Nepal in a Nutshell

Trip Details

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Style: Tour
  • Accommodation: 3 Star (or greater) Hotel
  • Transportation: Car + Domestic Flights
  • Grade: Easy
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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About Trip

Nepal is a small landlocked country which lies sandwiched between India to the south and Tibet to the north. The jewels of Nepal are, of course, the Himalayas, including the highest mountain on our planet, Mount Everest (8848m). Many people wrongly believe that it is country only suitable for trekking and mountaineering: in fact, it is the perfect destination for people who are interested in culture and traditions, historical and sacred sites, arts and crafts, all set against a backdrop of stunning mountain views. Our Nepal in a Nutshell tour is perfect for the first-time visitor to the country, aiming to give you a taste of everything that Nepal has to offer. We believe that it will leave you wanting to come back for more!

 

Trip Highlights

Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Experience of cultural and religious diversity and practices

Himalayan views

Traditional arts and crafts

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 01: Namaste Nepal! Arrival in Kathmandu
  • Day 02: Temple & Stupa: Pashupatinath & Boudhanath
  • Day 03: Cable car & Mountains: Chandragiri & Kirtipur
  • Day 04: Bhaktapur Durbar Square
  • Day 05: Flight to Pokhara: World Peace Pagoda & Phewa Lake
  • Day 06: Annapurna Sunrise & Dhampus Village
  • Day 07: Devi Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave & Tibetan Camp: Flight Back to Kathmandu
  • Day 08: Royal Plaza & Market Streets: Kathmandu Durbar Square & Indra Chowk
  • Day 09: Everest flight (Optional) and Sacred Sites
  • Day 10: Swayambunath & Souvenir Shopping
  • Day 11: Farewell Nepal!
  • Day 01Namaste Nepal! Arrival in KathmanduA representative of Search Treks will meet and greet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your central Kathmandu hotel for a ‘rest & refresh’ break. Depending on your flight schedule, this will be followed by a welcome dinner and introductory talk. (In the event of night-time arrival these will be postponed until the following day).
  • Day 02Temple & Stupa: Pashupatinath & BoudhanathToday after breakfast in the hotel we start our exploration of Kathmandu by going to two of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Pashupatinath is Nepal’s biggest and most famous Hindu temple, attracting worshippers from neighbouring India as well as from all over Nepal. As with the Ganges, cremations are held here daily on the ‘burning ghats’ on the banks of the Bagmati River. From here we go to Boudhanath for lunch and a different religious experience. The great stupa of Boudhanath is revered by practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism (also known as Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism). Here we will join the pilgrims doing ‘kora’ (clockwise circumambulation) and learn about other elements of their religion
  • Day 03Cable car & Mountains: Chandragiri & KirtipurA change of mood today as we take the cable car up Chandragiri, a small mountain in the southwest corner of the Kathmandu Valley. If the weather is favourable, from here you can enjoy extensive views of the Himalayan range. We take lunch in the Chandragiri Resort restaurant before descending by cable car and going to the small hilltop Newari town of Kirtipur, charming and unspoilt, Here we not only visit the temple and stupa but also get extensive views over the Kathmandu Valley.
  • Day 04Bhaktapur Durbar SquareThe Kathmandu Valley has three great “Durbar Squares” or Royal Plazas, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Arguably the most spectacular of these is Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a drive of about 45 minute drive from Kathmandu. We will be given a tour of the area by a licensed city guide. After a typical Newari lunch, you will have free time to explore the narrow streets of the old town before returning to Kathmandu for dinner.
  • Day 05Flight to Pokhara: World Peace Pagoda & Phewa LakeToday we shift our base from Kathmandu to Pokhara, 200km to the west and 400m lower in altitude. We take an early morning flight to Pokhara, situated on Phewa Lake and right below the Annapurna mountain range. After checking into the hotel and late breakfast, we go to the World Peace Pagoda to admire the views, pay respect and then have lunch. From there we walk down the wooded hillside to Phewa Lake for boating followed by a lakeside sunset and dinner.
  • Day 06Annapurna Sunrise & Dhampus VillageHopefully the weather gods are kind to us as we have an early morning start to view sunrise over the Annapurna Range from the Sarangkot Viewpoint, followed by breakfast. From there we travel further into the mountains and spend the rest of the day exploring the exquisite village of Dhampus where we also have lunch. Return to Pokhara for dinner.
  • Day 07Devi Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave & Tibetan Camp: Flight Back to KathmanduOn our final morning in Pokhara we explore the stunning Devi Falls and the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave where the river from the falls gushes from a long natural tunnel. We also visit the nearby Tibetan Camp where many Tibetans who have fled their country due to the oppression of their culture and religion are housed. After lunch we get our flight back to Kathmandu and return to our hotel followed by dinner.
  • Day 08Royal Plaza & Market Streets: Kathmandu Durbar Square & Indra ChowkToday is a day of contrasts! After breakfast we visit the splendour of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka: a licensed city guide will take us around this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch is followed by an exploration of the narrow alleys in Kathmandu’s traditional market areas of Indra Chowk and Asan Tolle, finishing at the smaller and lesser known stupa of Kaathe Swayambhu. Time then to relax and have dinner.
  • Day 09Everest flight (Optional) and Sacred SitesThis morning we offer the option of an Everest flight, depending on the season and weather conditions. Search Treks’ representative will brief you a day or two in advance about this option and the cost involved After breakfast we drive through rural scenery to visit the Hindu temple of Dakshinkali. Less visited by tourists than Pashupatinath, here we can witness the devotional practices of throngs of pilgrims, especially on Saturdays. From there we move on to the Buddhist enclaves of Pharping and Dollu, the golden roofs of their Buddhist temples shining amid the local communities. After lunch we drive up a steep forested road to Hattiban Resort for an afternoon tea break and chance to get more Himalayan views if we are lucky.
  • Day 10Swayambunath & Souvenir ShoppingIt’s our final day in Nepal and we finish in style by going to the Swayambunath stupa after breakfast. It’s a steep climb up to the top of the hill which was once an island in the middle of a huge lake: however, the views and the chance to explore and pay respect at the stupa and various shrines make it all worthwhile. We then go to have lunch in Thamel, Kathmandu’s main tourist enclave, followed by free time for your souvenir and personal shopping. A special Farewell Dinner provides an opportunity to relax with Search Treks’ staff, talk over all the experiences and share contact information
  • Day 11Farewell Nepal!A Search Treks’ representative will accompany you on the transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home or on to your next destination.

Cost Includes:

Airport transfers

Accommodation in central Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels with breakfast

All sightseeing tours

Lunches and dinners

Admission fees to all UNESCO sites

Return domestic flight, Kathmandu /Pokhara

 

Cost Excludes:

Nepal visa

International flights

Everest mountain flight

Personal insurance

Expenses caused by ‘force majeure’ including but not limited to severe weather conditions, earthquakes etc.

Alcohol/bar tab

Laundry and room service expenses

All other expenses of a personal nature

Tips and gratuities for guides 

Trip Note

The organisers reserve the right to adjust some elements in the Itinerary at short notice if weather conditions are unfavourable. Wherever possible these will be rescheduled

If any of the amazing festivals in Nepal occur at the time of a tour, advance arrangements will be made to incorporate these into the Itinerary. This may result in some adjustments being made.

 

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