Holiday items: 0
Extensions: 0
Optional Extras: 0
Upgrades: 0
Total Cost Per Person: £0
Select a holiday to start
My Holiday Summary
Kathmandu and Pokhara - Nepal
8 days (9 inc. flights) - from £875
- Explore the bustling markets, fascinating palaces and beautiful temples of Kathmandu.
- Chill out in Pokhara, exploring the bazaars and lakeside and soaking in the mountain views.
- Take a flight in a small plane along the edge of the Himalayas.
- Stay in the small hill town of Bandipur, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
- Soak in the timeless atmosphere of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Visit the 'monkey temple' of Swayambunath
Description
Temples, mountains, glorious architecture, incredible views, and fascinating culture - this short but sweet tour takes you to the highlights of Nepal.You start in Kathmandu, staying in a unique temple hotel. We take you on an exciting tour, where you'll see temples, squares, a Tibetan craft centre, the famous 'monkey temple' of Swayambunath, and Patan City, the town with a thousand golden roofs.
There's so much to see on this trip, your poor camera will need a holiday when you get home! For the ultimate photographic experience you could Make it Yours and opt for an early morning light aircraft flight over the Himalayas - weather permitting it could include a flight over Mount Everest - before we board the small plane for the journey from Kathmandu to Pokara, flying along the foothills of the mountains, for some unforgettable views.
You'll have the afternoon free in Pokara and the following day we give you a comprehensive tour of the area, starting with an early morning drive to Sarankot, to arrive in time for the sunrise. We'll take you out on a boat trip on Lake Phewa - get that hard working camera ready!
You'll stay in, and explore, Bandipur, an ancient Newari mountain town with impressive medieval houses and temples, before returning to Kathmandu and enjoying a full day's tour of the Kathmandu Valley. This includes a trip to the medieval town of Bhaktapur, famed for its Newari craftmanship and architecture, and to the Pashupatinath Temple, with its tiered golden roof and silver doors. And we'll take you to Boudhanath, the world's largest stupa and a major site of veneration for Buddhists.
You'll travel with your own experienced guide who will explain to you the history, culture and wildlife of this fascinating country. With your own vehicle to take you around, you can set the pace that you want to travel and choose the sites that interest you. Take the time to haggle in the markets, explore another temple, take a gentle walk or simply chill out and enjoy the mountain views - whatever suits you best!
Your accommodation is fairly simple, but comfortable and full of character, and in great locations. In Kathmandu, you'll stay close to the bustling Thamel district in a beautiful building built with traditional Newari craftsmanship. In Pokhara, more modern accommodation is arranged on the lakeshore, to make the most of those fabulous mountains views. And in Bandipur, you'll stay in a beautiful restored village house in the heart of the small town.
This holiday can be taken on its own to give you a glimpse of Nepalese life, or you can extend your stay in Nepal with one of our extensions. You can opt for wildlife watching in Chitwan; a combination of river rafting and Chitwan; seeing Nepal's oldest temple and the sunrise (and Mount Everest on a clear day) from Nagarkot; or visiting and hiking around a remote village to see what rural Nepali life in the Kathmandu Valley is like. It can also be combined with a trip to India, allowing you to see the similarities and differences between these two predominantly Hindu nations. If you are interested in including some trekking in your time in Nepal, please see the Kathmandu and the Annapurna Trek itinerary.
Itinerary Summary
- Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to Hotel.
- Day 2: Full day tour of Kathmandu. (B)
- Day 3: Fly to Pokhara in the morning.(B)
- Day 4: A full day tour of Pokhara. (B)
- Day 5: Drive to Bandipur. (B,D)
- Day 6: Drive to Kathmandu.(B)
- Day 7: Full day tour of the Kathmandu Valley. (B)
- Day 8: Depart Kathmandu. If flights selected, arrive back in UK. (B)
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 (Sun): Arrive in Kathmandu (usually from overnight flight from UK). We'll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.
