Tips for Travellers in Nepal What is Trekking? Eastern Himalaya Trekking Central-Northern Himalaya Trek Western Himalaya Trekking Tours in Nepal Nature Lovers Tours Trekking Peaks Nepal Mountain Expedition Adventure & Fun

Central Tibet - 8 Days Kailash & Manasarovar Yatra Kharta Valley Trek -20 Days Lhasa - Ktm Overland Tour Lhasa-Guge Kingdom & KailashMore Tibet Packages»»

Historical - Panorama Himalayan view tours.

Day 01  Arrival K.T.M airport meet and transfer to hotel evening welcome Nepali
Dinner with culture program.

The Kathmandu Valley
It is surrounded by a tier of green mountain wall above which tower mighty snow-
Capped peaks. It consists of three main towns of great historic, artistic and culture interest. (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur). The Kathmandu valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is actuated 4223 ft. above sea-level. The ancient Swasthani scriptures tell of Lord Shiva, supreme among Hindu gods, who came down to the Kathmandu valley to escape boredom. He came as a tourist, if that is the appropriate word, but he was neither among the first nor the last of the gods to visit the Valley. Visitors have come to Nepal since time forgotten. And though the country is much different today then it was in ancient times, it has not diminished in charm; the increase in the number of visitors over the years is a living proof. Those who came to the Valley today will appreciate a lot more then Lord Shiva did in his tour. The architecture started here by the Lichhavi and Malla Kings is one such example. Much of the greenery that Lord Shiva is gone, but the forest surrounding Pashupatinath, where he stayed, is still intact. The seven World heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the highlights of the Valley.

Day 02  Early morning Mountain flight and full day Sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Mountain flight
Morning for an hour’s worth of spectacular mountain scenery. As the aircraft lifts up and heads towards the east, passengers don’t have to wait too long to find out what is in store for them. There they are – the mountains, as they always have been.

First to their far left visitors see Gosaithan, also called Shisha Pangma, Standing at the majestic height of 8,013 m. Immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying down and covered with snow. To the right of Dorje Lakpa is Phurbi-Ghyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley.

As the plane moves along, the mountains come closer and closer. Next on the vision is Choba-Bhamare, the smallest one of the lot at 5,933 m but singularly stubborn as it has never been climbed. Then appears the mountain that is not only prominent in sight but also in spiritually – Gauri-Shankar. Lord Shiva and his consort Gauri are said to protect this mountain, at the proud height of 7,134 m and the summit had a history of unsuccessful attempts till 1979.Gauri-Shankar is sharp and very conspicuous during the mountain flight.

As the plane moves towards the land of the rising sun, the eastern Himalaya a succession of glorious mountains follows. Melungtse, a Plateau – like mountain stretches up to 7,023 m, Chugimago at 6,297 m is still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956 m, Numbur Mountain resembles a breast, maternal source in the sky providing pure milk to the Shepas of the Solu Khumbu. Next is Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that at 6,511 m gleams with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears stunningly beautiful from the aircraft.

Next on the menu is Gyanchungkang, at a majestic height of 7,952 m, considered an extremely difficult climb? To the right of Gyanchungkang is Pumori (7,161m). As passengers get closer to Everest. There's Nuptse (7,855 m), which means West Peak, signifying its direction from Everest. Finally, there’s Everest (8,848m) itself, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. Much has already been written about Everest, but to actually witness it face to face during a mountain flight is something else. Even while it looms therein front of the eyes, it remains and enigma, this highest spot on earth. And we are returning on the same route back to Kathmandu.

Swoyambhunath
The history of the Valley, according to the legends, begins with Swoyambhunath, or the “the self-existent”. In times uncharted by history, Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake during his travel. He saw a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the lake’s center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-existent Lord has been a holy place.

