09 Days Classical Nepal Tour09 Days Classical Nepal Tour

Classical Nepal Tour

  • Duration9 Days
  • Route Grade Comfort Travel
  • Trip Style Classical Tour
  • Starting City Kathmandu
  • Ending City Kathmandu
Price fromUS$875US$975
Group Price
  
2 - 4 paxUS$875
5 - 10 paxUS$825
11 - 16 paxUS$790
1 paxUS$1075
Classical Nepal Tour map

Kathmandu Valley

  • Five UNESCO sites sightseeing in Kathmandu

 

Pokhara Valley

  • Views of the Annapurna Himalayan Range
  • Phewa lake, Sarangkot Sunrise, World Peace Pagoda, Pumdikot Shiva Temple

 

Bandpur

  • Bandipur village walk & sunrise hike 

 

Chitwan

  • Jeep safari to deep jungle, canoeing, cultural shows

 

Transfers

  • Private van & one domestic flight to shorten the road drive

Kathmandu, Chitwan, Bandipur, and Pokhara are the most beautiful places and classical destinations inside Nepal. These are the main cultural and natural sightseeing destinations. A 9-day deluxe journey is perfect and good enough to explore and experience the classical destinations of the country. 9-Day Classical Nepal Tours include activities of a regular nature, such as guided walks, short hikes, and private transfers as scheduled. Among the main destinations, Bandipur and Sarangkot are view points with great views of the sunrise and the Himalayas. Similarly, Kathmandu Valley houses seven UNESCO sites, and all of them are on your list. Pokhara Valley, although lower in altitude than Kathmandu Valley, is closer to the Himalayas. It offers great natural scenery and opportunities to do some short hikes. In the same way, Chitwan National Park is the home for rare animals and species like Royal Bengal Tigers, one-horned Rhinos, crocodiles, including rare gharials, and many other animals in the jungle.

The Kathmandu, Chitwan, Bandipur, and Pokhara nine-day tour involves a scenic drive through mountains and valleys. You will also enjoy two hours of whitewater rafting on the way from Kathmandu to Chitwan on the world-famous Trishuli River! While you will enjoy the scenic drive through Kathmandu, Chitwan, Bandipur, and Pokhara, From Pokhara, you will fly back to Kathmandu, a short 25-minute flight that saves a great deal of time and, most importantly, saves you from being tired. Sightseeing spots in Kathmandu and Pokhara Valley are within 5–15 kilometers, which normally takes 15–45 minutes from point to point. It is truly an exploratory, relaxing, inclusive, and insightful trip.

Trip Hotels
  • Hotel Mulberry

    Hotel Mulberry

    Location: KathmanduFirst Class 4 Star Hotel
  • Aloft Kathmandu Hotel

    Aloft Kathmandu Hotel

    Location: Kathmandu5* Hotel
  • Hotel Batika

    Hotel Batika

    Location: Pokhara3+ star hotel
  • Hotel Green Park

    Hotel Green Park

    Location: Chitwan4* hotel
  • Soaltee Westwood

    Soaltee Westwood

    Location: Chitwan4* level resort
  • Old Inn

    Old Inn

    Location: Bandipurboutique hotel
Cost Includes

Flights & Transfers

  • Individual airport airport transfers by private van
  • Pokhara to Kathmandu flight
  • Private Van/Bus transfers throughout the trip

Guides & Entry Permits

  • One Tour Leader for the group
  • Heritage sites, national park & view points Entrance tickets

Accommodations & Meals

  • 8 nights 4+ sar hotel accommodations
  • 8 breakfasts, 2 lunch & 3 dinner
Itinerary

Arrive in Kathmandu. It will take about 30min time to clear the immigration. Upon arrival, we meet you at the airport and transfer to hotel at Thamel - 30min drive. Check in at the hotel and free and easy rest time. For Coffee/Lunch hotel restaurant or many other restaurant are available nearby. Walk and explore the tourist town of Thamel on the first day of arrival.

At 5pm, we will hold an introductory event at the hotel! Introduction to the guide & guests. Probably we can also help you with exchanging, any other first day experiences and walking around.  Enjoy the night life at Thamel. Overnight at hotel in Thamel. 

