Kathmandu Pokhara and Chitwan Tour – 09 Days

If you arrive in Kathmandu during the day, you will be met with spectacular views of lush hills and snowy peaks towering on the horizon. Enjoy an overhead view of Kathmandu Valley from the comfort of your plane, surrounded by the lush hills of Nagarjuna, Shivapuri, Champa Devi, and Pulchowki. The city is in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded by the aforementioned hills. At the airport, our representative will receive you and transport you to your accommodation. After arriving at your hotel, check-in and relax. There are no activities planned for the day. If you desire, you can explore Thamel (a popular tourist destination) on your own.

Begin your sightseeing excursion with a visit to Boudhanath stupa. This ancient stupa, Nepal's largest, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major hub of Tibetan Buddhism. According to local belief, the bones of Kasyapa Buddha (an earlier incarnation of Lord Buddha) are buried beneath this massive mound. Next, visit the Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prominent Hindu monument devoted to Lord Shiva. The pagoda-roofed temple, which dates from 400 AD, is located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside the temple. They are permitted to visit the temple from the eastern side of the river. Later, visit Swayambhunath, a mountaintop shrine that is strongly related to the development of Kathmandu Valley. According to local tradition, Kathmandu was formerly a lake. Manjushri, a Bodhisattva (divine being), spotted a lotus in this lake while meditating. He flew from Tibet, emptied the lake, and meditated by the lotus. Swayambhunath (meaning self-made) Stupa is said to have been constructed when the heavenly lotus flowered. This shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, and individuals from both faiths may be found praying there. You must ascend a flight of steps to access the shrine. A significant monkey population lives on the hillside. This temple is also known as the 'Monkey Temple.' From the top, you have a 360-degree panorama of the city. Later, return to your hotel.

Kathmandu Valley consists of three historic medieval cities: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Today you will tour the palace squares of two of these medieval countries. From your accommodation, you travel to the city's southern edge. Patan (also known as Lalitpur, or 'the City of Artisans') is one of Kathmandu Valley's three medieval kingdoms. Patan's picturesque Durbar Square is a quadrilateral packed with Malla King-built pagoda-roofed buildings and shrines. The palace has been transformed into a museum, which displays several antique treasures and historical things. Although several of the monuments in the area were damaged by the 2015 earthquake, there are still enough pagoda-roofed temples to draw your attention. You may be pleased to hear that portions of the Hollywood movie 'Doctor Strange' (a Marvel production) were filmed in Patan Durbar and Pashupatinath Temple. After touring Patan, travel to Bhaktapur, located near the city's eastern edge. The Durbar Square at Bhaktapur (the City of Devotees) is one of the valley's best-preserved cultural monuments. No huge vehicles are permitted inside the historic square. The 2015 earthquake damaged several old structures, but some of the cultural riches that remain will take your breath away. The creativity and skill that went into building these temples and palaces will captivate you. Don't miss the Golden Gate, Palace of 55 Windows, Nyatapole Temple (formerly the largest building in Kathmandu Valley), and its gigantic stairway flanked by stone sculptures of mustachioed wrestlers. The ancient city is split into four squares: Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square. After exploring the old palaces and temples, take a break in the bustling Pottery Square to observe the local potters at work and the passersby. Before you depart Bhaktapur, try the city's famed delicacy, Juju Dhau (King's Curd).

Duration: 6-7 hours Wake up early and drive to Pokhara following breakfast. After leaving Kathmandu, the road descends via a serpentine bend known as Naubise. Outstanding vistas of the mountains emerge. If you go in the winter, you will be able to view the horizon covered with snowy peaks. Picturesque views of mountaintop villages and bustling highway communities will captivate you. Stop in Kurintar and go to the glacier river Trishuli for an exciting rafting adventure. Wear your life jacket and helmet, then take a paddle and jump onboard the rubber raft. Before proceeding, please follow the safety recommendations provided by your river guide. Ride the whitewater rapids and float down the river. Enjoy the mountain beauty as the raft glides by the sandy beaches. Get off at the drop-off spot and return to your vehicle. Continue your journey to Pokhara. The roadway runs above the fast-flowing Trishuli River. At Mugling, you cross a bridge to exit the Tribhuvan Highway and onto the Prithvi Highway. Enjoy the views as the route passes past magnificent landscapes. After driving for a few hours, you arrive at Pokhara. Go to your hotel and check-in. Take a break since you have a full day tomorrow.

Visit the island temple of the goddess Barahi. Take a boat across Phewa Lake to reach the temple. The temple is devoted to the mother goddess Durga, known as the 'protector of the gods'. The temple is completely encircled by Phewa Lake. Observe people enjoying a trip on the colorful boats and photograph the lake. Later, visit Davis Falls, a waterfall that leads into an underground tunnel. Next, go to the Gupteshwar Gupha (cave), an underground cave housing Lord Shiva's shrine. To get to the cave's entrance, you journey down a spiral staircase. Be careful where you walk in the cave because it is damp and slippery. At the bottom of the cave's wall, there is a gap through which the waters of the Davis descend. Visit the International Mountain Museum, where equipment and gear from the majority of the earliest Himalayan expeditions are shown. There is also a wealth of information available on the Himalayan range, as well as the culture and lifestyle of those who live there.

Duration: 4-5 hours Get up early and travel to Sarangkot Hill to see the legendary 'Sarangkot's Himalayan Sunrise'. During your voyage to the bottom of the car, you must trek to the top of the hill. When you reach the summit, you have a 360-degree panorama of the Pokhara Valley and the Himalayan ranges. Witness a breathtaking sunrise as morning breaks over the mountains, drenching them in vibrant hues of red, orange, and golden yellow. This is a very amazing moment, and you will most likely treasure it for the rest of your life. After that, return to your accommodation for breakfast before continuing on to Chitwan. The drive to Chitwan is full of pleasant scenery such as trickling brooks, verdant hillsides, and breathtaking mountain vistas. Once in Chitwan, check into your accommodation and relax. Late afternoon, take a stroll around a Tharu village. Tharus are an ethnic group that has spent generations dwelling in Chitwan's forests.

ungle Safari by Jeep, Tharu Cultural Program Your day is packed with thrilling activities (Jungle Safari). Chitwan National Park is Nepal's first national park. It's a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal Tiger, and a variety of other rare plants and animals. A vehicle safari provides an opportunity to explore more of the park's interior. Observe adult rhinos caring for their offspring. Look for spotted deer frolicking under the woods. You'll observe peacocks and marsh muggers lounging in the sun along the river. You'll also get to visit the Elephant Breeding Centre, where you may meet mother elephants and their calves. In the evening, you may see a Tharu cultural program. You and your other guests will be entertained by a cultural ensemble performing Tharu music and dances. Eat dinner and retire for the night.

Duration: 5-6 hours You go overland back to Kathmandu. Drive along the Tribhuvan Highway, passing through rural villages and meadows, hills covered in lush forests, and glacial rivers with sandy beaches. As you reach the Kathmandu Valley, the car climbs a steep slope. Enjoy the mountain vistas. Once in Kathmandu, check into your accommodation and rest. If you choose, you may browse for souvenirs in Thamel or visit the local market Ason Bazaar on your own. In the evening, enjoy the end of your fantastic journey with a special goodbye meal. One of our agents will take you to an authentic Nepalese restaurant for a typical Nepalese meal. Enjoy traditional singing and dances while sampling Nepalese food.

You will be driven to the airport in plenty of time to catch your journey home. If you wish to see more of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibet, please let us know. We provide excursions to all of these places.