7 Day Kathmandu & Pokhara Tour

Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, your local guide will greet you and escort you to your private car to transfer you to your downtown Kathmandu hotel. You will have the rest of the day to relax in your hotel or you can begin to explore the local area on your own. In the evening we will have a welcome dinner for the small group at a traditional Nepalese restaurant where we will also discuss the upcoming daily itinerary.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

Early this morning you will have the option of taking a scenic mountain flight to see some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, including Mount Everest. We would take you to the airport to board your sightseeing flight early in the morning, with the flight lasting around one hour. You would get an up-close look at some of the world’s highest peaks in the Himalayan mountain range as well as the many glaciers on the mountains. After your flight, we would take you back to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin exploring some of the most iconic sites of Kathmandu. First up is Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley, and the royal residence for Nepalese rulers until the 19th century. This was also the site for important ceremonies such as the coronation of Nepalese monarchs for centuries. One interesting feature at the south end of Kathmandu Durbar Square is the Kumari Chowk – a gilded cage that holds the Kumari, a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. This “living goddess” is worshipped during religions festivals and makes public appearances at other times when the appropriate fees are paid to her guards.

From Kathmandu Durbar Square, we will move on to Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple due to the swarms of monkeys that inhabit the area. The Buddhist stupa at Swayambhunath is at least 1,500 years old and may be as much as 2,000 years old. It has a gilded spire and huge white dome located under thousands of multicolored prayer flags, with the spire having four faces of the Buddha looking out in all 4 directions. This religious complex consists of the ancient stupa and a variety of shrines and temples that are revered by both Buddhists and Hindus.

After visiting Swayambhunath, we will travel to Pashupatinath Temple, a pagoda-style Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashuptinath is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, with its origins dating back to around 400 B.C.

After visiting Pashuptinath, we will travel on to Boudhanath, a massive Buddhist stupa that dates back to the 5th or 6th century A.D. The Boudhanath stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where thousands of pilgrims make a ritual circumnavigation of the massive dome. The stupa is surrounded by many monasteries and other supporting religious architecture.

From Pashuptinath we will take you back to your hotel for the night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

Afer a nice breakfast at your hotel we will drive on to Pokhara, the second largest city in Nepal that lies on the once vibrant trade route between India and Tibet. Even today, mule trains can be observed bringing goods from remote regions of the Himalayas. Pokhara has several beautiful lakes and offers fantastic panoramic views of three of the ten highest mountain peaks in the world. There are also numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples throughout the area, some of which are combined temples where devoted members of the different religions worship together in peace.

After our travel and a bit of time exploring the city, we will check into our local accommodations for the night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Pokhara

We will get a very early start this morning and take a 45-minute drive to Sarangkot, a beautiful village where we can witness a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayan mountain range of Annapurna. After we have taken in this magnificent sight, we will drive back to the hotel for breakfast and then explore the local area with stops at the International Mountain Museum, Davis Falls, Gupteswor Cave, the Tibetan Refugee Camp and finally a climb up to the World Peace Pagoda. After our visit to the pagoda, we will return to the hotel for the night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Pokhara

After breakfast at the the hotel we will drive back alongside the river through the beautiful hills and Nepalese scenery as we also see how the rural Nepalese live their lives. Once back in Kathmandu, we will check back into the hotel and you will have the rest of the day free.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

This morning we will take a short drive to Bhaktapur City, which is located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) east of Kathmandu. Founded in the 9th century, Bhaktapur has three major squares full of ancient religious and royal architecture, all overlooked by the Palace of 55 Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. The Nyatapola Temple, also built by King Bhupatindra Malla, consists of five levels each representing an earth element. On each terraace stands a pair of figures – two famous strongmen, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and two goddesses.

From Bhaktapur we will move on to Patan Durbar Square, which is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Kathmandu on the south side of the Bagmati River. Patan is one of three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley, and it was believed to have been established in the third century B.C. by the Kirat Dynasty, then expanded by Lichhavis in the 6th century A.D. and again by the Mallas during medieval times. Patan Durbar Square is a paradise of ancient fine arts with many wood and stone carvings, metal statues, ornate architecture, dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and more than 1,200 monuments. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s social and religious life. It also hosts a museum that is traces Patan’s fascinating history with many bronze statues and religious artifacts.

After our full day of sightseeing, we will have a farewell dinner with our small group, featuring a cultural dance by the local native people at a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

Accommodation: Overnight in Kathmandu

Today you will be free until it is time for us to take you to the Kathmandu airport about 3 hours before your departing flight. Please note that checkout time from your hotel is 12 p.m.

Accommodation: None