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9 Days A Taste of Nepal Tour Package Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights Priced From: $1,475 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses) Dates: Oct, Jan, Feb, Oct  Usually, when we think of Nepal, we picture windswept mountain villages in the Himalayas, though most of the country lies at the base of the mountain range and we can also experience some tropic-like environments. Pokhara Valley is one of the most stunning locations in all of Nepal and we can feel the warm weather around the calm Phewa Lake, while the sacred and off-limits peak of the Machhapuchhare looms in the background. As a naturalist guides us through Chitwan National Park, we might be able to catch sight of the Asian one-horn rhino or the Bengal tiger while we're riding along on the back of an elephant. See some of the intricate carpets woven by the Tibetan families in a Tibetan refugee camp near Budhanilkantha. When we're in the capital city of Kathmandu, we have a variety of excursions to take part in, from areas important to Buddhist worship, to the Royal Palace, which is adorned with immaculate statues. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu Welcome to Nepal, a country with spectacular geography and a rich cultural diversity. Within its narrow borders we will find a complete climatic range, from tropical to temperate, alpine to arctic. As many as 30 different languages and dialects are spoken among the many ethnic groups. Overnight in Kathmandu. Dinner if required. Day 2 Kathmandu: City Tour Today begins with a visit to the Swayambhunath Temple, Nepal's most significant centre of Buddhist worship. There has been a temple on this site since at least the 5th century. Swayambhunath Temple is also known as the "Monkey Temple" due to the large population of monkeys that make the grounds their home. The temple buildings are set atop a hill and offer an excellent view of Kathmandu and its valley. Many shrines surround the central stupa, its sacred eyes peering out in all directions. Here we can observe devout Buddhists following their complex praying rituals at the shrines, walking clockwise around the stupa, and chanting mantras. Later this afternoon we travel to Kathmandu's central meeting area, Durbar Square, a profusion of temples reflecting the different architectural styles dating from the eleventh century. The area also includes the Royal Palace with its gilded gates and elaborate statues. The square is alive with a multitude of nationalities, intermingled with stalls displaying a wide variety of Nepalese and Tibetan handicrafts. We will also see "Freak Street" -- a famous hippie meeting place from the 60's. Overnight in Kathmandu. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Kathmandu: Budhanilkantha & Refugee Camp This morning we visit Budhanilkantha, situated below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the valley about 9 km from the city center. The hub of the temple complex is a pond in which lies a 5 meter (17 feet) long great stone figure of Hindu god, Bishnu, reclining on the coils of a cosmic serpent. The figure has been estimated to have been found buried in the ground in its original state more than thousand years ago. It is also known as Bhuijasi. Hindus throng to this sacred pilgrimage almost everyday. We also visit a Tibetan refugee camp, set up in 1960 under the initiative of International Red Cross and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC). Its main objective is to enable the Tibetan refugees to do something productive and support themselves. The carpet industry of Nepal is almost run by the Tibetan refugee families and the carpet factories have been a great source of employment for them to become self reliant economically. Apart from the carpet industry, Tibetan refugees are also engaged into handicrafts and there are many handicraft centers providing work opportunities to the families of the refugees with its profits going toward education, sanitation, and healthcare. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Kathmandu. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Kathmandu - Chitwan Today we travel by road to the world-famous Chitwan National Park. When one thinks of Nepal it is usually of soaring, snow-capped Himalayan peaks. However, Nepal is situated along the southern slopes of those mountains and encompasses land from over 8,000 metres (over 26,240 ft) down to less than 100 metres (328 ft) above sea level. In fact, only a very small proportion of Nepal's population lives in the mountains and over 50% of the people live in the lowland Terai region bordering India. This lush band of countryside runs from the western border right across Nepal to the eastern border and is only about 50 kms (30 miles) wide. Its fertile soil and warm climate make it the most productive agricultural region in the country, and consequently most of the preserved natural vegetation is in the Chitwan National Park. The park was created in 1973, principally as a sanctuary for the Asian one-horned rhino and the majestic Bengal tiger. The park is set around the confluence of three rivers--the Narayani, the Rapti and the Reu, the vegetation mainly forest and tall grass. Overnight in Chitwan National Park. Island Jungle Lodge or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Chitwan National Park With our naturalist guide we explore the area and learn about the inhabitants of this complex ecosystem. Bird watching is excellent in this area. One of the highlights of our Chitwan explorations is a wildlife viewing expedition while riding on the back of an elephant. Moving effortlessly through the tall grasses and underbrush, the elephants provide the best vantage point from which to see Chitwan's abundance of birds and animals. We may even be lucky enough to see a rhino or a tiger. Overnight in Chitwan National Park. Island Jungle Lodge or similar. All meals. Day 6 Chitwan - Pokhara We drive through winding gorges and across fast flowing rivers from Chitwan to Pokhara, located on the shore of a crystal blue lake with the peaks of the Himalaya filling the skyline, including Machhapuchhare, a peak that has never been climbed. Overnight in Pokhara. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Pokhara Valley Pokhara is an extraordinary landscape and one of the most attractive destinations in Nepal. The treasures of Pokhara include the tranquillity of Phewa Lake, spectacular views of Annapurna Himalayan range and Mount Machhapuchhare (6977 m), luscious green hills, terraced farm slopes, countless species of vegetation, rushing rivers in a tropical-like environment. Pokhara is, since ancient times, the traditional export center for trade with India and Tibet. Merchants from remote Himalayan regions of Nepal, such as Muktinath and Mustang, still come here with mule trains. Today we admire the landscape and enjoy a tour of the area's highlights. Bindhyabasini Mandir is a local Hindu temple, dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, on the northeast of Phewa Lake in the vicinity of the Old Bazaar, still the commercial hub of merchants from the remote Himalaya. We also visit a Tibetan village where we will see Tibetan style Buddhism, culture and crafts. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950's over 30,000 Tibetan refugees settled throughout Nepal. Overnight in Pokhara. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Pokhara - Bhaktapur This morning we travel to Bhaktapur and the Kathmandu Valley, the cultural and economic heart of Nepal. Stretched along a ridge above the sacred Hanumante River, Bhaktapur grew from a collection of villages strung along the old trade route between India and Tibet. Like an island, the city rises out of lush green fields of rice-huddled red-tiled roofs punctured by the soaring spire of the five-storied Nyataponla temple, and set against the movie-set backdrop of the snow capped Himalaya. Bhaktapur is virtually 100% Newari and adamantly rural at heart. About 60% of its 80,000 residents are farmers, among the country's best. From the rich black soil they grow rice and other crops which are some of the highest in Nepal. Bhaktapur's deep roots in the land are apparent in the people on its streets: farmer women in their characteristic red-border black saris pleated in the front and raised high in back, revealing blue tattoos above their ankles; farmers with double baskets of giant radishes suspended from their shoulders. Overnight in Bhaktapur. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Bhaktapur - Kathmandu - Departure Today we transfer the short distance to the Kathmandu Airport to connect with homeward flights. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Nepal vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 10/09 |
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