Unexpected Nepal

On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you'll be greeted by your driver and whisked away to your authentic Nepalese accommodation. When you've freshened up and recovered from your flight your Nepal tour itinerary can really begin. Take a stroll around the area to soak up the typical Nepalese atmosphere and find a good spot to eat. Definitely check out one of the many roof top restaurants Thamel has to offer. Your hotel, located just outside the centre of Kathmandu is full of character and has a beautiful serene courtyard garden.
 

You'll have plenty of time to see Kathmandu with your guide today. Your sightseeing tour will take you to Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath. The easiest way to get around town is to take a taxi cab or to agree on a set price with your taxi driver for a tour of all the sights. We can also arrange a guided tour for you with an English-speaking guide. This will cost approximately £45 per person.

Durbar Square is the ideal starting point from which to explore this ancient city. You'll see quite a few inspiring temples here where you can take a seat and just watch the locals going about their daily activities. You can also visit the temple complexes Swayambunath and Pashupatinath (comparable to Varanasi in India, the most holy Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal). The Bouddhanath temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monument, is one of today's highlights during this Nepal tour itinerary. It's one of the largest stupas in the world. You may feel all templed-out at the end of the day but you'll definitely have a better idea of the significant role of religion in Nepalese daily life.

This morning you'll be collected from your hotel in Kathmandu by our driver. Weaving through heavy traffic in the city's congested streets, it will take you about 2 hours to reach the tranquil village of Panauti. From here you'll continue on foot up to the holy site of Namobuddha, which means 'Hail Buddha'. It's one of the most important pilgrimage locations in the valley, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists. The many flags and pilgrims dressed in colourful robes create a very vibrant picture as they surround the white dome of the stupa. A great spot to take some photos on your Nepal tour itinerary.

After lunch (not included) in one of the small local restaurants, you'll head off on a hike through the countryside to Dhulikel. Passing through fields, farmland and small villages, you'll get a pretty good idea of rural life in Nepal. Dhulikel is a beautifully preserved Newari town, made of traditional stone houses. You'll spend the night in a small hotel with a lovely view of the surrounding mountain ranges, which is particularly stunning at sunrise. This is the most challenging and longest day of the trek, but very rewarding.

After a night in Dhulikel, your Nepal tour itinerary continues to the village of Nagarkot, the highest point in the Kathmandu Valley. It's a lovely 5-hour walk past fertile terraces with, if the weather's clear enough, a fabulous view of the mountain ranges. It's a vigorous hike that will have you stopping to catch your breath after particularly steep parts. Nagarkot, which lies to the north-east of Bhaktapur and approximately 30km to the east of Kathmandu was once an army base but is now a popular destination for hikers and cyclists. The village offers visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the Himalayas. The view is simply idyllic at the end of the day when the sun slowly sets behind the horizon, casting a fiery glow in the evening sky. To cut out a small section of your trek, it is possible to jump on a local bus for just a few rupees, something your guide might suggest if you are feeling tired!

Today your trek continues downhill towards Bhaktapur and the next stop on your Nepal tour itinerary. When you arrive, you can tave a drink and rest your feet at one of the rooftop terraces looking out across Durbar Square. You'll find museums, temples and galleries selling traditional tankas on the square. Tankas are colourful paintings depicting the life of Buddha and other religious scenes.

It almost seems as if time has stood still in Bhaktapur. The city is one large open-air museum, especially since large portions of town are pedestrianised. Throughout the town you'll find plenty of medieval buildings with beautiful wood carvings. In the centre of the square you'll see the 30m-high Nyatapola Temple, the tallest temple in Nepal. We've deliberately planned an overnight stay here during your Nepal tour itinerary so that you can explore the town outside of peak hours. With most of the tourists gone, you can really feel what the place was like hundreds of years ago. Wandering through the narrow alleyways, you'll pass local women spinning wool and threshing rice by hand. You'll spend the night in a small cosy hotel on Durbar Square.

After a good nights sleep, you'll wake up with a hot cup of coffee and a tasty breakfast on your hotel's roof overlooking the square. You'll see old men pushing wooden carts and elderly women knitting on the temple steps. Later on in the morning, you'll leave your trek behind you and continue on towards Kathmandu.

