Nima Adventure Trek & Expedition P. Ltd.
Boudha-06, Kathmandu, Nepal
+977-9851114058 · info@nimaadventure.com
Boudha-06, Kathmandu, Nepal
+977-9851114058 · info@nimaadventure.com
A 10-day tour of Nepal's heritage, wildlife and pilgrimage sites: Kathmandu Valley monuments, a Chitwan jungle safari, the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini and lakeside Pokhara.
This 10-day Chitwan, Pokhara and Lumbini Tour brings together the very different worlds of lowland and hill Nepal in a single, comfortable journey. It combines the heritage of the Kathmandu Valley, a wildlife safari in Chitwan National Park, a day at Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, and time beside the lakes of Pokhara beneath the Annapurna range. It is a tour of culture, nature and pilgrimage rather than mountains, and it shows how much variety Nepal packs into a short distance.
The journey starts in Kathmandu with a full day of guided sightseeing at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa, three of the valley's World Heritage monuments. From there the road drops to the Terai, the subtropical plains along Nepal's southern border. Two nights at a resort beside Chitwan National Park give time for a jeep safari through sal forest and grassland, home to the one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles, deer and hundreds of bird species, as well as an introduction to the culture of the Tharu people.
Next comes Lumbini, the sacred birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama and one of the most important pilgrimage places in the Buddhist world. With a local guide you visit the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar and the sacred pond of the Sacred Garden, then explore the Monastic Zone, where countries from across Asia and beyond have built temples in their own traditions. The journey then winds north through the hills to Pokhara, Nepal's lakeside city, for sunrise at Sarangkot, a boat ride on Phewa Lake and visits to the World Peace Pagoda, Devi's Fall and the International Mountain Museum. The tour ends back in Kathmandu with a final evening for shopping in Thamel.
The tour suits families, couples, pilgrims and anyone who wants to experience Nepal without trekking. Walking is limited to easy sightseeing on mostly flat ground, and every stop is at low altitude. The main demand is the overland travel: four days include drives of 5-8 hours, which pass through farmland, river valleys and hill towns that many visitors never see.
Nima Adventure is a Kathmandu-based company with its office in Boudha, and our own team looks after you from airport arrival to departure. The itinerary can be run privately, with flights replacing some drives, extra nights in Lumbini for meditation, or a short trek from Pokhara added on.
On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, a Nima Adventure representative welcomes you and transfers you to your hotel. After time to rest and freshen up, we give a short briefing about the tour, check your documents and answer any questions about the days ahead. If you have energy left, take an easy walk through the lively streets of Thamel or around the great stupa at Boudha, where our office is located. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, at around 9 am, we set out with a licensed guide. We begin at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the former royal palace complex of the Malla kings, where the Nyatapola Temple, the 55-Window Palace and Pottery Square show medieval Newar town life at its best. After lunch in Bhaktapur we visit Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal, set on the banks of the Bagmati River. We finish at Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world, as pilgrims circle it in the late afternoon. Overnight in Kathmandu.
We leave early in the morning by tourist bus, following the Trishuli River before descending to the plains of the Terai. The drive normally takes 5-6 hours, depending on traffic. On arrival in Chitwan we check in to our resort near Sauraha and have lunch. In the afternoon, join a guided walk to a Tharu village to learn about the traditions of the Terai's indigenous people, or take a canoe ride on the Rapti River looking for crocodiles and birdlife. Dinner is served at the resort. Overnight in Chitwan.
Today is dedicated to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its one-horned rhinoceros. After breakfast we head into the park on a jeep safari through sal forest and tall grassland with a naturalist guide, looking for rhinos, deer, wild boar, monkeys and a remarkable variety of birds. Bengal tigers and sloth bears also live here, though sightings are rare. In the evening, enjoy a Tharu or Kumal cultural show featuring traditional stick dances. All meals are at the resort. Overnight in Chitwan.
After breakfast we drive west by private jeep or car along the East-West Highway towards Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The journey takes around 5-6 hours through Terai farmland, forest and small market towns, with a stop for lunch on the way. After checking in at our hotel, the rest of the day is free to relax or take a first evening walk towards the Sacred Garden as the light fades over the plains. Overnight in Lumbini.
With a local guide we spend the day exploring Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important pilgrimage places in the Buddhist world. In the Sacred Garden we visit the Maya Devi Temple, built over the spot where Prince Siddhartha Gautama is believed to have been born, along with the Ashoka Pillar and the sacred Puskarini pond. We then explore the Monastic Zone, where countries from across Asia and beyond have built monasteries and stupas in their own styles, and visit the Lumbini Museum. Overnight in Lumbini.
We set off early for the long drive north to Pokhara, following the winding Siddhartha Highway from Butwal up through the hills via Tansen and Syangja. The journey takes 7-8 hours, with stops for tea and lunch. On arrival in Pokhara, check in to your hotel near Phewa Lake and, in the evening, stroll along the lakeshore as the light fades over the hills and the lakeside restaurants come to life. Overnight in Pokhara.
We begin with an early drive up to Sarangkot (about 1,600 m) for sunrise over the Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri. After breakfast we visit the World Peace Pagoda, Devi's Fall, the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave and the International Mountain Museum, which tells the story of Himalayan mountaineering and the people of the mountains. In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on Phewa Lake to the island temple of Tal Barahi. Overnight in Pokhara.
After breakfast we drive back to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway, following the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. The journey takes 6-7 hours, and a short flight of about 25 minutes can be arranged instead if you prefer. After checking in at your hotel, spend the rest of the evening strolling around Thamel and doing some last-minute shopping for pashmina, tea, handicrafts and thangka paintings. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Your tour ends today. Depending on your flight time, there may be a chance for a final walk around Boudhanath or some last shopping. Our team transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport around three hours before your international flight. If you have more time in Nepal, we can arrange a mountain flight, a short trek, a stay in Nagarkot or an onward trip to Tibet, Bhutan or India. Thank you for travelling with Nima Adventure.