Itinerary
- Day 1
Kathmandu
You'll land at Tribhuvan International Airport and meet your Asian Heritage Treks & Travel representative who'll drive you to your hotel in Thamel. The route takes you past Pashupatinath Temple, Narayanhiti Royal Palace Museum, and the Garden of Dreams. Once you're settled, there's time to wander the Thamel streets and get oriented to the neighborhood.
- Start point
- Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) त्रिभुवन विमानस्थल, त्रिभुवन विमानस्थल, Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal (Arrival)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stroll through the streets of Thamel
Landmarks Pashupatinath Temple Narayanhiti Royal Palace Museum Garden of Dreams Thamel 
- Day 2
Kathmandu
Your private guide starts you at Kathmandu Durbar Square where you'll see the ancient wood-carved temples, then you head to Swayambhunath for city views from above. Pashupatinath Temple comes next, a major Hindu pilgrimage site where you can watch cremation ceremonies along the Bagmati River. After that you'll walk through Guweyswori Temple and reach Boudhanath Stupa before heading back to the hotel to wind down.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with private vehicle and tour guide
- Visit Swayambhunath Temple (Monkey Temple) with panoramic views of Kathmandu
- Visit Pashupatinath Temple with observation of Hindu ritual body cremation ceremony on the Bagmati River
- Visit Guweyswori Temple
- Visit Boudhanath Stupa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Landmarks Kathmandu Durbar Square Swayambhunath Temple Pashupatinath Temple Bagmati River Guweyswori Temple Boudhanath Stupa 
- Day 3
Bhaktapur
This day covers two old cities. First, Patan where you'll check out Krishna Temple and Patan Durbar Square (both UNESCO sites), plus the Patan Museum for local history. You'll also see the Golden Temple and Banglamukhi Temple. Later you drive to Bhaktapur to walk through well-preserved old wood-carved buildings and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, then climb the Nyatapola Temple, one of Nepal's tallest pagoda structures. The return to Kathmandu happens by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Krishna Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Patan
- Visit Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Patan Museum
- Visit Golden Temple in Patan
- Visit Banglamukhi Temple in Patan
- Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur
Landmarks Krishna Temple Patan Durbar Square Patan Museum Golden Temple Banglamukhi Temple Bhaktapur Durbar Square Nyatapola Temple - Day 4
Kathmandu to Bandipur
You'll travel west about 150 kilometers from Kathmandu to Bandipur. Throughout the ride you get views of Nepal's greenery and the Trishuli River running alongside the road. When you arrive, a local guide shows you around this village before you rest at your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Bandipur village
Landmarks Trishuli River Bandipur - Day 5
Bandipur to Chitwan
After leaving Bandipur, you head southwest to Chitwan, about 45 to 50 kilometers away. The drive passes small shops and markets, and the forest gets denser as you get closer. You'll check in, rest a bit, then explore the local market and streets. Come evening, you're taken to a Tharu cultural program before heading back to sleep.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tharu cultural program show in the evening
Optional Activities
- Stroll around the local market and streets in Chitwan
Landmarks Chitwan 
- Day 6
Chitwan
The day starts with a jeep safari through the community forest where you might spot one-horned rhinos, wild boar, deer, and leopards. You'll cross the Rapti River into the main national park where Royal Bengal Tigers roam the highland areas and wild elephants move through. Back at the hotel for lunch, then you take a guided walk around Tharu village. In the afternoon there's canyoning on the Rapti River where you can see Marsh Mugger and Gharial crocodiles resting by the water before returning to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jungle safari by Jeep in community forest and national park area
- Guided tour around Tharu village
- Canyoning on the Rapti River with crocodile observation
Landmarks Chitwan National Park Rapti River Tharu Village - Day 7
Chitwan to Lumbini
After breakfast, the drive from Chitwan to Lumbini takes about 6 hours. Lumbini is Buddhism's most important pilgrimage site and where Buddha was born. You'll spend the afternoon exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting Mayadevi Temple at Buddha's exact birthplace and Ashoka's Pillar from 249 BC with Nepal's oldest inscription. You can wander through gardens and see Buddhist monasteries from China, Japan, Burma, Korea, France, Belgium, Myanmar, Germany, America, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, each with their own architecture. Rest comes at your hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mayadevi Temple at Buddha's birthplace
- View Ashoka's Pillar
- Explore Buddhist monasteries from various countries
Optional Activities
- Wander around gardens in Lumbini
Landmarks Mayadevi Temple Ashoka Pillar Lumbini 
- Day 8
Lumbini
Today you explore Lord Buddha's birthplace completely. The sacred garden has Ashoka Pillar, a small pond called Pushkarini, the Maya Devi Temple, meditation sites, and monks' residences. You'll walk through the monastery zone seeing many Buddhist temples and traditions before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit sacred garden including Ashoka Pillar, Pushkarini pond, and Maya Devi Temple
- Explore meditation sites and monks' residential monasteries
- Visit monasteries in the monastery zone
Landmarks Ashoka Pillar Pushkarini Pond Maya Devi Temple - Day 9
Lumbini to Pokhara
You travel northwest from Lumbini to Pokhara, approximately 210 kilometers. After checking into your hotel and resting, the afternoon is free to stroll the lakeside streets and along Phewa Lake, taking in the scenery and local atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stroll around the lakeside street of Pokhara
- Visit the bank of Phewa Lake
Landmarks Phewa Lake Pokhara 
- Day 10
Pokhara
The early drive to Sarangkot catches sunrise views of the city and Himalayan peaks like Annapurna, Fishtail, and Dhaulagiri. Next, you head to the World Peace Stupa on a hilltop about an hour away for panoramic mountain views. A 40 to 60 minute hike brings you down to Phewa Lake shore where you'll take a boat to the Barahi Temple in the middle. You'll also see Devi's Fall, Gupteswor Cave, and Seti Gorge before returning to relax at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sarangkot for sunrise views of Himalayas
- Visit World Peace Stupa with panoramic mountain views
- Hike from World Peace Stupa to Phewa Lake shore (40-60 minutes)
- Boat tour to Barahi Temple on Phewa Lake
- Visit Devi's Fall
- Visit Gupteswor Cave
- Visit Seti Gorge
Landmarks Sarangkot World Peace Stupa Phewa Lake Barahi Temple Devi's Fall Gupteswor Cave Seti Gorge 
- Day 11
Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast, the scenic drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara takes you through Nepal's landscape. You'll be transferred to your hotel to rest after arriving. Later in the evening, you can explore downtown Thamel on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stroll around the downtown area of Thamel
Landmarks Thamel - Day 12
Kathmandu
This is a free day in Kathmandu where you set the pace. Sleep in at your hotel if you like, or wander Thamel picking up souvenirs and getting to know the area better. Optional activities are available if you want to stay busy instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Everest Mountain flight by airplane (approximately 1 hour)
- Nepali food cooking workshop (approximately 3 hours)
- Pottery classes (approximately 30 minutes)
- Handicraft tour (approximately 6 hours)
- Stroll around the streets of Thamel
- Shop for souvenirs
Landmarks Thamel - Day 13
Kathmandu Departure
Your Nepal Highlights tour ends today. An Asian Heritage Treks & Travel representative picks you up by private van and takes you to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, arriving about 3 hours before your international flight. They'll help with any other travel arrangements you need.
- End point
- Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) त्रिभुवन विमानस्थल, त्रिभुवन विमानस्थल, Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal (Departure)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Tribhuvan International Airport