This afternoon on your Nepal tour itinerary is yours to spend exploring Kathmandu. Visit the lively Thamel district to pick up a few souvenirs and maybe end the day with a yak steak on one of the city's many rooftop restaurants.

Today you'll be picked up by your private driver early in the morning and taken to Charaundi, where you'll arrive around 11:30 for the next stop on your Nepal tour itinerary. After you arrive you can grab a bite to eat and change your clothes if necessary. All you need are a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and some sunscreen. You'll leave the rest of your belongings behind in the car and the driver will take them to where today's rafting adventure ends.

After a brief instruction on the rafting it's time to hoist yourself into your life vest, hop into the rubber raft and make your way downstream. It'll take a few white water rapids to get the hang of effective paddling, so don't expect to stay dry. The Trisuli has a couple of major class 3 rapids, but there are also plenty of calmer stretches where you can gently float along enjoying the scenery of remote river valleys and canyons. After your rafting adventure you'll head on to Chitwan.

Chitwan is at its most beautiful at dawn when the early morning light seeps across the plains giving it a mystical atmosphere. The river is particularly magical. Working elephants stride through the river, rickety ferries glide to the other side and rhinos graze in the grass. After breakfast you and your guide will hop into a wooden canoe to sail across the Rapti River past banks lined with sunbathing crocs. After about 30 minutes you'll leave the canoe behind for a jungle walk with your guide, a real highlight of your Nepal tour itinerary. You'll hike along narrow paths, through the forests and across plains where the shoulder-high grass seems almost impenetrable.

This afternoon you'll go on safari, perched high on the back of an elephant. You'll share the elephant with a maximum of 3 other travellers. You'll be safe from any large predators hiding away in the bushes. If a rhino dares approach the elephant, it won't be long before the elephant shows him who's boss with a loud bellowing sound.

Sapana Village is more than a hotel - it's also an important employment project for the locals. You'll also find several tiny workshops where the indigenous and poorest part of the population, the Tharus, make and sell their arts and crafts.

There are also plans to build a library, a school and a medical post here. We're therefore very excited to have joined forces with Sapana Village in order to help them make these plans a reality. We run this very special section of the Nepal tour itinerary in partnership with the Tharus, and it's one of our favourite Nepal experiences. You'll start with a relaxing 'elephant bath'. Armed with a brush you'll get to work scrubbing off all the dirt. The elephants clearly love all the pampering and rest assured they'll give you a thorough rinse-off with their trunks once you're done!

Your'll want to get up early on Day Ten of your Nepal tour itinerary so that you don't miss one of Nepal's mesmerising sunrises. Watch the jungle awaken from shrouds of mist as an orchestra of birds serenade you good morning. You'll also have a pretty good chance of seeing wild animals this early in the morning. After you say goodbye to the Tharu, you'll hike back to Sapana Village where breakfast will be waiting for you.

You'll arrive in Bandipur in the afternoon. The streets are narrow and cobbled and lined on both sides with the traditional wooden Newari houses. You'll be dropped off at a warm and inviting mountain hotel where you'll spend 2 nights. The hotel has a colonial atmosphere, a spectacular view and great food. It's surrounded by an aromatic pine forest.

The following morning you'll be collected from your hotel by an english-speaking guide for a hike to the village of Ramkot. As soon as you leave Bandipur, the hills will become greener and more rugged with patches of steep rocks, cliffs and beautiful terraces. Village children will run after you cheerfully calling "Namaste". Two hours later you'll arrive in Ramkot. Hiking through the great outdoors is guaranteed to create an appetite. Your guide will seek out a perfect picnic spot and set out a spread of treats as you relax on the grass. As you enjoy your tasty lunch, you'll hear birdsong and the sounds of rural Nepal around you.

After lunch you'll return to Bandipur arriving at the end of the afternoon. You'll have enough time to go back into the village and explore, but you may just want to curl up on a balcony seat with a good book to enjoy some well deserved rest on your Nepal tour itinerary. Take in the peace and quiet and the lovely view from your guesthouse.

