Kathmandu, Pokhara, Everest Mountain Flight, Ghandruk, and Sarangkot Tour - 6 days

Kathmandu can be reached via air and by road. If you are traveling overland, you can enter Nepal through the border entry points that Nepal shares with India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Providing your arrival details will assist our representative in picking you up from the designated spot. If you arrive by flight, our representative will meet you at the international airport’s terminal and take you to your hotel. Check in and make sure to rest well.  

Overnight in Kathmandu. 

(Activities: Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple)

Your sightseeing tour starts after breakfast. You will commence your sightseeing tour with a visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square. Also known as Basantapur, the Durbar Square is a wide palazzo filled with pagoda-roofed temples and palaces. It used to be the seat of power of the Malla and Shah dynasties. The Mall kings are credited with establishing and building most of the iconic structures around this square. Basantapur Durbar Square has a variety of sights and attractions, including the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum, Taleju Temple, Gaddi Baithak, Kashtamandap, and others, The House of the Living Goddess, where Kumari, or the Living Goddess, resides, is also a major attraction. 

Later, you will head west and visit the iconic Swoyambhunath Temple. As per a Buddhist legend, Kathmandu was once a huge lake that was drained by the Boddhisattva Majushri. He had drained the lake to get to a divine lotus, which later turned into the Swoyambhunath stupa after the water was drained from the lake. Swoyambhu means self-created. The dazzling white domed stupa with a golden tower sits on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu. The temple is also known as Monkey Temple, as it has a huge population of monkeys. Hindu shrines, stone chaityas, a Buddhist monastery, and souvenir shops surround this ancient stupa. After taking pictures and enjoying the view of the city, you will descend to the car park and head towards Boudhanath. 

Boudhanath Stupa is one of the cultural heritage sites in Nepal that UNESCO has designated as a World Heritage Site. The enormous white stupa is Nepal’s biggest Buddhist stupa. It was built during the fifth century, and has been a sacred pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists for centuries. It is believed that the bones of the Kasyapa Buddha (one of the incarnations of Lord Buddha) are buried below the stupa. The stupa sits on a high concrete plinth built in the shape of a mandala, or divine cosmos.

The white half dome features a golden turret with Buddha's eyes painted on its four sides. The sides are decorated with brightly colored prayer flags. The area around the stupa is lined with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. There’s also a monastery sitting next to the stupa from where you can get grand views of the stupa from its upper floor. You can walk around the stupa clockwise, along with the pilgrims, turning the prayer wheels built at the base of the stupa. You can also light a butter lamp and seek Lord Buddha’s blessings. 

Later, you will visit the Pashupatinath Temple, another divine place. This temple dates back to the 400 CE and is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. This temple is special for devotees of Lord Shiva, as the inner sanctum of the temple holds one of the rarest and most ancient five-faced Shivlings. While the temple is open for Hindus, foreign tourists belonging to other faiths are not allowed inside the temple. However, they can visit the other areas of the temple complex, like the Arya Ghat and Mrigasthali, a deer park. 

The Arya Ghat lies beside the Bagmati River, below the temple, and is a cremation site for Hindus. Every day, corpses are burned at this site as per Hindu tradition and rituals. If it’s evening, you can stay and witness the evening aarti, or fire worship, which takes place at the ghat of the river. During the fire worship, several Brahmin priests hold a large lamp and offer prayers to the river and the deities. A huge crowd of local devotees gather every evening to witness this fire worship and chant and sing hymns when the worship is underway. It’s an amazing spectacle and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

You will be transported back to your hotel later on.

Overnight in Kathmandu. 

Since you will be leaving early for your mountain flight, you can request the hotel staff to pack breakfast for you in the morning, as the airlines don’t provide any food. You can also carry some snacks with you if you don’t want to carry a packed meal. Before leaving for the airport, do not forget to carry your passport, as you will need it to check in at the airport. Third Rock Adventures will arrange for a driver to pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the domestic airport.

