Celestial Nepal

Celestial Nepal

Live the high life on top of the world with this eight-day round-trip through central Nepal. Admire some of the most dramatic landscapes in the planet, cruise on scenic lakes, enjoy an unforgettable elephant safari and contemplate peaks that rise more than 8,000 metres above the earth to kiss the heavens. Visit, too, some of the most spiritual locations in the country and wander through historic royal districts.

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL KATHMANDU

Pass By: Tribhuvan International Airport, Ring Rd, काठमाडौँ 44600, Nepal
After landing at Tribhuwan International Airport, there’ll be a meet and greet with a representative before transferring you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Once you are settled in, it’s time for your Nepalese adventure to begin in earnest. In the afternoon, enjoy an informative and relaxing walking tour from Thamel to Durbar Square, the historic heart of the city. This is a great way to settle into the country and get a feel of the atmosphere. Admire famous attractions such as Kumari Bahal, a building richly decorated with beautiful woodcarvings, home to the Royal Kumari, a child who is a ‘living goddess’ and a manifestation of the deity Durga. Nearby is Hanuman Dhoka, the former royal palace, whose Nassal Chowk courtyard was the coronation site of the Shah kings and contains some splendid wood carvings. The 14th-century Jagannath Mandir is the oldest temple in the area, its steps carved with inscriptions in various languages. Close by, Taleju Mandir is one of the largest and finest temples in the Kathmandu valley, dedicated to the patron deity of the former royal family, the wrathful Taleju Bhawani. In the evening, visit Utsav, a local restaurant, where you can savour dal bhat, the rice and lentil dish that is Nepal’s national dish, and also enjoy a programme of live cultural performances.

Overnight in Kathmandu. Dinner included.

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Grand Hotel or similar 3*

Day 2: KATHMANDU – PATAN – KATHMANDU (10km – 30 mins)

Pass By: Grand Hotel Kathmandu, Red Cross Sadak, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a spiritual start to the day with a sightseeing tour taking in the Hindu Pashupatinath temple and the Bouddhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. Located on the banks of the holy River Bagmati, Pashupatinath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple every year during Shivaratri, the birthday of the Lord Shiva. There are many eye-catching elements, but with the throngs of faithful and pilgrims around you the din of hustle and bustle becomes an attraction in itself. Entrance to the main temple is limited to Hindus only. Behold the beautiful Buddhist Bouddhanath stupa, which traces its origins to King Mana Dev in the fifth century. This UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site is one of the world’s leading centres of Tibetan Buddhism. Lunch is in a restaurant in the Bouddhanath. Then explore Durbar Square in Patan, a historical city south of central Kathmandu. This traditionally Buddhist bastion is a veritable Oriental treasure trove where Buddhism and Hinduism meet. Durbar Square is considered one of the finest urban streetscapes in the world, the centrepiece being the palace of the Malla monarchs, who ruled Nepal for six centuries. Wander this stunning complex, which boasts a series of beautiful courtyards with ornamented windows and colonnaded arcades, temples and shrines, all noted for their exquisite carvings. Contemplate the square’s Krishna temple and Rudra Varna Mahavihar Buddhist monastery before returning to the hotel in Kathmandu for dinner.

Overnight in Kathmandu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Grand Hotel or similar 3*

Day 3: KATHMANDU – CHITWAN (170km – 5-6 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Royal Safari, Malpur Road, Ratnanagar 44220, Nepal
Depart Kathmandu after breakfast at the hotel, transferring to Chitwan, passing through beautiful villages and breath-taking landscapes of verdant valleys framed by majestic mountains and by the wild white waters of the River Trishuli. Arrive at the Royal Safari Resort, located on the edge of the Chitwan National Park and by the banks of the East Rapti River. Enjoy a refreshment while the check-in process takes place and then a briefing before lunch in the resort. In the afternoon (time permitting) a naturalist will come to outline the programme of the coming days, which features a jungle walk, an elephant safari and canoeing. Then it’s time to explore the jungle and try to spot some of the stunning wildlife that freely roams the land here before returning to the resort for dinner.

