Highlights of Nepal

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Kathmandu & Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park

This private tour is the perfect combination of culture, history and beautiful landscapes with the region’s most luxurious accommodations.

Begin in Kathmandu, the endlessly fascinating capital of Nepal. During private touring with your expert guide and driver, walk through the lively backstreets of Old Kathmandu to see artisans’ workshops, traditional markets, and active Buddhist and Hindu temples. Explore the cultural highlights in the numerous UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument zones around the city and in the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Tour the beautiful courtyards, palaces and historic monuments of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. Circumambulate the mammoth white stupa at Boudhanath, the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, with throngs of pilgrims and worshippers, and perhaps duck into one of the smaller temple buildings to light a candle or spin a giant prayer wheel among the faithful. Venture to the hilltop Swayambhunath, another important and photogenic Buddhist temple with an iconic white stupa, flapping prayer flags, and panoramic views of Kathmandu and the foothills of the Himalayas. Observe ceremonies at Pashupatinath, a sprawling Hindu temple complex that’s the oldest and most revered Hindu site in Kathmandu. Other highlights include seeing Kumari Devi—a living goddess—and relaxing in the Garden of Dreams, a soothing green oasis. One morning, if desired, enjoy a fixed-wing scenic flight to see Mount Everest and other snow-capped high Himalayan peaks, a truly memorable experience.

In the Kathmandu Valley, tour the extensive palace districts in the former royal capitals of Patan and Bhaktapur. See beautiful traditional brick buildings with finely carved wooden windows. Visit the Patan Museum, a former palace and one of the best museums of traditional Nepalese art in the country. Peruse fine metal crafts such as singing bowls, brass tableware and gold-leafed religious icons produced in the small workshops of Patan. Browse for woodwork and ceramics created by artisans in Bhaktapur. Find the perfect shawl made of the finest Nepalese pashmina (cashmere). Learn about the iconography in Buddhist thangka paintings, and perhaps select one to take home. You will have ample time to shop for these and other typical Nepalese products, such as handmade paper and prayer wheels during your tour. Also sample local foods such as juju dhau, Bhaktapur’s unique “king yogurt.”

Upon request, we can arrange additional activities such as a cooking class in a private home, interacting with monks at a local temple, watching a thangka being made, meeting local artisans, visiting a traditional farm, philanthropic experiences and more.

Continue to Pokhara, a town at the base of the high Himalayan peaks with spectacular mountain views, well-preserved traditions and rural charm. Enjoy private walks through atmospheric villages or in the surrounding foothills. See active Hindu temples and traditional wood and brick architecture in the old town. Take a private boat ride on scenic Phewa Lake, stopping at an island temple. Venture to the hilltop Peace Pagoda for panoramic views of the lake, the forested hills and the snow-covered slopes of the Himalayas, including iconic Machapuchare (Machhapuchhare) peak. Other options include visiting Devi’s Falls or the International Mountain Museum.

Next, fly to Chitwan National Park, a beautiful landscape of subtropical forests and grasslands filled with wildlife. Stay at a luxury lodge on the banks of the Rapti River with easy access to the best of Chitwan. During safaris through this UNESCO World Heritage-designated nature reserve, look for one-horned rhinos, which are regularly seen, and elusive Bengal tigers and sloth bears. Spot herds of deer, wild boars, gharials and other animals. Chitwan is also a birder’s paradise, a biodiversity hotspot with hundreds of colorful and unusual avian species, including hornbills, darters and kingfishers. Enjoy other activities in and around Chitwan National Park according to your interests and timing, such as interacting with elephants, a walking safari, scenic boat rides on the beautiful Rapti River, visiting a village to learn about the local Tharu people and their lifestyle, and biking through local villages and farmland.

This tour concludes with one night in Kathmandu.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world