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10 Day itinerary in Nepal, Asia

Grand Nepal: Heritage, Wildlife and Himalayan Views

This 10-day private Nepal journey begins and ends in Kathmandu, combining UNESCO-listed heritage sites with Nagarkot’s Himalayan views, Chitwan jungle activities, Lumbini’s Buddhist landmarks, and Pokhara’s Sarangkot sunrise, city sights, and Phewa Lake boat ride.

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Kishor

By Kishor

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Kathmandu

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Walking tour

Educational

Romantic

Sustainable Travel

Safari

Nature & Widlife

Wildlife

Eco

Indigenous culture

Hiking

Landscapes & Sceneries

Visit markets

Photography

Culture & History

Meet local people

Purposeful Travel

Nature & Wildlife

Water & Coastline

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha

2

Explore Kathmandu Valley’s UNESCO sites, traditions, and culture

3

View Himalayan sunrises, sunsets, and Phewa Lake scenery

4

Experience guided jungle activities in Chitwan National Park

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival | Airport assistance and free time in the city

Arrive at Kathmandu airport, where an airport officer will meet you outside the International Arrival Hall. Look for a placard, or signboard, displaying your name. After meeting the officer, continue by air-conditioned private vehicle to the city center with arrival assistance provided.

Once your transfer is complete, the remainder of the day is free for you to spend independently. You may stroll around the local area at your own pace and use this unscheduled time to become familiar with your surroundings.

Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital and lies within the Kathmandu Valley.


Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Kantipur Village
  • Superior Package: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel
  • Deluxe Package: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 2

place Day 2: Kathmandu’s UNESCO Heritage Sites | Explore four major cultural landmarks with your guide

Begin your full-day sightseeing after breakfast, meeting your guide at 9:30 am. Visit Pashupatinath Temple beside the Bagmati River, a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and known as the “abode of Shiva.” Only Hindus may enter the complex to worship, while others can observe Hindu rituals, morning activities, and funeral ceremonies at the cremation ghats from across the holy river. Continue 3 kilometers to Boudhnath Stupa, also called “Mini Tibet.” One of Nepal’s largest Buddhist stupas, it is surrounded by Tibetan settlements, monasteries, prayer flags, and mane.

In the afternoon, drive to hilltop Swoyambhunath Stupa, known as the “Monkey Temple,” overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and Central Himalayan ranges. Both Hindus and Buddhists pay homage here, reflecting Nepal’s cultural harmony. Continue to Patan Durbar Square, another UNESCO site located in Kathmandu. Explore Patan, the “City of Beauty,” and walk its narrow lanes to see local Newari people, ancient royal complexes, medieval architecture, Krishna Temple, Mahaboudhi Stupa, and the Golden Temple. Patan is also known for metalwork and woodcarving.

The Kathmandu Valley was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Kantipur Village
  • Superior Package: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel
  • Deluxe Package: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 3

place Day 3: Bhaktapur to Nagarkot | Visit Newari heritage before a Himalayan hill transfer

After breakfast, meet your guide and drive 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, the best-preserved ancient city and a cultural center for Newari people. Although earthquakes in 1934 and 2015 destroyed many decorated buildings and shrines, the main square retains several temples and architectural showpieces. See the Lion Gate, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Palace of 55 Windows, Bell of the Barking Dogs, Nyatapola Temple, and replica of Pashupatinath Temple. Observe Newari people engaged in traditional routines and daily work. Along Bhaktapur’s narrow lanes, you can bargain for Thankas, described as oil paintings on silk, and purchase one if interested.

Your guide sees you off in Bhaktapur before you continue with your driver to Nagarkot. The hill station is 38 kilometers from Kathmandu, with the drive listed as approximately 1.5 hours. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, Nagarkot is known for sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas, including 8 of Nepal’s 13 Himalayan ranges. Use your free time to stroll around the area or relax while watching the sunset. In very clear weather, you may also see Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.

Bhaktapur is also called Bhadgaon, a name that means “City of Devotees.”


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Hotel View Point
  • Superior Package: The Fort Resort, Nagarkot
  • Deluxe Package: Hotel Mystic Mountain
Day 4

place Day 4: Journey to Chitwan | Mountain highway transfer and guided jungle activities

After breakfast, your driver picks you up at 7:30 am for the 205-kilometer journey to Chitwan, which takes approximately 7.5 hours along a scenic mountain highway. Chitwan is described as one of Asia’s finest national parks and is known for one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers, deer, and other wild flora and fauna in their natural habitat. On arrival, a local naturalist welcomes you. Enjoy lunch in the dining complex, followed by a briefing on the scheduled activities.

Begin the afternoon program with a jungle walk inside the forest, escorted by a local naturalist. Continue to Tharu villages on the edge of the park, where you can observe the lifestyle and culture of the Tharu, Indigenous people from Nepal’s plains region. In the evening, attend a Tharu Stick Dance performance. Dinner is also included this evening.

Chitwan National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. 

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Center Park Resort Pvt. Ltd.
  • Superior Package: Tigerland Safari - Lemon Tree Resort
  • Deluxe Package: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Day 5

place Day 5: Chitwan Wildlife Exploration | Canoe ride, breeding center, and jeep safari

Begin the morning with a canoe ride on the Rapti River, watching for water birds and crocodiles along the river. After completing the canoe trip, continue to an elephant briefing and visit the elephant breeding center. The river excursion and elephant-focused activities form the morning portion of your full-day jungle program.

In the afternoon, take a jeep safari through the dense forest to look for Nepal’s wildlife. The main focus is spotting a one-horned rhinoceros, although you may also see a tiger if luck and conditions allow. Return after the safari. Lunch and dinner are included during the day.

Established in 1973, Chitwan National Park was Nepal’s first national park.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Center Park Resort Pvt. Ltd.
  • Superior Package: Tigerland Safari - Lemon Tree Resort
  • Deluxe Package: Barahi Jungle Lodge
Day 6

place Day 6: Journey to Lumbini | Five-hour drive and afternoon garden sightseeing

Depart in the morning for the five-hour drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism. The journey occupies the first part of the day, with your destination sightseeing scheduled after arrival. Your afternoon is dedicated to the listed sites within Lumbini Garden.

Begin the afternoon sightseeing tour at the famous Maya Devi Temple. Continue to the other monasteries located inside the garden area, keeping the visit focused on the temple and monastic sites specified in the program. The day’s planned sightseeing concludes within Lumbini Garden.

Lumbini was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Hotel Ananda Inn
  • Superior Package: Buddha Maya Hotel Palace Pvt. Ltd.
  • Deluxe Package: Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel
Day 7

place Day 7: Drive to Pokhara | Seven-hour transfer and free time beside Lake Phewa

Depart in the morning for the seven-hour drive to Pokhara. The city is known for its Himalayan views and snow-fed lakes, including the reflection of Mount Fishtail and the Annapurna range on Lake Phewa. The journey occupies the first part of the day before you arrive in this lake and mountain destination.

Pokhara also serves as a base for trekking in the Annapurna region and for day hikes around the valley rim. After arrival, the rest of the day is free for you to spend independently. Stroll around the Phewa Lakeside area at your own pace, with no additional scheduled sightseeing listed for the day.

Phewa Lake is the largest of Pokhara’s three major lakes.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Dahlia Boutique Hotel
  • Superior Package: Temple Himalaya Hotel and Spa
  • Deluxe Package: Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Day 8

place Day 8: Sarangkot Sunrise and Pokhara | Mountain views, city landmarks, and a Phewa Lake boat ride

Leave early in the morning for an excursion to Sarangkot, timed to see sunrise over Mount Annapurna, the Dhaulagiri massif, and Mount Fishtail. After the sunrise viewing, return for breakfast. This early excursion completes the mountain-viewing portion of the day before the itinerary continues with afternoon sightseeing in Pokhara.

In the afternoon, begin a Pokhara city tour. Visit Bindavashini Temple, Seti Gorge, Devi’s Fall, and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave in the listed sequence. The program also includes a complimentary boat ride on Phewa Lake, adding the scheduled lake excursion to the temple, gorge, waterfall, and cave visits.

The name Seti means “White River.”


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Dahlia Boutique Hotel
  • Superior Package: Temple Himalaya Hotel and Spa
  • Deluxe Package: Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Day 9

place Day 9: Return to Kathmandu | Six-hour drive followed by independently planned free time

Depart Pokhara for the 200-kilometer drive back to Kathmandu. The road journey is scheduled to take approximately six hours, making the transfer the main planned activity for the day. Upon reaching Kathmandu, complete your arrival transfer before beginning your free time.

