offers spectacular sunrise and Himalayan panorama view on a bright weather morning, and it's only 30 minutes' drive away from the lakeside.

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel usually one hour before sunrise time. A brief hike from the parking brings you to the top of the ridge. From here you will witness the magnificent sunrise and enchanting views of the Himalayan peaks and ranges of Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail), Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.

Retrace your drive back to the hotel for breakfast, and then your guide and driver will take you for sightseeing.

First, visit Lake Fewa and enjoy boating. Lake Fewa is the second largest lake of Nepal, Rara Lake in far-west Nepal being the largest one. We visit the island temple of Goddess Barahi - a beautiful two-storied temple.

Optional: Hike the Peace Stupa
We cross the lake by boat, and then we begin our hike. It takes about 2-3 hours from the lakeshore to get to the top of the ridge where lies the giant World Peace Stupa, looming over the lake. On a clear weather day, we will again enjoy breathtaking views of the mountain and the valley. If you are not interested in hiking, we can go by car.

Depending on available time and your interest, we can visit the Begnas Lake that lies about 8 miles from the city and is less frequented by foreign travelers.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we transfer on a scenic 5 hours' drive to Chitwan National Park.

After lunch at our lodge, embark on a game drive to the forest. Jeep safari is operated during the dry season only and may cancel due to insufficient participants. In that case, we will provide an alternative elephant back safari or jungle trek. Most commonly sighted animals are one-horned rhinos, deer, wild boar, and monkeys. One-horned Rhinos were once almost extinct in the early 70s!  We will always be on the lookout for less frequently seen animals such as bears, leopards, and Bengal tigers. Although the tiger population is believed to be about 100 in the park, it's a territorial animal, and due to thick vegetation, chances of seeing one are scarce! 

In the evening, attend an informative slide show on Chitwan’s flora and fauna, history of the park and the conservation efforts, conducted by the in-house naturalist who is usually a local with a wealth of knowledge on the park. 

Overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast at your lodge, your nature guide will take you on a boating trip down the Rapti River. We will catch sights of sunbathing crocodiles and aquatic birds such as kingfisher, storks, egrets, etc.

After lunch, we will go on elephant back safari in the park.

In the evening, enjoy the cultural program that features folklore singing and dancing by Tharu troupe. Tharus are the original inhabitants of Chitwan and are believed to have immune against Malaria! 

The activities order may change depending on the park regulations and availability of the safaris.

Overnight at the lodge.

Today, we are off to Lumbini-the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It's 3-4 hours' drive from Chitwan.

Upon arrival, we check into our hotel after wash up and change, proceed to visit the birthplace of Buddha and other attractions of Lumbini. Lumbini is listed as the World Heritage site by UNESCO and holds an immense religious significance and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world!

We first visit the Queen Maya Devi Temple. It is the spiritual heart of Lumbini that marks the spot where the queen gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who was later to be known as Buddha. Adjacent to the temple there is the Pillar of Ashoka that belongs to 3rd century B.C. Nearby there is the ruin of ancient stupa and Pushkarini Pond. The queen is believed to have taken a bath in this pond, before giving birth to Buddha!

Lumbini now has many modern temples built by various Buddhist countries such as China, Japan, Myanmar, Korea, and Vietnam, etc. Depending on available time and your interest, we will visit one or two of these before returning to our hotel to rest.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport (14 miles) for the flight back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you are met by your guide and then taken to Patan city. Visit the Durbar square with former palace and cluster of medieval temples. Stroll through the stone-paved alleys with arts and craft workshops and traditional shops lined up on either side. Visit the Golden Temple - a Buddhist monastery of Newari Buddhist and 5-storied Kumbheswara Temple, among others.

You will have time for shopping before your guide transfers you to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport in time for a flight to your next destination.