8 days to see the best of Nepal – the golden triangle of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan shows you the diversity of environment and culture in this amazing country!

Departure: Kathmandu
Duration: 8 Days
Best Season: October to March (Possible all year round)

Nepal is a country of great contrasts, varying geographically from the towering snow-covered peaks of the Himalaya to the flatlands and jungles of the sub-tropical Terai region. Cultural and biological diversity makes a journey to Nepal a truly incredible experience. In this 8 day trip, you will experience the very best Nepal has to offer, including the cultural and historical highlights of Kathmandu and the beautiful and relaxing lakeside city of Pokhara. This memorable trip then concludes with a visit to Royal Chitwan National Park for the chance to see Nepal's wildlife including, perhaps, a glimpse of the rare and endangered Royal Bengal Tiger.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1: Your arrival in Kathmandu
Day 2: Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley
Day 3: Overland to Pokhara
Day 4: Sightseeing in Pokhara
Day 5: Overland to Royal Chitwan National Park
Day 6: Jungle safari in Royal Chitwan National Park
Day 7: Return to Kathmandu
Day 8: Depart Kathmandu

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Your arrival in Kathmandu
Upon your arrival at Kathmandu airport we will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we can organise some exploring in the afternoon to introduce you to this amazing place and its unique ancient-modern mix.

Exploring the old city, you’ll wander through narrow streets and alleyways, discovering hidden temples and meeting the locals. Exotic produce and a bewildering mix of people are everywhere; you're likely to see Ghurkhas, Tibetan women in their striped aprons, traders from India, and sadhus - Hindu holy men - perhaps on pilgrimage to one of the many temples and shrines of the valley.

Day 02: Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley
This morning you have the option of taking an early morning mountain flight before breakfast – this flight is a truly spectacular 1 hour flight along the Himalayan Range to unforgettable Mount Everest and back!

After breakfast today, we embark on a full day of sightseeing to get to know the incredible Kathmandu Valley. The valley is home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sights and today we will visit 5 of them!

Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is the one of the three ancient cities within the Kathmandu Valley. It is also known as Bhadgaun, meaning the city of devotees and is the home of true medieval art and architecture in the Valley. Lying 14 km east of Kathmandu city, Bhaktapur was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. Not only because of its famous carved peacock windows but also due to its museum, Bhaktapur is the centre of traditional Nepalese wood carving. Compared to other royal cities in Patan and Kathmandu, Bhaktapur is the most original and is without a doubt the most historically authentic.

We will visit the Durbar Square (palace square) with its array of temples overlooked by the Palace of Fifty-five Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. We will also visit the Taleju Temple which is the best example of Pagoda style structure in Nepal. It stands majestically on five terraces, on each of which stands a pair of figures. As you go up from one terrace to the next, the figures gain strength of ten times that of the lower terrace: we see two strong men; two elephants; two lions; two griffins; and two goddesses.

Pashupatinat
Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu City, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest temples in the Hindu religion and was first mentioned in 365AD. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the three main gods in Hinduism, as his birthplace. Situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, the main temple is built in pagoda style with gilt roof and richly carved silver doors. Non Hindu visitors are only permitted to view the temple from the east bank of Bagmati River, as entrance into the temple is strictly forbidden to all non Hindus. Pashupatinath is the main cremation site for Hindus in the Kathmandu Valley, with cremation ghats lining the Bagmati River below the temple. It is such an important pilgrimage site that any Hindu should visit it once in their life and there is a constant stream of sadhus coming and going from Nepal and India.

Boudhanath
This Stupa, 8 kms. east of Kathmandu City, is one of the biggest in the world. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal directions keeping watch for righteous behaviour and human prosperity. This Buddhist Stupa was built by King Man Deva on the advice of the Goddess Mani Jogini. Boudanath is part of the shared history of Nepal and Tibet, with Tibet having held ruling privileges over the site until the last century. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels and the stupa is ringed by houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests, monasteries and shops.

Patan
The cities in the Kathmandu Valley are made up of 3 ancient cities and Patan is located across the Bagmati River to the south of Kathmandu city. Patan is also known as Lalitpur, the city of fine arts. According to legend the founding of Patan dates back to Pre-Christian times. As opposed to the Malla cities of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur that were mainly influenced by the Hindu religion, Patan was for many years a major Buddhist city. It is believed that it was founded in the third century B.C. by the famous Buddhist emperor, Ashoka, who visited the town while on a pilgrimage from Northern India and built four stupas that enclosed the centre of the old town. This would make it the oldest continuing Buddhist town in the world.

