Culture and wildlife Tour of Kathmandu

Overview

Kathmandu’s culture and wildlife tour take you on a picturesque road trip through Nepal, stopping at Bandipur, Pokhara, Tansen, Lumbini, and Chitwan.

A driving excursion from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then Lumbini and Chitwan, provides many opportunities for close cultural interactions with breathtaking Himalayan vistas.

Explore Nepal by car, passing through gorgeous scenery, and enjoying the tranquil hill station towns of Bandipur, Tansen, and Nagarkot, all of which have magnificent views of the Himalayas. Bandipur and Tansen, like Hamlet, are time-forgotten settlements at the crossroads of trans-Himalayan commerce. Nagarkot is the only Himalayan viewpoint from which to view Mt. Everest in the eastern Himalayas.

While seeing Chitwan National Park, Pokhara, and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, you will travel reasonable distances each day with a diligent driver and a competent guide. There will be plenty of time for animal and cultural immersion excursions, nature walks, and trekking, as well as time to rest.

Highlights of the Tour

• • • Visit Pashupatinath – the holiest Hindu Temple.
    • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
    • Pokhara has a remarkable natural beauty.
    • Birthplace of Lord Buddha.
    • Jungle safari at Chitwan National Park.

Places visited: Kathmandu – Bandipur – Pokhara – Lumbini – Chitwan – Kathmandu

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

Arrive at Kathmandu airport our representative will meet and greet you there and he will transfer to you at the hotel. In the evening, you might like to go for a short walk in Kathmandu and the Thamel tourist center.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing

After breakfast, a guide will take you on a private vehicle tour of Kathmandu. Kathmandu Valley contains seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with Kathmandu City having four. You’ll see Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple, Bouddhanath, the biggest stupa, Swoyambhunath, the oldest stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square, the former Royal Residence.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 03: Kathmandu – Bandipur

Today, we leave Kathmandu valley early in the morning, and a view of undulating hills with a Himalayan backdrop opens out in front of us. The route then drops to the Trishuli river valley, which is famed for white water rafting.

Bandipur is a medieval trade village located on a ridge high above the Marshyangdi valley. Tourists may observe the everyday tasks of middle hill families on the cobblestone route surrounded by Newari-style store buildings. The greatest sunset view over Manaslu and Ganesh Himal are from the Tahni Mai hilltop, which is a short trek away.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 04: Bandipur – Pokhara

We walk 10 minutes to the edge, or Tundikhel, in the morning. The vista is breathtaking, with only the wide Marshayangdi valley separating you from the Himalayas. After spending a lovely morning in Bandipur, travel 80 kilometers (212 hours) to Pokhara.

The journey through the valleys is beautiful, with Annapurna and Machhapuchhare rising in the background. In the evening, visit the Phewa lakeside market and go boating. The greatest way to see the sunset over the Himalayas is by boat.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 05: Pokhara sightseeing

Pokhara is a mountain amphitheater with a wall of some of the highest snow peaks to the north. Even though Pokhara’s Lakeside includes sophisticated hotels and restaurants, the environs are still rural and adventurous. Pokhara sightseeing includes visits to many viewpoints and trekking. The International Mountain Museum displays a wealth of information on climbing history, Himalayan culture, geology, flora and wildlife, and the changing climate. The Tibetan refugee camp is a living history of China’s occupation of Tibet. In Pokhara, we will see the dawn at Sarangkot, as well as visit the International Mountain Museum, Devi’s Fall, the Tibetan Refugee Camp, and the World Peace Stupa.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 06: Pokhara – Lumbini

Today we are driving on the Siddhartha Highway. We drive across mountain passes with views of the Himalayas and cross many valleys tucked between lush hills with farming terraces and stone slate-roofed homes. Along the route, Palpa, Tansen is a popular hill station town. We travel down to the Terai’s southern lowlands from here.

Lumbini, Nepal

In the early seventh century BC, Lumbini was a garden between two kingdoms where Buddha was born. Lumbini is now split into three sections: the Sacred Garden (Mayadevi temple), the Monastic Zone, and the New Tourist Village. This is a UNESCO-designed significant archaeological site. A Lumbini trip is also the greatest method to learn about Terai culture and lifestyle.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 07: Lumbini

We will depart after breakfast for the remains of old Kapilavastu, Tilaurakot – the city of Shakyas, where Buddha spent 29 years before recitation. Buddha was received by his father at Kudan after attaining enlightenment. King Suddhodana (Buddha’s father) created the Kudan (Nigrodharma Park) specifically for the Buddha and his disciples.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 08 & 09: Jungle safari at Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

We’ll be traveling for around 4 hours today to get to Chitwan National Park. UNESCO has designated Chitwan National Park as a World Heritage Site due to its bio-diversity and the survival of certain endangered animal species. This is where the remaining Royal Bengal Tigers and Asian single-horned Rhinos may be found. Elephant back safari, jungle stroll, boat trip to observe crocodile and aquatic birds, bird watching, visit Elephant breeding facility, and other jungle activities are available.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 10: Chitwan – Kathmandu

We will return to Kathmandu after a wonderful morning meal with birds singing. We follow the Narayani River upstream to its confluence with several other rivers that drain the Himalayas. It’s fascinating to see lovely villages and farmland across unstable suspension bridges.

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 11: Kathmandu sightseeing

You will be accompanied by an expert guide on a cultural tour of Bhaktapur and Patan. Bhaktapur is a medieval town that has altered little throughout time. Locals continue to live in peace with hundreds of years old structures, making it a living museum. Patan, on the other hand, was a Vajrayana Buddhist center until the 16th century. There are hundreds of Newari monasteries, with the palace serving as the focal point of beautiful Newari workmanship. Patan is also known as ‘Lalitpur,’ which translates to ‘City of Fine Arts.’

Overnight you will stay at your hotel.

Day 12: Kathmandu – Onward destination by flight

This morning you will transfer to Kathmandu airport to board the flight back home.