- Day 2 (Mon): Your guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning and take you on a full day tour of the sites of Kathmandu. You'll see temples, squares, a Tibetan craft centre, markets... Your tour will also include Patan (the town with a thousand golden roofs) and the Buddhist shrine of Swayambhunath, better known as the monkey temple for the many monkeys which clamber around the stupa. (B)
- Day 3 (Tues): We'll take you to the airport for your short, scenic flight to Pokhara. If you're up for an early start, you have the option before the journey to Pokhara to Make it Yours with an early morning light aircraft flight over the Himalayas. On arrival in Pokhara you'll be taken to your lakeside hotel, with time to explore the shops of the lakeside district, walk in the surrounding hills or just enjoy the fabulous mountain views. (B)
- Day 4 (Weds): Explore the region around Pokhara with your guide. The Annapurnas tower above the town, dominated by the split peak of Machapachure, better known as Fishtail Mountain, reflected in the still ,deep waters of Lake Phewa. You'll get a fantastic view from the lake when we take you out on a boat trip. The Seti river flows through the town in impressively deep and narrow gorges, thundering over waterfalls such as Devi's Falls. The tour is fairly flexible depending on the interests of the group, so you may want to explore the old bazaar in the afternoon or if you're feeling active, the World Peace Pagoda makes a good spot for a longer hike, with fabulous views over the lake and mountains. Shorter walks can also be arranged in the hills around town. (B)
- Day 5 (Thurs): After breakfast, we drive you to the small hill town of Bandipur, on a ridge about a 3 hour drive from Pokhara. This was once an important stop on the trade route between India and Nepal, but the highway between Pokhara and Kathmandu in the valley below bypassed Bandipur, leaving it isolated. The town was only finally connected to the highway in 1998, so it has retained its traditional character. (B,D)
- Day 6 (Fri): If you feel like an active start, you can hike up to a shrine on a hill above Bandipur before breakfast to enjoy the view over the town and beyond to the mountains. We'll take you on a tour of the town this morning, including impressive mediaeval houses and temples. The town is also noted for its many festivals which are an added bonus if you come on the right day. In the afternoon we drive back to Kathmandu, which takes about 4 hours. The road follows the deep valley of the Trisuli River for much of the way, and you will have time to stop and explore the roadside towns on the way. (B)
- Day 7 (Sat): There is still more to see in this amazing valley! One of today's highlights is the mediaeval town of Bhaktapur, famous for its fine carvings. We'll show you some of the fantastic architecture, including the Golden Gate and the Palace of Fifty Five Windows, and we'll make sure there's enough time for you to see the Pashupatinath Temple with its tiered golden roof and silver doors. On the way back to Kathmandu, we stop at Boudhanath, which has become a centre for Tibetan culture since the Chinese occupation of Tibet. (B)
- Day 8 (Sun): You will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home. If flights selected, you'll arrive home in the UK the same day. (B)
Is it for you?
This is a gentle tour that is relative for all levels of fitness, although you can include some tougher day walks if you are interested.
Best times to go
October to May. The monsoon season in Nepal runs from June to September. The weather starts to dry out in September, and by October is generally clear. October to November are the prime trekking season, with the clearest skies, although this is also the busiest time to visit Nepal when the flights are most expensive. The winters can be cool, especially in the mountains, although there are fewer visitors at this time of year. Spring starts in March, and the mountains can be beautiful as the Rhododendrons bloom. By May, the weather is starting to cloud over as the monsoon approaches. The weather is still not too hot in the mountains, but the views can be obscured by cloud and the lowlands of Nepal can be very hot.
Getting there
You need to fly to Kathmandu. We can arrange flights for you (we are ATOL-bonded), or you can buy your own if you prefer. There are no direct flights to Kathmandu, but you can travel via either the Middle East or India. You would normally fly from the UK overnight on the day before this itinerary starts and on the way back would take a day flight arriving back in the UK the same day.
Gallery
Add-ons
Make it Yours.
We promise that all our Down to Earth holidays are exciting adventures as they stand. But you are an individual. ("I'm not." ed). So why not add extras to your holiday to make it different and more unique to you?
You can extend your holiday with the following short trips:
Holiday Combinations
Many of our holidays have been designed in relatively short sections which can be added together as a combination. Only those that work together are shown below. If there are none shown then this is not an option for the particular holiday you have chosen.
When you click on any of these holiday combination options you will be taken to the relevant holiday details. You can return to this holiday by selecting it from the menu in the left hand column. If you add more than one holiday to your basket there may potentially be a gap between the two sections. You can fill this gap by adding the handy overnight extensions we offer in the relevant city.
The Golden Triangle
A unique 'take' on the famous northern India circuit of Delhi Agra and Jaipur, the 'Golden Triangle', as we stay in comfortable homestays. Taking in some of the finest examples of India's architectural and cultural heritage, it is one of the most popular India holidays, perfect for first-time visitors. Includes the Taj Mahal, The Pink City of Jaipur, and the historic capital of Delhi.
Duration: 7 days (8 inc. flights) , From £820pp
Bookmark with:
