Compare Himalayan Escapades and Wildlife Encounters in Nepal by Culture Trip vs 18 Day Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal & Bhutan by Gate 1 Travel
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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3.5 | Average
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Duration | 10 days | 18 days |
Price From | $ 1,829 | $ 7,469 |
Price Per Day | $ 183 | $ 415 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
Activities |
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N/A |
Meals Included |
10 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 5 Dinners |
N/A |
Description |
Spot rare wildlife and embrace serene Himalayan landscapes on this 11-day Nepalese adventure. Ride a rickshaw through the capital, Kathmandu, and visit nearby Kirtipur before heading north to Nuwakot – a village known for its seven-storey palace complex. Continue west to Sarangkot, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the Annapurna Range, and boat across Phewa Lake in Pokhara. Learn how to make traditional momo dumplings, go white-water rafting on the Seti River, and search for Bengal tigers and rhinos in the Chitwan National Park. Finally, return to Kathmandu and wrap up your trip with a farewell dinner. |
5 Kathmandu, 2 Chitwan National Park, 2 Pokhara, 3 Thimphu, 1 Punakha, 3 Paro |
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu
Activities Included: Kathmandu rickshaw tour, Welcome dinner
After touching down in Kathmandu, take a transfer to the hotel where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider. They will accompany the group throughout the trip. Gather in the lobby for a group briefing at 4pm before heading out on a guided rickshaw city tour, where you’ll discover the hidden alleyways of Thamel – a lively district renowned for its bars and restaurants. It’s then time for your first taste of Nepalese cuisine as you settle down to a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.
Day 2: Visit the Seven Women Centre and explore Kirtipur
Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu
Activities Included: Seven Women Centre visit, Cooking class, Kirtipur visit
This morning, you’ll visit the Seven Women Centre – a social enterprise which empowers marginalised Nepalese women by providing them with education and employment to lift them out of poverty. You’ll learn about their success stories and take part in a cooking class, enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. In the afternoon, move on to the nearby city of Kirtipur and explore the Bagh Bhairab temple – known for the shrine of the god Bhairab, considered by locals to be the city’s guardian deity. The temple also offers superb views across the Kathmandu valley.
Day 3: Explore the Nuwakot Durbar temple complex
Accommodation: The Famous Farm
Optional Activities: Nuwakot village walking tour, Nuwakot Durbar visit
Today, venture 80km (50mi) north to the hilltop village of Nuwakot (on the old trade route between Tibet and the Kathmandu Valley), overlooking the Trishuli River valley. Take a stroll around the village before visiting the ancient citadel, Nuwakot Durbar. The seven-storey palace complex was expanded in the 18th-century during the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah – the first monarch of the Kingdom of Nepal. It was significantly damaged by an earthquake in April 2015, but subsequent restoration efforts were successful in preventing a total collapse.
Day 4: Drive to Sarangkot and spot majestic Himalayan peaks
Accommodation: Sarangkot Mountain Lodge
After breakfast, hit the road and start a scenic 190km (118mi) journey west to Sarangkot – a tiny mountain village on the outskirts of Pokhara (the second-largest city in Nepal). If the conditions are clear, you’ll be able to see the mighty peaks of Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest mountain in the world at 8,167m/26,795ft high; Annapurna I, which is 8,091m (26,545ft) tall; and Machhapuchhare, the highest peak that has never been climbed at 6,993m (22,943ft). Be sure to bring your camera to capture these awe-inspiring Himalayan vistas.
Day 5: Hike to Naudanda and boat on Phewa Lake
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi
Activities Included: Yoga session, Sarangkot to Naudanda hike, Phewa Lake rowing boat trip
Kick-start your day with an early morning yoga session while watching the sun rise over the snow-capped mountains. You’ll then set off on a three-hour hike towards the Gurung village of Naudanda, traversing farmland, rice terraces and remote settlements with mesmerising panoramas of the Annapurna Range. Afterwards, descend to Pokhara city – your home for the next two nights. In the evening, enjoy a laid-back rowing boat trip on Phewa Lake (the second-largest lake in Nepal).
Day 6: Learn how to cook momo dumplings at a refugee camp
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi
Activities Included: International Mountain Museum visit, Refugee camp visit & Momo dumpling making class
Today, you’ll visit the International Mountain Museum to learn about the history of mountaineering worldwide – with a particular focus on the Nepalese Himalayas, which features eight of the 10 highest peaks in the world (all over 8,000m/26,247ft high). There are also exhibits about the region’s geology, the techniques and technologies used in extreme mountaineering, and a section dedicated to indigenous mountain cultures. Later on, stop by a Tibetan refugee camp and discover how to make traditional momo (steamed Nepalese dumplings, filled with meat or vegetables) for lunch. Spend the rest of the day exploring Pokhara at leisure.
