Overnight international flight to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival and airport reception, transfer to the hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Enjoy a guided tour of Kathmandu City beginning with Kumari Ghar – home to Nepal’s most important living goddess, and the Hanuman Dhoka Palace. Then, proceed to the Kal Brairab shrine, a colorful memorial to the Hindu God of destruction, followed by a visit to Taleju Temple, the city’s most magnificent temple.

Afterwards, embark on a sightseeing tour of the Swayambhunath Stupa. Celebrated as one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the world, this majestic structure sits highly on a nearby hilltop overlooking Kathmandu Valley (The April 2015 earthquake caused major damage to this Heritage Site and reconstruction is currently taking place). In the afternoon, travel through Patan, the “City of Fine Arts”. Stroll through the famous Durbar Square, where Krishna Mandir, a temple built in honor of Lord Krishna that is considered to be the world’s finest example of stone architecture, can be seen. While walking around, enjoy the many traditional artists and sculptors throughout the streets (Due to the April 2015 earthquake, some of the temples here have been damaged and reconstruction is under process.)

Note: Yampu recommends an optional one hour mountain flight for unforgettable aerial views of the Himalayas. Experience the thrill of seeing Mount Everest up close, as the plane flies two aeronautical miles in front of the Natural Wonder. Please inquire with a Yampu travel consultant for more details.
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Morning visit to Pashupatinath, Nepal’s oldest and most holy Hindu temple. Situated upon the banks of the Bagmati River, this is an important ritual and cremation site, as the water flows into the Ganges. Proceed to Bouddhanath, one of Asia’s largest stupas that has earned the nickname of “Little Tibet”, as it has become a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism. Standing tall at thirty-six meters (118 ft), this white mandala-shaped structure is a symbol of the universe that facilitates meditation for the local Tibetan Buddhists (The top portion of the Stupa was slightly damaged by the April 2015 earthquake. Currently renovation is under process.)

In the afternoon, go on an excursion to the medieval city of Bhaktapur, located about an hour’s drive outside of Kathmandu. In this “City of Devotees”, wander through the winding lanes lined with old homes and temples that date back to the 13th century. Beginning in the city’s Durbar Square, marvel at the intricately carved deities and monsters of the richly molded Golden Gate before entering the Palace of 55 Windows that incorporates exquisite wood carvings into its medieval design. (Bhaktapur is one of the most affected areas of the April 2015 earthquake. Renovation is currently under process.)

Then, see the Lion’s Gate, with its huge guarding lion statues, before continuing to the Nyatpola Temple, a beautiful five-storied, 17th century pagoda. The last stop of the day will lead to the splendorous Bhairab Temple, which is dedicated to the Lord Buddha. Before returning to Kathmandu, take some time to watch the skill of the traditional potters as they work at the Pottery Centre and the Dattratraya Temple.
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Depart Kathmandu, driving approximately 5 hours to Chitwan National Park. After checking into the hotel, enjoy an afternoon of jungle activities. Begin tracking some of the resident wildlife on the back of an elephant for closer viewing or take a leisurely jungle walk with an experienced naturalist to intimately explore the local flora and fauna.

Awake for a full day of jungle activities. Today cover more ground on a guided 4x4 Landrover safari that goes further into the park for a chance to track more animals. For something a bit different, there is the option of taking a canoe trip for a different perspective. These peaceful canoe trips usually embark upon the Rapti or Narayani rivers and offer better chances to see many of the waterfowl as well as crocodiles and the rarely seen Gangetic dolphin.

Awake for a final day of jungle activities. Use today for more wildlife tracking or to try something different, like a cultural walking tour of a local Tharu village. Something of interest here are the traditional stick dance performances put on by the villagers. Moreover, some other must-sees in the park include the Elephant Breeding Program and the Gharial Crocodile Breeding Project.

Drive approximately 5 hours to Kathmandu airport for a flight to Pokhara. Upon arrival in Pokhara, airport reception and transfer to the hotel for check in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in this remote mountain paradise.

In the morning enjoy a half day excursion to the nearby hillside village of Sarangkot, which offers a visual feast of the Annapurna mountain range to the north and sweeping views of Phewa Laka and the Pokhara Valley to the south and east.

In the afternoon embark on a sightseeing tour of Pokhara city, which includes the Bindyabashini Temple, Seti Gorge, the Bazaar and Devi’s Falls. The Seti River roars through the middle of town, but it can’t be seen without looking as it has cut a deep and narrow gorge through the city, which is only a meter across and up to 50 meters (164 ft) deep at some points. Likewise, Devi’s Falls are also another popular attraction, which marks the point at which the Pardi Khola steam plunges dramatically beneath the earth, creating quite a natural spectacle.

Afterwards, continue taking in the natural beauty on a one hour boat ride upon Phewa Lake.
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Drive approximately 6 hours back to Kathmandu for a flight home or continue with an optional Yampu Tours add-on. Although a lengthy drive, it will be an unforgettable one as it passes through the snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas, rice fields terraced into the sides of mountains, and pristine rivers flowing with crystal clear water.

Note: This drive may be replaced with a thirty minute flight, as there are daily flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara.