Example Itinerary
Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. VIP arrival service at Kathmandu airport is included. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
This 9-day action-packed itinerary covers all of Nepal’s most iconic sites and some lesser-known areas, providing a comprehensive overview of the country from UNESCO World Heritage cities to remote countryside and the spectacular Himalayas. Visiting busy Kathmandu, adventure-centric Pokhara, lush Kathmandu valley, and the national parkland of Chitwan, this is the perfect itinerary for travelers looking for equal doses of outdoor thrills and cultural enrichment.
This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.
Begin your journey in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Upon arrival, you will be met off the plane and escorted through the airport. A private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel to check in and freshen up. Spend the afternoon strolling around Durbar Square in the old city, which acts as a historic record of four kingdoms, sporting architecture from each reign. Here you’ll see the Kumari Living Goddess Palace - the residence of the Royal Kumari, a young girl believed to be the incarnation of the goddess Taleju. You’ll also visit Swayambhunath Stupa, the Monkey Temple, a complex of temples of different faiths dating back to the 5th century. After summiting 365 steep steps, explore the complex while also keeping an eye on the rascal monkeys that call the temple home.
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Climbing Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, is an arduous and difficult journey that takes months, and even longer to prepare for. Yet if stepping foot on Everest is on your bucketlist, you will definitely want to opt for a helicopter that will take you to Everest Base Camp. Replete with stunning views of the mountains as you fly over the range, touchdown at Everest Base Camp, and a mountaintop champagne breakfast, this is truly an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. The rest of today is dedicated to Kathmandu's prominent holy sites, Boudhanath Stupa and Pashumatinath Temple, both UNESCO World Heritate Sites. At Pashumatinath temple, make your way to the ghats that line the river. Local Hindus cremate their dead at these burning ghats and the ashes are carried away by the water. From an observation area, you may observe the ceremony rituals. Around the temple, you will also see the Sadhus, colorfully decorated holy men who subsist on alms.
Today head south to the grassy lowlands of Chitwan National Park, a 5-6 hour drive away or quick 20-minute flight and less than an hour's drive. A UNESCO-designed site, Chitwan National Park is popular as the home of the rare and endangered one-horned rhino and the royal Bengal tiger. Asiatic elephants also roam the plains in herds while gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles bask along the riverbanks. This afternoon, head out with your resort's expert naturalist in an open 4x4 vehicle on a wildlife safari through the dense jungles. Stop by the breeding center for Gharial crocodiles and learn more about this unusual looking and highly-endangered creature.
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Explore more of Chitwan National Park today, with a nature hike along the riverbank, spotting native birds and taking in the unspoilt beauty of the surrounding forest. Expert trackers and naturalists will acquiant you with the grassland and the many smaller creatures that often elude the eye. You’ll also have the chance to go fishing and canoeing in the floodplains where you may see storks, kingfishers, otters, and even fishing cat. Besides wildlife, visit a village and meet the Tharu, formerly isolated local folk who inhabit the HImalayan foothills and live in the forest.
Fly onward to Pokhara, a laid-back charming city built around Phewa Lake and gateway to the Annapurna Circuit. Upon arrival, head to Phewa Lake for a scenic cruise. The farside remains densley forested and alive with birdlife. Enjoy views of snow-capped Machapuchare Peak in the distance and bright blue skies reflected in the lake's surface. Then visit Devi's Fall and Mahendra cave a scenic point awash in mystery and mixed origin stories.
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Pokhara's stunning landscape has much to offer to thrill-seekers. Adventurers will want to opt for the ultimate paragliding experience from Sarangkot hilltop at sunrise. Flying tandem with a trained instructor at the helm, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Annapurna mountain range and Phewa Lake before touching down in Pame. Alternatively, try a similar experience by Ultralight flight, a very intimate 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. If you’re up for more thrills, you have the option of going on an exhilarating white-water rafting trip downriver. Those who prefer to stay on the ground can enjoy the rugged Himalayan terrain and mountain air on a nature walk with a stop at the International Mountain Museum. Dedicated to mountains and all things mountaineering, it has a wing dedicated to Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, as well as an exhibition about the legend of the Yeti. Another interesting museum in the area is the Gurkha Memorial museum. Each year thousands of aspiring young men try out for the Gurkhas in Pokhara though only a few hundred are chosen.
It's back to Kathmandu today where you will trade the city for the countryside of Kathmandu valley. As you make your way to the hotel, stop to visit the ancient city of Bhakpatur. Wander around its Durbar Square and admire the remarkable medival arhictecture, exquisite woodcarvings and metal craft. Centuries old festivals are still celebrated in the square, keeping the old city vibrant while preserving traditional customs. A large number of women in Bhaktapur can be seen wearing their traditional Newari attire in black and red. Check in to Dwarika's Dhulikhel for the evening. This charming boutique resort is family-run and offers guests views overlooking the vast Himalayan range.
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Relish the fresh mountain air as you go on an easy morning bike ride around the valley. Travel down quiet dirt routes and around lush green mountains, stopping at scenic points, goempas, and traditional villages. Visit the quiet Dhulikhel town, small and easily explore on foot. This town has long been an important trading center along the commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet. Have a local lunch in town while enjoying views of the snowcapped mountains in the distance, one of the finest panoramic views in the world. Spend this afternoon at leisure and take in the final moments of your Nepal journey in peace. Dwarika's Dhulikhel is well-situated for those seeking relaxation amongst the serene landscape and offers mindful and wellness activities such as salt-room bathing, chakra-alignment sessions, and yoga with a guru.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
In Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and beyond, the unique landscapes and cultures of the Himalayas are a paradise for travelers looking for peace — from the wildlife and mountains to the history and spirituality.
Nepal is a destination for both the adventurer and the culture lover, and Remote Lands is ready to plan your Nepal expedition.
Just east of Kathmandu is an accessible gateway to Nepal in the Middle Ages: Bhaktapur. with culture, architecture, and roaring markets, this underrated Nepal destination is as unique as it is accessible.
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