Nepal Tibet Tour 12 Days - 12 Days

A representative from Himalayan Trekkers will welcome, greet, and transfer you to your hotel after you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport. 
In case of early arrival, you will have time to explore some of the major attractions of Kathmandu that are nearer to your accommodation. 

We will drive you to the most prominent Tibetan Buddhism site named Boudhanath Stupa with its Buddha eyes and colorful prayer flags on each side. 15 minutes’ drive will take you to one of the most sacred Hindu sites in the world, Pashupatinath Temple which is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness the evening aarti ceremony (one of the praying rituals) and the open cremation on the opposite at the bank of the holy Bagmati River. 

In the evening, if you feel like exploring, you can stroll around the streets of the Thamel area. 

Your passport will be collected for the Chinese Group Visa today before taking you to the other UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath Stupa. 

We first drive to Patan to explore the Patan Durbar Square complex and its artistic masterpieces. Patan or Lalitpur is one of the three Kathmandu Medieval City and is also called the ‘CITY OF BEAUTY’. Patan Durbar Square boasts the historic pagoda-roofed temples and a royal palace that has been converted into a museum. Some of the cultural gems gracing this lovely area include the Golden Temple, Kumbeshwar Temple, Krishna Temple, and Patan Palace Museum.

Then, we drive to Bhaktapur, also known as the 'City of Devotees.' Bhaktapur, another medieval city, is one of Kathmandu Valley's best-preserved cultural sites. Some of the architectural masterpieces of this medieval empire include the nine-story Nyatapole Temple, Palace of 55 Windows, Datteraya Temple, Golden Gate, and Bhiravnath Temple. You can spend some time watching the pottery. Also, Juju Dhau (King of Yoghurt) is a must-try from Bhaktapur city. 

After that, we drive back to the hotel in Kathmandu. If the time permits, we will make our stop at Kathmandu Durbar Square also known as Basantapur and Hanuman Dhoka. The complex of the former Malla and Shah Kings of Nepal houses a collection of many temples, courtyards, and palaces turned into a museum. Kasthamandap Temple and the House of Living Goddess called Kumari House are other prominent attractions here. 

After a full day of exploring the historical and cultural landmarks of Kathmandu, we return to the hotel via the streets of Indrachowk and Thamel. 

After a warm breakfast at the hotel, we start our scenic drive to Pokhara. The road distance between Kathmandu and Pokhara is just more than 200 kilometers, takes up to 7 hours of drive. The scenery is truly magnificent as we drive winding across a mountainous and winding landscape. We also pass through the gorgeous villages, hills, and mountains, from which you will get a sense of the rural side of the country. The old village of Bandipur, one of Nepal's architectural marvels, is one of the things you're likely to miss if you do not choose to drive. 

Upon arriving in Pokhara, we will check-in at the hotel and take a  brief rest. After that, take a boat journey across the Phewa Lake to Barahi's island temple. This temple, which dates from the 18th century, is devoted to the Hindu goddess Durga. We return to our hotel after an hour of boating, as well as taking in the breathtaking evening vistas of Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu.

Pokhara, set near the tranquil Phewa Lake and flanked by snow-capped Himalayan peaks, is likely to take your breath away. Fill yourself with a delicious buffet breakfast before beginning your sightseeing excursion. 
We drive to the International Mountain Museum to see some of the earliest expedition groups' gear utilized in the Nepal Himalaya. The museum also features exhibits about the region's culture, history, flora, and fauna. We will explore some of the major attractions of the city for the remainder of the day. We will visit Davis Falls, one of the scenic waterfalls with a mysterious history. The water travels through caves and underground tunnels. Opposite the Davis Falls is Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave which is considered one of the longest caves in Nepal and has an underground waterfall. 

We also pay our visits to Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda). It is a large Buddhist stupa on the southern bank of Phewa Lake and is a superb vantage point with amazing views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake and Pokhara City. The Seti Gandaki Gorge is another amazing attraction to look at from the Mahendra Pul, a little bridge in the city's heart. 

Mahendra Cave, Chamero Gufa (Bat Cave), Bindhayabasini Temple, Old Market Places, Gurkha Memorial Museum, and Bhimsen Temple are other few attractions of this city. 

We rise early in the morning and drive to Sarangkot to see the famous Himalayan sunrise. The hill offers a 360-degree panorama of Himalayan Peaks such as Dhaulagiri (8167m), Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) (6997m), and Annapurna II (7937m), Lamjung Himal (6983m), as well as the entire Pokhara valley. We will witness a stunning sunrise as the sun rises over the mountains, bathing them in a rainbow of red, orange, and golden-yellow hues. After that, we drive back to our hotel in Pokhara, eat breakfast, and continue to Chitwan along with the beautiful sceneries of small towns, lush green hillsides, and terraced farms. 

