Nepal offers a truly unique opportunity for travelers to indulge in a diverse range of landscapes within a condensed time frame. Our Best of Nepal Tour is meticulously crafted to provide exactly this experience. This comprehensive itinerary opens doors for families to immerse themselves in an authentic and enriching encounter with Nepal.
8 nights 9 days Best of Nepal Tour begins in the Kathmandu Valley, where the vibrant local life and cultural intricacies await your discovery. Our journey through Kathmandu includes visits to UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Changunarayan, Pashupatinath, Bouddha, and Swoyambhunath. Furthermore, we’ll venture to Nagarkot to relish the mesmerizing sunrise views over the majestic Himalayas.
Moving ahead to Pokhara, you’ll not only witness the city’s unique charm but also forge connections with its warm-hearted residents and partake in their way of life. With its lakes, caves, and mountains, Pokhara offers a wealth of experiences. We’ll explore prominent tourist attractions such as Davis Fall, the World Peace Pagoda, and Sarankot – an iconic vantage point for both sunrise and sunset vistas.
In addition to these explorations, our itinerary takes us to the remarkable Chitwan National Park – a UNESCO-listed site in Southeast Asia. Here, an exceptional wildlife safari adventure awaits, complete with elephant safaris, Jeep safaris, bird watching, canoe ride, jungle walks, and a captivating Tharu Cultural Dance Program.
The blend of these experiences ensures an all-encompassing and unforgettable journey, capturing the myriad dimensions of Nepal’s beauty and allure.
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After check in formalities and some refreshment, we will have a pre-departure meeting regarding the details of your trip.
In the evening, we’ll take a 15 to 20-minute stroll from your hotel to Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This historic square is located in the heart of old Kathmandu at Basantapur. Its collection of palaces, courtyards, and temples built during the Malla era consistently leaves a strong impression on first-time visitors. Notable features of the Durbar Square include the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, which has historical significance as the royal seat; the impressive Taleju Temple that stands over 40 meters tall; Kumari Ghar, where the Living Goddess, Kumari, resides; Ashok Vinayak, also known as Kathmandu Ganesh, an exceptional temple; and Kal Bhairav, the deity representing wrath. The city gets its name from the immense Kasthamandap pagoda, believed to have been constructed from a single tree. Throughout the reign of the Malla kings, the Durbar Square has remained the central hub for social, religious, and political activities.
Afterward, we’ll make our way back to the hotel via Asan, a marketplace that has been a key trading area in the city for ages. Asan offers an incredible array of goods for sale, spanning from food items, spices, and fabrics to electronic devices and precious metals. Beyond its commercial significance, Asan is a favored tourist destination due to its captivating architecture and delightful atmosphere.
We start our day by driving 45 minutes to Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is one of the ancient city famous for its vibrant cultural scene, remarkable temples, and exquisite wood, metal, and stone craftsmanship. In Bhaktapur, our exploration unfolds across four key squares – Durbar, Taumadhi, Dattatreya, and Pottery. Within these squares, we’ll discover iconic landmarks including the Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows, the Lion’s Gate, the towering Nyatpola Temple (Nepal’s tallest of its kind), the Bhairab Temple, and the Dattatreya Temple.
We then drive towards Changunarayan passing through forests, local farmlands, and charming Nepalese villages. This drive offers an authentic and immersive experience of rural life in Nepal. Built during Lichhavi Dynasty, this pagoda-style Hindu temple is a tribute to Vishnu in his Narayan incarnation and stands as one of Nepal’s most ancient temples.
Afterwards we drive to Nagarkot, a famous tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. Nagarkot is popular for sunrise and sunset view over the Himalayas.
This morning begins early with a trip to the Nagarkot viewing tower, where we may witness a magnificent sunrise over the Langtang mountain range, which includes Mount Everest, weather permitting.
First on our itinerary is the revered Pashupatinath Temple, gracefully positioned along the river’s edge. This temple, a dedicated abode of Lord Shiva, is renowned as ‘The Temple of Living Beings’. It holds the distinction of being Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple and is regarded as the most sacred sanctuary of Lord Shiva on a globally. Its history reaches back to 400 AD, and its majestic architecture, crafted in the traditional Nepalese pagoda style, showcases intricate carvings, resplendent gilded roofs, entrances adorned with silver, and it enshrines the revered linga of Lord Shiva.