We will visit the Patan Durbar Square and see the Krishna Temple built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, Hiranya Varna Mabavihar and the Mahadouddha Temple.

This is followed by a trip to the Tibetan Refugee Camp and Handicraft Centre, where you can see the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and mounding of metal statues.

Swayambhunath
Located in a hilltop above Kathmandu, this Buddhist Stupa is said to be 2000 years old and is one of Nepal’s most important Buddhist sanctuaries. The oldest inscription discovered dates back to the 5th century and refers to the founding of a monastery.

The Stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sided base of the spire are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. The whole hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas (memorials) and temples and it is one of the only places that you can see the Stupa, Pagoda and Shikar style of temple. It is a sacred Buddhist place of worship, but it is also holy to Hindus and you can also find Hindu shrines here – a fine illustration of the religious tolerance found in Nepal.

Day 03: Overland to Pokhara
After breakfast this morning we leave the Kathmandu Valley behind and travel overland to Pokhara, a stunning lakeside town with incredible mountain views, 200km west of Kathmandu. On our way, we drive along the banks of the Trisuli River, past stunning traditional villages, terraced fields and if the weather is good we will have some fantastic picturesque views to the Himalayan Range.

We stop to enjoy lunch at Bandipur, a small town perched on a hillside with outstanding views to Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and the Annapurna massif. After arriving in Pokhara we will check in to our hotel and then head out to explore the lakeside and then relax over dinner.

Day 04: Sightseeing in Pokhara
This morning we will get up early - before dawn - to make the journey by jeep/van and a short walk to the hilltop village of Sarankot. Here, with breakfast being prepared for us, we revel in the sight of one of Nepal's most famous vistas – the stunning sight of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhare emerging from the morning mists as the sun rises.

After breakfast we will take in the sights of Pokhara, including the Devil’s Falls, the limestone caves at Mahendra Gufa and Binde Basini Temple. In the afternoon, you can go for a leisurely boat ride on Phewa Tal, the lake beside which Pokhara lies, basking in the splendour of this gorgeous setting; you can take a walk up to the World Peace Pagoda; or you can get wild and go paragliding and Para hawking!

Pokhara
The rare combination of snow-clad peaks and snow fed lakes and rivers has helped to make the valley of Pokhara (210kms/131 miles from Kathmandu) one of the most picturesque natural attractions in Nepal. It is virtually in the centre of Nepal and, while it is only 800m above sea level, it has stunning close up views of the Himalayan Range, in particular the famous Annapurna massif.

There are really two towns here today; one is the busy section, with hotels and restaurants down by the lake that most tourists find themselves in, and the other consists of the noisy back streets of the fast diminishing old town. Here you will find the old bazaar, with traditional buildings built by Newari artisans who migrated westwards from Kathmandu three hundred years ago.

Day 05: Overland to Royal Chitwan National Park
Today we head south to the jungles of Nepal’s Terai region. Our destination of Chitwan National Park is home to rich wildlife, lush grasslands and rare species of birds and animals. Highlights include seeing the iconic one-horned rhino, bison, wild boar, monkeys, deer and a wide array of birds (over 400 species on record), and with luck on your side even the Royal Bengal tiger, bear and leopard are a possibility. Another highlight of the trip is the canoe ride on Rapti River, which borders the northern side of the park, the banks of which are home to sun-bathing 'mugger' crocodiles and the unique long-nosed 'gharial' crocodiles.

We will arrive at our hotel in the afternoon after our overland trip from the mountains to the jungle. In the evening, before dinner, we will have a slide show showing us the culture of Nepal and highlights of the park, or a performance of the Tharu stick dance, a traditional local dance.

Day 06: Jungle safari in Royal Chitwan National Park
Today we have a full day of jungle safari activities! Our excursions include Elephant safari, Wildlife walk, jeep safari, canoeing and bird watching. Unlike African animals, those in Chitwan tend to be rather solitary and shy, but the chancing of sightseeing these are very high owing to the expertise and experiences of guides.

Day 07: Return to Kathmandu
After breakfast we will drive (or fly if you prefer it) back to Kathmandu. Apon arrival you are free to spend your time relaxing, shopping, more exploring, or simply watching the world go by from a terrace coffee shop!

Day 08: Depart Kathmandu
After breakfast at your hotel, you are free until it is time for us to transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home.