Nepal: Himalaya Highlights

Arrive any time. Arrival transfer is included. Enjoy a relaxing wellness experience with a sound bath demonstration followed by a six-course vegetarian welcome feast tonight, savouring the diverse flavours of Nepali cuisine.

Private VehicleTribhuvan International Airport – Kathmandu
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting1h
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Nepalese Welcome Experience at Avata Wellness
Enjoy an immersive and meditative full body and mind wellness experience during a sound bath demonstration at Avata Wellness in Kathmandu. Since ancient times, people have been using sound to heal and wash away mental distress. It may even help with the jet lag from a long flight to Nepal so you can begin your adventure feeling refreshed. Brass singing bowls will be used during the session to create a comforting and meditative atmosphere. Afterwards, a six-course vegetarian meal will be served at Nourish by Avata. All dishes are prepared using traditional Nepali herbs and spices, a perfect blend of delicacies that will introduce you to the many different flavours of Nepal.

Spend the day exploring Kathmandu, the colourful capital of this Himalayan nation. Pay a visit to Bodhnath Stupa, the holiest Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet, and explore the wood-carved temples, pagados, and palaces of Bhaktapur, Nepal’s medieval capital. Afterward, enjoy a cooking demonstration at local community restaurant and learn how to make Nepalese momos (dumplings). Afterwards, taste your delicious creations during a traditional lunch.

Private VehicleKathmandu
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Bodhnath Stupa VisitKathmandu
Enjoy a visit to the Bodhnath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. Built in the 5th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site still attracts many pilgrims, particularly Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis. Take in the peaceful atmosphere and observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa.

Bhaktapur ExcursionKathmandu3h-4h
Visit this unique old town known as the City of Devotees. Explore Hindu temples, pagodas, palaces, and monuments, including the beautiful wood-carved palace in Durbar Square. You can pick up clay pots and other souvenirs in the colourful open markets and taste home made yogurt, known as khopa dhau, which Bhaktapur is famous for.

Nepalese Dumplings Cooking DemonstrationKathmandu
Enjoy a cooking demonstration at a local establishment and learn how to make momos (traditional dumplings). Afterwards, taste the delicious dishes made during a Nepali lunch.

Venture to the ancient hilltop temple of Swayambhunath, decorated with vibrant prayer flags and home to troops of rhesus monkeys. Later, we’ll hear about National Geographic Grantee Chhing Lhomi’s efforts to preserve the weaving traditions of the Upper Mustang region through her work with the Himalayan Indigenous Society, a Kathmandu-based nonprofit. Then depart for nearby Pharping, known for its Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and settle into a tranquil monastery guesthouse for the night. Get an insider’s view of monastery life, and enjoy a chanting and prayer service; or opt to take a walk in the monastery’s peaceful grounds.

Experience the serenity of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monastery guest house offers comfortable accommodations in a peaceful setting with balconies and private western-style bathrooms. There are approximately 200 monks in residence following the Nyingmapa tradition. This is a new monastery (2006), and income from the guest house directly supports it.

Please note that on select departures, the itinerary may be re-ordered to have the Monastery visit at the end of the itinerary.

Swayambhunath Temple VisitKathmandu
Visit Swayambhunath Buddhist temple and Unesco World Heritage Site, the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu. Explore the structure and be sure to check out the Buddha's eyes painted on each side of the Stupa. The site is also known as the monkey temple, for the vast amount of creatures who call the complex home.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Weaving and Indigenous Peoples Lecture
In Kathmandu, National Geographic grantee Chhing Lhomi works to preserve the ancient traditions of the Lowa community of the Upper Mustang region. We'll take the unique opportunity to visit a local home of a family from this region and enjoy a lecture from Chhing or one of her colleagues on traditional weaving methods, and hear about ongoing efforts with the Himalyan Indigenous Society.

Private VehicleKathmandu – Pharping1h-2h25km
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Overnight at a Buddhist Monastery
Experience the serenity of a Buddhist monastery. The monastery guest house offers comfortable accommodations in a peaceful setting with balconies and private western-style bathrooms. Opt to participate in the life of the monks: take tea alongside them and enjoy the early morning chanting before experiencing the sunrise from the roof of this stunning monastery. There are approximately 200 young monks in residence, training in the Nyingmapa tradition. This is a new monastery (2006), and income from the guesthouse directly supports it.

Rise at dawn to listen to the monks’ morning chanting, and witness a stunning sunrise. Then drive to the small riverside village of Kurintar and hike to our lodge, nestled on a forested hill overlooking the Trishuli River. Opt to relax by the pool or take a guided walk through the surrounding countryside, stopping at local villages.

Arrive at our remote lodge, which sits on a ridge amidst the hills overlooking sandy beaches and a river. Forests cascade down the hillsides, enclosing tiny settlements of tribal people.

The lodge is only accessed by foot, so please expect a walk of approx. 30 to 45 minutes. Porters will be hired to carry our bags but please pack what you need for the night, as we will leave our larger bags in the vehicle.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Neydo Monastery Sunrise Chant
Rise before sunrise and enter the main hall of the Monastery to listen to the monks practicing their chanting. After, we enjoy the sunrise over the Valley from the Monastery roof.

Private VehiclePharping – Kurintar3h30m-4h125km
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

WalkingKurintar30m-45m
Lace up your shoes and get to the next stop under your own power.

