Nepal Buddhist Pilgrimage tour - 7 days

Welcome to the birthplace of Buddha, Nepal! When you land at the Tribhuvan Airport, the views of the majestic mountains and verdant hills surrounding the Kathmandu Valley will greet you. In the terminal, our Third Rock Adventures representatives will welcome and transfer you to the hotel located in Thamel, 5km from the airport. Thamel is a bustling tourist hub that is open to high tourist inflow all around the year.

After relaxing at the hotel, you can visit our office nearby and meet our team. Then take a stroll around the lively streets before finally sitting for a warm welcome dinner with authentic Nepali food.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu valley is filled with different Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and one of them, Namo Buddha, will be your destination on this day. After devouring your breakfast, you will prepare for a short hike. You will begin your journey from the heart of Kathmandu with a drive to Khopasi along the Arniko Highway. From there, you will begin your hike for the day, passing by different villages along dirt roads and farms.

While some parts of the road contain modern houses, you can still witness the locals cooking meals in their huts and stone houses in some areas. Namo Buddha is located at a significant height, and you will have to climb a flight of stairs to reach the monastery. Namo Buddha is one of the holiest Buddhist monasteries in the world. There is a popular belief that Lord Buddha set his foot in this place after his enlightenment and sacrificed his life here in his earlier incarnation.

Upon reaching the monastery, a whiff of fresh and cool air will welcome you with a surrounding panoramic view of the city below. Amidst the peace and calm, you will also hear the faint noises of prayers and hymns. You can explore the other areas of the monastery, including the status of Buddha and intricate wall paintings. Some people prefer meditating as well. You can head back to Khopasi and drive off to Kathmandu in the evening.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is dubbed the "city of temples" because of the hundreds of temples and monasteries situated in the city. On this day, you will explore some of the most revered heritage sites within the city.

One of the must-visit places for Buddhist pilgrims is the Swayambhunath stupa, also called the Monkey Temple. It is located on the top of a western hill in the city with panoramic views and a peaceful ambiance. It is one of the best domes with the eyes of Buddha overlooking the valley below.

From there on, your next stop will be one of the holiest Hindu temples, Pashupatinath, which has been dedicated to Lord Shiva. The pagoda-styled main temple is gold plated in the roof, making it look marvelous. Although non-Hindu tourists cannot enter the main temple, they can still stroll around the vicinity that has many temples and monuments that can be witnessed.

You can head to Kathmandu Durbar Square in the afternoon, located near the Thamel area. The square is often referred to as Basantapur or Freak Street. If you reach on time, you can enter the ancient Palace of the Shah dynasty, which was turned into Hanuman Dhoka Museum. You can explore the armory, daily tools, personalized items of the kings and queens, and other artifacts. After the visit, head to your hotel to relax and prepare for the next day's adventure.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

You will begin the day with breakfast, followed by a flight to Bhairawa in the southwest of Kathmandu. On this day, you will be visiting the most prominent Buddhist pilgrimage in the world; Lumbini. As there are no direct flights to Lumbini, you will land at the nearest domestic airport in Bhairahawa.

From Bhairahawa, we will drive to the hotel to unpack and get ready for a short drive to Lumbini. Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha before his enlightenment, so the place has gained wide popularity for ages. Before his enlightenment, Buddha was the prince of the ancient Kingdom in what is now called Lumbini.

The vicinity covers a large area with different temples, monasteries, and other displayed artifacts. Walking from the gardens, you will reach the Maya Devi temple, where artifacts and excavations represent Gautam Buddha's birth. After circumambulation inside the temple, you can head out to explore the small pond on the side and the Ashoka Pillar nearby. The pillar is of high significance. You can see the inscriptions signifying that Ashoka, the emperor of the Maurya empire, had visited Lumbini in the 3rd century and identified Lumbini as the birthplace of Buddha.

From there, you can take a boat ride along the canal that has been made in the vicinity. After exploring the area and meditating peacefully, you can head back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Lumbini.

On this day, you will be heading back to Bhairahawa and taking a flight to Kathmandu. Before the flight, make sure you try out the local delicacies in the area by visiting the nearby hotels. Also, collect some souvenirs to take back home.

Upon reaching Kathmandu and refreshing at your hotel, you can visit the Patan Durbar Square in the Lalitpur district. The square consists of an ancient palace turned into an art museum, metalwork, and more. You can also explore the integration of Buddhist and Hindu cultures in different monuments, statues, and temples around the square.

However, if you wish to spend the rest of the day relaxing, you can take up a spa or Tibetan singing bowl session in Thamel.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On your final stay in Kathmandu, you can take souvenir shopping and eat local delicacies in and around the city.

Apart from that, you will also be exploring Boudhanath Stupa, located on the city's northeastern outskirts. It is a dome-shaped spherical structure beautifully decorated with the eyes of Buddha watching from all angles from the top. It is one of the largest stupas situated in Nepal. After a circumambulation around the stupa, you can explore the nearby streets and try local delicacies like Lhaping and Tibetan noodle soup.

Next up, you will head to Kopan Monastery, located near Boudhanath. It is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery popularly known for teaching Buddhism to western tourists who seek spiritualism. 

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

You will be departing from Nepal on this day. Our representatives will transfer you to the international airport and bid you farewell hoping for your return again for similar amazing tours in the future. It is obvious to reminisce about the beautiful temples, stupas, statues, and monuments, along with the peaceful Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites that you witnessed during the tour. 

If you are looking to extend your tour to different popular tourist destinations like Chitwan and Pokhara, reach out to our representatives to discuss the best deals.