Kathmandu Durbar  Square
It is easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly uncountable monuments in the durbar square, the house of the Living goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the square! The building here is the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty, and they resulted from the great rivalry between the three palaces of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The valley was divided among the children of Yaksya Malla. For visitors today, and for the Nepalese, it was serendipitous that they, and later their off springs, began artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in splendid constructions. Kings copied every thing their neighbors built in an even grander style. A visitor who wanders around the Square will see a round temple in the Pagoda architectural style, the temple of goddess Taleju (who played dice with King Jaya Prakash Malla), and an image of Shiva and Parbati sitting together among the many monuments.

The Square is teeming with colorful life. Vendors sell vegetables, curios, flutes, and other crafts around the Kathmandu rest house. This rest house is said to have been built with the wood of a single tree and is the source from which the Kathmandu valley got its name. Nearby are great drums which were beaten to announce royal decrees. All woodcarvings, statues, and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine, and Durbar Square is among the must important sights for Travelers to see.

 Pashupatinath
One-day lord Shiva got tired of this glittering palace on Mt. Kailash, his armies of ghosts and spirits, and even Parbati – his beautiful wife. Through his cosmic powers, he searched for a perfect place where he could holiday. Without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in Slesmantak forest in the Kathmandu valley. He gained great fame here as Pashupatinath – Lord of the Animals – before other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. The Pashupatinath where he stayed has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years; it is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. There are linga images of Shiva along with statues, shrines, and temples dedicated to other deities in the complex. A temple dedicated to Shiva existed at this site in AD 879. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold – plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarving of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction. Guheswori Temple, restored in AD 1653, represents the female “force”. It is dedicated to Satidevi, Shiva’s first wife, who gave up her life in the flames of her father’s fire ritual.

Bouddhanath
Boudhanath is among the largest stupa in south Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. They established many gompas, and the “Lit the Tibet” of Nepal was born. This “Little Tibet” is still the best place in the valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle. Monks walk about in maroon robes. Tibetans walk with prayer wheels in their hands and the rituals of prostration are presented to the Buddha as worshippers circumambulate the stupa on their hands and knees, bowing down to their lord. Over night at hotel.

Day 03  Drive to Pokhara and sightseeing around pokhara.
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara by car about 6hrs. Drive.

Pokhara
Pokhara is a rare combination of the long arrays of snow-clad peaks, crystal clear lakes, turbulent rivers with deep gorges and picturesque villages inhabited by simple and friendly ethnic people. Situated at the lap of the panoramic Annapurna Himal, the climate of Pokhara remains favorable all the year round neither too warm nor too cold. The monsoon rains are strongest during June to August. Other months are relatively dry.
The moment you step into any part of Pokhara the first thing that takes you to immediate delight is the gorgeous view of the gigantic mountains. Pokhara is in fact, the first and foremost convenient point for mountain-oriented sightseeing. Mt. Annapurna, literally meaning the Goddess of Abundant Harvest, lies at a horizontal distance of 40 km. from the valley of Pokhara which is at an elevation of just 900 metre above main sea level.

Lakes
Pokhara is a city of fine lakes with crystalline water. Phewa Tal is in the immediate vicinity of the city is with an island temple dedicated to Goddess Barahi in the middle. With its serene water reflecting the Annapurna range and a nicely preserved forest on the adjoining southern slope, this legendary second largest lake of the Kingdom remains a major source of attraction for the visiting tourists. This lake can also be enjoyed by swimming.
Begnas & Rupa, these twin lakes lie in the north-east of Pokhara valley about 15 km away from the airport. The road to Begnas follows Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway as far as Sisuwa near the police check post and branches off the road towards north. It is possible to take a bus ride to the damside of Begnas from the city.

Temples
Two temples are really worth visiting in the Pokhara area. Bindabasini temple some way between downtown Mahendrapul and Bagar is one of them. The temple is located on top of a beautiful mound overlooking the most popular area of the Pokhara city. The road to Sarangkot starts from the foot of this mound.
The next one is Barahi temple situated on a small island in the middle of Phewa Tal. A stop at this serene temple after a canoe ride is really worthwhile. There is a nice Buddhist monastery on the top of a small forested hill above Matepani east of Mahendrapul. It overlooks the majority of Pokhara area. A little south of this monastery on another small but beautiful hill in a pleasant sylvanic setting lies Bhadrakali temple which is also worth visiting. 