    Morning breakfast at the hotel & at 9am drive to Pashupatinath temple - 30min drive. Visit Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath temple is a Hindu shrine and most visited temple in the country. It is a Lord Shiva (Shiva literally means that god which is not: formless) temple. Shiva is also the greatest guru for all the yogis (who traditionally believe in yoga and meditation and live an ascetic life). So we see a lot of colorful Yogis here. At the Bagmati River bank we also get to see the Hindu death rituals. Everyday and every moment, many dead bodies are being burnt in the open air. Tourists basically see them across the holy river (just small steam). Pashupatinath temple is the earliest human settlement in Kathmandu Valley. Pashupatinath literally means lord (Pati/Nath) of all the living beings (Pashu). Yogis normally explain it as the consciousness which guides us every moment and prevailing in all the beings. Some interesting activities will include taking photographs with yogis, observing death rituals (before burns there are some rituals family members do), walk through deer park and temple park on the other side hill and observe the main two storied Pashupatinath temple from view point across the river. We enter from the Southern side and walk through the temple complex and end the tour at the northern gate where our car will pick up. And from here, we drive to Bouddhanath Stupa, 10min drive. 

    Here we come to the number one tourist attraction in Kathmandu!! Bouddhanath Stupa is the biggest and tallest Buddhist stupa in South Asia. And the best way to observe the magnificent stupa is a coffee break at one of the rooftop restaurants in the temple complex (it's about noon or 1pm and  I suppose it's already a break time as we started at 830am in the morning). The Stupa is surrounded by human settlement with tourist shops and restaurants and rooftop restaurants offer great views of the stupa. After the coffee break, circumambulate the stupa clockwise walking and probably spinning the prayer wheels. We will also visit some of the Tibetan monasteries in the temple complex and observe their everyday rituals or stay in meditation for some minutes in silence. One of the rooftop restaurant at Bouddhanath Stupa could be your lunch stop for today. From Bouddhanath temple drive to Swayambhunath - the. Monkey temple - 30min drive. 

    Visit Swayambhunath - the Monkey temple. As we arrive at the bottom of the temple (Bhagwan Pau = feet of the God), It will be a great experience to walk to the top of the temple hill, as it also offers great views of the Kathmandu Valley on a clear day. And normally Kathmandu is. very clear in winter as Kathmandu is located at 1350 meters altitude. Monkey temple is a Buddha temple, some 20min drive away from the hotel and about 10min walk to the top. It is an ancient Buddha period temple in north-western Kathmandu. We will pay a visit to the main Stupa and other temples in the temple complexes. Four of many stupas are dated from the ancient period. Alongside, also enjoy the panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley and Himalayas in the northern side. The tour will be about 1and half hour to explore the temples and visiting monasteries (where children monks live and study). After the Monkey temple tour, drive back to Kathmandu Durbar Square - 15min drive.

    Kathmandu Durbar Square is the medieval Palace square and home to dozens of temples including living goddess Kumari Temple, an Old Nepali style Palace and a classical palace. It has been the main center of cultural and financial activities in Nepal since ancient times. At Kathmandu Durbar Square also called Basantapur Durbar Square we will visit Kasthamandap Temple (temple of wood and recently restored after 2015 earthquake), Maru Ganesh, Kumari Temple, Shiva and Vishnu temple (under renovation after earthquake), Classical Palace, Kalbhairav Statue and Akash Vairab Statue, Hanuman Dhaka Palace courtyards (main palace with Newari wooden architectures), Taleju Temple (distant sight since it very sacred temple and open only one day in a year), a small museum portraying earthquake devastations and other temples. Kathmandu Durbar Square also offers great Coffee places. It will be about 2-3 hours of walking around the Palace square. 

    From Kathmandu Durbar Square, a new tour experience will start - that is a rickshaw tour to the oldest part of town in Kathmandu from the Hotel through the oldest markets of Ason and IndraChowk. The iconic rickshaw tour (the main means of transport for tourists around Kathmandu Durbar Square and Thamel since the 1960s) will take about 30min and will go through the old market. Ason and Indrachowk are the places where Nepalis find everything they need from Noon to Soon (literally salt to gold).

      Morning Breakfast at Hotel and at 730am, drive to Chitwan - 5hrs drive - with stops for tea/coffee and photographs. On the way we will stop to experience a traditional Nepalese suspension bridge. 

      The group will also enjoy  a 2hrs white water rafting in Trishuli river. It is exactly on our way to Chitwan. Trishuli river Rafting clothes : t-shirts, half pants & slippers.

      Further drive to Chitwan - check in at the hotel & enjoy your lunch. Late afternoon, Tharu village walks around the river bank with sunset views. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

        Morning Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast, Elephant Safari or take a Jeep drive to the National park. Chitwan national park is home mainly to Royal Bangel Tiger, One horned rhinos and elephants among hundreds of birds, reptiles, and animals. Winter is a great season to spot wild animals as they come out from the bushes for sunbathing. The Elephant safari or jeep drive is about 2-3 hours. Lunch at the hotel. After lunch in the late afternoon, canoeing at Rapti river & exploring elephant breeding centers. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel. 