Once we arrive in Chitwan, we check into our accommodation and relax. We will take a stroll around Tharu village in the late afternoon and get a glimpse of the lifestyle of these indigenous people. We will also witness the wonderful sunset moment by the Rapti River.

Today is filled with exciting jungle activities in Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the oldest national park in Nepal. After breakfast, we will head to Budi Rapti River for canoeing then proceed to the elephant breeding center where female elephants are kept for breeding. Next, we will drive to the elephant bathing place in Sauraha and observe the bathing process. You can participate in elephant bathing by paying extra. We head back to the hotel for lunch and rest for a while in the afternoon. 

Then, we will go for the jeep ride/jungle walk inside the national park where you may encounter some wildlife animals including a one-horned rhino, different species of deer, monkeys, and many more. 

We end our day by attending a Tharu cultural program where the Tharu people will perform dance and music, with the famed stick dances and the crazy peacock dance. Once dinner is served, then it's time to call it a night.

We leave Chitwan after breakfast and return to Kathmandu along the Tribhuvan Highway. Our vehicle passes through rural villages and farmland, hills covered in beautiful woods, and glacial rivers with sandy beaches. As you approach Kathmandu Valley, the mountains come in sight slowly. When we arrive in Kathmandu, check in at the hotel and rest. You can go souvenir shopping in Thamel or explore the local market Ason Bazaar on your own if you want to.

You will be transferred to the airport early in the morning to board the plane for your travel to Lhasa over the Himalayas. If the weather is clear, the peaks of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga can be seen. 

Upon your arrival at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, you will meet our Tibetan guide waiting with a vehicle and proceed east down the huge Yarlung Tsangpo valley to Tsedang. If time allows, you might be able to visit a tiny monastery near Tsedang or a fascinating carpet factory where you can observe the entire carpet-making process. Then, we drive further to our hotel, check-in, and rest to get acclimatized to the high altitude. 

After breakfast, we will visit the Potala Palace, the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas until 1959. It is a must-see landmark on any Lhasa tour which is perched atop Red Hill. The Potala Palace is a great location for photography and a Lhasa valley view. The Potala Palace will enchant you with its peculiar Tibetan aesthetic of castle-like buildings, rich Tibetan history, and innumerable religious and cultural treasures.

After lunch, we will move towards the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred place of Buddhist devotees, where tens of thousands of pilgrims visit every day to worship. Then, we will walk through the bustling Barkhor Street, which is the religious and social center of Lhasa, which surrounds the Jokhang Temple. You can buy handicrafts, colored boots of fur-lined caps from one of the many numerous stalls along the street. These stalls also offer a variety of silver and turquoise jewelry, rosaries, prayer flags, and charms, as well as stunning Tibetan carpets and everyday household items.

We return to our hotel in the evening and relax.

We will start the day with a warm breakfast and today’s sightseeing from the summer resident of the Dalai Lamas, Norbulingka Palace. The is one of the magnificent landmarks in Tibet located along the Kyichu River and two kilometers west of the Potala Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses numerous historical relics, Tibetan carpets, and jewelry pieces on display. There are also old Buddha statues and a mural of the 5th Dalai Lama. 

We then drive to the Drepung Monastery, located on the city's western fringe which is also one of the biggest educational centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Ganden Palace, Coqen Hall, the Four Great Dratsangs (Loseling, Gomang, Deyang, Ngagpa), and Tibet's largest kitchen (for over 10,000 monks during the heyday) are just a few of the unique structures and exquisite buildings at this complex. It also offers you to learn more about Tibetan monks' lives and activities in this university monastery.

You will have lunch in one of the local restaurants after spending the morning at the monastery and exploring its stunning delights, before traveling to Sera Monastery in the city's northeast, where you can witness the stunning Buddhist monastic debates with their extravagant gestures and loud shouting and stamping. Founded in 1419, this grand Monastery was home to more than 5,000 monks and five monastic colleges. An interesting fact about this monastery is that it was given the name Sera, which means wild rose because the hill behind it was blanketed with roses when it was built.  

You'll be dropped off at your hotel after the trip, and the rest of the day is yours to do as you like.

After breakfast and a short stroll around the city for the last time, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to Kathmandu. If the weather is clear, check out some mountain peaks such as Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m), Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Makalu (8463m), amongst others.

On arriving in Kathmandu, you will check-in at the hotel and take a rest. In the evening, we will have dinner together in an authentic Nepali restaurant and share our experiences of this travel journey. 

The tour ends here!  You will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to your hometown or onward destination 3 hours before the scheduled flight time.