Kathmandu to Pokhara Tour
The tour begins with visits to four of Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square; Pashupatinath; Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. We also visit two medieval cities, Patan and Bhaktapur, renowned for their artistic achievements amid stunning architecture. We follow these rich Kathmandu offerings of art, history and spiritual speculations with a drive west to Pokhara; the road following the cascading Trishuli River as it carves its way through the Middle Hill and Valley region of central Nepal.
Pokhara is Nepal’s second largest city and sometimes called “Lake City” due to its proximity to Phewa Tal, or Phewa Lake. Pokhara, gateway to the Annapurna Region, sits in one of Nepal’s most beautiful valleys that includes Himalayan lakes, caves, waterfalls and rivers ringed by distant mountain peaks. Pokhara enjoys a somewhat sub-tropical climate, making its famous waterfalls even more enjoyable. All of this incredible natural beauty is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges make for a literally picture-perfect vista. Panoramic sunrise views of the Himals from Sarangkot Hill and unparalleled views of Fishtail Mountain mirrored Pewa Lake makes this trip one of the most spectacular cultural natural excursions in Nepal.
Location:
Duration: 6
ITINERARY:
Day 01
Arrive Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in the morning where our assistant whisks you to the Hotel Grand or a similar quality hotel. After a short rest our local guide takes you to see Kathmandu's Durbar Square and on to Swayambhunath, sometimes called the "monkey temple". Around 6:00 PM join us for a dinner with a traditional Nepalese meal and a cultural performance. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02Excursion to the gigantic Buddhist Boudhanath stupa and from there to the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Hindu cremations frequently dot the banks of the Bagmati River that runs through Pashupatinath. Later visit Patan, a traditional Newari architectural wonderland, and return to the hotel.
Day 03Drive to Pokhara, a 210 kilometer trip lasting approximately 4 or 5 hours by private minivan or automobile. This is a spectacular trip that follows the the beautiful Trisuli River through the heart of Nepal, called the Middle Hill and Valley region. On arrival check into Hotel Kantipur or similar hotel. After a rest, walk around Phewa Lake then overnight at the hotel.
Day 04Early morning drive to the top of Sarangkot Hill, approximately 30 to 40 minutes, to enjoy one of the most beautiful Sunrises in the country. From here you can see a huge swath of the Himalayan rage, including Mount Annapurna I, Dhauligiri, Manaslu and Mount Machhapuchchhre, all a mere 50 kilometers away. (Optional activity: Paragliding from Sarangkot Hill, ask us about it!) Later we visit Davis Falls; Gupteshwar Cave; The "Bat" Cave, and then return to overnight at the hotel.
Day 05After breakfast, boating in Phewa Lake and visit the Varahi Temple that sits on a tiny island in the middle of the lake. It's a 5 minute drive to the airport and the return flight to Kathmandu. There's usually enough time to see anything you missed the first time around, like Patan Durbar Square, and then a free evening for shopping in Thamel. Overnight at Hotel Grand, or equivalent quality lodging.
Day 06After breakfast check out and drive to historic Bhaktapur where you visit the Durbar Square, the Golden Gate and a famous four-faced Shiva Lingam. Bhaktapur is also home to many traditional potters, a must see. From here we drive to the airport for a return flight to Kathmandu.