Description

Temples and Tigers (9D8N)

 

At a Glance

• Kathmandu, 3 nights
• Bardia National Park, 3 nights
• Dhulikhel, 2 nights

Day 1. Arrival in Nepal

Welcome to Nepal! On arrival the guide will be waiting outside the exit gate for the transfer to your hotel.

Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city of Nepal, with a population of around 1 million inhabitants. Also known as the City of Temples, the city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres above sea level.

Kathmandu is and has been for many years the centre of Nepal’s history, art, culture, and economy. It has a multi-ethnic population within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu.

Your guide will assist you with the check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure before your evening welcome meal.

Overnight in Kathmandu

Meal(s): Welcome Dinner

 

Day 2. Cultural Tour

Optional: Buckle up for a flight to the top of the world! Early morning, transfer to the airport for a one-hour scenic Everest flight. Enjoy eye level views of the snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas, including the awe-inspiring Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Boudhanath Stupa, venerated by both Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhists. The 14th century whitewashed dome and gilded tower with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha is one of the largest stupas in the world. Together with locals and monks, spin the many prayer wheels while walking clockwise around the stupa.

A short drive away is Pashupatinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the main cremation place for Hindus of Nepal. 

Transfer back to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Kathmandu

Meal(s): Breakfast

 

Day 3. Bardia National Park

In the morning, after breakfast, we will take a short flight to Nepalgunj, from which the dramatic peaks of the Langtang Range are often visible. Refreshments will be provided upon arrival, before we begin the 3-hour drive to our hotel. During our 3-night stay, we will search the reserve’s extensive forests and floodplains for its diverse wildlife, including wild boars, spotted deers, tigers and over 300 species of bird.

After the check-in, there will be brief explanation about our activities during our stay at Bardia National Park.

Overnight in Bardia

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Days 4 & 5. Jungle Safari Experiences

Our exploration of this wilderness will feature jeep drives, but we will also have the opportunity to cruise the Karnali River on boat safaris and venture into the forest on foot, as well as waiting for sightings at the blinds. This will provide us with a more intimate experience of this wild landscape, and will hopefully produce some excellent sightings, including of many birds that are hard to view well from a vehicle. We will also have the opportunity to use the special blinds, which can provide breathtaking views of normally elusive animals. 

Bardia National Park is a world away from the chaotic hustle of Kathmandu. An area of extraordinary beauty and abundant wildlife, a visit to Bardia is an adventure off the beaten track and an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Consisting of magnificent, riverine forests and extensive grasslands, the park’s 936 square kilometres are home to tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos, a few blackbucks, barking and hog deers, sloth bears, Himalayan serows, Himalayan gorals, as well as mugger crocodiles and the endangered gharial.

Nearly 300 species of birds occur in the park and during our time here we will hope to find such species as Pallas’s gull, great slaty woodpecker, crested kingfisher, wall creeper, large-billed leaf warbler, greater racket-tailed drongo and scaly-bellied woodpecker. Bardia is bounded to the west by the Karnali River, the largest in Nepal, and this enables us to explore the park by raft, as well as by jeep and on foot.

Overnights in Bardia

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 6. Dhulikhel

After breakfast we will drive to the airport and fly back to Kathmandu. After our arrival in Kathmandu, we take an hour drive to Dhulikhel, which is one of the most popular hill stations near Kathmandu. Arrival at the resort, check-in and the rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in Dhulikhel

Meal(s): Breakfast

 

Day 7. Hike to Namobuddha Monastery

Breakfast in the resort and we leave for our hike to Namobuddha. The full-day walk to one of the main stupas visited by Tibetans is a pleasant hike through fields and villages. 

After visiting Namobuddha Monastery, we drive back to hotel and the rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in Dhulikhel

Meal(s): Breakfast

 

Day 8. Visit Bhaktapur – Back to Kathmandu

After breakfast we will drive to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, one of the old kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is brimming full of ancient temples and shrines that showcase remarkable architecture, exquisite woodcarvings and metal craft. Having resisted change more than other cities, a walk through the historic squares and narrow alleys gives a ‘step back in time’ feeling.

After city tour of Bhaktapur, we drive to Kathmandu. Hotel check-in and the rest of the afternoon is free at leisure before your evening farewell meal.

Overnight in Kathmandu

Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 9. Departure from Nepal

Breakfast and time for leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meal(s): Breakfast