The remainder of the day is yours to spend independently. No sightseeing, guided visits, or additional scheduled activities are listed. You can manage this unstructured period according to your own plans after completing the drive and transfer to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is Nepal’s largest city and its political and cultural capital.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Package: Kantipur Village
  • Superior Package: Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel
  • Deluxe Package: Hotel Yak & Yeti
Day 10

place Day 10: Departure from Kathmandu | Timed airport transfer for your flight home

At the scheduled time, transfer to Kathmandu airport for your departure. The journey is arranged to bring you to the airport in time for your flight, making the departure transfer the only planned movement for the day. Follow the confirmed flight timing when preparing to leave.

After reaching Kathmandu airport, complete your departure arrangements and board your flight back home. This airport transfer marks the conclusion of your 10-day journey. No additional sightseeing or activities are scheduled before your departure.

Kathmandu’s airport was declared Tribhuvan International Airport in 1964.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Kantipur Village
  • Hotel Ananda Inn
  • Hotel View Point
  • Center Park Resort Pvt. Ltd.
  • Dahlia Boutique Hotel
  • Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel
  • Tigerland Safari - Lemon Tree Resort
  • Buddha Maya Hotel Palace Pvt. Ltd.
  • Temple Himalaya Hotel and Spa
  • The Fort Resort, Nagarkot
  • Hotel Yak & Yeti
  • Barahi Jungle Lodge
  • Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel
  • Temple Tree Resort & Spa
  • Hotel Mystic Mountain

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (9)
  • Lunch (2)
  • Dinner (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Kathmandu airport arrival assistance with name placard and air-conditioned private transfer
  • Kathmandu airport departure transfer with assistance by air-conditioned private vehicle
  • Private transfer from Kathmandu to Nagarkot via Bhaktapur, 38 km and about 1.5 hours
  • Private transfer from Nagarkot to Chitwan, 205 km and about 7.5 hours
  • Private transfer from Chitwan to Lumbini, about 5 hours
  • Private transfer from Lumbini to Pokhara, about 7 hours
  • Private transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu, 200 km and about 6 hours
  • Air-conditioned private vehicle for scheduled sightseeing tours and excursions

Activities expand_less

  • English-speaking local guide for Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lumbini, and Pokhara sightseeing
  • English-speaking naturalist for scheduled Chitwan jungle activities
  • Kathmandu UNESCO tour: Pashupatinath, Boudhnath, Swoyambhunath, and Patan
  • Patan walk: Durbar Square, Krishna Temple, Mahaboudhi Stupa, and Golden Temple
  • Bhaktapur sightseeing covering the six listed cultural and architectural landmarks
  • Chitwan arrival welcome and jungle activity briefing by a local naturalist
  • Guided Chitwan jungle walk and Tharu village visit
  • Tharu Stick Dance performance in Chitwan
  • Rapti River canoe ride for water bird and crocodile viewing
  • Elephant briefing and breeding center visit
  • Chitwan jeep safari for one-horned rhinoceros and other wildlife viewing
  • Lumbini Garden tour covering Maya Devi Temple and monasteries inside the garden
  • Rickshaw ride during Lumbini sightseeing
  • Sarangkot sunrise excursion over Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Mount Fishtail
  • Pokhara tour: Bindavashini Temple, Seti Gorge, Devi’s Fall, and Gupteshwor Cave
  • Complimentary boat ride on Phewa Lake

Extras expand_less

  • Chitwan National Park entrance fees, as applicable
  • Fuel, parking fees, and toll taxes for included vehicles
  • Applicable government taxes

Not Included expand_less

  • International flights to and from destination
  • Mandatory travel insurance
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Visa fees and application services, if applicable
  • Monument entrance fees in Kathmandu, Lumbini, and Pokhara, payable directly

About Kishor

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Expertise: 

Rural home stays

Yoga

Rafting

Meditation

Indigenous culture

Hiking

Visit markets

Culture & History

Meet local people

Purposeful Travel

Nature & Wildlife

Water & Coastline

Since 18+ years I have been assisting travel in Nepal and Bhutan for travelers around the globe. I enjoy creating customize trips as per the individual requirements and interest.

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