Highlights of Nepal

Highlights of Nepal

This wonderful 14 day luxury tour takes you to key destinations within Nepal, on a richly immersive tour, allowing you to experience the very best of Nepal. Starting in the vibrant and colourful capital, Kathmandu, visit ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites and key spiritual sites including Kathmandu Dubar Square,  Pashupathinath temple and Boudhnath stupa. From Kathmandu it's a short scenic flight to the relaxing lakeside city of Pokhara, gateway to the Annapurnas and many wonderful trekking trails as well as adventure capital of Nepal. After exploring here, it's time to fly to the southern Terai region of Nepal, known for its wonderful jungles, rich local culture and as a key destination for wildlife safaris. You'll travel deep into the less visited Bardia National Park by vintage open top jeep as well as enjoy village walks and walking and river safari activities. This is the heart of tiger country so look out for these magnificent big cats! From Bardia it's a scenic drive to Lumbini, another World Heritage Site and important pilgrimage site, known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. After time here, you'll travel on to the beautiful Chitwan National Park for more safari activities and a contrast to Bardia. A short flight and scenic drive takes you to the charming hilltop location of Dhulikhel where you can soak up the tranquility and the spectacular mountain views before returning to Kathmandu. With spectacular mountain and countryside views and rich local culture and heritage as well as beautiful luxury boutique hotels and safari lodges, this is a fantastic introduction to Nepal. 

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Kathmandu (1300m).

  Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. One of our local team will be waiting to welcome you at the airport, for the transfer drive to your hotel. The traffic can be busy but there's lots to see en route, providing a little bit of an insight into daily life in the capital. Arriving at your hotel, the rest of your day is free to rest and relax, enjoy the pool and other hotel facilities or perhaps explore locally. This evening we invite you to a complimentary welcome dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Kathmandu. Rest and relax overnight at the five star boutique Varnabas Museum Hotel.

• Day 02

  Full day guided tour.

  This morning it's time for your guided sightseeing of some of the key cultural and heritage sites in Kathmandu. After breakfast, you'll be met by your guide before heading to nearby Kathmandu Durbar Square, an impressive World Heritage Site and hugely important place in Nepalese history and culture. You'll be able to visit the ancient palace complex and the temple of the Living Goddess of Nepal, the Kumari. You'll also visit Hanuman Dhoka and Kasthamandap Temple. From here, we'll drive to Pashupatinath Temple, the holiest shrine for Hindus, situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and an important cremation site. We'll also visit Boudhnath Stupa, an important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site and the centre of Tibetan pilgrimage in Nepal. The huge stupa is one of the largest dome stupas in the world and is surrounded by many small monasteries, shops and cafes. This evening is at leisure to rest and relax. Overnight Kathmandu, at the 5 star boutique Varnabas Museum Hotel.

• Day 03

  Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara (822m).

  This morning you’ll be picked up for the short transfer drive to the domestic airport for your flight to Pokhara. The flight is around 30 minutes with wonderful views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks and valleys below. Arriving at Pokhara airport, you’ll have more fantastic peak views from the airport and on the drive into the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara, on the shores of Lake Phewa. The rest of today is free to rest and relax, enjoy the hotel pool and courtyard area or take an easy stroll to the nearby lakeside area with it's shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Overnight at Pokhara, Temple Tree Resort & Spa.

• Day 04

  Full day guided tour, Pokhara.

  Today enjoy a full day guided tour with your local guide, including visits to Gupteshwor Mahadev Temple, a natural cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, close to where the Seti River emerges and nearby Davis Falls. It's well worth spending some time at the the International Mountain Museum and a visit to Pokhara isn't complete without a relaxing boating trip on beautiful Lake Phewa with the stunning Annapurna mountains as a backdrop. This evening is free for you to rest and relax.  Overnight at Pokhara, Temple Tree Resort & Spa.

• Day 05

  Fly to Nepalgunj and drive to Bardia National Park.

  This morning it's time for another wonderfully scenic flight, around 30 minutes from Pokhara to Nepalgunj in the south west of Nepal. From here it's a scenic transfer drive of around 2 hours through small villages and towns and then countryside to reach Bardia. Bardia National Park is the largest national park in Nepal but also the least visited, with most visitors to Nepal only going to Chitwan for safari activities. Bardia National Park is in the heart of tiger country so you have the best chance to see these magnificent cats here as well as a huge range of other animal and bird species.  Enjoy the next few days of safari activities, tailored to your interests, including jeep safaris, walking and boating safaris and village walks to learn more about the local Tharu culture. Depending on your arrival time there's a choice of activities today, from village walks to visiting the organic farm belonging to the lodge to simply resting and spotting some of the passing bird and animal species. Rest and relax overnight and enjoy the peaceful forest surroundings. Safari activities tend to start early, for the best chance to spot the animals, so it's worth getting an early night tonight. Overnight at the luxury Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge.

