Discover Nepal Tour-12 days

Overview

Discover Nepal Tour is specially designed for those who want to explore all the major highlights of Nepal as this tour gives you a taste of all that Nepal has to offer. Discover Nepal Tour -12 days tour is graded as easy and suitable for all categories of travelers.

Nestled amongst the peaks of the great Himalayan Mountains, Nepal is a country blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and colorful history. In Discover Nepal tour, you will be staying in comfortable and character-full hotels & lodges, without any strenuous activities. This tour lets you discover ancient city streets and architecture, enjoy stunning mountain views, walk through tiny rural villages, verdant farmland and forests filled with wildlife, and see some of Nepal’s most famous UNESCO World Heritages Sites including Lumbini (the birth-place of Lord Buddha).

Discover Nepal Tour begins with your tour in Kathmandu, a city like no other in the world. During your first day of tour, we include an introductory walking tour to Kathmandu Durbar Square through a local spice market and a drive to enjoy the views from the hilltop Swayambunath Stupa and visit to city of Fine Arts – Patan Durbar Square. All these places are listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will visit most of the amazing places of Nepal including Bandipur, Pokhara, Tansen, Lumbini and Nagarkot

Trip Highlights

[1.]Guided tours of UNESCO World Heritage Site within Kathmandu Valley
[2.]Visit Bandipur, which is a picturesque town, nestled in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal and is set amongst wonderful mountain scenery.
[3.]Explore the beauty of Pokhara enhances by its lovely lakes, which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas
[4.]Visit Tansen, a typical Nepali town with numerous fairs, festivals, religious and cultural events and [5.]spectacular mountain views
[6.]Visit Lumbini, the birth-place of Lord Buddha.
[7.]Chitwan National Park– one of Asia’s most famous national parks
[8.]Nagarkot– famous for sunrise view over the stunning eastern mountains
[9.]Taste of Nepali cuisine with a local cultural show at Kathmandu

Brief Itinerary

Day Program Altitude Altitude
01 Arrive Kathmandu & transfer to hotel Kathmandu 1400 m (4,592 ft)
02 Full day tour of Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu 1400 m (4,592 ft)
03 Kathmandu/ Bandipur Bandipur 1030 m (3,379 ft)
04 Bandipur/ Pokhara drive Pokhara 827 m (2,713 ft)
05 In Pokhara Pokhara 827 m (2,713 ft)
06 Pokhara to Tansen drive Tansen 1090 m (3,576 ft)
07 Tansen to Lumbini drive Lumbini 105 m (344 ft)
08 Lumbini / Chitwan drive Chitwan 415 m (1361 ft)
09 In Chitwan Chitwan 415 m (1361 ft)
10 Chitwan/KTM Fly & drive to Nagarkot Nagarkot 2175 m (7,135 ft)
11 Nagarkot/Kathmandu drive Kathmandu 1400 m (4,592 ft)
12 Depart Kathmandu

Detailed itinerary

Day 01 – Arrive Kathmandu

Arrive Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be met and welcomed by our representative. Please look for signage of  with your name once you come out of Arrival Terminal Hall after collecting your luggage. You will be escorted by our representative to the hotel Kathmandu, capital of the ancient Mountain Kingdom of Nepal, has the air of a medieval city with a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces.

Upon arrival at the hotel, guest will be provided welcome drinks along with the room key

In the evening we will organize a Welcome Dinner at a traditional Nepalese Restaurant where you will enjoy a Nepalese cultural program as well as a fine Nepali local meal. Overnight at the hotel

Day 02 In Kathmandu

After breakfast, you will be taken on a sightseeing tour Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of the city. Many of Kathmandu’s most historic and important temples are located here. Interesting things for visitors to see are Taleju temple, gigantic figure of Kalbhairav (the god of destruction), Basantapur Durbar, and Temple of Kumari (living goddess). Visiting Swayambhunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple) The world’s most glorious Buddhist Chaityas built 2000 years ago situated on a hillock about 77 m above the level of the Kathmandu valley. Visitors will also have a grand view of the valley from this spot.

