After breakfast today, we embark on a full day of sightseeing to get to know the incredible Kathmandu Valley. Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and you will be chauffeured by private car to three out of an incredible seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

First you will visit the Swoyambhunath Temple. Also known as the Monkey Temple for the many resident monkeys that scamper around the myriad of small shrines and temples, this ancient Buddhist Stupa is perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. From here you will proceed to Patan, also known as Lalitpur, the city of fine arts. Patan is one of the three ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley and the Patan Durbar Square showcases stunningly preserved temples and palace complexes.

From Patan we continue to Boudhanath Stupa, which 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. 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.

Accommodation: Thamel Villa or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

Sunrise Swyambunath © Henrik Rasmussen

Early in the morning, our guide will meet us at your hotel for your transfer to the domestic airport and your flight to Pokhara. This is a stunning half-hour flight along the Himalayan Range, seeing four of the world’s fourteen giant mountains over 8000m; Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu, and Shishapangma, before landing in the charming, lakeside town of Pokhara.

Saving Pokhara for later we head out of town for an approximately 1-hour drive to Kande, the starting point of your trek. We now have a few hours of walking along a rugged jeep trail to the beautiful village of Majgaon, your home for the night. This is a classic, traditional village of the Gurung ethnic group who live in this part of the Himalayas. Well known as recruits in the famous Gorkha regiments of Nepal, Indian and British armies the ‘simple’ village can be home to some very well traveled people!

A short walk from Majgaon there is a lovely traditional house that has been transformed into a great little museum, illustrating how the local Gurung people live, together with the tools and implements of day-to-day village life.

Walking time: Approx. 3 hours

Accommodation: Gurung Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gurung Lodge © Jacob Gøtzsche

After breakfast, the trail goes up to Deurali through Rhododendron and orchid forest. From on top of the ridge at Deurali we have magnificent views of the mountains, including Mt Dhaulagiri, the highest mountain in this region. We enjoy the views while having a well-earned rest and then we descend through the forest to the small village of Tolka, a small Gurung village very rich in culture and very beautiful. We proceed on to Beri Kharka and from here, the trail descends through scattered forests and villages to reach Landruk. Landruk is a large Gurung village situated above the Modi River where we will stay the night at the beautiful La Bee Lodge

Walking time: Approx. 5-6 hours

Accommodation: La Bee Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

View from Landruk © Clare Mathiasen

After breakfast, our trail goes steeply down towards the Modi River for about an hour. We then head uphill again with a steep ascent for two to three hours sustained by the beautiful views of the Himalayas, terraced fields, and scattered villages. Lunch will be served en route and we continue on to reach Ghandruk where we will stay tonight in another lovely Ker and Downey Lodge

Ghandruk is a picturesque town of slate-roofed houses surrounded by terraced fields and is the biggest Gurung settlement in western Nepal. The Gurung people are one of Nepal’s most famous ethnic groups, known for their distinctive dialect, culture, costume, and lifestyle. Ghandruk is also home to many soldiers from the famous Ghurkha regiments. From here we can have stunning views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, and Fishtail/Machhapuchhare.

If time and energy permit, we can visit ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) head office, and local museum and explore this charming village.

Walking time: Approx. 4 hours

Accommodation: Himalaya Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gandruk View © Alex Treadway

After breakfast we descend along gentle paved trails through forest and terraced fields to Kimchi (1638m), where we will say goodbye to our wonderful trekking crew and then take the 2 hour drive to Pokhara, were we check back into the beautiful Temple Tree Resort.

The rest of the day is free to relax or to explore this charming lakeside town, with its abundance of things to do, regardless of whether you are in an adventurous or relaxed frame of mind: you can go for a leisurely boat ride on the lake; visit one of the Tibetan villages that dot the area, where Tibetan carpets and other handicrafts can be obtained while supporting this vibrant refugee community; hire a bike and cycle along the lakeside; you can even try your hand at tandem paraglide with a professional pilot or the new zipline! Of course, it is also lovely to just relax and take in the surroundings in one of the many lakeside cafes.

Walking time: Approx. 1-2 hours

Accommodation: Temple Tree Resort or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

We going down there © Clare Mathiasen

This morning we head out of town for our next adventure – rafting the Seti River. We put in at Damauli, about a two-hour drive away and then we raft on a gentle river to our picnic spot on a sandy beach, before hitting the water again. Today, there are 2 small rapids of no more than grade II and are no longer than 165 ft / 50 meters. The remainder of the trip is more a gentle paddle than high adrenaline rafting.

Upon arrival, you will be shown to your safari-style tent with beds, changing room, veranda, and attached bathroom. The evening is spent around an open fire of driftwood, at this unique safari-style river camp. Rafting time is 3 to 4 hours depending on water levels – the rafting is suitable for any age group.