• Day 06

  Full day safari – Bardia National Park.

  Enjoy today and tomorrow with a range of safari activities, tailored to your interests, including jeep safaris, walking and boating safaris and village walks to learn more about the local Tharu culture. Travel deep into stunning Bardia National Park following forest trails in a vintage open top Landrover jeep or follow the river on a boating safari. Relax overnight at the luxury Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge.

• Day 07

  Full day safari – Bardia National Park.

  Today is another day and another fantastic opportunity to spot some of the many rare and protected bird and animal species within Bardia National Park, with your choice of a range of safari activities, all tailored to your interests, including jeep safaris, walking and boating safaris and village walks to learn more about the local Tharu culture. Travel deep into stunning Bardia National Park following forest trails in a vintage open top Landrover jeep or enjoy a guided walking safari to spot the smaller animals and bird species. Relax overnight at the luxury Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge.

• Day 08

  Drive to Lumbini.

  It’s a change of pace today as you'll travel to Lumbini, an important World Heritage Site, known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It's a scenic drive of a few hours to reach Lumbini, a small town in the Nepal-India border area and one of the world’s most important pilgrimage sites for thousands of years. Legend says the story of Buddhism began here, more than 2600 years ago when Queen Mayadevi is believed to have stopped here to give birth to her son, Prince Siddhartha, who would later find enlightenment and become Buddha. Many visitors, regardless of religion or belief, find Lumbini a wonderfully spiritual and peaceful place, whether exploring the central Mayadevi Temple or the surrounding Sacred Garden or relaxing by the large water feature. The site is spread over a wide area which includes small monasteries, meditation centres, parks and gardens. Enjoy a half-day guided tour with your local guide who will share more information about this wonderful site and take you to visit the key areas. Mingle with the pilgrims and monks who come here to meditate and reflect on the Buddha’s teachings as part of their own spiritual journeys. This evening, rest and relax at your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Kasai or similar.

• Day 09

  Drive to Chitwan.

  Today it's another few hours scenic drive, this time to reach Chitwan National Park, a renowned wildlife safari destination, particularly for sighting the rare One Horned Rhinos as well as many other animal and bird species including tigers, leopards, wild elephants, sloth bears and many more.  After reaching your safari lodge, the rest of your late afternoon and evening is free to explore locally as well as rest and relax and enjoy the peaceful lodge surroundings. Overnight at the luxury TIger Tops Tharu Lodge.

• Day 10

  Full day safari - Chitwan.National Park.

  Enjoy a full day of safari activities today, travelling deep into the forest and following jungle trails into beautiful Chitwan National Park. Chitwan is another fantastic wildlife destination in Nepal, better known than the much less visited Bardia National Park. This evening relax overnight at TIger Tops Tharu Lodge.

• Day 11

  Fly to Kathmandu, drive to Dhulikhel.

  It's time to leave the southern Terai region and fly back to Kathmandu on the scenic flight of around 25 minutes from Bharatpur Airport. Enjoy the wonderful mountain and valley views during the short flight. You'll be met on arrival for the transfer drive of around one to two hours, depending on traffic, to the tranquil and charming hilltop resort at Dhulikhel. The drive up to your hotel is through farmland and orange groves with wonderful views of the Himalayan snow capped peaks and the valley below, from the hotel. This is a beautiful place to unwind and take in the tranquil countryside views before returning to Kathmandu in a couple of days. Overnight at the five star luxury Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort at Dhulikhel.

• Day 12

  Full day at leisure – Dhulikhel.

  Relax and enjoy the wonderful mountain views and surroundings from your luxury mountain resort today. Relax in the infinity pool, enjoy delicious meals from the restaurant, perhaps explore the local village and forest trails or book some relaxing spa treatments at the fabulous spa. Overnight at the luxury Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort.

• Day 13

  Drive to Kathmandu.

  After breakfast today it's around a 1 to 2 hour (depending on traffic) drive down from Dhulikhel back to Kathmandu today, descending through orange groves, small settlements and farmland back towards the city. On arrival the rest of your day is free to rest and relax and perhaps do some last minute shopping in nearby Thamel or enjoy the hotel facilities including wonderful restaurant, bar, pool and courtyard area. Overnight at the five star boutique Varnabas Museum Hotel.

• Day 14

  Depart Kathmandu.

  This morning is at leisure until time to check out and head to the airport. If your flight departs later this evening please let us know if you need late check out from your hotel - subject to availability and additional charge. When time to leave for Tribhuvan International Airport, you'll be transferred around three hours before your departure flight.