The domestic airport lies right above the international airport. After receiving your boarding pass and an information booklet about the flight, you will board the plane and enjoy one of the finest bird’s-eye views of the Himalayas. During the hour-long flight, you will get to view Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Kanchenjunga, the Langtang Range, Manaslu, Makalu, Gaurishankar, and other giants. The flight’s stewardess will help you in identifying the peaks. Some airlines also offer passengers an opportunity to get inside the cockpit and take pictures with the pilots during the flight. 

After a delightful hour spent enjoying the panoramic view of the great Himalayan mountains, you will land at the airport again, head to the waiting area and check in for your Pokhara flight It takes about twenty-five minutes to reach Pokhara. During the flight, you can enjoy more enticing views of the mountains—the Langtang Range, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, II, III, and IV, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, etc. 

After landing at Pokhara Airport, you will board a jeep and head towards Ghandruk, a traditional Gurung village, which has been named as one of the most beautiful small town holiday destinations in the world by Time Out, a travel magazine. The ride takes you past a scenic countryside framed by amazing views of terraced fields, rivers, waterfalls, and the snow-capped vistas of Annapurna South, Fishtail Peak, Dhaulagiri, etc.

You can stop for lunch one of the small roadside hamlets. At Nayapul, you will leave the Baglung Highway and head down towards Birethanti, where your permits will be checked. You can expect a rough and bumpy ride from Siwai onwards, as the road winds up a mountainside. En route, you will come across a beautiful waterfall called Thado Khola or TikTok Jharna (due to its popularity among TikTok reel creators). After riding for seven kilometers from Siwai, you will finally reach the jeep stand of Ghandruk.

The stand lies below Ghandruk Village. From the jeep park, it may take about an hour of brisk hiking or climbing to reach the teahouse or lodge where a room has been booked for you.

Overnight in Ghandruk.

Ghandruk is a Gurung heritage village and one of the largest villages on the Annapurna trekking trail. It is the starting point for some of the major trekking destinations in the Annapurna Region, like the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the Gurung Heritage Trail Trek, etc. Built on the slope of a hill, Ghandruk village showcases authentic Gurung architecture, culture, and traditions. Divided into Tallo Gaun, Danda Gaun, Gairi Gaun, Aabhe, and four other smaller localities, Ghandruk is large enough to seem like a town. Although Tallo Gaun has new and modern lodges and hotels, Danda Gaun lends an idyllic charm and ambience to Ghandruk Village. At Danda Gaun, traditional Gurung houses sit clustered together, lending a pristine and authentic ambiance.

The village is connected by a network of neat stone paths and staircases. Traditional white stone and mud cottages, as well as modern buildings, dot the village’s landscape. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Annapurna South, Fishtail Peak, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and other snow-blanketed mountains. The village is inhabited by the Gurung ethnic community, whose men are known for their valiant contribution in the British and Indian armies.

Starting your day early in the morning, you will be mesmerized by the captivating sunrise over the Himalayan mountains. Later, after breakfast, you can head to Danda Gaun and walk through old stone cottages and the labyrinthine maze of stone staircases. Must-visit attractions inside the village include the Gurung Culture Museum and Old Gurung Museum, which showcase the traditional costumes, traditional farming tools, utensils, weapons, jewelry, etc. The Old Gurung Museum is housed in a traditional Gurung mud house. You can also rent a Gurung traditional dress and take pictures. 

Later in the afternoon, you will leave Ghandruk and return to Pokhara. Take in the stunning views as you return to the city. Upon arriving at Pokhara, you can check into your hotel and rest. Or enjoy an evening stroll at the Lakeside.  

Overnight in Pokhara. 

