Nepal Highlights

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying an Ace the Himalaya signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle. Max. Altitude: Kathmandu (1,400 m) Overnight at a Hotel Meals not included All you need to bring for this tour is simply some comfortable clothes. There is no requirement for special equipment on the tour. However, for your ease, the following gives you a general idea about the personal items you need to manage for the trip. The personal items referred to here are optional and depend upon your choice. The most important factor to be considered while choosing the equipment and your backpack is the time of the year you are traveling. We will supply complimentary water and a windproof duffel bag, which you can use on the tour for your shopping purpose. The duffel bag is yours to keep. Therefore, this list is only a guide. You can use the list as a reference. There are numerous options, brands, and versions of each piece of clothing and equipment. Use your experience and the listed features to find the best gear for you. Some of the above equipment can be easily found in stores in Kathmandu. (please note that winter wears are only necessary if in case you’re traveling in the month of Nov – Dec) Read more

Pre-trip meeting and Guided sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley We host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your tour. This includes a final briefing and preparations for the trip. For the meeting, please make sure you bring your passport, two copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore are unable to attend the pre-trip meeting. After the pre-trip meeting, your sightseeing trip will start. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. The sightseeing places we visit will include UNESCO World Heritage Sites of, Kathmandu Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site) This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17th- century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also three museums inside the palace building. Swoyambhunath Stupa – The Monkey Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) The temple watches over the valley from the top of a hillock on its western side. The huge white domed stupa is one of the holiest Buddhists sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as Samhengu and the Monkey temple because of the countless monkeys living in the premises. Pashupatinath Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world and lies 5 kms east of the city center. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacr

Drive to Chitwan from Kathmandu in a private tourist vehicle After an early breakfast we head to Chitwan or the Chitwan National Park, the first national park of Nepal, established in 1973. There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, and gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animal. On reaching resort, you would be briefed by our Guest Relations Officer. After the lunch you would be going for Village tour. Meanwhile the dinner would be ready by the time you return to the resort. Overnight at Resort. Max. Altitude: Chitwan (415 m) Duration: 6-8 hrs drive Overnight at a Resort Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Jungle Safari & Activities in the Chitwan National Park An early morning wake-up call followed by tea/coffee. The early morning tour provides you one of the best times to see the wildlife at its best with bird watching, jeep safari and jungle walk. After breakfast a 45-minute walk through the grassland and forest upstream of the Narayani River. Climb aboard the local boats to observe crocodiles along the banks while floating back to the camp to enjoy lunch. Late afternoon you would be entertained with the Tharu Cultural Program. Overnight at a Resort Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Drive to Lumbini in a private tourist vehicle. After breakfast in Chitwan, we will head to Lumbini on a 5-hour drive on a tourist vehicle. We will spend half the day on a guided sightseeing in Lumbini, which is one of the most religiously significant sites in Nepal. It is the birth place of Lord Buddha, born in 623 BC, and is now developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Max. Altitude: Lumbini (150 m) Duration: 5-7 hrs drive Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Drive to Palpa from Lumbini and then to Pokhara in a private tourist vehicle We will reach Palpa after a 3-5hours drive. Palpa is a Nepali town with numerous festivals, and religious events. It is also known for its scenic beauty. After some sightseeing in the Palpa, we will drive to Pokhara, one of the most famous cities in Nepal for its natural beauty and stunning mountain views. We will spend the remainder of the day resting and relaxing in this beautiful city. Duration: 3-5 hrs drive to Palpa, 2-4 hrs drive to Pokhara Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Early morning drive to Sarangkot for sunrise and mountain views. Guided Sightseeing tour in Pokhara Before breakfast, we’ll drive to Sarangkot, one of the best destinations in Nepal to view the sunrise and sunset over the snowcapped mountains, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchre . We return to Pokhara after the morning spectacle for more sightseeing. The places we visit are as follow: Phewa Lake and Barahi Temple Situated at an altitude of 800m above sea level, it is the second largest lake in the kingdom. With the Barahi Island Temple in the middle of the lake it is the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the female force Shakti. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhare and Annapurna can be seen in its serene water. Thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake. Davis Falls Locally known as Patale Chhango, Davis Falls lies in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley. Here the stream flowing from Fewa lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes. This is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike. Gupteswar Cave The revered Gupteswar Cave is situated 2 kms from Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Davis Falls and the cave is almost 3 kms long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all fours. This cave holds a special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered. Max. Altitude: Sarangkot (1,592 m) Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Guided sightseeing tour in Pokhara Your sightseeing trip will start in the morning after breakfast. We provide a private vehicle and a professional tour guide. The places we visit are as follows: Seti River Gorge Carved by Seti-Gandaki, the gorge is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool & Prithivi highway Bridge near bus park, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water. Tibetan Refugee Camp The Tibetan camp Tashi Ling, which is behind Gupteshwor Cave, is renowned for the production and trade of woolen carpets and other handicrafts. The original Tibetan settlers in this region migrated to Nepal in the ‘50s. Museums During the tour, we will visit two different museums: one museum displays the lifestyles and history of the Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharu while the other, Gurkha Memorial Museum, is dedicated to the famous Gurkha Warriors who earned their name in many fierce battles fought during the World Wars and numerous operations around the world since 1815. The soldiers of the Gurkha regiment won 13 Victoria Cross medals awarded for exceptional bravery shown in the field. Bindhyabasini Temple Lies in the center of the religious old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara in a private tourist vehicle After breakfast, we will drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara with great sceneries along the way. We’ll make a few stops to taste the fruits and fish from the local market. Once in Kathmandu, you may want to take a relaxing stroll or do some shopping in Kathmandu for the evening. Duration: 7-9 hrs drive Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Guided sightseeing in Pharping (Daksinkali/ Gorakhnath cave), Godavari (National botanical garden) and Patan Durbar Square We’ll drive around the valley to visit some important religious, natural and historical sites. We’ll visit the following places: Pharping Located about 19 kms away from the main city, Pharping is a Newari heritage town. During medieval times it was a thriving city known by the name of “Shikharapuri Mahanagari (Metropolitan City)”. Now a sleepy old town, Pharping has several religious and historical sites and monuments. Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Buddhism in Tibet, meditated at a cave located on the outskirts of this ancient town. Dakshinkali Temple Dakshinkali Temple, one of the main temples of Nepal, is dedicated to Kali, the fearful form of Lord Siva’s consort, Parvati. The main deity in the temple is the black stone, six-armed form of Kali, standing on a prostrated figure. Dakshinkali is located 22 km outside Kathmandu, and about 1 km outside the village of Pharping at the south end of the valley between two hills and at the confluence of two rivers. Sacrifices – the main way that the goddess is worshipped – are made two times a week at this temple, on Saturdays and on Tuesdays. Godavari (National Botanical Garden) It is located only about 19 kms south-east from Kathmandu. The garden which lies at the foot of Pulchowki Hill , hosts a wide range of exotic and indigenous plants in its garden. Godavari Botanical Garden has been of prime importance for scientific research and observation and is popular among both the locals and tourists because of its pleasing landscape surrounded by evergreen natural forest. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Godavari, where you can feel a sense of tranquility and refreshment. Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site) Patan Durbar Square is an enchanting combination of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. The former royal palace complex is the center