          Morning breakfast - & drive to Bandipur - 100Km - 3hrs drive. Bandipur is a beautiful mountain village at 1030m altitude. The village offers great views of the Mt Manaslu and Annapurna Himalayan ranges. Check in at Hotel & rest a while. After lunch time - a guided walk through the village, Tundikhel - the playing ground, local monastery and local bazaar. Free and easy late afternoon. Overnight at Bandipur. 

            Early morning hiking excursion - 45min up & down - to Bandipur hill to see the sunrise and Himalayan views. The Bandipur hill top is some 30min uphill hike and 15min back to hotel after the sunrise! 

            Our next destination is Pokhara and it is only 80KM from Bandipur. At 10am, check out at Old Inn and drive to Pokhara with a short stop at Begnas lake (15min side trip from highway). Check in at Hotel Batika Pokhara. Coffee and relax at and around Hotel. 

            In the Afternoon at 3pm, A visit to International Mountain museum -15min drive. International Mountain museum in Pokhara is home to the information on human victory of mighty Himalayas. It is also insightful trip to know about the different 14 peaks over 8 thousand meters. Different cultural and ethnic information are also display. 

            After exploring the International Mountain Meseum - explore phewa lake and Tal Barahi temple on boat. After the lake and temple tour - the boat will drop us on the western - most point of the bazaar and now our walking tour of the bazaar begins here. A guided or free and easy walking exploration of the lakeside bazaar with hundreds of shops, restaurant, and other tourist attractions. Free and easy late afternoon and evening. Overnight in Pokhara.

              Early morning Sarangkot excursions - 30min drive - to see the sunrise and views of the Annapurna Himalayan ranges. Sarangkot offers an amazing views of the long Himalayan ranges from Manaslu in the east to Mt Dhaulagiri in the west. Given the nearby location of Sarangkot from main city - it is one of the best location to see Himalayas and sunrise in Nepal.

              Back from Sarangkot after sunrise - 30min drive - relaxing breakfast time at the Hotel. At 930am - take a boat across Phewa lake & hike to Peace Stupa and further to Pumdikot Shiva temple - a total of 2-3 hrs hiking. Optionally you can also drive to these attractions avoiding hiking. The hiking route offers great views of Pokhara valley and the Himalayas across the valley! The hike across Phewa lake is great experience specially with less efforts and majestic views. On the top of the hill, visit Peace Stupa - a white tall temple built by a Japanese monk in late 20th century. The temple complex offers great views of the the Annapurna ranges. Advance further to Pumdikot shiva temple hill - 1 hrs hike from Stupa. Enjoy being at the serene world famous Peace Stupa and newly built Shiva temple on Pudmikot hill top. 

              After the Hike and enjoying the temples - drive down to Tibetan camp village in city. Explore and observe the lives of Tibetan people living in refugees camps, visit Gupteshwar temple & also visit Devi’s falls. These three sights are located next to each other. After the sightseeing - drive back to the Hotel. Free and easy late afternoon and evening. Overnight at same Hotel.

                Breakfast, free and easy morning in Pokhara. Check out at mid morning and drive to airport - 20min drive. Fly back to Kathmandu - 25min flight. Upon arrival in Kathmandu airport- transfer to Bhaktapur Durbar Square - 30min drive. Check in at Hotel & explore Bhaktapur. 

                Bhaktapur literally means the city of devitees (Bhaktas) and the people of Bhaktapur until now have fully lived to their traditions. This is also the place which celebrates most festivals over the years. The main attractions for tourists  to explore in Bhaktapur are the traditional Newari lifestyles, Newari architectural buildings including dozens of temples and houses, pottery works, and walking through narrow alleys. We will walk and explore through Golden Gate, 55 window main Palace, Taleju temple, medieval water tap, Shiva temples, the famous Nyatopola (5 storied) Temple, Pottery square and Duttatraya Square among dozens of other small temples. Beside visiting temples, small coffee time on one of the rooftop restaurants which will offer a great view of the whole city area, is great fun. 

                After a guided walk through Square - drive to Kathmandu - 45min drive. Overnight at Kathmandu.

                  Breakfast & drive to the airport 3 hrs before your flight time. Guests will have individual airport transfers depending on their flight time. 

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