Today, we travel towards Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s oldest wildlife reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is home to 68 recorded mammal species, including the one-horned rhino and the Bengal tiger, as well as hundreds of species of birds. Check in to our lodge, located on the banks of the East Rapti River. After lunch, board a traditional flat-bottomed boat for a river safari, keeping your eyes out for aquatic birds, crocodiles, and other riverine fauna.

Spend two nights enjoying cultural and wildlife excursions in and around Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), the oldest national park in Nepal. Established in 1973, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Within its area of 932km² (579 mi²), RCNP is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles, including sambars, chitals, rhesus monkeys, tigers, and langurs.

The specifics and order of activities may change, depending on the season and local conditions. Your CEO will confirm the exact activities and timing with the naturalists upon arrival at the lodge.

WalkingKurintar30m-45m
Lace up your shoes and get to the next stop under your own power.

Private VehicleKurintar – Royal Chitwan National Park2h30m-3h30m
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Chitwan Area Boat ExcursionRoyal Chitwan National Park1h-1h30m
Embark in traditional patela boats on a silent trip down the Rapti River, which boarders the National Park to view aquatic birds, crocodiles, gharials, and the animals along the river banks.

Spend the day exploring Chitwan National Park on a variety of excursions; activities differ depending on the season. Set out on a jeep safari through the grasslands and forests, seeking out rhinos, leopards, elephants, monkeys, and the elusive Bengal tiger. Meet with a “tiger technician” from the Nepal Tiger Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection and conservation of these majestic cats. Visit a farming village bordering the park for a glimpse of rural life, and return to our lodge this evening in time for a dance performance by the local Tharu people.

The jeep safari is often prohibited during monsoon season by the park authorities; monsoon season is from June-September, and sometimes it can last till October. When the park is inaccessible, we will search out wildlife in the surrounding forest which is unfenced and just as likely to view animals. Boating is also subject to the water levels and local conditions on the Rapti River.

Jeep SafariRoyal Chitwan National Park3h-3h30m
Enjoy a jeep safari that begins in open grassland and moves into the dense Sal Forest, crossing the Reu River to see different wildlife. Continue down to the banks of Narayani River and spot gharials (freshwater alligators) basking in the sun. Also, view wildlife from Bhimle Machan (a wooden platform).

Chitwan Village VisitRoyal Chitwan National Park
Enjoy a visit to the farming Village bordering the National Park. Learn about the social and cultural aspects of the village people, what they farm, and see how they live day-to-day.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Chitwan Tiger Experience
Nepal Tiger Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of tigers in Nepal and is run by researchers and local community volunteers. Their Tiger Corridors Project has been monitoring these amazing cats in Chitwan National Park and adjacent areas for over five years. On this experience, meet with a local tiger “technician” who will give a presentation about the work here and its importance to conservation, tourism, and the community at large. He or she will then join us on a jeep safari to teach us how tigers are tracked and monitored. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch a glimpse of an elusive tiger.

Drive to Pokhara, an enchanting town set on the shores of turquoise-hued Phewa Lake against a backdrop of snowcapped Himalayan peaks. Enjoy a guided walk around the city, and opt to have dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Nestled in a tranquil valley at an altitude of 827m (2,713 ft), beautiful Pokhara lies on a once vibrant trade route between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalayas. This enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. It's a popular place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Private VehicleRoyal Chitwan National Park – Pokhara8h
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Pokhara Orientation WalkPokhara
Breathe in the fresh air and take in the views of the Himalayas and Phewa Lake while getting your bearings around this scenic city.

Venture to Sarangkot village early this morning and hike to the famed Sarangkot lookout to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Annapurna Himalaya. Back in Pokhara, climb up a lush forest path to the gleaming white Peace Pagoda, built by Japanese monks after World War II. Later, visit a Tibetan refugee settlement, established by the United Nations in 1964. Learn about the history of the community on a walk through their photo gallery, and enjoy a traditional Tibetan lunch. In your free time, opt to take a boat tour of Phewa Lake.

The hike up to the World Peace Pagoda can be quite strenuous and is all steps up and back down. If you are not feeling so energetic, please let the CEO know and you can opt out of this activity.

Sunrise at SarangkotPokhara
Rise early and experience a spectacular sunrise with a panoramic view of the surrounding Himalayas. The highest altitude on this trek is at 1600 meters.

World Peace Pagoda ExcursionSarangkot2h-3h4km
Walk up to the World Peace Pagoda, which was constructed by Buddhist monks. Enjoy the structure and the beautiful view around it.

Tibetan Refugee SettlementPokhara
Visit the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Camp, established by the United Nations in 1964 as a temporary settlement for the large number of refugees fleeing Tibet. Walk through this friendly quarter, now home to over 500 people. Visit the celebrated photo gallery here and then enjoy a traditional momo lunch at the local restaurant to support this incredible community.

Catch a flight back to the capital, Kathmandu. Enjoy time to shop in the bustling Thamel district, or choose to visit Pashupatinath Temple, the most sacred Hindu temple complex in Nepal.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon for exploring. Visit the burning ghats at Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, or the monkey temple. Kathmandu is fascinating at every turn, and some travelers prefer to just wander, seeing where the city may lead them.

PlanePokhara – Kathmandu1h
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Free TimeKathmanduAfternoon
Take some time to explore on your own or do some last minute shopping.

Depart at any time.

Feel free to depart at any time today, but remember that check out time from the hotel is 12:00pm.