Afternoon visit Patan Durbar Square, next you will drive to Patan, a beautiful city in its own right which rivalled Kathmandu in terms of the splendor of its temples and squares and is now better preserved, less polluted and less crowded. You cross a bridge over the Bagmati River that links Kathmandu with the city of Patan, its neighbour to the south. Patan boasts of many famous sites and unique architecture. Krishna Mandir in this Square was built to honor an incarnation of Vishnu. One of the best examples of stone architecture in the world, scenes from Mahabharat, Asia’s greatest mythological war, are carved on the temple’s walls. Overnight at the hotel

Day 03 Kathmandu to Bandipur  

After breakfast, we start our journey early in the morning and drive to historic village of Bandipur, situated astride a ridge in the Mahabharat range of hills (Approx 4 hrs drive- 143 km to the west of Kathmandu). Bandipur is a picturesque town nestled in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, a land as famous for its natural beauty as for the hospitality of its people. One can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the entire Annapurna Range plus the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Langtang from here. Visit to this town is an opportunity to get a close look at Newar cultural life. Arrive Bandipur, check in at the hotel. Afternoon walking tour of Bandipur Village & Bazaar– Visiting Bandipur Village, you will be greeted by a neighborhood lined with historic Newar houses. This is the main Bandipur Bazaar. Modern, but with its traditional values still intact, it presents a potpourri of old houses, temples of great religious significance and historical architecture. This medieval-looking quarter is the heart of Bandipur. Overnight at the hotel

Day 04  Bandipur to Pokhara

After breakfast, you will visit Thani Mai Temple for stunning mountain views in the morning before we head to Pokhara. Stretch your legs with the short but steep walk from Bandipur to visit the Thani Mai Temple. The architecture around the preserved Newari village is stunning. Equally impressive are the Himalayan views. (Approx 1 hrs 40 minutes walks roundtrip). Then, it will be approx 2 hrs drive to reach Pokhara Arrive Pokhara, check in at the hotel. Afternoon, you will be taken to Phewa Lake for boat ride (approx 1 hr) including visit of Barahi Temple. Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the country, is the center of all attraction in Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of the three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. The Barahi Temple is the most important monument in Pokhara; built almost in the center of Phewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protector deity representing the female force Shakti. Free time or walking around lakeside market. Lakeside-The eastern shore of Phewa Lake, popularly known as lakeside or Baidam, is the favorite home base for travelers and is where most of the hotels, restaurants and handicraft shops are located. Overnight at the hotel

 Day 05 In Pokhara

An early morning, you will drive to Sarangkot for sunrise view over the western Himalayas (weather permitting)- Sarangkot is the highest point on the Pokhara valley rim. It is located an altitude of 1592 m above sea level. This place provides the best view of Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake and beyond to the main spine of the Annapurna ranges (Annapurna South 7195, Annapurna I 7647, Machhapuchhre 6997, Annapurna III 7555, Annapurna II 7937, Annapurna IV 7525, Lamjung Himal 6986.). Drive back to the hotel for breakfast. Afternoon breakfast, we’ll visit the Mountain Museum housing expedition memorabilia and information on ethnic groups, flora and fauna. We’ll also visit Tashiling, a long established settlement of Tibetan refugees. We spend some time here watching wool being sorted, dyed and eventually made into Tibetan carpets which are exported all over the world. Overnight at the hotel

Day 06 Pokhara/Tansen ( approx 6 hrs drive)

After breakfast, we will drive to Tansen– an ancient hill town Tansen at 1350 meters above sea level and it lies in Lumbini zone of Nepal. It is a typical Nepali town with numerous fairs, festivals, religious and cultural events and spectacular mountain views Arrive and check in at hotel Overnight at the hotel  

Day 07 Tansen /Lumbini (approx 1 ½ hr drive)

After breakfast, we will drive to Lumbini. Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace, compassion and non-violence. The broken Ashoka pillar remnant of an old monastery, images of Buddha’s mother Maya Devi, etc, are preserved in Lumbini.

