Nepal boasts a rich cultural diversity, and it is well worth exploring. The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal is a dream-world for many and reality for some. Once experienced they can never be forgotten, never dismissed from memory whether ones experience of them is visiting age-old Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and royal palaces with amazing sculptures, paintings, legends and living rituals. Nepal is not only regarded as "Shangri-la" for adventurers but a scenic revelation and an educational in itself to all visitors. Once seen they become a part of you, habit-forming and intrusive. We have put our best effort to incorporate all cultural delights as well as natural beauty that Nepal has to offer, which you can chose depending on your time availability.

ITINERARY

Day 1. In Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu. Your group leader or the office representative will meet you at the airport and will transfer you to Hotel Yak and Yeti. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag at 5 pm.
Welcome dinner is organized at 6:30 pm in one of the traditional Nepali restaurants and this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the fellow group members before the trip.

Day 2. In Kathmandu
In the morning we explore Patan and Bhaktapur on an organized sight seeing tour. In Patan visit the old Newar City, the historic Durbar Square, the Golden Gate, the sky piercing temple of Teleju and the statue of Yogendra Malla, other temples, old carved windows and balconies of wood, curio shops and bazaars. Then we will Bhaktapur which is one of the three major towns of the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur means "the city of devotees" in the Sanskrit language. It is also known as Bhadgaon. The palace complex in the middle of the city portrays the prosperity of the Malla years and the details at which the crafts- people then worked. The palace of fifty-five windows stands in the square and it was home to many kings of Bhaktapur.It is perhaps the most popular of the three Newar towns of the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 3. In Kathmandu
In the morning we explore Kathmandu on an organized sight seeing tour visiting Durbar Square, Kumari Chowk (Palace of the Living Goddess) and Swayambhunath Stupa (also known as Monkey Temple). The early afternoon is free to relax in the spacious hotel garden or you may wish to visit Thamel for shopping. In the afternoon you will be supplied with tour departure information.

Day 4. Drive to Pokhara
Early in the morning, head west by our private vehicle to Pokhara, keeping your camera handy. As the road follows the Trisuli river part of the way, you will see the rafters gliding down the rapids. Further on the way you will see the cable car taking local people to Manakamana Temple. We finally reach Pokhara and stay overnight at Fish Tail Lodge.

Day 5. In Pokhara
After breakfast we take a boat trip in the Phewa Lake. You can admire the stunning view of the Fish Tail Peak reflecting in the silver surface of the water. You can also see the wonderful Annapurna panorama forming a superb backdrop to Pokhara from the lake. Later in the afternoon we will visit the old city and the local market of Pokhara. Aside from sight seeing, we keep visiting the Seti River gorge - one of the best places to see. You will have an opportunity to take a glimpse to the limestone cave of Mahendra Gufa, used to be well-known for its stalactites. Stay overnight at hotel Fish Tail Lodge.

Day 6. Fly to Kathmandu and drive to Nagarkot
We will drive directly to Nagarkot by passing Bhaktapur. Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views. We can see the panoramic views of the captivating landscapes and hills with the Kathmandu valley. You can breathe the cool mountain breeze in Fort Resort. Overnight at the Fort Resort.

Day 7. Walk to Changu Narayan and drive to Dhulikhel
After breakfast we walk down to Changu Narayan, one of the oldest temple of Kathmandu Valley. Though being very old it is well preserved. Good chance to see the devotees visiting the temple. After that we drive to Dhulikhel and check in at Dhulikhel Mountain Resort. Dhulikhel is a small township, 30 kms from Kathmandu, along the Chinese-built road which leads to the border. It is at an altitude of 6000 ft and offers superb views of Cho Oyu in the east to Himalchuli in the west. The little town exudes great charm in the bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping tile-roofs, pagoda-temples and sacred statues everywhere. Lot of temples dot the town and the skyline. Many vantage points offer a panorama of the Himalayan Mountains. Besides bird watching, hiking and mountain biking are some of the activities that can be undertaken here.

Day 8. Drive to Kathmandu
After breakfast we drive back from Dhulikhel to Kathmandu for final days guided sightseeing tour. We will visit Boudhanath and Pasupathi Nath, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world and the most famous Hindu temple in the country. We will have dinner at local restaurant and overnight at Hotel Yak and Yeti.

Day 9. Trip concludes (Unless further plans are made)
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

The day-to-day schedule should be taken only as a general guide. A variety of factors, including adverse weather conditions, difficulty with transportation and politics can lead to enforced changes. Because of this it is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will run exactly according to the planned itinerary. The trip leader will make any changes, which are necessary.

NEPAL EXTENSIONS

There are a variety of interesting extensions you might choose to add on either before or after your trek. These options include:

Chitwan National Park:
It provides excellent opportunities to view the rare species such as sloth bear, bison, rhinoceros, leopard and the exclusive tiger. Early morning jungle walks and safaris on elephant back are amongst the most popular activities. The jungle lodge can be reached from Kathmandu either by air or by private vehicle.

White Water Rafting:
On the Trisuli or Seti Rivers.

Mount Everest Scenic Flight:
An hour flight departs Kathmandu early morning and provides spectacular views of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains.

Bhutan:
A five day cultural visit to Paro, Thimpu and Punakha.

Tibet:
A four day visit to Lhasa the capital city of Tibet.

Please contact the Alps in Nepal office if you plan to extend your trip and let us know in advance.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expert Leadership
Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. We have a very good selection of local leaders who are professionally trained and are among the most experienced in Nepal. Who better to look after you than your professional local leader, who speaks the language and knows the culture, intimately? The following people regularly lead this trek: 

SANJAY GURUNG: Sanjay is an experienced trek leader who has been in this profession for last fifteen years. Besides trekking all over Nepal he has also led several trips to India and Tibet. His profound knowledge and easy going personality make him an ideal choice to lead treks for Alps in Nepal.
 
PETER CHETTRI: Peter holds a very good sense of humour and adventurous spirit which has made him an asset to the company. He was born in Nepal and brought up in Sikkim. As a graduate in Arts, he has a good command over both spoken and written English. He has been leading treks with Alps in Nepal for four years. He has done a first aid training specialised in Acute Mountain Sickness. His excellent leadership has always earned a good reputation to the company. 
 
ASHIM SUBBA: Ashim is a travel enthusiast who has always been keen on adventure. He went to the University in Calcutta and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. Apart from being fluent in Nepali and English, he also speaks Japanese and has been involved in trekking for last two years. He has completed the first aid training including high altitude medicine. His expertness as a leader is one of the keys to our success.

Why Alps in Nepal is your first choice for Adventure
Alps in Nepal, combines the best of international standards with the deep knowledge of local experts. It offers you services and an experience that surpass those offered by the large international companies; with the reliability that local outfits lack. With over 15 years of experience we have successfully organized tours and treks for several thousand patrons who can testify the unique class of service we offer. Please feel free to ask us about the selection of your trip or for any further information.