Deal

Meet your guide at the airport and travel together to your hotel for check-in. During your drive, your guide will provide an introduction to Kathmandu, answer your questions and discuss plans for the following days.

In the afternoon, embark on a tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of the Old City. With its cluster of elegant temples and palaces adorned with intricate wood and stone carvings, this UNESCO World Heritage site is testament to the sublime skill of several centuries of Newar craftsmen.

Venturing west out of the city, climb the 365 steps that lead up to Swayambhunath Stupa or ‘Monkey Temple’ to see the 2,000 year old Buddhist Chaityas and take in sweeping views of Kathmandu, hemmed in by the looming bulk of the mountains on the horizon.

In the afternoon discover more marvels of Newar architecture at Patan Durbar Square. The beautiful Krishna Mandir Temple, embellished with carvings of scenes from mythological war Mahabharat, was built in honour of an incarnation of Vishnu.

This morning you have the option to take a scenic flight over the Himalayas. Gaze from the small 18-seat plane in awe-struck silence as you swoop among the clouds over the snow-swept peaks of Everest and the tallest mountains in the world.

Later, start an urban adventure we’ve named ‘spiritual Nepal’ – to one of the holiest temples for Hindus all around the world- Pashupatinath (20 mins approx). Your guide will then take you through the spiritual journey with the engrossing explanation about the Hindu religion, the cycle of birth and death and the story behind the Sadhus- Hindu Holy Men, who renounce their hedonistic social life to devote their life to Shiva (Hindu God of Destruction) to whom the temple is dedicated. Witness one of many cremations along the banks of Bagmati river and on the sanctimonious grounds of the temple. Interact with soot-smeared, saffron-clad, dreadlock-sporting Sadhus.

Drive out of the Kathmandu valley in a north-west direction to uncover a gem of a place today, hidden from the mainstream tourist route and the much forgotten historic citadel, Nuwakot gives another dimension to what we do different. The drive takes approx. 3.5hrs on a winding road cutting through the scenic middle hills of Kathmandu towards the Himalayan region of Langtang. Take a stroll to the Nuwakot Bazaar – a centre-piece of the Nepalese story, embellished by the rich history behind the 16th century fortress and Royal palace; of the shaping of far-flung tribes and of trans-Himalayan races into a unified kingdom.

Another scenic drive takes you to Pokhara, a popular lakeside tourist hub with an array of cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops, a perfect place to relax and take in the beautiful surrounding. Enjoy free time to explore the area. Phewa Lake offers the chance of serene boat trips, whilst a climb up to the nearby World Peace Pagoda will test the limbs and lungs.

This morning you will be soaring on a tandem paraglide on a 30-minute flight close to the Himalayan summits of Pokhara. Paragliding has been practiced in Nepal since 1995 with world experts. A full day that can be as active or inactive as one likes. Optional day hikes to view the nearby Annapurna range can be organised as well as a chance to paraglide from the heights of nearby Sarangkot, or simply stroll along the lakeside and observe this easy-going leisurely town.

The sudden change in landscape is remarkable as the middle hills gives way to flat lowlands and warmer climes of ‘Terai’ leading to the edges of Chitwan National Park. The Park is regarded as one of the finest national parks in Asia with a multitude of wildlife such as rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birdlife; even the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. Over the span of our stay there, we take a tour to a tribal village, float down the Rapti river in a dug-out canoe with opportunities to view ‘mugger’ crocodiles and unique long-nosed ‘gharial’ crocodiles, go on a jeep safari and on birdwatching walks.

Rising early to avoid the mid-day heat, embark on a jungle safari across Chitwan National Park. Explore the park by elephant-back, venturing deep into sub-tropical Sal forest and across muddy lagoons where the Indian One Horned Rhino wallows. Traipsing through rippling grassland which grows up to 20 feet in places, get up close to hyenas, buffalo, deer and wild elephants, always keeping one eye peeled for the majestic Bengal tiger creeping through the overgrowth like a shadow.

In the afternoon, relax around the lodge, or explore more of the park by 4 wheel drive and canoe. You can glide down river on a traditional dugout canoe carved from half a tree trunk, passing metres from Gharial and mugger crocodiles looming silently just beneath the murky surface. Freshwater dolphins, otters and a large selection of water birds are also common sightings.

Transfer to the regional airport for a short flight back to the capital (20mins approx). The High Himalayas are just outside the port windows of our small aircraft. On arrival, we’ll whisk you away from the chaotic and modern self of Kathmandu uptown to the medieval town of Bhaktapur – to the magnificently preserved old self of Kathmandu valley – it’s old world charm, centuries old marvel of craftsmanship evident in temples and squares, and its people fiercely devotional to its ancestral ways of life and faith. A truly spellbinding transformation. Afternoon walking tour of the town.