Tibetan Village
There are two Tibetan villages in the vicinity of Pokhara. One of them called Tashiling is in the south past Patale Chhango. The other village by the name of Tashi Palkhel is North of Pokhara at a place called Hyangja on Pokhara Baglung Highway. The Tibetan people living in these villages keep themeselves busy by producing and trading in woolen carpets and other handicraft items.

Day 04  Early morning drive to Sarangkot for Mountain View and return back to Pokhara and drive to Chitwan.

Sarangkot
This is a 1,600m high hill situated on the northern shore of Phewa lake. This breath taking view is from Sarangkot. This hill is famous for the panoramic view of the Annapurna Himalayan range. After hours stay at the top we will return back to Pokhara and have breakfast and start driving to Chitwan.

You will arrive in Chitwan Sauraha in the Afternoon. Check in to the hotel then lunch and visiting the Tharu Village sightseeing and back to Lodge 7.00 p.m. dinner and over night lodge. 

Royal Chitwan National Park
Nepal’s first and most famous national park is situated in the Chitwan Doon or the lowlands of the inner Terai. Covering an area of 932 sq. km. the park includes hilly areas of the Siwalik Range covered by deciduous Sal forest. A fifth of the park is made up of the floodplains of the Narayani, Rapti and the Reu Rivers and is covered by dense tall elephant grass interspersed with revering forest of silk cotton, acacia and sisam trees. This ecologically diverse area is the last remaining home in Nepal for more then 500 of the endangered Asian one-horned Rhinoceros and harbors one of the largest populations of the elusive and rare Royal Bengal Tiger. Besides Rhino and Tiger, Chitwan also supports a great variety of flora and fauna. There are 4 species of deer, including the spotted Chital, Leopard, Sloth bear, wild boar, rhesus monkey, Gray languor monkey, wild dog, small wild cat, the white stocking Gaur and many other smaller animals. The swampy areas and numerous ox-bow lakes of Chitwan provide a home for mars crocodiles. In a stretch of the Narayani river is found one of they few remaining of populations of the rare and endangered fish – only eating gharial, or gangetice crocodile. Here also is found one of the worlds 4 species of fresh water Dolphin. For the ornithologist and the amateur bird – watcher the park offers excellent possibilities with more then 452 species. Some of the resident specialties are peacocks, several species of woodpecker, hornbills, Bengal florican, and red headed trogons. Winter bird such as waterfowl, Brahmini duck, pintails and bar headed geese

In Chitwan National park Sauraha lunch and visiting the Tharu Village Sightseeing Elephant breeding center tours and back to Lodge 7.00 p.m. dinner and over night lodge.

Day 05  Full day in Chitwan Jungle activates.
After breakfast Canoe trip and Jungle walk and back to Camp.
12.45 p.m. Lunch and Elephant Bathing.
3.00 p.m. Elephant ride.
7.00 p.m. dinner and culture program.

Day 06 Early morning Bird watching tour about 1½ hrs. Or Elephant Birding
Centre tour and back to Camp Break fast. 9.30 A.m. Departure from hotel to
Bharatpur airport and fly to Kathmandu meet you in the Kathmandu airport
And drive to Sightseeing to Bhaktapur and drive to Nagarkot for Panorama
Mountain View.

Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is in many ways the most medieval of the three major cities in the Kathmandu Valley. Despite recent development, the city still retains a distinctly timeless air with much of its glorious architecture dating from the end of the 17th century. Most sights can be easily traversed by foot and include yet another Durbar Square, which is infinitely larger than Kathmandu's and has its fair share of temples, statues and columns, many with grisly histories behind them. For instance, the sculptor of the Ugrachandi & Bhairab Statues had his hands chopped off to prevent him from duplicating his masterpieces.

