On arrival at Kathmandu Airport you'll be greeted by your driver and whisked away to the buzzing area of Thamel to start your Nepal highlights your. When you've freshened up and recovered from the inevitable jetlag, 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 rooftop 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 today to see Kathmandu with your guide today. Your Nepal highlights tour will take you to Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Swayambunath. The easiest way to get around town is to take a taxi cab from place to place or to agree on a set price with your taxi driver for a tour of all the sights. Naturally we can also arrange a guided tour for you with an English-speaking guide on our Nepal itineraries. This will cost approximately $79 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. Take a seat on the steps of one of the many temples 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 today's highlights during our Nepal itineraries. 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 significant role religion has in Nepalese daily life after this Nepal highlights tour. 

Travel time day 3 of our Nepal highlights tour: approximately 4 hours of driving and 2 hours of trekking

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 4 hours to reach the tranquil village of Panauti. From here you'll continue on foot to the holy town of Namobuddha, which means 'Hail Buddha'. It's one of the most important pilgrimage locations in the valley, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists which is why it is in our Nepal highlight tour. The stupas name is linked to one of the 'Jataka' legends recounting the previous lives of Buddha. The many flags and pilgrims dressed in colourful robes create a very vibrant picture as they surround the white dome of the stupa.

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 up of traditional stone houses, some of which 4 - 5 stories high. Traditionally they're home to large families of up to 50 people. You'll spend the night in a small hotel with a lovely view of the surrounding mountain ranges.... this is particularly stunning at sunrise. 

Travel time: 5 hours of trekking

After a night in Dhulikel, your Nepal highlights tour 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

Travel time: approximately 4 hours of trekking

Today the trek continues downhill towards Bhaktapur. Along the way you'll see local farmers at work in the fields. After about a 4-hour descent, you'll reach Bhaktapur. Have a drink and rest your feet on one of the many rooftop terraces the look out across Durbar Square before setting out to explore the town. Durbar Square is Bhaktapur's central town 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.

After lunch (not included), you can head out to explore the area on your own. 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 pedestrian areas. 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 in Bhaktapur during this Nepal highlights tour so that you can explore the town outside of peak hours of 11:00 and 15:00. With most of the tourists gone, the town is blanketed in peace and quiet and you get a feel of what the place was like hundreds of years ago. Wandering through the narrow alleyways, you'll pass local women spinning wool at their spinning wheel and threshing rice by hand. You'll spend the night in a small cosy hotel right on Durbar Square.
 

Travel time: approximately 1.5 hour of driving

After a night of blissful sleep, you'll wake up with a hot cup of coffee and a tasty breakfast on your hotel's rooftop 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 the trek and continue on your Nepal highlights tour towards Kathmandu.

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

Travel time: approximately 3 hours of driving and approximately 3 hours of rafting

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. As part of our Nepal highlights your after you arrive you can grab a bite to eat and change your clothes if necessary. All you'll 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.

Chitwan is at its most beautiful at dawn when the golden 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 and together you'll 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. You'll hike along narrow paths through the forests and across plains where the shoulder-high grass seems almost impenetrable. It's a little scary knowing that this grass could be a hiding spot for rhinos, leopards and tigers, but our professional guides know what they're doing. If a rhino gets too close for comfort you'll be sent scrambling up nearest large tree. As sweet and harmless as those rhinos may seem, don't underestimate them. Because they have very poor eyesight, they tend to storm into any noise or smell they're not familiar with so it's best to follow your guide's instructions very closely.

This afternoon you'll go on safari, perched high on the back of an elephant. You'll share the seat/ basket on top of 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. It's just the subtle way the gentle grey giant let's the rhinos know he's a little too big for them to mess around with.

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 with our Nepal highlights tour 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!

