Nepal Dashain Festival Tour 2026

Trip Overview

Dashain is the biggest and most celebrated festival in Nepal. It is celebrated for the victory of good over evil and bringing families together for blessings, reunions, and traditional celebrations.

This 9 day Nepal Festival Tour lets you experience Dashain with a welcoming Nepali family alongside visiting attractions. The journey takes you through Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, and Pokhara, combining authentic cultural traditions, alongside regular activities like wildlife adventures, and exploring scenic landscapes.

You will observe  & celebrate Fulpati, Maha Astami, and Maha Navami in Kathmandu, receive Dashain Tika with a Nepali family in Dhading, and enjoy jungle activities in Chitwan National Park. The trip further takes you the lake city Pokhara to relax by the lake and enjoy the Annapurna Himalayas making the trip a well balanced holiday.

Trip Detail

Itinerary Overview

This 9 day, 8 night holiday brings you into the heart of Nepal's biggest festival while covering three of the country's most popular destinations. You begin in Kathmandu, where you experience the final and most significant days of Dashain, including Fulpati, Maha Astami, and Maha Navami, with visits to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Dakshinkali Temple, and Bhaktapur along the way. On Vijaya Dashami, the tenth and most important day of the festival, you travel to Dhading to receive tika and blessings from a Nepali family before continuing to Chitwan for jungle activities in Chitwan National Park. The trip concludes with two nights in Pokhara, including a sunrise view from Sarangkot, before an evening flight back to Kathmandu for your onward departure.

Here is a quick look at how your 9 day tour unfolds.

• Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu during Dashain and enjoy a relaxed arrival day.

• Day 2: Celebrate Fulpati and explore Kathmandu Durbar Square and local festivities.

• Day 3: Celebrate Maha Astami with a visit to Dakshinkali Temple and experience traditional Dashain rituals.

• Day 4: Celebrate Maha Navami and explore the historic city of Bhaktapur.

• Day 5: Receive Dashain Tika with a Nepali family in Dhading before driving to Chitwan.

• Day 6: Enjoy a full day of jungle activities in Chitwan National Park.

• Day 7: Drive to Pokhara and spend the evening at Lakeside.

• Day 8: Watch the sunrise from Sarangkot, explore Pokhara, and take an evening flight to Kathmandu.

• Day 9: Transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport for your international departure.
   

Why You Will Love This Trip

• Celebrate Dashain Like a Local: This itinerary is timed around the most important days of Dashain, including Fulpati, Maha Astami, Maha Navami, and Dashain Tika, giving you a rare chance to witness Nepal's biggest festival with local communities rather than simply reading about it.

• Receive Tika with a Nepali Family: On Vijaya Dashami, you are welcomed into a Nepali family in Dhading to receive tika and jamara, the traditional blessing given by elders, an experience that goes far beyond typical festival sightseeing.

• Explore Kathmandu's Durbar Squares and Temples: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Dakshinkali Temple, and Bhaktapur each offer a different side of Dashain, from royal courtyards to animal sacrifice rituals to the festive atmosphere of a living medieval city.

• Jungle Adventure in Chitwan National Park: Your stay in Chitwan includes a canoe ride and jungle walk, a jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park, and visits to the elephant and crocodile breeding centres, offering an exciting change of pace after the cultural days in Kathmandu.

• Relax and Recharge in Pokhara: After an active festival and jungle experience, Pokhara's Lakeside and the sunrise views from Sarangkot give you a relaxed and scenic close to your trip.

• A Complete Introduction to Nepal: In just 9 days, you experience Nepal's biggest festival, its most famous national park, and one of its most beautiful lake cities, all within a single well paced itinerary.

Altitude & Activities

This is an easy cultural and nature based holiday with sightseeing, festival participation, and wildlife experiences. The itinerary includes temple and heritage visits in Kathmandu, a family tika ceremony in Dhading, jungle activities in Chitwan, and sightseeing in Pokhara, making it suitable for families and first time visitors to Nepal.

Accommodation and Meals

You will spend four nights in comfortable 4 star hotels in Kathmandu while experiencing the Dashain Festival, followed by two nights at Green Park Chitwan. The journey concludes with two nights in a comfortable 4 star hotel in Pokhara. Daily breakfast is included throughout the tour. During your Chitwan stay, all meals are included, and you will also enjoy a traditional Dashain Tika lunch with a Nepali family in Dhading.