This compact Nepal tour package gives you a taste of the countries beautiful mountain scenery, ancient cultures and religions, lush wildlife parks, remote hilltop villages, and includes time to relax in the lakeside town of Pokhara.
We start our Nepal holiday package in Kathmandu with a guided walking tour through the narrow city streets to the palaces and temples in Durbar Square. Next, we drive to the hilltop ‘monkey temple’ of Swayambunath, overlooking the city.
Leaving Kathmandu, we head for the lowland Terai region of Nepal, bordering India, and Chitwan National Park. An exciting optional day’s white water rafting on the Trisuli river is available en-route to Chitwan.
While in Chitwan we spend two nights in a wildlife lodge with several safaris into the park included as we search for the endangered Asian one-horned rhino, wild elephants, the elusive Bengal tiger, and numerous other animal and birdlife.
We head back into the hills from Chitwan and spend a night in the Newari village of Bandipur, where you have time to explore the restored town centre, hike to the impressive Sidha Cave, or explore the surrounding farmland and villages to get a real feel for life in hilly rural Nepal.
The mountain views from Bandipur are excellent, so we hope for clear weather during our Nepal holiday package.
Our next stop is the lakeside town of Pokhara which nestles at the foot of the mighty Annapurna mountain range. We have a short tour here, and a free day to do some short or full-day walks, take a boat on the lake, or just relax amidst the beautiful surroundings.
We return to the Kathmandu Valley from Pokhara and spend a night in the village of Nagarkot which sits on a ridge and is famous for its mountain views. Again we hope for clear weather at sunrise when you can even see the peak of Everest in the distance.
Our Nepal holiday package comes to an end with a tour to the ancient centre of Bhaktapur to see the traditional ornate, wooden architecture of the local temples and buildings, and to the important pilgrimage sites of Pasupatinath (Hindu) and Boudhanath (Buddhist) before one last night in Kathmandu.
Itinerary
We greet you on your arrival in Kathmandu airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the Thamel tourist disctrict of the city. Our rep will help you settle in and familiarise you with the local area.
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
MEALS: None
EXTRAS: Single room supplement (NPSGNE)
Extra day in Kathmandu - pre-tour
ur Nepal tour package starts today with a guided walk from our hotel in Thamel through small back streets full of numerous tiny shops, workshops, temples, and stupas to Durbar Square with its array of wooden and stone carved temples and palaces. After lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square, we drive to the important Swayambunath Stupa which sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, visible from miles around. Also known locally as the 'monkey temple', we'll see these nimble inhabitants scampering in and around the trees and temp
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
This morning we drive out of the Kathmandu Valley and drive to Chitwan National Park in the lowland Terai region of Nepal that borders India (approx. 7-8 hours).
This will be our first taste of rural areas on this Nepal tour package, and we'll see terraced farmland, forested hills, and rushing rivers. An option is available today to spend a few hours white water rafting on the Trisuli river (requires advance booking). Those choosing this option will rejoin the group in Chitwan this evening). On arrival in Chitwan, we check into our lodge and then take an early evening village walk to see how the local Tharu people live and work.
OVERNIGHT: Chitwan hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS: Trisuli white water rafting
We spend the whole day today exploring Chitwan National Park in search of the endangered Asian one-horned rhino, which Chitwan is famous for protecting. If you're very lucky you may also see a leopard, wild elephant or sloth bear, or even an elusive Bengal tiger, while the rhino, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, wild boar and numerous different birdlife are common sightings. Activities included are a jungle walk, river canoe trip and jeep safari.
OVERNIGHT: Chitwan hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
EXTRAS: None
Early this morning you can take a walk outside the park dedicated mainly to bird watching. After breakfast we then leave Chitwan and the Terai and drive to the ancient hilltop Newari trading village of Bandipur. The centre of Bandipur has been restored, and is vehicle free, with some lovely old buildings. You have time this afternoon to relax here, or take a walk or hike through the surrounding fields, villages and hills. Walks include a 2-hour downhill hike through fields and forest to Siddha Cave, one of the largest in Asia and full of impressive rock formations (bring a torch). You can hike back uphill to Bandipur from here or walk down to the highway for our vehicle to pick you up. A shorter walk from the town centre can take you uphill for around 30min to the Thani Mai Temple, which is well worth it for its views at sunset if the weather is clear. In fact the whole of Bandipur affords good mountain views.
OVERNIGHT: Bandipur guesthouse
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
We leave Bandipur this morning and drive on to the lakeside town of Pokhara, which sits at the base of the Annapurna range of mountains and is the main access point for trekking and rafting in the area. We will visit various places around Pokhara this afternoon, including the Peace Pagoda, Tibetan refugee camp and Devi Falls.
OVERNIGHT: Pokhara hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
Your day is free in Pokhara today. There's plenty to do, with beautiful walks into the countryside around the lake available from less than an hour to a full day. One popular hike is to the top of Sarangkot, a hilltop just outside Pokhara which provides great mountain views. You can walk there and back, or drive most of the way in one or both directions. Other options include hiring bicycles, or taking a rowing boat out on Phewa Lake. The setting beneath the spectacular Annapurna mountain range ensures any time spent in and around Pokhara is a pleasure.
OVERNIGHT: Pokhara hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
We leave the Annapurna region behind this morning and drive back to Kathmandu (approx. 7-8 hours including stops). An upgrade to an internal flight is available on request. Contact us and we can make this change to your Nepal tour package.
We skirt the city and head into the hills surrounding the valley and spend the night in the village of Nagarkot, The village is perched on a ridge and is known for having some of the best views in the Kathmandu Valley.
OVERNIGHT: Nagarkot hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
This morning, we hope for spectacular sunrise views from Nagarkot before driving down to one of the other ancient cities in the Kathmandu valley, Bhaktapur. The centre of Bhaktapur has been designated a World Heritage Site, and hosts the best-preserved ancient buildings and temples in the Kathmandu valley, with some great examples of traditional wooden architecture to be seen.
Our Nepal tour package will give you a taste for how life has been led in the valley for centuries, and you'll see several traditional crafts still taking place, including a whole square dedicated to pottery. After lunch, we head back into Kathmandu to visit two of the city's most important, and contrasting religious pilgrimage sites - Pasupatinath temple (Hindu) and Boudhanath stupa (Buddhist). The evening is free for you to explore Kathmandu and Thamel one last time and enjoy a farewell meal together.
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: None
Our Nepal holiday package comes to an end. Here you'll have some free time in Kathmandu today until we transfer you to the airport for departure. Extensions to the tour are available to add more trekking, white water rafting or to visit Bardia National Park (the best place in Nepal to see tigers). First thing this morning there is also the option to take a spectacular mountain viewing flight up to see Mt. Everest (requires an evening international flight departure).
OVERNIGHT: N/A
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: Everest Mountain Flight
Bardia National Park Extension
Extra day in Kathmandu - post-tour