NATURE WITH HIMALAYAN, CULTURE AND WILDLIFE TOUR

ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU

Our representative will be meeting and assisting you at the Airport and Transfer to the Hotel. Upon arrival, we check in the hotel near old city. Relax for a while and take showers and the evening are free to explore the street on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Welcome Dinner

KATHMANDU FLY TO POKHARA

Today, after breakfast at the hotel we will transfer you to Kathmandu airport for short flight to Pokhara. It is approx about 20 minutes. This flight offers you magnificent view of the Himalayan peaks of the west including Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Lamjung and Annapurna.
Pokhara is a beautiful town, with panoramic views of Annapurna, Machhapuchhare, and Dhaulagiri in the west, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu in the east. Pokhara is considerably less hectic than Kathmandu with clean and peaceful environment. Pokhara is gateway of Annapurna Region trek.
Explore beautiful Phewa Lake, known for its tranquility and picture perfect postcards; or visit Devi Falls, a minor waterfall named after a tourist lady fell inside the cave like place with waterfall.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast

POKHARA FLY TO JOMSOM AND DRIVE TO KAGBENI AND DAY TRIP AROUND KAGBENI VILLAGE

Today early in the morning, we will drive to Pokhara airport for the early flight to Jomsom, it is extremely scenic. On a clear day, one can enjoy the great views of the Annapurna (8091m), the Dhaulagiri (8167m) and many more radiant peaks standing there tall and mighty shining in all its glory. You can have breakfast in Jomsom before heading over to cross the Kali Gandaki River.
Upon landing at Jomsom airport, we will drive towards the village of Kagbeni so that you can explore around the Tibetan village and have a lunch. The village is a friendly vibe with its ever smiling people. There is also the oldest monastery in the Mustang district. There is an excellent skyline over the famous Kingdom of Mustang and Mt. Dhaulagiri. There are also ruins of castles and caves scattered around where monks and Buddhist teachers of the ancient kingdom used to practice their rituals.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

MARA- A TRADITIONAL VILLAGES

Today, after breakfast at the lodge we will have a day trip to Mara Village it is a quiet village and on the way you can view the most amazing landscapes, red and yellow arid mountains chiseled by the strong north winds of the high Himalayas. The jeep maneuvers through the interesting mountain roads passing some interesting Tibetan villages reaching Muktinath (3800m), the ultimate pilgrimage site for both Hindu’s and Buddhists. After the temple visit we drive back to Jomsom.
Lunch is served in Jomsom and we then drive out to Marpha (2680m), a popular tourist stop along the Kaligandaki gorge. Narrow but clean stone paved alley’s, white washed houses, Tibetan shops, a beautiful monastery overlooking the classic village and Thakali hospitality is bound to make your night in the Himalayas memorable.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

JOMSOM FLY TO POKHARA

After early morning breakfast you will transfer to Jomsom airport for Schedule flight to Pokhara. Arrive and transfer to Hotel, After short preparation proceed for sightseeing places to visit Bindhabasini Temple, Bindhabasini is the mother goddess who fulfills the wishes of her devotees, Seti River, it is provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow Devi’s Waterfall is locally known as the Patale Chhango (Hell’s Fall). Gupteswor Cave is a sacred and natural cave there is temple of Load Shiva, So that is known Mahadev cave, The Barahi Temple is the most important monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the center of Phewa Lake, this two-storyed pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of’ Ajima where to go by boat ride in Fewa Lake. Fewa Lake, the second largest lake of the country, is the centre of all attraction in Pokhara. Return to Hotel. Evening free time for individual activities.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

POKHARA DRIVE TO CHITWAN

Early breakfast at hotel, prepare for about 5 hours tourist bus drive to Chitwan. A picturesque drive along Trishuli River seeing beautiful villages takes you to Chitwan. During our drive, if you wish to stop, you may do so for photography or for other purpose. Then, eventually you will enter the southern plains of Nepal.
Once you reach Chitwan, You will be met by the lodge’s manager. The manager will brief you for the coming day’s activities. The remaining number of nights and days will be handled by the Lodge. All the activities and meals will be included at the lodge.
Below is the tentative itinerary for the Lodge Activities
Arrive at Chitwan. Upon arrival there will be a short briefing on the program and our facilities and the rooms will be assigned.
At 1:00 O’clock Lunch is served
3:00 PM: Elephant-back safari: Guests will ride on an elephant to explore the jungle and wildlife the one-horned rhinoceros, several types of deer, monkeys, wild boar, bison, sloth bear, leopard and, if lucky, the Royal Bengal tiger. This exciting ride lasts for 2-3 hours.
7:00 PM: Slide presentation. One of our jungle experts will introduce background data and history of the Chitwan National Park as well as some other topics relating to wildlife. Your questions are most welcome.
OR
Tharu Stick dance: Farmers of the nearby villages will show some of their traditional skills and dances. 8:00 PM: Dinner at the central dining hall.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