Bhaktapur second main square is Taumadhi Tole, which features Nyatapola, the highest temple in the valley, and Til Mahadev Narayan, an important place of pilgrimage. Nearby is Potters' Square, where thousands of clay pots are made and sold. East from here, through the sinuous streets of the old city center, is Tachupal Tole, another square containing temples and monasteries plus craft museums.

Nagarkot
At a height of 2099 meters above sea leavel, the hill top is visited for viewing beautiful sunrises and layout of the kathmandu Valley below. On a clear day beautiful panorama mountain including Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Gauri Shanker, Langtang and Everest can be sen from here.

Day 07 After breakfast drive to Patan and sightseeing and return to hotel in Kathmandu and free day for shopping.

Patan
Patan, the second-largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, but it's a much quieter and less frenetic place to visit. The city is justly proud of its temples and artisans and it is their handiwork that provides the focus of the stunning Durbar Square (choc) a-block with the largest display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes the Royal Palace, which contains a richly decorated bathtub, and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple. Look up to the roof struts to see carvings of figures engaged in quite athletic acts of intercourse. A few minutes' walk north of the square is the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery guarded by sacred tortoises that potter around the courtyard; and the Kumbeshwar, reputedly the oldest (1392) temple in Patan. South of the square is an area of charming streets lined with metal smiths and brassware shops?

Day 08 Final departure from Kathmandu.

 The following information will allow you to better plan your budget for tours or treks. A range of costs is given. These costs are dependant on:

• The mix of Touring and/or general Trekking,
• The remoteness of the areas visited,
• The number of guides or porters required,
• The standard of accommodation required (if there is a choice), 
• The type of ground transport used,
• The length of your visit, and
• The size of your group.

Depending on group size the costs of treks and tours range from:
1 to 3 pax     US$ 88 to 163  P/p per night.
4 to 8 pax     US$ 78 to 148  P/p per night
9 to 14 pax.  US$ 75 to 135 P/p per night.
15 to 20 and above US$ 60 to 110 P/p per night
Single supplement US$ 40 to 70 per night.

Note: The itinerary and cost for Peak climbing, Mountaineering, Tibet, Bhutan and India tours and trek are conditional apply.

Notwithstanding the costs shown above, we can tailor tours to suit almost any budget. Feel free to email us for more information.
 
Note: One tour leader will be free of cost for tours with 15 or more paying guests only. 

Children's bellow three years is free if sharing with their parents. And need to pay if they are participating on the trekking, and above three to nine year children half of the price.

Cost Includes: Accommodation in 3 to 4 star hotels in the cites as your choice, basic accommodation in a lodge or tea house or camping (depending on your itinerary and choice) during treks, guides and porters on treks, all land transfers by private vehicle, 3 meals a day on treks, all jungle safaris, all sightseeing tours as per itinerary and all necessary entry fees, permits and airport transfers.
 
Cost Excludes: Personal expenses, domestic air tickets, airport tax, drinks (soft drink, mineral water and alcoholic beverages and hot-shower on the trek), personal insurance, and extra cost due to natural calamities or accidents outside of our control.

Remarks: The cost of the trip determines with the services included during the trip so that it might be varies with the services, hotel and transfer of your wish.

Please note that our guides speak the following English languages and if required we will provide your language spiking guide on extra cost.

Note: Please contact exploretrek@wlink.com.np for more information and prices

Translate

English Chinese Czech Danish Dutch Finnish French Greek German Hebrew Irish Italian Japanese Korean Norwegian Polish Protuguese Russian Slovalian Spanish Swedish Turkish

Contact Information:

Alpine Explore Nepal
P.O. Box: 4546, Kathmandu, Nepal
+977 1 4700714 / 4700175 / 4701974
Fax: +977 -1 - 4700970
Email: info@traveltrek.asia
          sales@traveltrek.asia
Skype Address: explore.alpine
MSN Messanger: explorealpine
Yahoo Messanger:explorealpine

We are
Associated: