Close - Up Nepal Tour

Kathmandu – an open-air museum of famous sites, ancient temples and shrines, pagodas, and inspiring deities – is a city of unlimited historic, artistic, and cultural importance. Several beautiful villages and towns surrounding the valley offer ideal destinations for mini day trips.

Art and architecture overlap here – temples and palaces are decorated with intricately carved windows, delicately engraved stone and metal images, and artistic roofs. Placed in the center of the world’s greatest mountains, Kathmandu Valley hosts an absolute feast of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur; the two most important stupas, Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath; and the two Hindu shrines, Pashupatinath and Changunarayan.

Kathmandu Valley is a vibrant region filled with deep spirituality and rich history.

Kathmandu Valley consists of three major cities, namely Kathmandu (the capital city of Nepal), Patan (also known as Lalitpur or the City of Fine Arts), and Bhaktapur (also known as Bhadgaon, renowned for its well-preserved temples and monuments, and its peasants and artisans). These places are often described as the open-air museum of medieval arts and monuments.

Pokhara Valley

Situated in the western part of Nepal, Pokhara lies nestled against the everlasting snows of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Fishtail and is accompanied by the charming Phewa Lake. The lush vegetation and magnificent snow-capped mountains form a sharp contrast, which is why Pokhara has become one of the most popular cities in Nepal.

Pokhara is one of the major tourist destinations of Nepal and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country. Pokhara became especially fascinating when explorers discovered that it is the only valley in the world from where one can see snow-capped mountains higher than 8000 m from below 1000 m.

Situated at an altitude of 827 meters (2,713 ft) above sea level and 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Kathmandu Valley, the city is known as a center of adventure, offering the incredible experience of viewing Himalayan peaks from a subtropical climate.

The enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan range. The serenity of the lakes and the grandeur of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is the oldest national park in Nepal and is situated in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. The park was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984. There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park.

It is especially renowned for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger, and the gharial crocodile, along with many other species such as gaur, wild elephant, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. Other animals found in the park include sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth bear, palm civet, langur, and rhesus monkey.

This park covers a pristine area with a unique ecosystem of significant global value. It contains the Churiya Hills, oxbow lakes, and the floodplains of the Rapti, Reu, and Narayani rivers. Approximately 70% of the park’s vegetation is sal forest.

The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%), riverine forest (7%), and sal with chir pine (3%), the latter occurring at the top of the Churiya range. The riverine forests consist mainly of khair, sissoo, and simal. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The Saccharum species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8 meters in height. The shorter grasses, such as Imperata, are useful for thatched roofs.

In this national park, there are over 450 species of birds. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork, and white stork. Common birds seen in the park include peafowl, red jungle fowl, and various species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers, and woodpeckers. The best time for bird watching is March and December.

More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles occur in the park, including the marsh crocodile, cobra, green pit viper, and several species of frogs and tortoises.

Bandipur

Bandipur is an ancient trading town with quaint streets and a charming atmosphere. It is situated on a ridgetop south of Dumre, which lies 135 km along the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway. Bandipur is the ideal getaway for those in search of peace and solitude, as this trade entrepot of bygone times has long lost its commercial use.

Besides the gorgeous view of the central Himalayas and the Marshyangdi Valley, there are several unique natural sights such as limestone caves, an endless tunnel, and strangely shaped surrounding hills. The rich woodcarvings and detailed brass work that adorn the temples are replicas of those found in many pagoda structures of the Kathmandu Valley.

From here, the views of the great Himalayan giants of Nepal like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and even Makalu are breathtaking and scintillating.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Full day sightseeing of Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath Stupa

Day 3: Drive to Chitwan. O/N

Day 4: Full day jungle activities in Chitwan National Park.

Elephant safari, canoeing, jungle walk, Tharu cultural museum excursion, elephant breeding center

Day 5: Drive to Bandipur. O/N

Day 6: Drive to Pokhara.

Day 7: Full day sightseeing of Pokhara Valley.

Boating on Phewa Lake, Mahendra Cave, Davis Falls, World Peace Stupa, Gupteshwor Cave

Day 8: Drive/Fly back to Kathmandu.

Day 9: The day is free until transfer to the airport for onward flight.

PRICE INCLUSIONS:

ACCOMMODATION:

3 Nights hotel in Kathmandu
1 Night hotel in Bandipur
2 Nights hotel in Pokhara
2 Nights in Chitwan

TRANSPORTATION:

Airport pick-up and drop-off
1 full-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
Kathmandu to Chitwan
Chitwan to Bandipur
Bandipur to Pokhara
Pokhara to Kathmandu

SIGHTSEEING TOUR:

1 full-day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
Half-day guided sightseeing tour in Pokhara
All entrance fees while sightseeing in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara

CHITWAN SAFARI TOUR:

2 nights/3 days jungle safari program in Chitwan
Pick-up from the arrival point
Cultural tour (Visit Tharu Village)
Riverside sunset view
Tharu stick dance
Canoe ride and elephant breeding center visit
Elephant-back safari
Bird watching
Drop off at the bus starting point

MEALS:

8 breakfasts
2 lunches
4 dinners (including welcome and farewell dinner)

COST EXCLUSIONS:

Lunch and dinner during your stay in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bandipur
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, sweets, snacks, tips, etc.
Beverages like mineral water, juice, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks
Travel insurance (essential)
Tips for field staff and drivers
Any loss arising due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control