Day 7: Raft down the Seti River and go wild camping
Accommodation: Wild camping
Activities Included: Seti River rafting
Ready for a wild adventure? After breakfast, you’ll head to Damauli to begin an epic white-water rafting trip down the Seti River. Pass through valleys, rolling hills and thick jungle as you navigate the churning rapids (grade II or grade III), with plenty of gentler sections in between. Life jackets will be provided. Eventually, you’ll arrive at a white sandy beach and set up camp. Enjoy a rustic dinner and tune into the peaceful natural surroundings, before settling down for the night. Sleeping bags are included – but don’t forget to bring insect repellent.
Day 8: Embark on a canoe ride in the Chitwan National Park
Accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Activities Included: Seti River rafting, Rapti River canoe ride and sundowner
Hop back on the raft for the second phase of your voyage, continuing southeast towards Gaighat, at the confluence of the Seti and Trishuli rivers. After lunch and a change of clothes, you’ll drive to the Chitwan National Park. The dense subtropical forest, wetlands and grassy plains of the Unesco-listed reserve contains some of the most biodiverse habitats in Nepal. These are home to 68 species of mammals, 56 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 500 species of birds. In the late afternoon, embark on a canoe ride on the Rapti River and sip a sundowner.
Day 9: Search for Bengal tigers and rhinoceros on a wildlife safari
Accommodation: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Activities Included: Wildlife safari, Village walk
Climb aboard a Jeep for a wildlife safari, accompanied by an experienced naturalist. Keep an eye out for one-horned rhinos, (there are more than 600 in Chitwan National Park), plus sloth bears, crocodiles and bison, among myriad other species. If you’re lucky, you may also spot elusive Bengal tigers and Indian leopards lurking in the long grass. Later on, visit a nearby village and gain an insight into the culture of the local people. Come nightfall, tuck into a delicious bush dinner.
Day 10: Return to Kathmandu and meet a Mount Everest summiteer
Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu
Activities Included: Mount Everest summiteer meeting, Farewell dinner
Leave the Chitwan National Park behind as you make the 180km (112mi) eastward journey back to Kathmandu. Feel free to spend the rest of the afternoon roaming around this vibrant city at your own pace and hunting for souvenirs. Head to Thamel or Durbar Square for the best choice of stalls – and be prepared to bargain. In the evening, you’ll meet a Mount Everest summiteer and hear their first-hand account of what it takes to climb the highest mountain in the world. Finally, wrap up your Nepalese adventure with a farewell group dinner.
Day 11: Depart from Kathmandu
The time has come to pack your bags and bid farewell to your new friends as your trip comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and take your private transfer to the airport to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and see what else Nepal has to offer.
DAY 1, Monday - Depart for Nepal
DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrival in Kathmandu
Overnight: Kathmandu
DAY 3, Wednesday - Swayambhunath, Cooking Demonstration, Boudhanath
*For Oct. 24 departure, sightseeing will be switched from day 3 to day 4 and vice versa
Optional: Mount Everest Flightseeing (AM)
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4, Thursday - Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Mt. Everest Mountaineer
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5, Friday - Chitwan National Park, Jungle Resort
Overnight: Chitwan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6, Saturday - Chitwan National Park, Jungle Resort
Overnight: Chitwan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7, Sunday - Pokhara's Natural Wonders
Overnight: Pokhara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8, Monday - Pokhara and the Annapurna Mountains
Overnight: Pokhara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 Tuesday - Return to Kathmandu, Ancient Patan, Farewell to Nepal
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10, Wednesday - Kingdom of Bhutan
Overnight: Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, Thursday - Discover Thimphu
Overnight: Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12, Friday - Memorial Chorten, Big Buddha Hill, School of Astrology, Takin Zoo
Overnight: Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13, Saturday - Lobesa, Punakha Dzong, Punakha
Overnight: Punakha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14, Sunday - Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, Sisina Farm House, Tachogang Lhakhang, Paro
Overnight: Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 15, Monday - National Museum, Rinpung Dzong, Temple of Kyichu
*Drukgyal Dzong is under reconstruction until Jan 2023
Overnight: Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 16, Tuesday - Ascend to "Tigers Nest"
Overnight: Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 17, Wednesday - Depart Bhutan, Arrive in Nepal
Overnight: Kathmandu
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 18, Thursday - Depart Nepal
Meals: Breakfast