Discover Nepal
Experience Overview
With the Himalayan Mountain range running through its spine, mountainous Nepal is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Soak it up on our two-week adventure discovering the country's highlights. Visit peaceful lakeside towns, ancient religious sites and colourful Kathmandu and search for wildlife in the lowlands.
Kathmandu Valley - Visit the well-preserved medieval city of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nagarkot - Catch the sunrise over the Himalayas from this hill town with unbeatable views.
Chitwan National Park - Head out on a jungle walk and jeep safari in search of one-horned rhinos, sloth bears and leopards.
Highlights
See Nepal's fantastic Himalaya scenery, ancient Buddhist sites and peaceful lakeside towns|Chitwan NP jungle walk and jeep safari in search of one-horned rhinos, sloth bears and leopards|Explore Kathmandu's bazaars and temples and visit the well-preserved medieval city of Bhaktapur
Trip Details
Product Code: 20205
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Bus4WD
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Explore Worldwide
Supplier Code: DN
Starts: Nepal
Finishes: Nepal
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
- Explore Tour Leader
- Boat Crew
- Driver(s)
- Local Guide(s)
- Naturalist(s)
Accommodation
- Hotel Shanker
- The Fort Resort
- Riverside Springs Resort
- Hotel Sarowar
- The Old Inn Bandipur
- Tigerland Safari Resort
- The Lake Side Retreat
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,730 ($249 /day)
Itinerary
Our tour starts today in Kathmandu; the busy, colourful and chaotic capital city of Nepal. Centuries of history are evident in shrines, hidden temples and narrow backstreets, and the Himalayas provide a spectacular backdrop to this intoxicating city. Our hotel in Kathmandu is around a 45-minute drive from the airport. For those arriving on time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for a welcome meeting. After this, for those who wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. Should you miss the meeting, our tour leader will leave you information giving the meeting time for the next day in the hotel reception and will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Kathmandu at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might choose to walk into the centre of town which is around 15 minutes from the hotel. This evening you might like to have your first taste of Nepalese cuisine. The local dumplings are a good bet - called momos, they consist of a flour-based dough filled with meat or steamed vegetables. Also worth trying is dal bhat, a lentil-based soup usually served with rice and vegetable curry. Whatever you try, you'll find the cuisine varied, a mixture of influences from around the region, and a riot of colours and flavours.
This morning, we'll take a walking tour visiting the bazaar and the Durbar Square area, the centre of old Kathmandu. Much of the day-to-day life of Kathmandu takes place in the bazaar: a fascinating mixture of people selling fruit, vegetables and spices; potters spinning their wheels to produce small household bowls and containers for temple offerings; devotees visiting their favourite gods at temples and small shrines dotted along the sides of alleyways; rickshaw wallahs honking their horns and the ever-present sacred cow wandering amongst it all. In the afternoon we plan to visit the Temple of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal and also Boudhanath, the largest stupa in the country and a destination for Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal.
This morning, we'll visit the almost perfectly preserved city of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaun or City of the Devotees. Bhaktapur feels more like a huge medieval village with its potters' wheels and its many intricate stone and wooden carvings. We'll then continue to our lodge at Nagarkot on the Kathmandu Valley rim where sunset views back across the valley to Kathmandu are very impressive.
Nagarkot stands 35 kilometres/21.7 miles east of Kathmandu (at an altitude of 2,174 metres/7,132 feet) on a ridge between the Kathmandu Valley in the west and the Indrawati Valley in the east. We'll get up early to catch the sunrise from the roof of the lodge and after breakfast take a walk to a nearby hilltop along the ridge for spectacular views over the Himalayas. There are plenty of opportunities for short walks today, including visits to neighbouring farms growing crops of fruit, vegetables and grain, under the spectacular backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.
We'll set off this morning to drive out of the high Kathmandu Valley and descend to the foothills where we'll overnight at the much lower altitude of about 262 metres/859 feet. As we leave the valley (on clear days) we'll have views of the Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges of the Himalayas. En route, we'll have the option of a half-day whitewater rafting on the Trisuli River (Grade III-III+). No previous experience is required. This optional includes all permits, services of experienced river guides, helmet, life jacket and lunch. We recommend that you are confident swimming for at least 25 metres/82 feet unaided if participating in the rafting. As the rafting finishes at the beach just below our accommodation, those who don't want to raft are free to relax by the hotel pool.
Today, we'll make our way to the small hill bazaar of Gorkha (a 90-minute journey) where the surfaced road ends. The town, which gave the feared Gurkha soldiers their name, was also the place from which King Prithvi Narayan Shah set out to unify Nepal in the 18th century. It's well worth the climb up to the ridge where his old palace fort stands - the view over the surrounding Annapurna and Manaslu ranges is spectacular.
This morning, we have the option to visit the nearby Manakamana Temple (1,302 metres/4,271 feet), the sacred place of the Hindu Goddess Bhagwati, taking a cable car up to the temple. Local people call the goddess the wish-fulfilling deity and the temple is a popular pilgrimage site. Afterwards, we'll continue our journey to Pokhara, situated beside Lake Phewa Tal beneath the Annapurna range.
On our first morning in Pokhara, we'll take a walk through some small Gurung and Chettri settlements to the World Peace Pagoda, situated on a ridge above Pokhara. From here, there are spectacular views of the mountains making up the Annapurna range which are just 48 kilometres/30 miles away - from Dhaulagiri in the west to Annapurna II in the east. The rest of the day is free to explore the tranquil town of Pokhara, perhaps taking a boat trip on the lake, or simply sitting back and admiring the breathtaking beauty all around.
