The Ultimate Nepal Experience

The fun begins the moment you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Once you have cleared passport control and picked up your luggage, you will be greeted by our representative at Himalayan Planet Adventures and taken to your hotel by private vehicle to relax and rest up from your long flight.  There will be an orientation in the evening to prepare you for the Ultimate Nepal Experience.

There is no better way to orient you to the uniqueness of the Kathmandu Valley than by taking a tour of the Valley. Larger than the country of Singapore, the Kathmandu Valley is steeped in mystery and adventure. Today we focus on four of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which will include:

Swayambhunath Stupa – The most sacred place in the Kathmandu Valley is also the oldest holy site. Situated on a hillock overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhu is over 2000 years old. While a Buddhist holy place, it is a unique synergy of Buddhism and Hinduism as you will only find in Nepal.
 

Kathmandu Durbar Square – This is the place where the kings of Nepal were crowned for centuries, Kathmandu Durbar Square has nearly 60 temples, the old royal palace along with being home of the famous Kumari, the living goddess which you may have an opportunity to see. Many of the temples here date back several hundred years.
 

Bouddhanath – The largest Buddhist stupa in Asia (and third largest in the world), it is home of the largest Tibetan Refugee community in Nepal. This place is home to Buddhist monasteries where you will see genuine Tibetan Buddhism is practiced.
 

Pashupatinath – Situated on both sides of the sacred Bagmati River, this is the most sacred Hindu shrine in all of Nepal and one of the most sacred in all of Hinduism. There are many temples here along with gurus and babas teaching and praying. There are many sacred ghats or cremation sites where faithful Hindus are cremated, ensuring them a better life in the next reincarnation.

In the evening, you will return to your hotel for the night.

Today take a mountain bike and tour north of the Kathmandu Valley. We are climbing the hills of the Valley rim around Shivapuri National Park. The roads twist and turn as you snake up the hills to your first destination of Mudhku Bhanjyang. Rising to an elevation of 1533 m, the clear skies of this community open you to a most magnificent view of the Langtang and Ganesh Himal Ranges.

Continue in an easterly course to reach the next village of Tokha. The road is full of twists with hidden valleys and waterfalls along the way. It’s a challenging day, taking about six hours before returning to Kathmandu for the evening.

Today we leave the Kathmandu Valley to make our way to the mighty Trisuli River which bisects Nepal. This is a world-class rafting river with plenty of white-water opportunities. It’s a full day with three hours of rafting excitement on the river. We travel by first class tourist bus to our launch site, taking with us a box lunch. We return to Kathmandu by local bus refreshed from the experience.

Your driver greets you well before sunrise as you journey by private vehicle to the fabled viewpoint of Nagarkot. Sitting at an elevation of 2,175 meters, it is considered the best place in the Kathmandu Valley to witness a perfect sunrise over the Himalayas.

Nagarkot is high above the Valley, and you can look down upon the clouds as the sun begins to rise. From your vantage point, see on a clear day from Mt. Everest in the east to Mt. Dhaulagiri, the 7^th highest mountain in the world in the west. In between are numerous mountain ranges with their stunningly brilliant peaks.

Once the sun has risen, enjoy a delicious breakfast before starting off on the trail to Changu Narayan. It’s about a three to four-hour leisurely journey to one of the most interesting villages in Nepal. Along the way, pass through picturesque villages and see terraced farms. There are great views of not only the Kathmandu Valley below but also the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.

Changu Narayan is an ancient village overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. It features the oldest Hindu temple in the Valley, dating back 800 years. The entire village has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its stepped, flagstone streets and deep taps where women come daily to get water and wash clothing. All along the main street are small shops featuring craftsmen carving in stone and wood as they have done here for centuries.

Today is a long day of around 10 hours. Return by private car to your hotel for the night.

It’s your final day in Nepal as you prepare to leave this magical land behind. No doubt you don’t really want to leave, and we can’t blame you. There is so much more to see and do in Nepal and you only have gotten a small taste of what all is here. You might want to talk to your friends at Himalayan Planet Adventures about extending your time. No matter what your interest, you can find it in the enchanting world of the Himalayas.