Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu

You will be met and greeted by our local representative at the airport and you are transferred to the hotel. You will take rest to recover travel fatigue. In the evening, you are invited by our local manager for welcome dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant amidst Nepali folk dancing and it’s also an opportunity to ask questions about the services or facilities or any other questions you have about the trip. Overnight in Shanker Hotel (D)

Day 02 Sightseeing of Kathmandu

After breakfast, embark on sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley. Begin the tour with Swayambhuanath Stupa-the 2000 years old Buddhist shrine that lies about 80m above the average level of Kathmandu, on a hillock overlooking the valley. Swayambhunath is also linked with the story of evolution of Kathmandu. From here, drive to Patan-one of the three Malla Principalities of medieval Nepal, better known today as the City of Arts and Crafts. At Patan, visit the Malla Palace with beautiful wood works in its struts, windows and balconies. Walk along the streets, with arts and craft workshops lined up in either sides, to the Golden Temple-the cultural center of Newari Buddhists of Patan and to 5 storied Kumbheswar Temple, where a spring water has a mouth with its source more than 90 miles north at holy Gosaikunda Lake!

From Patan, drive to traditional Newari Village of Bungamati, which despite being so close of Kathmandu looks decades behind in civilization. The village, its dwellers, cultures and traditions are still real and unspoilt.Return drive to the center of Kathmandu and visit Kathmandu Durbar Square which looks like an open air museum. You will see the former palace of the kings of Nepal and visit the temple of Kumari-the Living Goddess of Nepal. Other highlights are legendary Kasthamandap Temple-believed to have been built of single tree trunk, Shiva Temple and Jagannath Temple with erotic carvings, Shiva-Parvati Temple, where you can see the couple gazing out of balcony and Taleju Temple of Tantric Goddess, which opens only one time in a year, during Dashain Festival.

Walk through the narrow streets of Indrachowk and Assan and see the traditional markets. The street was the principal street of Kathmandu during medieval time. Overnight Shanker Hotel or similar.(B)

Day 03 Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Bhaktapur and Nagarkot (32 km/20 miles)

Today, we visit some cultural sights of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur and go to Nagarkot for overnight stay. First, we visit Pashupatinath Temple-one of the holiest Hindu temple in entire South India. The temple is located on the bank of sacred Bagmati River. Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple but we will have an unobstructed views of the temple from other side of the river. Pashupatinath temple and the area are vibrant with rites and rituals performed by Hindu devotees. We can also watch Hindu cremation services on the bank of the river. Another attraction of the day is the giant Boudhanath Stupa which is believed to be the largest Buddhist architecture in Asia. The stupa is surrounded by various Buddhist monasteries, Tibetan handicraft stores and lodges and the area is predominantly Tibetan in character.

We will have lunch break in Boudhanath and after lunch we will drive to Bhaktapur city-one of the three medieval principalities of Kathmandu valley and the best preserved one. With controlled traffic and well preserved arts and architecture, Bhaktapur gives an impression of being an open air museum. The major attractions here are the Malla Palace, a large bell in front of the palace, medieval temples, golden gilded Taleju Gate, Royal Bath tank inside the palace, intricate wood carving in 55 windows of the palace, 5 storied Nayatapola Temple, Duttratray Temple and Pujarimath complex etc. We will also visit local wood carving and thangka painting workshops. From Bhaktapur, we head further 10 miles northeast of Bhaktapur to Nagarkot that lies in an elevation of 2000m (6560 ft) and offers spectacular views of the Himalayas and the valleys. Upon arrival, we check in hotel and we will take a light stroll around and appreciate the serene beauty of the surroundings. Accommodation in Club Himalaya Resort or the Fort Resort (B)

Day 04 To Chitwan National Park (160km/100 miles, 4-5 hrs)

Early morning, there will be knock at your door by hotel staff for sunrise view. We will also enjoy the spectacular views of the mountain gleaming with the first kiss of the sunbeam and the beautiful valleys down the hill. After breakfast, we check out hotel and proceed to Chitwan National Park. We follow Trishuli River downstream. With prior arrangement, we can take 2-3 hours long introductory rafting trip down Trishuli River (US$ 50). On the way, we have also an opportunity to take cable car ride to the temple of Goddess Manakamana ($15) who is famous for fulfilling the wishes of her visitors. After lunch at our resort in Chitwan, we will go for a short Tharu village walking tour. Tharus are the original inhabitants of Chitwan whose lifestyle has remained unchanged over hundreds of years. In the evening, we will attend slide show on flora and fauna of the park or enjoy Tharu dancing program. Overnight in Rhino Residency Resort (B/L/D)

Day 05: Jungle Safari Rides

Today, we have a full day to enjoy jungle safari rides. After breakfast, we go for traditional dugout canoe trip on Rapti River which lasts about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on season and river level. We will have two boatmen to paddle the boat while we will enjoy the ride and look for crocodiles and aquatic bird life. Chitwan National park has two kinds of crocodiles-Marsh Muggar and the Gharials. The second one is in the list of endangered species. After the canoe trip, we have options of taking jungle trek back (3-4 hours) or take a traditional oxcart ride back to hotel. Jungle trek is exciting as we walk through the dense bush, grassland and forests in search of animals. If we are taking oxcart ride options, we will have opportunity to visit the elephant breeding farm where we will see baby elephants and we will learn how elephants are trained and tamed.

