Best of Nepal Tour

After the flight and getting refreshed in respective hotels, a rendezvous in Kathmandu with trip orientation, where our guide / leader will inform and brief regarding sightseeing tour, hotels, do and don’ts with evening group dinner.

Morning time, our city guide will take you on tour with short drive in the hub of Kathmandu at old Durbar Square (royal courtyard) here visit the Hanuman Dhoka the main early palaces where our expert guide will provide you with history and culture of different era, visit of famous Kumari house (virgin Goddess) and Kastamandap temple where the word Kathmandu derived from meaning a temple built with a wood of a single tree.

Observe the local bazaar as this place is strewn with shops and vendors and visit the old Freak Street (haven for hippies and freaks during the pot and music days of Woodstock era in the early 70’s to late 1980’s)

After an interesting tour with lunch either back in the hotel restaurant or our guide will take you in a nice local restaurant with Nepali environment with views of the area from the roof top or terrace restaurants, from here heading west to Swayambhunath located on a hillock the landmark of Kathmandu city with all seeing eyes of Buddha, an interesting spot with views of Kathmandu valley the dome shaped Buddhist stupa one of the oldest in Nepal dates back more than 25,000 years. On a nice surrounding with monkeys in the forested area of Sywambhunath a de tour of the Stupa and the monastery where you can see the pilgrims and devotees with monks on prayer.

After a delightful tour heading east of the city with a short drive visit of holy Hindu Temple Pashupatinath, as non Hindu are not allowed inside the main temple premises, however one can observe and view the golden roofed temple with four silver door by the bank of Bagmati river, where you can observe the cremation taking place on a wooden pyre next to the river.

After Pashupatinath end the tour with a visit of Bouddhanath close to this temple, located next to the busy street but the Bouddhanath great large Stupa located in a serene atmosphere despite the busy outside gate of the complex.

Tour around this famous Stupa complex where one can walk on the upper 2 tier of Stupa close to the main spire of the stupa with views of shops and markets around the area with much pilgrims on prayer spinning the prayer wheels as they chants around this famous holy area visit some important monasteries here and then retire for the day back to the hotel.

Evening our guide and staff will pick you for the dinner in one of the typical Nepali restaurant with cultural show to conclude this pleasant and nice day.

For interested people in Buddhism and meditation we can provide visit to White Gompa and Kopan Gompa (monastery)

For other relaxing places are Massage and Spa parlors around Kathmandu city.

Morning free at leisure to relax before the next tour and drive, after lunch
2 hours drive leads past Kathmandu towards outskirt of Bhaktapur city and then drive leads to a climb on the winding road with cooler temperature as you reach at Nagarkot hill town at 2,100 meters high.

At Nagarkot transfer to hotel / resorts with short walk around the town area with views of sunset over array of snow capped peaks located towards north.

Early morning get up to catch striking sunrise as the first ray touches the high range of snow capped mountains from Mt. Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang-Jugal Himal Mt. Gauri Shanker and all the way to the eastern horizon towards Everest range of peaks. Depart from the hotel after breakfast for the drive back to Kathmandu at first a short drive downhill to a sleepy village of Changu for a visit of the oldest ancient temple of Nepal Changu Narayan, located on a high hilltop also called Changu or Dolagiri. The temple area is surrounded with forest of champak tree and small Changu village which is north of Bhaktapur.

Changu Narayan Temple dedicated to Hindu god Lord Visnu,this temple is considered as the oldest one in Nepal. The pagoda style temple has several masterpieces of 5th to 12th century of excellent Nepalese art.

After an interesting time here drive downhill for 45 minutes and enter the medieval city of Bhaktapur, tour of this fascinating durbar square and places of interest Bhaktapur although a traditional old looking city slowly emerging into modernization but still retains its past glory with old temples, royal courtyard and bazaar itself steeped with old history and monuments with many heritage sites to visit in this old part of the city of Bhaktapur.

Places to visit in Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Nytapola Temple, Dattarya Square with famous peacock window, Pottery square and market.

From here with lovely morning tour heading back to Kathmandu with rest of the free at leisure and preparation for the next day journey to picturesque Pokhara.

Morning after breakfast set off for a scenic and interesting drive on Nepal main busy highway, drive follows Trisuli River for some time and then heading west on the road to Pokhara where the climate is much warmer of sub tropical temperature, on reaching Pokhara by the pristine lake Phewa check into a nice hotels with afternoon free at leisure to browse around the shops and restaurant along the lake side.

Early morning before breakfast a short drive on the highest hill top of Pokhara Valley offers grandeur vista of Annapurna range of mountains with
Mt. Machhapuchhre and Mt. Manaslu, Lamjung Himal as far to Dhaulagiri peaks towards west, including awesome valley landscapes with Lake Phewa below, a short drive from the hotel in Pokhara lake side, this hill top offers striking sunrise and a platform for Paragliding also.

While in Pokhara it hard to miss the stunning Annapurna range which forms its backdrop. Annapurna massif includes A I (worlds 10th highest at 8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,684ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,459ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft) ever present Mt. Machhapuchhre ‘Fish-Tail’ (6,997 m) and beyond east worlds 8th highest Mt. Manaslu (8,163m-26,781 ft).