Overnight in Chitwan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Wildlife Camp or similar 3*

Day 4: CHITWAN

Pass By: Hotel Royal Safari, Malpur Road, Ratnanagar 44220, Nepal
Wake up to breakfast at the resort and then head out to discover the wild side of Nepal with an elephant safari in Chitwan National Park. Explore the jungle on the back of an elephant, enjoying a truly special natural environment in unison with one of these gentle giants. Immerse yourself in a lost world of towering trees and twisting vines, of pre-historic rhinos and lumbering elephants, of crocodiles, pythons and deer, of brilliantly coloured birds and, with a bit of luck, the majestic royal Bengal tiger. Return to the resort for lunch with more jungle activities in the afternoon.

Overnight in Chitwan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Wildlife Camp or similar 3*

Day 5: CHITWAN – POKHARA (160km – 4.5 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Utsab Himalaya, New Pokhara Lodge Rd, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Head north to Pokhara, located on the foothills of the Himalayas, passing through lush landscapes in the shadow of magnificent mountain ranges on the way there. Once you arrive at the Utsab Himalaya Hotel, which is adjacent to a park on the banks of Lake Phewa, you will check in and have lunch before spending the remainder of the afternoon and evening free for you to either relax at the hotel or maybe explore the area around it.

Overnight in Pokhara. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Hotel Utsab Himalaya or similar 3*

Day 6: POKHARA

Pass By: Hotel Utsab Himalaya, New Pokhara Lodge Rd, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
Start the day on a high in every sense of the word by witnessing the sunrise from Sarangkot, a 1,600-metre-high mountain on the northern shore of Lake Phewa (weather permitting). Watch as the eight snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna range are bathed in a kaleidoscope of golden-hued shades – a truly awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. Tea/coffee is served at a local café in Sarangkot. Pass through the beautiful Schima-Catonopsis forest on the way to the lookout, from where you can also enjoy views over the lake and its tributaries. Return through the forest, now bathed in natural light bursting through the branches, for breakfast at the hotel. Once replenished, enjoy a tour of Pokhara city and a boat ride on Lake Phewa to the Taal Barahi temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Durga. See the city’s top attractions, such as the Bindhyabasini temple, dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathi. Return to the hotel for lunch. Spend the afternoon learning all about the summits in whose shadow Pokhara lies at the International Mountain Museum. Here you can find collections dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Himalayas as well as exhibits documenting mountain cultures and their ways of life, the local environment and mountaineering history. Cap off the visit at the viewing platform from where you can contemplate the three 8,000-metre-plus peaks of the Annapurna range.

Overnight in Pokhara. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Hotel Utsab Himalaya or similar 3*

Day 7: POKHARA – KATHMANDU (210km – 6 hrs)

Pass By: Grand Hotel Kathmandu, Red Cross Sadak, Kathmandu 44614, Nepal
Take to the road after breakfast at the hotel for the scenic drive to Kathmandu, passing through the bucolic Nepalese countryside and parallel to stretches of the white waters of the rivers Trishuli and Marshyangdi. Break en route in Kurintar for lunch at Riverside Spring Resort, which is located on a bend in the River Trishuli. While resting at the resort, you can opt for joining an optional visit to the Manakamana Temple by cable car. The 2.7km-long journey climbs just over 1,000 metres and takes about 10 minutes from the bottom station to the top. The pagoda-style temple dates from the 17th century and, from the north face, you can take in some spellbinding views of the Manaslu, Himachali and Annapurna ranges. Continue to Kathmandu and upon arrival transfer to your accommodation for check in at the hotel.

Overnight in Kathmandu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Standard Hotel Category = Grand Hotel or similar 3*

Day 8: DEPARTURE KATHMANDU

Pass By: Tribhuvan International Airport, Ring Rd, काठमाडौँ 44600, Nepal
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to connect with your outward flight.

Breakfast included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.