We will back to our hotel around the lunch time. After lunch, we will have some time to rest or take a nap or write journals or just chit chat with the resort staff and in the afternoon, you are escorted to elephant embarkation place for jungle safari rides. The ride lasts from 1 to 2 hour and takes us through dense jungles of the national park. The park is abundant with tiger, sloth bear, leopards but most commonly spotted animals are great one horned Asian Rhino, Sloth Beer, Wild boar, spotted deer, Sambar etc. If we are in Chitwan during spring, we can take Jeep safari, in option to elephant ride. Overnight in Rhino Residency Resort (B/L/D)

Day 06 Drive to Pokhara (140km/88 miles, 4 hrs)

Early risers can still go for one hour long bird watching tour before breakfast. Chitwan National park is paradise for bird lovers. Within a span of 1 hour, we will be able to spot around 35 to 50 different species of resident and migratory birds. After breakfast, we bid farewell to Chitwan and its friendly people and then we set off on the highway to Pokhara. We retrace drive along Trishuli River upstream up to Mugling and then we take the road in the left that leads us to Pokhara. The road follows Marshyangdi River upstream, passing through several roadside settlement, farmlands and forested hills and with occasional views of gleaming Manaslu and Ganesh Himal mountains. Upon arrival at Pokhara, we check in hotel and later, we stroll in the touristy lakeside and take one hour boating trip in Fewa Lake and visit its island temple.

Day 07 At Pokhara

We rise early morning and head to Sarangkot (30 minutes) for sunrise view. On a clear weather day, Sarangkot offers great views of Annapurnas, Mount Fishtail, Dhalagiri and several other snow capped mountains. For the return trip back to Pokhara, we have option of trekking back (2 hrs) which is all downhill, through the villages and terraced farmlands and if it rained the previous day, the trail can be quiet slippery. If we are returning by road, we can stop in Bindhebasini Temple-the most famous Hindu shrine in Pokhara where we can observe the morning rituals performed by Hindu visitors. In the afternoon, we will explore the Bindhebasini Cave Temple, Davis Fall, Tibetan refugee camps, Seti gorges etc. Overnight in Fishtail Lodge (B)

Day 08 to Jomsom Mountain Resort (Mustang)

After breakfast, we check out our hotel and we are transferred to Pokhara airport for flight to Jomsom-the gateway town to the lost Tibetan kingdom of Mustang. It will be a short 25 minutes flight offering spectacular views of Kali Gandaki Gorge and the Himalayas.

Upon arrival at Jomsom airport, you will meet our local representative and you are transferred to Jomsom Mountain Resort. After some rest in the hotel, we will soon set out to explore the beautiful villages and attractions of Jomsom area. Our first destination is Dhumba Lake that lies 5.5 km (3.5 miles) from Jomsom. This is a sacred Turquoise lake nestled in the lap of Mt. Nilgiri. Villagers say that once this lake turned red and after a extensive ritual, the deities were appeased and it got it’s its natural turquoise color back and since then people revere this lake as a sacred lake. Today, the lake has been a popular destination for pilgrimage for people of the surrounding areas. Jomsom Mountain Resort (B/L/D).

Day 09 Walking Tour of Marpha Village (2650m).

After breakfast, we will collect our lunch pack and head to Marpha Village. Marpha is situated behind a ridge that protects it from the wind and dust. The Thakali village houses have typical flat roofs and narrow paved alleys and passage ways. The villagers use the flat roofs for drying grains and vegetables. We will walk on the flagstone-paved clean streets of and visit its library. We will also visit the impressive monastery which is associated with Nyingmapa branch of Mahayana Buddhism. The monastery, like all other houses in the village is painted with whitewash that comes from local limestone. Accommodation in Jomsom Mountain Resort. (B/L/D)

Day 10 Thini Gaon Village Excursion.

Another day of village hiking excursion takes us to the beautiful Thini Gaon village which lies in a distance of about one and half an hour. This village is of very much Tibetan character. We visit its monastery, locally called Gompa that lies above the village. The monastery looks beautiful with its fine decoration. The monastery is also important because it preserves some ancient religious objects that include five terracotta images believed to be from Samye Monastery of Tibet, Guru Pamasambhava’s sandals and a skull of a high profile lama imprinted with the Tibet vowel AH. We back track to our resort in Jomsom and take stroll in the township. Eco-museum that lies south of the airport atop a hill is also worth visiting. (B/L/D)

Day 11 Flight back to Kathmandu

If everything goes well with weather, the plane from Pokhara arrives in Jomsom airport in time and we hop on and fly to Pokhara and change the plane here and continue to Kathmandu. You will be met by our local representative at Kathmandu airport and you are transferred to your hotel. You will have free day to pursue your own interest. Accommodation in Shanker or similar (B)

Day 12 A Reserve Day in Kathmandu

We have a reserve day in Kathmandu to pursue our own interests.(B)

Day 13 Departure

Transfer to airport for your flight to next destination. (B)