Guided sightseeing at Boudhanath Stupa, Changunarayan Temple. Drive to Nagarkot in a private tourist vehicle We’ll spend another day on a guided sightseeing tour in the valley. In the evening, we’ll head to Nagarkot (a 1-hour drive from Kathmandu). We will visit the following places before driving to Nagarkot. Bouddhanath Stupa (World Heritage Site) Lies about 6 kms to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the valley. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Buddhanath is also known as Khasti, or dew drops, after an account that builders had to use dew to mix the mortar as Kathmandu was suffering from a severe drought during the construction of Bouddhanath. Changunarayan Temple (World Heritage Site) Situated on a ridge overlooking the Kathmandu valley, about 12 km to the east of the city. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. It is one of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture built in 323 AD by King Haridutta Verma. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings, and its position above the Kathmandu valley affords a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. Nagarkot Nagarkot is one of the most scenic spots situated about 35 km east of Kathmandu from where an excellent view of snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan Ranges in eastern Nepal can be seen (weather permitting). The place is also renowned for spectacular sunrise sights. There are also some great hiking trails in Nagarkot. Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Early-morning sunrise view from Nagarkot. Guided sightseeing around Bhaktapur Durbar Square and return to Kathmandu We’ll wake up very early in the morning to watch the stunning sunrise from Nagarkot, which the place is most renowned for. We will drive to Bhaktapur around noon and do some sightseeing in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a collection of Pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a 55-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate, the 55-window palace, art galleries and the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla. Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included

Leisure day in Kathmandu with a Farewell dinner in the evening You enjoy a free day in Kathmandu. Explore the city on your own. Stroll around the local market and shop for souvenirs or chill at the hotel. In the evening, we host a farewell dinner in a fine restaurant. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you). You have the option to extend your trip to continue onto Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking and other activities. Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast and farewell dinner included

Transfer to International airport for your final departure The trip concludes. Our airport representative will drop you at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal. Overnight at a Hotel Breakfast included