| Trip code | CTN-37 |
| Package name | Cultural Tour in Nepal |
| Duration | 10 Days |
| Max. elevation | 2123 Meter |
| Level | MODERATE |
| Transportation | Private vehicle as per itinerary |
| Accomodation | Three-star Category Hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, and Chitwan; and Standard hotel at Gorkha |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | Kathmandu World Heritage Sites sightseeing-Gorkha town-Pokhara-Sarangkot for a sunrise-Lumbini-jungle safari in Chitwan National Park-Kathmandu |
| Cost | USD 867 per person |
On arrival in Kathmandu and Nepal International Airport via various international airlines, received by our guide and staff for a short transfer to the heart of Kathmandu city. Where is your hotel located, after checking into your rooms, and then meeting other members of the trip at the hotel lobby for a briefing?
The briefing includes important information regarding Cultural Tour in Nepal, to make your holiday in Nepal more enjoyable. The evening group welcomes dinner in a lovely Nepalese Restaurant with an introduction to the culture of Nepal with folk dance and music.
A free day in Kathmandu preparation for the trek includes a sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley at places of great historical and religious interest. The city is steeped with ancient world heritage sites, where the tour takes you around renowned landmarks, like the old Durbar / Palace Square with old Swayambhunath of more than 2,500 years old Stupa, a Buddhist religious monument. Includes holy Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and large dome stupa of Bouddhanath of great cultural and religious interest.
A colossal and ancient stupa; with the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha, it is said to have been built by Lichchhavi King Mana Dev in the 5th A.D. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. The area around is also known as Little Tibet due to a large number of locals of Tibetan origin residing around with many shops and restaurants that make it one of the most interesting parts of Bouddhanath.
After an interesting day around Kathmandu city magnificent cultural and historical places of religious significance. Head back to the hotel for another exciting tour beyond Kathmandu valley the next day.
The morning after hearty breakfast drives to Nepal Mid-West to the historical town of Gorkha, on vehicles as per group size either in the car, or comfortable coach. Where drive leads beyond Kathmandu valley towards low warmer areas, an opportunity to witness Nepalese rural villages and towns.
As the ride heads up to reach Gorkha town, transfer to the best hotels available. Afternoon tour of the old Shah Dynasty palace a fortress that stands above the town of Gorkha, this is the place where King Prithivi Narayan Shah in the 17th Century, started the conquest of the country's different smaller kingdoms and unified into a single nation to one big country Nepal.
From the palace-fortress tour of the interesting bazaar of Gorkha town, and retire back to your hotel after a great interesting drive and tour of the old palace fort.
Morning from Gorkha having good breakfast then depart for Pokhara, a scenic and renowned touristic city, drive leads within farm villages facing views of Manaslu, Lamjung with Annapurna range of peaks as you reach in Pokhara. Our guide takes you to a nice hotel by the calm Phewa Lake where all nice hotels are located, with time in the afternoon for a leisure stroll around the lakeside facing views of the lake and snow peaks of the Annapurna Himalaya range.
Early morning before breakfast, having warm drinks depart from the hotel for a short drive to the high scenic hill at Sarangkot, a famous viewpoint for a stunning sunrise over an array of Himalayan peaks that includes Mt. Dhaulagiri- Mt. Annapurna to Mt. Manaslu with bird-eyes views of Pokhara green valley and the city with Lake Phewa, Sarangkot a popular spot for Adventure sports like Para-Gliding and Zip Flyer as well.
After enjoying glorious views of the sunrise over a mountain range, drive back to the hotel for a hearty breakfast, then be ready for the next tour of Pokhara around places of interest.
Short drive to Pokhara's main local center to view Seti Gorge, a river that flows right into a deep narrow gorge. From here drive south of the city to visit David / Devi or Pathle Chhago Water Falls and the Gupteshwor large cave with a shrine of Lord Shiva. After an enjoyable day head back to the hotel in the afternoon for short walks around or just relax and marvel at the views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare Himal the famous Fish-Tail peak.
Depart from the hotel for an exciting drive to reach Nepal Far South West, where Lumbini birthplace of Buddha located, around the low and sub-tropical country at Terai-belt the flatland, drive heads south on leaving Pokhara valley and mid-hills of Yanga town to Butwal city, near Tansen, Palpa, and then arriving at Lumbini.
Transfer into a nice hotel and relax, afternoon visit Lord Buddha’s birthplaces with historical sites, Lumbini a traditional birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the great founder of Buddhism, born in the 6th Century B.C. Besides the birth site of Buddha, an interesting spot of Emperor Asoka, who visited Lumbini and constructed four stupas and a stone pillar.
Asoka’s Pillar bears an inscription that translates as: "King Piyadasi (Asoka), The holy site of Lord Buddha rediscovered in 1895 by a German archaeologist as he came upon Asoka’s Pillar, identified the inscription, as well records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. After an interesting tour back to the hotel with time to stroll around the street and market at Lumbini.
The morning after a good breakfast an exciting drive to Chitwan through Himalayan Foothills, and then reach Tadi Bazaar around Chitwan, from here short drive to reach your hotels at Saura town near the entrance of the park premises, where all the best hotels are located.
After checking in, briefing by the jungle guide and naturalist of the jungle programs, getting refreshed and resting start afternoon activity with a short walk to Tharu village, the indigenous tribe of Terai. Evening enjoys the dinner with an exciting Tharu cultural dance performance.
At the lodge and hotels, your jungle programs according to the time-table start early morning, before breakfast with various activities, such as follows morning Bird Watch Tour, Machan (Watch Tower) Tour, Jungle walks, nature walks, elephant and jeep safari with elephant briefing and bathing elephants include more with the entertainment of local Tharu cultural programs.
Chitwan is famous for more than 43 species of mammals including the endangered and elusive "Royal Bengal Tiger". The park is home to the one-horned Indian Rhinoceros, freshwater Gharial crocodile with many other common species such as gaur (Asian bison) wild elephants, four-horned antelopes, striped hyenas, pangolins, Gangetic dolphins, monitor lizards, and pythons.
Other animals found in the park include sambars, chital (spotted deer) barking deer, sloth bears, palm civets, langurs, and rhesus monkeys. The park is also famous for over 450 species of birds. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal Florican, the Giant Hornbill, the Lesser Florican, the Black Stork, and White Stork.
Common birds in the park include Peacocks, Red Jungle fowl, and different species of Egrets, Herons, Kingfishers, Flycatchers, and Woodpeckers, the best time for bird watching is in March and December. Breakfast after short morning nature activities and lunch between safaris by 1 p.m. Then rest, late afternoon safari of few hours followed with dinner by 7-8 p.m.
Morning, options for nature walks and bird-watch tour having breakfast at Chitwan then drive to Kathmandu heading past many farm villages and the town of Chitwan areas and then follow Trisuli River for some times then on winding up the hill to reach Kathmandu valley outskirt, and then back to your hotel, with afternoon free to enjoy personal activities.
On your last day in Nepal, as a time for your international flight our staff transfer, you to the airport for homeward bound, after an enjoyable adventure and a great wonderful experience on Cultural Tour in Nepal.