FULL DAY JUNGLE SAFARI IN CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

5:30 AM: Bird Watching: Wake-up call followed by tea or coffee and proceeds for bird watching. Out of 519 species of the birds we have recorded 276 species in our area. Hence, the area around resort View is considered a Paradise for bird watchers. Our guides will help you to identify some of the species of these birds.
8:30 AM: Breakfast at the resort.
9:30 AM: Elephant briefing/Bathing program: Learn more about these fascinating animals during a visit to our elephant stables. (Note: Elephant bathing has done during summer season as elephant loves to bath in the river willingly. Elephants are not forced to take a bath during the cold season/day).
1:00 PM: Lunch at the dining hall
3:30 PM: Jeep Safari/ Canoeing (subject to weather conditions): Drive by Land Rover to Kasara, the head quarter of The Chitwan National Park to see the Gharial (Alligator) hatchery project, founded by Frankfurt Zoological Society. After a short briefing about the project & visit, drive to the oxbow lakes (Lami Tal & Tamar Tal) by Land Rover through dense sal forest to encounter various plants and other wildlife. After the drive come down to the Rapti River at canoeing put in point. Start canoeing in a traditional dug-out canoe which takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view aquatic birds, crocodiles and the animals of the river banks.
7:00 PM: Tharu Stick dance: Farmers of the nearby villages will show some of their traditional skills and dances.
OR
Slide presentation. One of our jungle experts will introduce background data and history of the Chitwan National Park as well as some other topics relating to wildlife. Your questions are most welcome.
8:00 PM: Dinner at the dining hall.
Accommodation: Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

CHITWAN FLY BACK TO KATHMANDU

6:00 AM: Wake –up call followed by tea or coffee, and then proceeds on a Nature walk. This encounter on foot with the environment will introduce the main features of eastern Chitwan. Sal forest, open grassland and riverside jungle. Our guides will help you identify some species of birds, plants and other wildlife that you may encounter.
After breakfast in the morning, since Chitwan is a bird paradise of resident and migratory birds, making it a delightful and educational experience for every bird watcher. The special bird watching tour can be arranged too. Then, you will be transferred to Bharatpur airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, by jeep or coach from Resort, which is 22 kms south from the airport. We meet our representative at the Kathmandu airport who will assist us to get in a hotel. While we check into a hotel we get some refreshments and we will have a guided tour of Kathmandu Valley.

We will then continue to Boudhanath stupa, to the northwest of the city where we find the Boudhanath stupa – “Nepal’s largest Buddhist shrine”. The 40m high Boudhanath stupa is surrounded by a ring of Tibetan buildings which include several important temples – or Gompas – one for each of the four main directions within Tibetan Buddhism. There is almost always some kind of ceremony in progress and we may see Tibetan pilgrims walking in a circular fashion around the stupa and turning the many prayer wheels as they pass – always in a clockwise direction. A number of high-ranking lamas live and teach here.

Both are very important Buddhist heritage sites, both places are important sites for Buddhist communities. After the tour of the Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, you will be having a buffet lunch. Enjoy your lunch with the great views of the Kathmandu city from a high place. Enjoy the nature, birds and the sound of the insects, birds. After your lunch, you will be walking down to the car park and drive backs to your next destination the Pashupatinath Temple. Approximately about 5 kms northeast of Kathmandu, is situated amidst many other temples on the right bank of the river Bagmati. Pashupatinath is the guardian spirit and the holiest of all Shiva shrines in Nepal. Pashupatinath area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to pay homage to Pashupatinath every day. And on special occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) people congregate here in far greater number. Pashupati area is also included in the list of world cultural heritage. After the tour, you will be dropped at the Hotel.

Accommodation: Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DEPART KATHMANDU

Your trip comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. If you have more time you can do some shopping or sightseeing. A representative from Aaradhana Travel will take you to the airport approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight.

Meal: Breakfast