(Activities: Visit Taal Barahi Temple, boating in Phewa Lake, Gupteshwor Mahadev Temple, Davis Falls, Seti Gorge, International Mountain Museum, Pumdikot, and World Peace Stupa)

You have a full day of sightseeing today. You will begin your day after breakfast by heading to the Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave, one of the longest caves in the country. The cave can be accessed by descending a beautiful, winding staircase, with 3D relief art depicting Hindu deities decorating the walls. In the upper section of the cave, there are shrines that are dedicated to various Hindu gods, including a Shivling that was naturally created.  Stalactite and stalagmite formations cover the cave’s ceiling, walls, and floor, and droplets of water drip from the cave’s ceiling. Be mindful of the floor's wetness and slippery surface. Metal staircases connect the lower portion of the cave, which is lighted by electric bulbs.

Those who are claustrophobic, they may find this experience a bit distressing, as some portions of the cave are rather narrow and of low height. The bottom of the cave lies in a cavern from where one can see the Davis Falls from a crack in the wall. It is rather a surreal experience to stand and witness this amazing wonder of nature. Later, you can hike up and exit the cave. 

Located right opposite Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave is the Davis Fall, which you will visit next. The Davis Fall or Patale Chhango is a waterfall where the water disappears underground and goes towards the Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave. The waterfall looks best during the rainy season, when torrents of water gush over the stones and leave a wispy spray of mist as they disappear underground.

Later, you will witness the narrow Seti Gorge and the Seti River flowing below, and after that, proceed towards the International Mountain Museum. The huge museum is dedicated to recording and preserving the history of the Himalayan mountains and other mountains in the world, the ethnic mountain communities, and the flora and fauna. The museum has six galleries where you will find information about the different Himalayan communities living in Nepal, the clothes and equipment of famous mountaineers like Maurice Herzog and Junko Tabei, etc. There’s a library and a beautifully decorated Buddhist prayer room on the lower floor and a climbing wall outside the building. 

After spending an hour or two at the museum, you will head towards two of the most picturesque viewpoints in Pokhara, the World Peace Stupa and Pumdikot Shiva Statue. Anadu Hill is where the Peace Stupa can be found, with a breathtaking view of Phewa Lake and Pokhara Valley. Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist organization is credited for building this sacred stupa, which has become one of the most popular tourist sites in Pokhara. The beautiful white stupa lies surrounded by a manicured garden and holds relics of Lord Buddha. At the top of Pumdikot Hill sits a gigantic statue of Lord Shiva, an important Hindu god.

This enormous statue, which was recently built, is the second-largest statue of Lord Shiva in Nepal. From both these sites, one can savor mesmerizing views of the Himalayan mountains as well as the Pokhara Valley.

You can go for a boat ride in the calm waters of Lake Phewa and visit the Taal Barahi Temple after driving back to Pokhara's lakeside from Pumdikot. This Hindu temple lies on an island in the middle of Phewa Lake.  Overnight in Pokhara. 

(Activity: Drive to Sarangkot Hill for Sunrise) After waking up before dawn, you will be driven to the viewpoint of Sarangkot, perched on a hill at the outskirts of the city.

The drive lasts for roughly an hour and concludes near the viewpoint. You will have to climb a stone staircase to reach the viewpoint. From here, you can enjoy an astounding panorama of more than twenty snow-capped Himalayan peaks stretching on the horizon. Located right beneath the snowy peaks, are gentle rolling hills and an emerald valley with a river winding across the small settlements. The sight is like a painting.

The sight of the sun rising in the morning and illuminating the snow-blanked peaks with red, pink, orange, and gold hues is an extraordinary sight to witness. This is by far the best view of the Himalayas you can get from Pokhara. After enjoying the mesmerizing sunrise, you will head back to your hotel. Since you have an afternoon flight to Kathmandu, you can spend the remaining hours in Pokhara as you wish (go shopping for souvenirs, chill at your hotel, or take a walk by the lakeside). After flying into Kathmandu, your Kathmandu, Pokhara, Everest Mountain Flight, Ghandruk, and Sarangkot Tour ends. 

If you wish to extend your vacation, you can let us know, and our travel consultant will help you plan another great itinerary for you. We also run tours in Bhutan and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China if you are interested in visiting these two destinations.