Today you'll travel from Bandipur to Pokhara, the next stop on your Nepal tour itinerary. As you follow the winding road up through the mountains, you'll notice the air getting cooler. Pokhara stands at 885m and you'll gradually see the white mountain peaks getting closer. The scenery gets ever more beautiful so stop off to take some pictures - it's a good moment to enjoy a hot cup of tea served by cheerful local women in the small tea houses along the road.

While in Pokhara, you'll enjoy a lovely view of the lake. On a clear day you can see the high mountain peaks glistening in the sun in the distance. There are plenty of options today on the Nepal tour itinerary: rent a boat and paddle out onto the lake, visit a temple or just chill out and enjoy the atmosphere in one of the many local restaurants in this charming lakeside town.

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up for the 2-hour drive to Birethanti Village. On the way you'll see the high peaks of the Himalayas emerging in the distance as the road winds its way up to the starting point of the trekking part of your Nepal tour itinerary. Packed with your camera, warm sweater and some water you'll head off on a broad path up into the hills, accompanied by your guide and local porters. The villagers will wave you goodbye as you slowly begin your ascent.

The path leads through a thick bamboo forest to lush green fields where cows with red plumes on their heads graze. You can stop off for some pictures or a drink on the way. After about 4 hours you'll arrive in Tirkhedhunga, a small village with a couple of shops, a wobbly hanging bridge across the river and waving children that follow you with curiosity. You'll spend the night in a basic lodge with running water, but don't expect a hot shower...

After a hearty breakfast, it's time to pack your things and head off on your Nepal tour itinerary trek. The first stretch is fairly easy, as you walk downhill into the valley. As you cross the Burungdi Khola, make sure to stop and admire this spectacular mountain river, which looks like a peacefully flowing stream but can fast become a wild churning rapid. The freezing cold melt water flows down from high up on the mountain. After this, you'll begin the most strenuous part of the trek. Heading up many stone steps, you'll slowly make your way to 2000m.

At the end of this strenuous climb you'll be rewarded with an amazing view of the snow-capped mountains rising up about the surrounding hills. You'll have such an incredible view from here. The last part of the trek is pretty level and leads through a colourful and aromatic rhododendron forest. Once you reach Ghorepani, you can put your feet up, have a drink and relax. As you look around, you'll see colourful prayer flags blowing in the wind at the many temples and snowy mountain peaks in the background.

You'll want to start Day Fifteen of your Nepal tour itinerary very early so you don't miss the sunrise at Poon Hill. After breakfast you'll start the 1 hour climb to the top at 3190m. Once you reach the top, sit yourself down on a rock and watch as the sun slowly colours the white peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri a deep orange. It's enough to give you goose bumps...

When the sun's up the trek continues to Tadapani, where you'll spend the night. The following day you'll head out on a hike to Ghandruk. You'll meet a lot of local villagers carrying everything from sacks of rice to live chickens in baskets and even household furniture. The local men all wear simple flip-flops but they're still a lot faster than the tourists. At the end of the afternoon you'll reach a small Gurung village where you'll spend the night in a basic lodge.

This morning you'll leave for the last part of the trekking section of your Nepal tour itinerary - to Nayapul; it should take about 1.5 hour. When you arrive, you'll find your transport waiting for you for the two-hour drive to the placid town of Pokhara. This friendly town is the starting point for many different treks. Most hotels are situated around the town lake and this is also where you'll find plenty of bustling bars and restaurants. Pokhara offers a lot of western food too so you can enjoy burgers, pizzas and fresh fruit juices again or even a beer or cocktail if you fancy it. On a clear day you can see the snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance, you can rent a boat and go out on the lake or visit the golden Varahi temple.

So you have enjoyed the best of Nepal in 19 days and your Nepal tour itinerary ends after breakfast this morning. You'll either continue travelling in Nepal, fly into Delhi to explore India, or head in the direction of home. If you're beginning your journey home, we can arrange your airport transfer on request. Once you're home, we'd love to hear just how your trip went. You can always extend your stay in Nepal if you like - just ask one of our travel specialists for some options.

If you have any questions about this itinerary, please call or email us. If you would like to request this itinerary, please fill out our quote request form.