Once you've dried off you'll head into the jungle with your guide. You're guaranteed a very warm welcome in the local Tharu village which is a true highlight on your Nepal highlights tour. The Tharus are the indigenous people of this jungle and they are also Buddhist. The enlightened prince's son Gautama Buddha was a Tharu as well. The Tharu will tell you all about the jungle and their way of life. The fact that you really get the time to get to know these wonderful people is what makes this module so enjoyable. Together you'll prepare the dinner and as the sun sets the fire will be lit, drums and rice wine appear and the party will continue into the early hours...

You'll spend the night in a 'Tharu jungle tower' on the edge of the village (see images at the bottom of the page). The house is built on stilts so don't worry about any jungle wildlife paying you an unexpected visit in the middle of the night. The room we've arranged for you to stay at during this Nepal highlights tour is basic, yet comfortable enough and you will soon find yourself lulled to sleep by the sounds of the jungle...

Travel time: 3.5 hours of driving

Rise and shine early today 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 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. After breakfast you will continue onto Bandipur with our Nepal highlights tour. 

You'll arrive in this charming village early in the afternoon. Immediately you'll feel as if you've stepped into a time machine. The streets are narrow and cobbled and lined on both sides with the traditional wooden Newari houses. Curious faces will peek out and as you drive past you, the first smiles appear... 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 to boot. It's surrounded by a wonderfully aromatic pine forest and somewhere among the trees you'll find a pool. Unfortunately it wasn't filled up during our visit, but perhaps you'll have better luck.
 

Travel time: approximately 2 hours of hiking each way

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 out "Namaste". They enjoy having their picture taken with you and giggle when they see their image on the screen of a digital camera. Two hours later you'll arrive in Ramkot. Hiking through the great outdoors guaranteed to create an appetite. Together with your guide you'll search for the perfect picnic spot and your guide will set out a spread of treats for you to eat as you lounge on the grass. As you enjoy your tasty lunch, you'll hear the birds cheerfully chirping all around you. This is the best way to experience the joy of country life

After lunch you'll return to Bandipur; you'll arrive at the end of the afternoon. You'll have enough time to go back into the village, but you may just want to curl op on a balcony seat with a good book to enjoy the peace and quiet and the view.

Travel time: approximately 4 hours of driving

Today you'll travel Bandipur to Pokhara. As you follow the winding road up through the mountains, you'll notice the air getting cooler. Pokhara stands at 885m and you can 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 the cheerful local women in the small tea houses along the road.

While in Pokhara, you'll enjoy the 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 for day 12 for this Nepal highlights tour: 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.

 

Travel time: approximately 1 hour of driving and 4 hours of trekking

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 trek. Packed with your camera, warm sweater and some water you head off on a broad path up into the hills, accompanied by your guide and local porters. The villagers will wave goodbye to you 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 contentedly. 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...
 

Travel time: 6 hours of trekking 

After a hearty breakfast, it's time to pack your things and head off on another trek during our Nepal itineraries. 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 some stony 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 it is truly inspiring on your Nepal highlights tour.

Travel time: approximately 4 hours of trekking on day 15 and 4 hours on day 16

Today you may want to start off the day early so you don't miss the sunrise at Poon Hill. After breakfast you'll start off on the 1-hour climb to the top at 3190m. Once you reach the top, sit yourself down on a nice comfy flat 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 on the way. Everything is lugged up the mountain, from sacks of rice to live chickens in big baskets, even entire beds. The local men all wear simple flip-flops but they're still a lot faster than us tourists in our posh hiking boots. Along the way, you'll pass through fertile fields where you can see farmers working the land. At the end of the afternoon you'll reach a small Gurung village where you'll spend the night in a basic lodge.
 

Travel time: approximately 1.5 hour of trekking and 2 hours of driving

This morning you'll leave for the last part of the trek to Nayapul; it should take about 1.5 hour. When you arrive, you'll find your transportation 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 finally enjoy those burgers, pizzas and fresh fruit juices again or even a beer or cocktail. 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. 

Your travel on this Nepal highlights tour ends after breakfast this morning, and 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.