Incredible Nepal Tour - 12 days

A fantastic view of snowcapped mountains and verdant hills will greet you before arriving in Kathmandu. A representative from Third Rock Adventures will greet you at the airport. He will be driving to your hotel and also assist you in checking in. After freshening up and resting for a bit, you can stroll in the lively streets of Thamel. The popular tourist destination, Thamel, is filled with hotels, lodges, travel agencies, restaurants, and cafes.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you will meet the guide, who will brief you about the trip. Your Kathmandu sightseeing will begin in the morning after breakfast. Sojourn the UNESCO world heritage sites of Kathmandu, including Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Patan Durbar Square.

Visit the hilltop Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath, which is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Enjoy the 360-degree view of Kathmandu from Swayambhunath. As per legend, Swayambhunath was built by Manjushri by draining a lake that once covered the Kathmandu valley. It is widely known as Monkey Temple due to the abundance of monkeys in the area.

Your next destination is the revered Hindu temple, Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 5th-century pagoda-style temple is situated on the back of the holy River Bagmati. You might see the open cremation of the Hindus in Arya Ghat near the temple. It is believed that those cremated here will find a place in heaven. Only the Hindus are allowed to enter the temple so the non-Hindus can see the temple from the eastern side of the river.

Visit the Boudhanath, the world's largest stupa of Tibetan Buddhist Culture. You will see pilgrims light butter lamps, praying and circumnavigating the stupa. As per the folklore, it is believed that the remains of the Kasyapa Buddha are buried beneath the stupa. Your next stop will be the Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square, which reflects the fine architecture of ancient times. The durbar square features Kumari Bahal, which is the House of the Living Goddess of Nepal, Kumari. Moreover, you will see the Taleju Temple, the big statue of Kal Bhariav, Hanuman Dhoka, the royal residence in ancient times, Mahadev & Parvati temple, and others. Walk around the lively durbar square before returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

You will begin the day with a sojourn to the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is also the center of fine displays of ancient craftsmanship. Explore the durbar square featuring the Golden Gate, Lion Gate, 55 windowed Palace, Natapola Temple, Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, Arty Galley. Visit Potter's Square, where you will see local potters making clay items in traditional ways.

Further, you will be visiting Patan Durbar Square. Visit the Golden Temple, Kumbeshwor Temple, Krishna Temple, Mahaboudha Temple, which are the pride of Patan. You will notice intricate carvings in wood, metal, and stones at the display of medieval times in the durbar square. Visit the Patan museum to get a closer look at the intricately carved windows, intrinsic roof struts, statues of gods and goddesses, etc.

Overnight in Kathmandu

You will be driving to the popular hill station near Kathmandu, Daman located around 80km/50mi. southwest of the capital. It will take roughly 3 hours to reach there from Kathmandu. Daman is a spectacular vantage point to enjoy the astounding views of the Himalayas. You can savor in the magnificient views of the snowy mountains, including Mount Everest, Annapurna, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Cho Oyu, and Dorje Lakpa. Visit the popular view tower at Daman, offering a 360-degree view of the Himalayan range.

Overnight in Daman.

Enjoy a scenic drive from Daman to Chitwan. You will get to see the geographical diversity of Nepal. From the hills of Daman, you will gradually be moving down to the plains of Terai, and you will reach Chitwan situated at the foothills of Churiya Hills. Moreover, you will experience the change in weather and temperature as well.

You will be traveling a distance of approx. 135km/84mi. on your way from Daman to Chitwan, which would take around 5 hours. Chitwan is the home to the first national park of Nepal, Chitwan National Park, which is rich in its flora and fauna. Check into your hotel room and relax before a long day ahead.

Overnight in Chitwan.

Explore the Chitwan National Park, which is home to animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, deer, sloth bear, wild boar, and others. After breakfast, you will be going for a canoeing ride at the Rapti River, and you might see crocodiles, especially Marsh Muggers and Gharial, sunbathing. It is also a well-known spot for bird watching as well. Go on a jungle walk in the cool and shady forest and also visit the elephant bath center.

Later in the afternoon, go for an Elephant Safari. You will get an opportunity to see one-horn rhinoceros, wild boar, monkeys, and other animals closely. Get to know their culture better by interacting with them. Watch a mesmerizing sunset from the bank of Rapti River before the local cultural program. Enjoy the unique local dance of the Tharu community called Tharu Dance.

Overnight in Chitwan.

You will start the day with a visit to the Elephant Breeding Center of Sauraha. It which is situated around 3km/1.9mi. away from Chitwan. Watch baby and mother elephants interacting and playing. You will also see caretakers preparing food for elephants. Return to your hotel and relax for a while. In the afternoon you will be driving to Pokhara, popular as the city of lakes.

The popular tourist destination of Nepal, Pokhara, lies around 84km/52mi. from Chitwan National Park. Enjoy a scenic bus ride on the meandering hilly highway of around 6 hours. Relax in your hotel room and retire for the day while a beautiful new day awaits.

Overnight in Pokhara.

Today you will be touring Pokhara city and visiting many significant places. Visit the famous waterfall, Devis Fall, locally called Patale Chango. Watch the water from this waterfall disappears along the rocks of the hill to a 500ft underground tunnel. Make your way to the temple cave dedicated to Lord Shiva, Gupteshwor cave. The dark, long and deep cave is an excellent opportunity to witness the natural wonders.

Pay a visit to the Bindhyabasini temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. The hilltop temple overlooks the panoramic view of the Himalayas. Visit Tibetan Refugees Camp, which was built for the thousands of Tibetan refugees settling here. It is a popular place to buy souvenirs, and you will see handmade jewelry, trinkets, and carpets at the display.

Get a closer look of the history and ancient culture of Pokhara with a visit to the Pokhara Regional Museum. You can observe artifacts of the tribes, traditions, and lifestyles via a simple setup at the display.

No Pokhara tour is complete without visiting Fewa Lake. Go boating on the calm waters of the lake, and enjoy the view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Also, visit the island temple of Tal Bahari dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Overnight in Pokhara.

Wake up early to watch a magical sunrise from the vantage point of Sarangkot. Bask in the splendid panoramic view of the Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna ranges, along with the view of the Pokhara valley. In the afternoon visit, the Peace Pagoda, locally called Shanti Stupa located on Anadu Hill. Nipponzan Myohoji monk built the white pagoda stupa as a symbol of world peace. The stupa is famous for watching the jade Fewa Lake against the backdrop of the Annapurna range. The beauty and tranquility of the stupa are worth a visit.

Overnight in Pokhara.

On this day, you will be driving back to Kathmandu from Pokhara, which is around 204km/126mi., apart. It takes 7 to 8 hours to reach Kathmandu. Enjoy a scenic ride on the meandering hilly roads and drive past hillside villages, terrace farms, verdant hills, and snowy mountains. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you need to drive approximately 28km/17.4mi. for around 1.5 hours further to get to Nagarkot. 

Overnight in Nagarkot.

Head to the viewpoint and witness the astounding site of hilltop villages, along with the Himalayan peak. The long stretch of the Himalayas will leave you mesmerized, and on a clear day, you can also spot Mount Everest. Watch the first ray of the sun gradually turning the sky from pink, red, orange to golden. Later you will be driving back to Kathmandu. Relax in your hotel room. Stroll in the streets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones back home.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you will be bidding goodbye and flying back with everlasting memories. A representative from Third Rock Adventures will drop you at the airport a few hours before your scheduled flight. If you want to explore more or extend your trip, do let us know.