~ ~ Temples, Tigers & Towering Mountains ~ ~

A tour that takes you from the high culture of the Kathmandu valley to the lake valley of Pokhara and then to comfortable camps and lodges in the jungles of Nepal.

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu. We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Balance of day free to orient yourself at leisure.
• Day 2: Morning sightseeing of Kathmandu city and Swayambunath. You will visit the ancient Palace Square of Kathmandu where miracles in brick, stone, wood and metal are fashioned into palaces and temples and images that vie for attention.
• Our guides make history come alive. If we are lucky you will catch a glimpse of the living Goddess of Kathmandu (Kumari) who must allow the King of Nepal to rule. On to Swayambunath stupa on its verdant hill. Buddhism's oldest monuments. The views are as spectacular as the feeling of peace that prevails. The murmur of monks soothes even as incense and monuments delight our senses.
• Afternoon - Sightseeing to Patan and the Tibetan Refugee Handicraft Center. The Tibetans of old called Patan, the oldest city in the valley, Ye Rang or Eternity itself. A palace square agog with temples to the Gods of Love, Reincarnation and Regal protection, dwarfed by the ancient palace and its beautiful squares. Legends unfold and the intrigues of yesteryear come alive.
• The Tibetan Refugee Handicraft Center is a paean to the resilience of an exiled people. Here we see wonders in carpets of intricate design com to life.
• Day 3 & 4: We fly to Pokhara past a sweep of snow covered mountains and land in the rustic valley of Pokhara where lakes fed by glaciers reflect the eternal Himalayas dominated by the sacred Macchapuchare peak. Boat rides, walks by the lake with its myriad shops and restaurants, a trip to Sarankot to see dawn change the color of eternal mountains are just some of the things we do.
• Day 5 & 6: We drive to the jungles of Nepal and stay in comfort in lodges and tented camps. We go on elephant safari to seek out animals that range from the almost extinct one horned rhino to the rare Royal Bengal Tiger. Nature walks, slide shows and lectures make the stay seem too short.
• Day 7: Fly back to Kathmandu and have the rest of the day free.
• Day 8: Sightseeing Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath and Baudhanath. A tour that sweeps you through Bhaktapur a preserved medieval town, lived in and welcoming, built around three fabulous squares that are the envy of Florence. From Bhaktapur, we go to Nepal's Hindu Holy of Holies, Pashupatinath a place of special pilgrimage.
• ...and on to Baudhanath stupa -- a Buddhist monument, whose romantic beginnings are rivaled by the sense of peace it gives. A chant of monks and monasteries make a wondrous place truly fascination.
• Day 9: Free until departure. Airport assistance and transportation are included.

Program Summary:

• 9 Days: 5 Days/4 Nights Kathmandu at Everest Hotel or similar: 2 Nights Pokhara at the Shangri La Village; 2 Nights at Gaida Wildlife Camp at Chitwan National Park. Breakfast is included in Kathmandu and Pokhara with all meals included at Gaida Wildlife Camp. This program includes accommodations as listed above, land transportation, domestic flights, and sightseeing with the service of a professional English-speaking guide.

Land Costs:

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