Our journey then leads us to the Bouddhanath Stupa, a location brimming with profound spiritual energy. Situated 7 kilometers to the east of the city, Bouddhanath Stupa, also known as Khasti Chitya, stands as Nepal’s largest stupa. This stupa carries historical significance due to its position along the ancient trade route connecting Tibet and Kathmandu. Over centuries, Tibetan merchants have found solace here and offered their prayers. Today, it stands as the foremost Tibetan temple outside of Tibet itself. Daily, a worshippers of Tibetan and Sherpa pilgrims engages in a kora, a ritual circumambulation, around the stupa. The stupa itself has graced this site since the 5th century, earning its rightful place as a World Heritage Site in 1979. Its design mirrors the mandala concept, symbolizing the entirety of the Buddhist cosmos.
In the morning, we’ll collect you from your hotel and set off towards the picturesque city of Pokhara. The journey takes us westward along the Prithvi Highway, tracing the Trisuli and Marshyangdi Rivers and passing through quaint villages that dot the landscape. Mt. Manaslu and the Annapurna Mountain ranges decorate the distant horizon. Pokhara, Nepal’s second-largest city, greets us with its tranquil charm and lively energy. After reaching your hotel and stowing your belongings, we have the opportunity to freshen up. We then take a boat out on to the Fewa lake to visit Tal Barahi Temple. The rest of the day can be spent discovering the delightful lakeside area of Pokhara. This vibrant hub is brimming with eateries, shops, and cafes against the backdrop of the breathtaking Phewa Lake. You can take a leisurely lakeside stroll, soak in the scenic beauty, or simply unwind in the peaceful surroundings.
Our exploration day in Pokhara includes following
David falls – Davi’s Waterfall, locally referred to as Patale Chhango, is located on the southern side of the Pokhara valley. Here, the stream that flows from Fewa Lake cascades and rushes down the rocky terrain, forming a stunning waterfall that plunges into a deep gorge while creating a series of potholes along its path.
Gupteshwor Mahadev cave – The Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave stands as a prominent attraction in Pokhara, situated directly across from Davis Fall. This cave is unique as it serves as a passage for the water from Davis Fall to flow through.
World Peace Pagoda – The World Peace Pagoda, a vast Buddhist stupa, is perched atop a hill on the southern banks of Phewa Lake. Not only is it a striking monument in its own right, but it also serves as an excellent vantage point, providing breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Annapurna mountain range and the city of Pokhara.
Bindabasini Temple – The Bindhyabasini Temple serves as the focal point for religious practices in the old bazaar area. Devoted to Goddess Bhagawati, a manifestation of Shakti, the temple holds significant religious importance.
In the evening we will drive and stay overnight at Sarankot. Sarankot is situated atop a hill, offering a panoramic view of towering peaks such as Annapurna I, Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and many others.
Following the awe-inspiring sunrise view over the Annapurna Range mountains, we continue our journey and drive towards Chitwan National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, situated in the Inner Terai region of southern central Nepal. Our stay here involves a range of engaging activities, such as guided jungle walks, exploring local villages, visiting an elephant breeding center, embarking on a canoe ride, experiencing an elephant back safari, partaking in elephant bathing, enjoying bird watching, and immersing in an evening of cultural dance. You have the option to participate in all of these activities or choose a select few based on your preferences. During the evenings, there’s ample time to unwind by the riverside and witness the sun setting on the horizon.
Our Chitwan Safari is concluded with an optional early morning bird watching tour.
Following this, we take a one-hour drive to Bharatpur, from where we catch a 20-minute flight to Kathmandu. During this flight, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the Annapurna range. Upon your return to your hotel, you have the freedom to explore more of Kathmandu, including its shops and markets, or you can opt to relax and unwind.
In the morning, we will visit Swayambhunath, affectionately known as the Monkey Temple due to the vigilant monkey community that watches over it. This site is instantly recognizable for the all-seeing eyes of Buddha that overlook the entire valley. Situated atop a hillock around 3 kilometers west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath holds a sacred place as one of Nepal’s most revered Buddhist Chaityas. According to legend, it emerged spontaneously when the Kathmandu valley took shape from an ancient lake over 2,000 years ago. As the oldest stupa of its kind in Nepal, Swayambhunath’s premises house an array of shrines and monasteries, creating an environment imbued with tranquility and spiritual resonance.
As per your scheduled flight time, we will provide transportation to the airport for your departure.
