Kathmandu and Pokhara Heritage Tour

Overview

This 8 day tour is  a lovely blend of the old and the new. It includes visits to some of Nepal’s UNESCO  World Heritage sites, with their fine temples and old architecture, as well as 3  days spent exploring the picturesque town of Pokhara. In Pokhara there is the  added pleasure of having great views of some of the world’s highest mountains. 

There will be plenty  of free time on this tour to go on day hikes, to explore areas of personal interest,  to go shopping, to go paragliding or mountain biking, or just to relax.Whether  you are a first timer or ‘many timer’, this tour will show you a side of Nepal  that you won’t find on a trek. 

Itinerary Detail

Kathmandu and Pokhara Heritage City Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Kathmandu

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, a representative from WildPathAdventure will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After lunch, enjoy a sight-seeing walk to Swayambunth or the Monkey Temple, as it is commonly known. This magnificent and ancient Buddhist and Hindu temple sits atop a hill and is guarded by a large number of friendly and talented monkeys.

The Monkey Temple is also a great place to sit and people watch and on a clear day, there are excellent views of Kathmandu and the valley below. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore Thamel or perhaps enjoy a much needed massage. We will meet for a welcome dinner, where you will be treated to a traditional Nepali meal and dancing.  

Day 2: Patan/Nagarkot

After breakfast, we will head out for Nagarkot, a lovely, hilltop resort village. Along the way we will stop first for a visit to the Chovar Gorge, where there is a fine small temple and where you will get your first real views of the snow-capped Himalayas. From there we will head to Patan, also known as the “City of Beauty”. Patan dates back more than 2000 years and contains over 600 stupas. Most of the buildings were created by the Malla kings during the 16th to 18th centuries. The Patan Museum is well worth a visit and the Durbar Square is a must for those interested in traditional Newari architecture.

After completing our tour of Patan, we will drive to Nagarkot, which is located about 30 km east of Kathmandu, at an altitude of 2175m. With clear skies, you will see a fantastic sunset over the Himalaya – including Mt Everest, far to the east.

Day 3: Nagarkot/Bhaktapur

Waking up early in Nagarkot, you will be treated to the early morning sunrise over the Himalaya, which is a sight you will always remember. After breakfast, we will drive to the Changu Narayan Temple, which is thought to date back to the 3rd century and is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.

From here we will drive to the ancient town of Bhaktapur, also known as the “Town of the Devotees”. The town was probably founded in the 9th century and ruled Nepal until the late 1400’s. Bhaktapur is a treasure to explore on foot, as there are many fine old temples, palaces and buildings to view – and no cars! Walking thru the old streets one gets a feel for what Kathmandu must have been like in earlier and quieter times.

We will then drive back to Kathmandu, where you will have a free evening for shopping, additional sightseeing or just relaxing.

Day 4: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Durbar Square

After breakfast, there will be a morning tour of Pashupatinath and Boudhanath, two other UNESCO World Heritage sites that areimportant religious sites in Kathmandu. Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, is sometime likened to Varanasiin India, as cremations are a common sight here. It is certainly the most important Hindu temple in Nepal and contains many fine buildings, some of which can only be viewed from the outside by non-Hindus. However, for many visitors, the riveting sight of a cremation is what they will remember from this holy place.

From here we will visit Boudhanath, which is one of the world’s largest stupas. It is located on one of the old trade routes to Tibet and is considered to be the most important Tibetan Buddhist monument outside of Tibet. Boudhanath is an important religious centre for Tibetan exiles (there are more than 45 monasteries on the area) and here you will also find many Tibetans running the restaurants and shops that line the area.

We will have lunch at a traditional Nepali restaurant and then spend the afternoon exploring Durbar Square, which is the traditional heart of old Kathmandu. This square, which is actually 3 squares loosely linked, offers some of the best of ancient Newari Architecture, as the oldest temples date back to the 12th century. The palace was once the home of the kings of Nepal and today one can still find the Kumari – the Living Goddess – living in one of the old buildings. If you are very lucky, she may make an appearance at the window while you are in the courtyard.

Day 5: Pokhara

After an early breakfast, we will take a bus to Pokhara. If the weather is clear, you will have great views of the Himalaya (try to sit on the right side of the bus). We’ll arrive in the early afternoon and you will have the remainder of the day to explore Pokhara, which is situated on a large lake (Phewa Tal) and nestled below some of the most beautiful mountains in Nepal. As it a much lower elevation (880m) than Kathmandu, it tends to be warmer than the capital city as well.  

Pokhara has many of the same shops as Thamel in Kathmandu, but it is a much quieter and more laid-back place. You can spend hours just walking through the old town, strolling along the lake or just sitting at one of the many lakeside restaurants. Here you can watch the world go by and even enjoy the spectacle of paragliders swirling above the lake.

Day 6: Pokhara

After an early breakfast,we will set off for the day’s adventure. It starts with a row across lovely Phewa Tal and then a pleasant 1 hour walk up to the Peace Pagoda. From here you will have great views of Pokhara and the valley, as well as the Annapurna Range and the magnificentMachhapuchhare (Fishtail) Mountain – one of Nepal’s most sacred peaks.

We’ll then head down to explore Dewi Falls and the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, both of which are underground and amazing places to explore. Our last stop will be at the Tibetan Refuge Camp where you can get a close look at how Tibetans in exile live and support themselves. 

Day 7: Pokhara

Today starts with a very early ride up to Sarangkot (1692m) to watch the sun rise over the Himalaya – a jaw-dropping sight you will not soon forget. It is from here that the paragliders take off, so you will have an opportunity to join them (this needs to be arranged a day ahead). After breakfast we will walk down to lakeside, where you will have time to do some shopping or relaxing before lunch.

In the afternoon, we will go to the remarkable International Mountain Museum. While of particular interest to trekkers, it has a great section on the cultures of Nepal and should not be missed. Leaving the museum, we will visit Seti Falls, This is part of the roaring Seti River, which passes right through Pokhara, but you won’t see it unless you know where to look. The river has carved a deep and narrow path through the middle of town – in some places it is only one meter wide and rushes along 50m below street level.

In the evening we will meet for a traditional Nepali dinner and folk dancing.

Day 8: Kathmandu

Saying goodbye to Pokhara in the early morning, we will return to Kathmandu by bus. You will have the afternoon free for shopping, relaxing or visiting other Kathmandu sights. We will meet for a final farewell dinner.

Day 9: Final Departure

Depending on your flight time, there should be free time in Thamel for shopping until transfer to the airport for departure. We will say goodbye and Namaste until the next time.

Cost Info

The Cost Includes:

• Airport transfer (Airport – Hotel – Airport)
• 4 Nights of 3-star hotel Kathmandu
• 3 Nights hotel in Pokhara
• 1 Night hotel in Nagarkot
• 1 Tour Guide
• All breakfasts
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All the city tours by car/van/bus including Government tax.
• Office charge.

Cost Exclude:

• Entrance fees.
• Drinking water
• All the bar bills
• Lunch and dinners, except as noted
• Donation and tips

Remarks: 

The above quote is for 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and Standard hotel in Nagarkot.
If you need a 4 or 5-star hotel, please inform us. The price is subject to change according to the hotel grade.
If you would like to fly to/from Pohkara, please inform us. There will be an additional charge for this.