Today 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'll spend some time here watching wool being sorted, dyed and eventually made into Tibetan carpets which are exported all over the world and then visit the village's Buddhist monastery.
Leaving Pokhara today, we'll take a short drive to the hilltop town of Bandipur. After a short walking tour of the town and the bazaar, we'll have free time to continue exploring this traditional Nepali town. Bandipur is a small, quiet town that doesn't attract as many tourists as nearby Pokhara. There are several small temples to visit and stunning views back across the Himalayas.
Today we'll drive from Bandipur to Chitwan National Park. Once a private hunting ground, Chitwan is now a National Park, with thick tree cover and tall elephant grass sheltering a wealth of animals, most famously the one-horned Rhino. Throughout your stay, you'll be kept busy during the day (except for a couple of hours around lunchtime) with many activities available, including jeep safaris searching out the one-horned rhino, bird watching, jungle walks and drives and dugout canoe trips along the Rapti River. Canoeing will be dependent on the water level, floating silently down the river in a traditional dugout canoe allows us to spot many varieties of water birds. On a nature walk in the company of trained native naturalists, you can walk along trails in the less densely forested parts of the park. An early morning bird-watching walk near the river will reveal many of the 450 bird species that can be found in the park, especially the kingfisher. A trained naturalist will help you get the best enjoyment and interest from these excursions.
Today we'll continue our exploration of Chitwan National Park on foot, by canoe and with an afternoon jeep safari.
Today we'll set off for Kathmandu (approximately a seven to eight-hour drive). Please note, the road is currently part of a major infrastructure project which might cause some delays (and excess dust) along the way. We'll try to keep the journey as comfortable as possible.
Today is left free to explore Kathmandu. You might like to visit Swayambunath stupa, perched on a hilltop and also known as the 'monkey temple' because of its resident group of very inquisitive primates. Or perhaps Patan, the 'city of beauty', whose Durbar Square has the finest collection of temples and palaces in the entire country
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kathmandu. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Kathmandu at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).
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Tour Operator
Explore Worldwide
A prominent adventure travel company with over four decades of experience, this business that offers a comprehensive array of unique and thrilling experiences worldwide. Catering to various interests, they provide small group journeys, walking and cycling trips, solo holidays, and family adventures.
In Business Since 1981
Reviews
Ann - Traveled, May 2019
The guide, Su and the mountain scenery helped make the trip an unforgettable experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
Judith - Traveled, May 2019
I was particularly impressed by the cleanliness, amenities and general charm of the hotels.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
Mark - Traveled, May 2019
It would be good i think to have Patan included somehow as part of the main trip rather than an option.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
Paul - Traveled, February 2023
Chitwan guided walks, canoe and jeep with Mr Rana And our driver was excellent
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/05/2023
Catherine - Traveled, February 2023
Bandipur, Manakmana, (not the cable car, the destination), monkey temple, Pattan, Chitwan
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/08/2023
Monica - Traveled, March 2023
I chose these trip because it had all the things I wanted to do and all the places I wanted to see.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2023
Sandra - Traveled, March 2023
Rafting Cable car to the temple SetTing and rising sun over the mountains
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/09/2023
Sue - Traveled, November 2023
Seeing the Himalayas for the first time and the friendly Nepalese people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Linda - Traveled, November 2023
So many. Seeing the Himalayas. The one horned rhino. Pokhara. Walk to the World Peace Pagoda. Bandiur
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2023
Vivien - Traveled, November 2023
The whole trip was a highlight of new and wonderful things
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/20/2023
Michael - Traveled, November 2023
The Dunbar square, white water rafting, seeing the Mountains, Tibetan camp and so much more
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/20/2023
Evelyn - Traveled, November 2023
i loved every minute of the trip but for me highlights were - Seeing the Himalaya range for the 1st time at sunrise in Nagarkot hiking up to the World Peace Pagoda - it was just so peaceful. Spending time in the beautiful Bandipur Going on safari in Chitwan National Park and being lucky enough to get up close to a bathing Rhino while on our canoe trip then seeing an elephant up close while on the jeep safari.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2023
Tracey - Traveled, November 2023
Loved Patan, it shouldn’t be an optional extra. Chitwan was amazing, but I understand we were very lucky to get soooo close to a rhino.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/19/2023
Monica - Traveled, March 2023
I chose these trip because it had all the things I wanted to do and all the places I wanted to see.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2023
Catherine - Traveled, February 2023
Bandipur, Manakmana, (not the cable car, the destination), monkey temple, Pattan, Chitwan
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/08/2023
Paul - Traveled, February 2023
Chitwan guided walks, canoe and jeep with Mr Rana And our driver was excellent
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/05/2023
DanielNelson - Traveled, October 2019
Good pace with some free time Good mix of culture nature and Nepal life
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/04/2019
Michael - Traveled, May 2019
I shall definitely be using 'Explore' again, in my years of travel I have never been on a group tour with so many 'repeat' clients - one guy had been on over 40 Explore trips! Fantastic to have such local clients. Keep up with the great tours you offer.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
Linda - Traveled, May 2019
Patan should be included in itinerary price
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
Mary - Traveled, May 2019
An excellent first time introduction to Nepal!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2019
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