Accommodation: Seti River Camp
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Seti River Gorge © Jacob Gøtzsche

We continue our rafting down the Seti River for a few hours until we reach Gaigath, a holy confluence of the Seti and the Trisuli Rivers. On the way there are five class II rapids, with each being no more than 165 ft / 50 meters. The remainder of the trip is a gentle paddle when you can enjoy the surrounding countryside – we might even give some kids a lift across the river to school! Rafting time will be 2 to 3 hours depending on water levels. On arrival we say goodbye to our rafting crew and relax in the car while we head into the lowlands, bound for the UNESCO world heritage listed Chitwan National Park, where we will ‘live on the edge’ ….literally, as we stay on the edge of the forest for the next few nights.

Accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Jeep safari © Barahi Jungle Lodge

This is a day never to be forgotten – a full day of safari action! All wildlife activities are escorted by an experienced naturalist who will astound you with knowledge of all things big and small. Wildlife in Chitwan National Park includes the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer, barking deer as well as a wide variety of birdlife. With a bit of luck, there is even the chance of glimpsing a leopard, sloth bear and Royal Bengal tiger.

You have the advantage of your resort being right on the river and at times you can even see animals come right to the edge of the river to drink and bathe!

Accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Greater on-horned rhino © Mads Mathiasen

This morning after breakfast, we have an amazing experience for you. We will walk down to the boat ramp on the river and get in the traditional longboat for not only your transfer to Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge but this is also an incredible opportunity for bird spotting, seeing the crocodiles, Rhino and we even spot tigers from the boats from time to time.

We will land not far from Tiger Tops a bit before lunch and drive to the lodge. Nestled beside the lush forest and overlooking idyllic Terai landscapes, Tharu Lodge is the perfect place to unwind. Dine al fresco under the shade of a mango tree, take a refreshing dip in Tharu’s garden side pool, play a spot of tennis, or simply sway gently in a hammock in the afternoon breeze. At night, enjoy nothing but the sounds of the forest that is just meters from your window.

In the afternoon you can spend time in the jungle or go for a bullock cart ride into the Tharu village near the lodge to explore the local culture of this part of the Terai.

Accommodation: Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On the Rapti River © Mads Mathiasen

This morning after breakfast you’ll be transferred over to Tiger Tops Elephant Camp to spend the rest of the morning with the mahouts learning how to make Kuchis (elephant sandwiches), and hang around the elephant corrals. Lunch will be ready around noon, and you might wish to relax and be lazy just like the elephants during the hot midday hours. In the late afternoon, when the temperature is pleasant, go for a walk in the jungle with the elephants and their mahouts. You will be walking alongside the elephants, watching how they move, what they eat, and listening to their communication, rumbling and trumpeting. On the way, our naturalist will show and tell you about the surrounding eco-system as you move through jungle, grassland, and wetland with the elephants. You will most likely encounter tiger tracks, deer, various species of birds, and maybe a rhino or two, depending on the route.

As a guest at the Elephant camp, you will literally be surrounded by elephants living chain-free in spacious, naturalistic corrals and you will be immersed in the elephants’ daily life from sun up to sundown. Even after dark, the elephants’ presence will be felt as their verbal and infrasonic communications fill the night air.

Accommodation: Tiger Tops Elephant Camp
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kuchi (elephant momo) making © Tiger Tops

This morning you may have a chance to fit in one last jungle or village activity before your transfer to the Bharatpur airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The flight takes just 20 minutes.

After arriving at the Kathmandu domestic airport, you continue on to Lakuri Bhanjyang a beautiful spot overlooking the entire Kathmandu valley. Here we will stay at The Terraces a modern resort where we can enjoy being back close to Kathmandu.

Accommodation: The Terraces
Meals included: Breakfast

KTM Valley and mountain © Mads Mathiasen

This morning after breakfast your guide will meet you and we will walk along the ridge towards Bhaktapur. This is a great way to get a feel for the Kathmandu valley rim, the lungs of Kathmandu. Up hear in the forest above the city it is a completely different world than down in the chaos of the city. At Ranikot still high above the valley floor we will meet our car and drive 10 min down to Bhaktapur, 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 as it is literally a living museum where farmers dry their harvest, potters turn their wheel and people go about live as they have done for so long. We will have lunch here overlooking a classic ancient town square and then continue our exploring.

From Bhaktapur the drive back to Kathmandu is approximately half an hour.

Note: For those who like mountain biking, it is an option to mountain biking along the valley rim and ends up in Bhaktapur instead of the walk. Talk to us if you would like to plan this option instead of walking.

Another Note: It is also possible to have a helicopter pick you up at the hotel for a sightseeing flight up over Everest BC and have breakfast at the famous Everest View Hotel before returning to Kathmandu.er Note: It is also possible to have a helicopter pick you up at the hotel for a sightseeing flight up over Everest BC and have breakfast at the famous Everest View Hotel before returning to Kathman

Accommodation: Thamel Villa or upgrade to Dwarikas
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Pottery making © Mads Guldager

It’s time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It’s good to be at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure.

-©-Per-Daugaard-Christensen