Nepal Overland Tour from Gorakhpur - 9 Days

A representative from Himalayan Trekkers will welcome and greet you at Gorakhpur Airport(560M) and escort you to transfer (3 Hrs by Private Vehicle) to the Sunauli border.
After the formalities at the border, we will further have an hour to an hour and a half long drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. We check in at the hotel, take a brief rest, and proceed to explore Lumbini’s sacred garden site.
It is the center point of Lumbini where the Buddha's Birth Marker Stone, the Mayadevi Temple, the Sacred Pond, and the Asoka Pillar may be found. You can also see the giant Bodhi tree filled with colorful prayer flags and monks meditating under it. If time favors us more, we will also visit some of the stupas on the monastic site which surrounds the sacred garden area. After exploring and walking through these peaceful monuments, we will return to our hotel and spend the night.

On our second day in Lumbini, we will visit some of the stupas and monasteries in the east and west monastic zones. There are more than 20 stupas, gumbas, and meditation centers on this site which are donated by different countries in the world. These monuments are built with each country’s architecture style and Buddhism practices. Royal Thai Buddhist Monastery, Golden Myanmar Monastery, Sri Lankan Monastery, Dae Sung Shakya Temple, etc. are the most notable ones. 

We will also make our visit to the giant World Peace Pagoda. You can also visit the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary which is located next to the peace pagoda. You can also opt. to visit Tilaurakot, the place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama spent his life for 29 years before he left to gain enlightenment and became the Lord Buddha. Or, you might go further to Ramagrama stupa, where Buddha’s relics are placed after the cremation. There also is an opportunity to learn some meditation techniques from gurus for the interested ones.

We end the day by looking at the sun setting down beautifully. 

Leaving the plain terrain of Lumbini, we start our drive to the hills of Pokhara via Palpa. Our drive along the Siddhartha highway passes through the thriving city of Butwal and the Siddha Baba temple, a well-known Hindu sanctuary, and reaches Palpa where we will halt for a short stroll around the Tansen town of Palpa district. 

We might probably visit the Palpa Durbar & Museum also known as Tansen Durbar, the former royal seat of the Rana Rulers of Nepal. This striking red durbar is built by Pratap Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana. We will also visit the place where the biggest Karuwa (traditional Nepali vessels) is placed. Palpa is also famous for hand-woven Dhaka textile/fabric. The fabric is used to make the famous Nepali Dhaka Topi. You can purchase one of them or other products made from Dhaka like shawls, purses, or bags.

After spending quite a time in Palpa, we continue to Pokhara. Which is 3/4 hours away from here. We will take a short rest when we get to Pokhara. In the late afternoon, you can take a boat ride on Phewa Lake and visit Tal Barahi Temple.

Note: You can opt. for an additional day of activities and an extra night at Tansen or Srinagar if your time, budget, and interest allow. Staying at these places and exploring the surroundings are definitely worth the time and money. 

Tansen is an ancient old Newari and Magar town with a history. This neighborhood has a more serene environment, where time passes more slowly and the laid-back attitude is attractive. You can take a stroll through the old bazaar's cobblestone lanes and drive or hike to the Taj Mahal of Nepal called Rani Mahal located at the bank of Kali Gandaki River. 

On the next morning, you can hike to the Srinagar hill for the spectacular sunrise view along with the longest panoramic view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges (if weather favors). The viewpoint also offers a beautiful view of the Tansen town and Madi Valley.

We drive to Sarangkot early this morning for a spectacular sunrise view along with the massive Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayan ranges. We then return to our hotel in Pokhara for breakfast. 

After breakfast, we will proceed on a sightseeing tour of Pokhara city. There are plenty of places to visit and things to see and do in this wonderful city of lakes. As the name ‘city of lakes’ suggests, there are 10 lakes Phewa, Begnas and Rupa the famous ones. These lakes are beautifully settled surrounded by giant hills with a Himalayan background. 

For today’s sightseeing, we will visit one of these three lakes, and various other famous attractions such as Davis’ Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Temple, Mahendra Cave, Bindabasini Temple, Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda), Seti River Gorge, International Mountain Museum, Tibetan Refugee Camp, etc. 

You can also include some adventure sports in your journey. Paragliding, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and zip-lining are some of the various adventure activities available here. 

Bidding farewell to the lakes and hills of Pokhara city, today we will move towards the capital city, Kathmandu. The ride is scenic along the Highway perched on the hills along the gushing river, never finishing hilly landscapes, tiny towns, terraced farmlands, and a few peaks playing hide and seek. After around 3 hours of drive, we arrive at Kurintar where we will halt to visit the renowned Manakamana Temple. We take a 15 minutes cable car ride above the river, villages, and hills to reach the temple complex. 

We pray and perform a pooja at the temple and explore the surroundings for a bit. If the weather favors us, we will have the best view of the surroundings and the Himalayan ranges like Annapurna and Manaslu to the north of the temple, the river valleys of Trishuli in the south, and Marshyangdi in the west.

We return to the parking location via cable car, hop into our vehicle and continue the drive to Kathmandu. We enter via Thankot, pass by Swayambhunath Stupa (we will visit here if time permits), reach Thamel, check in at the hotel, and relax for a bit.

