Traditional Culture & Wellness of Nepal

(6 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Kathmandu & Kathmandu Valley, Dhulikhel

This private luxury tour combines cultural touring in Kathmandu with time to relax and rejuvenate during wellness activities at a luxurious retreat overlooking the Kathmandu Valley.

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."

Continue to Dwarika's Resort Dhulikhel, a luxurious retreat in the forested hills overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Relax on your private terrace, taking in panoramic views of the high peaks of the Himalayas above and the rural valleys below. Enjoy a wide range of activities at the resort according to your interests, such as yoga, chakra meditation, consultations with an Ayurvedic doctor, tours of the organic farm, hikes through villages and farms in the hills, cooking classes, spa treatments, traditional Himalayan healing sessions, and pottery and painting lessons.