Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara Tour

Overview

Nepal is much more than trekking. This 8-day Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara tour takes you to three of Nepal's best-loved places, each one very different from the next: old temples in Kathmandu, rhinos and jungle in Chitwan, and lakes and mountain sunrises in Pokhara. It is an easy-paced trip for anyone who wants culture, wildlife and mountain views in one week, with no trekking and no altitude to worry about.

You start in Kathmandu. With your English-speaking guide you visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal, on the Bagmati River; Boudhanath, one of the biggest stupas in the world, where pilgrims spin prayer wheels all day; Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, looking out over the whole valley; and Patan Durbar Square, full of old Newari temples and courtyards. If you would rather see more of the valley on its own, we also run a Kathmandu UNESCO heritage sites day tour.

Then you drive south to Chitwan National Park for two nights. You go on a jeep safari to look for one-horned rhinos, deer, crocodiles and birds, take a canoe ride on the Rapti River, visit the elephant breeding centre, walk through a Tharu village to see how the people of the jungle live, and watch the Tharu dance show in the evening. All meals in Chitwan are included. We do not offer elephant rides: jeep safaris and canoe rides are kinder to the animals and give you a better look at the park.

The last stop is Pokhara, Nepal's lake city. Watch the sun rise over Annapurna, Fishtail and Dhaulagiri from Sarangkot, take a boat out on Phewa Lake, and see Devi's Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, the World Peace Pagoda and the International Mountain Museum. The trip is run by our own team at Himalayan Social Journey (HSJ) and includes a welcome dinner, comfortable hotels and a thirty-minute massage at the Himalayan Suite spa.

How much walking is there?

Very little. The tour is graded easy, and no special fitness is needed. There is some walking at the temples and through the Tharu village, and a few steps up to the World Peace Pagoda and Swayambhunath, but most of the travelling is by road. It works for families with children and for older travellers, and the canoe ride, the jeep safari and the lake are usually the parts children remember.

What are the drives like?

This is a road trip, so the distances are worth knowing before you book. Kathmandu to Chitwan takes five to six hours, Chitwan to Pokhara another five to six, and Pokhara back to Kathmandu six to seven. The tour uses the tourist bus and we stop for tea and lunch along the way, with river valleys and green hills most of the route. If you would rather spend those hours by the lake instead, we can book the Chitwan to Pokhara and Pokhara to Kathmandu flights for an extra cost.

When is the best time to come?

The tour runs every day of the year and you can start on any date that suits your flights. October to April gives the clearest mountain views from Sarangkot and the best wildlife watching in Chitwan. June to September is the monsoon: expect rain, green hills and cloud over the mountains. Chitwan has more than 500 kinds of birds, so the early morning bird walk is worth taking in any season.

If you have a few more days, many guests follow this tour with the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek from Pokhara, or spend longer in the park on our Chitwan National Park trip. Tell us how many days you have and we will put it together for you.