If the time favors, we will have an evening visit to Pashupatinath to witness the evening Aarati ceremony on the one side and an open cremation on the other side. Pashupatinath is one of the 4 important Hindu sites in the world that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is also one of the oldest and the biggest in the country. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this holy site every day to worship the God of gods, Shiva. 

However, if your arrival in Kathmandu is delayed, we can surely cover this activity the next day. 
Note: If you are interested and your time and budget favors, you can opt to spend the night at one of the hilltop hotels near the Manakamana Temple and move to Kathmandu the next day. You will get to observe the evening environment of the temple, view the first sunrays the next morning, listen to the first bell ringing in the temple and participate in the first pooja ceremony.

Note: It might take 8/9 Hours to reach Kathmandu with Manakamana Temple visit after we leave Pokhara.

After a delightful breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel for a full day of guided sightseeing. We will cover most of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley. If we got to visit Boudhanath and Pashupatinath on the previous day, we will skip these places and explore the remaining sites such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The order of the visit might differ on the situation of the day. 

Boudhanath Stupa is one of the biggest stupas in the world reflecting Mahayana (Tibetan) Buddhism. As soon as you enter the gate of the stupa, you will feel the peaceful vibe, and see the pilgrims and visitors making a kora (circumambulation) to the main stupa. Vendors are seen selling many unique items such as handicrafts, Thangkas, or aromatic Himalayan incense. You might want to visit one of the best rooftop cafes or restaurants there to view the best of the stupa along with the sunset. 

Swayambhunath Stupa: It is located on a picturesque tiny hillside about 4 kilometers from Thamel. This Buddhist pilgrimage place is equally popular with Hindu devotees and members of various religions. This calm and tranquil hill commands a beautiful view of the Kathmandu valley and a magnificent panorama of the Himalayan range.
Patan Durbar Square: The biggest attraction in Lalitpur, the city of exquisite arts, is Patan Durbar Square. The Malla kings' palace complex contains a number of well-preserved historical and cultural monuments. The masterpieces of medieval culture are Krishna Mandir, Keshav Narayan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, the Royal Palace, and the Royal Bath. Similarly, the royal complex houses numerous antique monuments dating back centuries.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the City of Devotees, Bhaktapur and it is one of the Kathmandu Valley’s best-preserved cultural sites. The craftsmanship, arts, and architecture of the magnificent palace complex, temples, and monuments are really captivating.  The Golden Gate, 55 window Palace, Nyatapola Temple, etc. are some of the major attractions here. Also, try the local Juju Dhau (king of yogurt) once in the area. 

Kathmandu Durbar Square: Third durbar square of Kathmandu valley at the center of Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a wonderful landmark and one of the most visited spots. With the historical significance and fantastic Newari architectural style, a place is a must-visit place in Kathmandu. The lively ancient markets around the durbar square complex also contribute to the living environment there. Visit Kumari Ghar, Kasthamandap, Tajeju Bhawani Mandap, Kaal Bhairav Mandap, Hanuman Dhoka Museum, Freak Street, Ason markets, and many more!

After sightseeing, you can spend the remainder of the day on your own shopping, walking, and exploring the markets of Thamel, Ason, and Indrachowk.  

We leave Kathmandu after breakfast and start the scenic driving journey to Chitwan enjoying the beautiful landscapes, rivers, villages, farms, and mountain views. Upon our arrival in Chitwan, we will check-in at the hotel and relax. Later, we will proceed for exploring Sauraha where you will discover the Tharu communities/villages busy with their daily lifestyle. Tharus are the indigenous tribe of Nepal who makes up 5 percent of the population of Nepal preserving their distinctive culture and tradition. 

After our Tharu village walk and Tharu Village Museum visit, we will move to Rapti Riverbank and enjoy the beautiful sunset view. We will then return to our hotel and participate in the Tharu Cultural Program where the Tharu youngsters will perform some of their traditional music and dances. Some of the fascinating dances are Fire Dance and Peacock Dance. So, look forward to them.  We end our day with a delightful dinner and a short briefing about the activities to do the next day. 

After wakeup call in the morning, we will begin our full day of touring activities in Chitwan National Park. We eat our breakfasts and go canoe-riding on the Rapti River where we will be able to see a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, crocodiles, and other species. There's a chance of spotting both Gharial and Mugger crocodiles basking on the river bank.

We then go for a jungle walk with the trained naturalists. The huge one-horned rhinoceros, wild boar, sloth bear, bison, Gangetic dolphins, Gharial crocodile, and Royal Bengal Tiger are all animals to look out for during the walk. You can opt for an Elephant bath on the Rapti River before lunch. After lunch, we go for elephant safari and have a great chance to witness a horned rhino, wild boar, monkey, sloth bear, Royal Bengal tiger, and four distinct types of deer during the safari. 

On the way back, we may stop by an elephant breeding center and explore it. We call it our day with a warm dinner. 

We will proceed for a bird-watching tour early in the morning after the wake-up call. Bird watching is one of the top activities to do in Chitwan National Park as more than 500 bird species can be found in the national park. You can spot both migratory and resident species. Some of the bird species present here include paradise flycatchers, Indian pitta and parakeets, waterfowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, cormorants, woodpeckers, hornbills, peafowls, floricans, and storks.

Then, we return to the hotel/resort and have breakfast. You can take a rest for a bit and we will transfer you to the Nepal-India border (Sunauli) and bid farewell to each other.