Nepal World Heritage Tours – 10 Days – 10 Days

Your Nepal trip starts the moment you walk out of Tribhuvan International Airport. Our representatives will be there waiting with your name on a board – no confusion, no hassle. We get you to your hotel in Thamel, which is pretty much the heart of tourist Kathmandu. The streets are narrow, busy and full of little shops, restaurants and bakeries. If you are not too tired from the flight, take a short walk around the neighborhood in the evening. Try some momos from a local spot. Get to bed early though – there is a lot ahead.

The morning’s first destination is Kathmandu Durbar Square, located right in the heart of the old city. This is where the Malla kings once ruled and the square is packed with ancient palaces, courtyards and temples showcasing some of the finest Newari architecture in the valley. It is a great first stop to get a feel for Kathmandu’s history before the day gets busier.

After that we visit Pashupatinath Temple, located on banks of the Bagmati River by the riverside. One of the most significant and largest Hindu temples in all of Asia, it is a real experience – sadhus with painted faces, cremation ghats on the river and pilgrims everywhere. It can be overwhelming, but it is precisely what sparks the whole fascination.

From there, we make our way to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world. It is surrounded by monasteries, shops and rooftop cafes. Many visitors simply walk the stupa’s circumference for an hour, enjoy a coffee and watch monks and pilgrims circle the stupa in a clockwise path.

We conclude our day at Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, which sits high on a hill overlooking the city. Climb the steps to the top and you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Kathmandu spread out below you, especially as the sun begins to set.

Three sites today, each with its own character, so we get an early start. First up is Changu Narayan, tucked away on a hilltop outside the main city. It is the oldest Hindu temple in the whole Kathmandu Valley and honestly one of the most peaceful stops on this trip – barely any crowds, just centuries-old stone and wood carvings that you can actually stop and look at properly instead of being pushed along.

From there we make our way to Bhaktapur, which really is like stepping back in time. The old town is largely intact, the streets are narrow and cobbled with almost no cars. Stroll around pottery, where locals continue to produce clay pots the old fashioned way. Before you leave, have a cup of juju dhau – the celebrated Bhaktapur curd served in a clay pot. It is simple but really good.

After lunch, we head to Patan also called Lalitpur, known for some of the most intricate Newari architecture you will find anywhere in the valley. The Durbar Square here is the full of temples, old courtyards and stone carvings that have been standing for hundreds of years. If you want a bit more context on what you are looking at, the Patan Museum inside the old royal palace is worth the extra half hour – it is put together really well.

After breakfast we load up and head south toward Chitwan. The drive takes around 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic near Narayanghat. The road winds down through the hills and then flattens out into the Terai lowlands, the landscapes completely changes. You start seeing banana trees, paddy fields and bullock carts. We get you checked into your jungle lodge by early afternoon so there is time to rest and freshen up. In the evening, most lodges put on a Tharu cultural show after dinner – traditional music and stick dance from the local Tharu community. It is a nice, low key introduction to the region

Today is a full day in and around the park. We start early with a jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park. One horned rhinos are spotted on almost every safari here, they are surprisingly large up close. Wild elephants, spotted deer, crocodiles by the river and all kinds of birds are also common. If you are lucky you might spot a sloth bear or even a tiger, though that is never guaranteed. In the afternoon, a short nature walk around the buffer zone before heading back to the lodge. By the time dinner comes around, you will realize this was probably one of the best days of the trip.

Morning drive west to Lumbini around 3 to 4 hours through the flat Terai highway. The road is straight and easy. Lumbini has a very different energy compared to everywhere else on this trip, it is quiet, green and almost meditative. After checking in we recommend a slow evening walk through the garden complex as the crowds thin out later in the day. The air is clean, there are birds everywhere and the whole place just feels calm. Good night to sleep early.

A full day to explore the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. The main site is the Maya Devi Temple, built around the exact spot where he was born. There is an ancient stone marking the precise location inside and the atmosphere inside the temple is genuinely moving, even if you are not religious. Nearby is the Ashoka Pillar, erected by the Indian emperor Ashoka when he visited in 249 BC, still standing, still readable. The rest of the day is spent in the monastery zone, a large landscaped area divided into an east and west section where Buddhist communities from different countries have each built their own monastery. Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Sri Lankan, German, Cambodian – they all look completely different from each other and each one is worth a look inside. By the end of the day your feet will be tired but it is the kind of tired that feels earned.

Morning drive back to Kathmandu, around 7 to 8 hours depending on the route and traffic near Narayanghat. It is a long day on the road but the drive retraces the same Terai lowlands and hill roads from earlier in the trip, so there is decent scenery to break it up. We stop for lunch along the way at a good local spot. By evening you are back in the city, checked into your hotel with the rest of the night free to relax or enjoy a final dinner in Thamel.

Morning is free, if your flight is in the afternoon you have got time for a last walk through Thamel, pick up some souvenirs, pashminas, spices or thangka paintings if you have been eyeing any. We will make sure you get to the airport well ahead of your flight. Nepal has a way of getting under your skin, most people start thinking about coming back before they have even boarded the plane.

Morning is free, if your flight is in the afternoon you have got time for a last walk through Thamel, pick up some souvenirs, pashminas, spices or thangka paintings if you have been eyeing any. We will make sure you get to the airport well ahead of your flight. Nepal has a way of getting under your skin, most people start thinking about coming back before they have even boarded the plane.