All these views can be seen in the comfort of your hotel rooms for more views one can take a mountain flight form 45 mins to an hour, Ultra Light flight or more sporty adventure taking a paragliding from the hills of Sarankot.

Return back to hotel for breakfast and continue tour with a drive south of Pokhara and visit with a view of cascading beautiful waterfalls popularly known as Devi’s Fall, locally called as Patale Chhago (Hell’s Fall) located just 2 k.m. south west of the city on the Siddhartha Highway a nice pleasant area with views of tremendous waterfalls, monsoon and mid September time raging volumes of waters makes this place more interesting and impressive.

After a time here a short walk across the street visit Gufteswor Gufa just walking distance from Devis’ Fall across the street the entrance is wide with down steps with a shrine of Shiva one can head further down to view the raging Seti River entering a channel into the cave.

From here a drive towards Pokhara old bazaar where you can observe local life visiting the old areas of Pokhara with traditional bazaar and ethnical diverse traders. In its temples reflects the Newari architecture of Kathmandu valley, although Pokhara majority are of hill people the Gurung and some Magar, Tamang with Hindu Brahmins, Chettries and Dalits.

The local bazaar has important and interesting shrines called Bindhayabasini Mandir (temple), this white dome shaped dominates a spacious stone paved courtyard on a shady hill top with excellent views of the bazaar and the Annapurna mountains.

After a wonderful time back to hotel for lunch with afternoon free at leisure for individual activities.

With great time in Pokhara, morning drive leads back on the same road for few hours on reaching Mugling Bazaar heading due south to the flatland of Nepal known as Terai where Chitwan National Park located, an interesting drive observing the dramatic change in landscapes feeling totally different in the warm country as the drive leads to the rim of Chitwan National Park where all main hotels, resorts and lodge are situated, on reaching hotel / resorts in Chitwan where the guide / naturalist welcomes you with an orientation information of the park, safari and of the hotels / lodge with do’s and don’ts while you are here for 2 nights.

After lunch a short introductory / nature walk with a visit of local Tharu village for few hours and back to hotel with evening entertainment of cultural dance before dinner.

In Chitwan wakes you up early with just a cup of tea / coffee to start the morning activities either elephant safari, bird watch tour or a tower visit to observe the surrounding jungle life after the tour back to hotel for breakfast, before lunch a jungle walk, elephant bathing / briefing.

After lunch a break for few hours and then either elephant safari / jungle drive or jungle walks for few hours in search of wild life.

Evening at leisure with slide shows of the area and a great dinner concludes your night.

An interesting drive after breakfast in Chitwan as the journey leads further south west to reach an old town of Tansen in Palpa district, here check into nice hotels with afternoon short walk around the bazaar area, a de-tour at leisure to see and admire the narrow zigzag streets, stream of colorful people passing by in local attires. Typical Newari houses, pagoda style temples, shrines and stupas that abounds here.

Tansen is among a few towns outside the capital enrich with legacy of traditional art and architecture. Located at an elevation of 1310 meters, Tansen is a pleasant place to visit throughout the year, starting with a tour of Srinagar Hill for mountain views, Amar Narayan temple, Tansen Durbar, Sittalpati, Bhagawati temple, Ammar Gunj Ganesh, after a wonderful time on your own to observe the daily life of the locals and to interact.

From Tansen few hours’ drive leads to south near Nepal border with UP state of India, as the drive diverts to rural areas of the southern plain, where the village and towns with Indian influence, on reaching at Lumbini transfer to a nice hotel located near Lord Buddha’s complex, afternoon our guide will take you for a tour and visit around birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlightened One, a pilgrimage destination of   Buddhism religions.

UNESCO has listed this nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka’s commemorative pillar as a World Heritage Site.

The main attraction at Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden, which spread over 8sq km and possessing all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple is another attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike.
Standing west to Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Ashoka Pillar. Emperor Ashoka erected the pillar in 249BC to commemorate his pilgrimage on this sacred site. To the south of the pillar, visit the holy pond, Puskarni, where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to Lord Buddha. This area has many Stupas and monasteries of different nations with a marvelous tour head back to hotel and relax after a great day.

Morning at leisure with another options a short drive of 27km west of Lumbini to an important archaeological site, Tilaurkot, the ancient palace of King Suddodha (Siddhartha Gautam’s father), where the Buddha spent his formative years as a Shakya Prince. The Kapilvastu Museum has the pottery, jewelry and ornaments which would be observed during our visit.

Afternoon after lunch drive for an hour to Bhairawa airport for the flight back to Kathmandu bidding farewell to the loyal driver and other staff, on reaching the small airport as per the flight time, board on the plane for sweeping panoramic flight with views of Himalayan chain of mountains all the way till it touches at Kathmandu airport and the drive back to your hotel after a great marvelous time beyond Kathmandu on the Best of Nepal Tour with amazing service of Treks Holidays.

Today a free day with optional tour or just relax after a great journey with time for individual activities and souvenirs shopping.

Today your last day in Nepal with great memories, amazing experience transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for final departure towards homeward bound or to next port of call.