Arrive Lumbini and check in at the hotel. This afternoon, we start our day with site seeing tour of Lumbini including various sacred places accompanied a local guide by rickshaw. We will have the opportunity to visit the birth place of the Buddha Peace lamp and the monastery of peace pagoda. Overnight at the hotel

Day 08 Lumbini /Chitwan  

After breakfast, we drive to Chitwan which takes approx 3 hour enjoyable and scenic drive through the Tharu Villages of Chitwan. The ethnic tribe of the Tharu’s is the local inhabitants of Chitwan and is agriculturists by profession. Then drive finally brings you to the lodge. Upon arrival at lodge, you will be met and briefed by the Guest Relation officer regarding the park and the programs available. Lunch will be followed by a choice of activities arranged for you. Chitwan National Park is the home of the great one horned rhinoceros, sloth bear, wild boar, Gaur (bison), 4 species of deer, 2 species of monkeys, 2 species of crocodile, the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger, over 450 species of birds and various other reptiles. Later in the afternoon, the guests will be taken for elephant safari or nature walks depending on the time of arrival at the resort. In the evening before dinner, the slide presentation about the flora and fauna of Chitwan national park will be organized by our well trained senior naturalists. This will be time when the guests can gather more information about the flora and fauna of Chitwan National Park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 09 In Chitwan

Early morning guests will be mounted on elephant back and taken for a jungle safari for 2‐3 hours penetrating through dense grasslands to view wildlife in their natural habitat. This grass commonly known as elephant grass is dense and grows to a height of 18‐20 ft. It is the favorite habitat for rhinoceros and other mammals. After breakfast, you are taken to our elephant stables where a senior naturalist briefs about the interesting and unbelievable habits of elephant. Here one may witness the rare scene of the elephants at bath. Lunch at the lodge In the afternoon you may choose to relax around the resort or take a drive through the jungles for a canoe ride down the Rapti River. The river ride provides opportunity of viewing the gharial crocodiles as well as the mugger crocodiles, fresh water dolphins, otters and varieties of water birds. OR, You may also feel like going for a nature walk or birding with one of our naturalists to know more about the flora of the Chitwan National Park. Those on canoe ride are taken back to the resort four wheel drive jeep from the end‐point. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 10 Chitwan/Kathmandu by flight & drive to Nagarkot  

After breakfast in the morning, since Chitwan is a bird paradise of resident and migratory birds, making it a delightful and educational experience for every bird watcher. Special bird watching tour can be arranged too. You will be transferred to Bharatpur Airport for flight back to Kathmandu (it will be a just 20 minutes flight). Upon arrival Kathmandu you will be transferred to Nagarkot (Approx 35 km and 1 hour 30 minutes drive) Nagarkot is situated on top of a ridge at an altitude of over 2000 meters above sea level. It is renowned for sunrise and sunset views along with majestic peaks of the Himalayas including Mount Everest. Arrive Nagarkot, check in at the hotel. Evening sunset view (weather and time permitting) Overnight at the hotel

Day 11 Nagarkot/ Kathmandu    

Early morning sunrise view over the Eastern Himalayas (weather permitting). After breakfast, there will be guided easy hike around Nagarkot Village. Hill villages in Nepal present a picture of the bygone era. Guests will witness villagers working in the field and carry daily activities in the most natural setting. Villagers still use pre historic technology to plow their fields and carry other activities in agriculture sector. For Western technologically advanced civilization, the village tour would be one of the most exciting aspects on their Nepal visit. Then, you will drive back to Kathmandu, one the way visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur is perfectly preserved Newari town of Bhaktapur in the eastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley. Also know as Bhadgaun or the City of the Devotees, Bhaktapur evokes the feel of a medieval village, a snapshot of a time when the city lay along the prosperous trade routes between Tibet, China and India. The ancient centre of the town is a dazzling collection of temples, palaces that has earned it a place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Arrive Kathmandu and recheck in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

Day 12 Depart Kathmandu

You are saying good bye to the mountains as your journey in Nepal comes to an end today! We hope you enjoyed the tour with us and we expect that you plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal again. Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight time, our representative  will transfer you to the airport.