Kathmandu, Pokhara Tour-7Days

Namaste and a happy welcome to Nepal! When you get to Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will welcome you with a beautiful Khada made of marigolds. After that, a private, comfortable vehicle will take you to your lodging.

Upon arrival at the Hotel, you may rest and Adapt to the vibrant energy of Kathmandu. You may take your time settling in and getting a first look at the city's busy streets in the evening. The Thamel is famed for its colorful markets and pleasant cafes. You might want to check it out.

We start our tour of Kathmandu's living legacy after a big breakfast. The first stop is the beautiful Kathmandu Durbar Square. This museum, in the open air, shows off the amazing architecture of the Malla period, when beautifully carved temples and palaces told stories of ancient kings and queens.

The Golden Roofed Taleju Temple is amazing, and the stoic Hanuman statue  defending  the  former  royal  palace  is  much  more  so.  You  could  even  see  the  Living Goddess (Kumari) come out of her holy home. The area is full of life, from temple events to local market booths. It's a great way to get a taste of Nepal's diverse culture. We  keep  going  to  the old  Swayambhunath  Stupa  (Monkey  Temple),  which  is  impressively placed on a hill that looks out over the valley. Legend has it that this holy place sprang out of nowhere when the Kathmandu Valley was still a lake. 

You may find one of Buddhism's oldest temples by climbing 365 stairs with joyful monkeys. At the shrine, Buddha's all-seeing eyes look compassionately  across  the  valley.  You  can feel the spiritual energy here, with prayer flags blowing in the wind, people praying around the stupa, and the smell of incense in the air. In  the  afternoon, we go to Patan Durbar Square, which is known as the "City of Fine Arts" because  skilled artisans have been honing their abilities  there for decades. 

This  architectural paradise has beautiful castles, stone courtyards, and bronze work that shows off Newari art at its best. Don't miss the famous Krishna Temple, which has beautiful stone carvings; the historic Royal Bath, which shows off amazing hydrology; and the many workshops where artists still do metalwork  and  thangka  painting  the  way  they  did  hundreds  of  years  ago.  Every  part  of  this UNESCO site shows why Patan is still the keeper of Nepal's most advanced creative legacy.

Get comfortable in our vehicle as we leave the busy streets of Kathmandu and go west into the peaceful beauty of Pokhara. The trip takes around 6 to 7 hours and looks like a moving postcard as it follows the twisting roads along the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. As you travel from the city to the countryside, you'll  see  traditional  villages  where  people  still  live  as  they  have  for  generations,  farmers tending to emerald-green terraced fields, and snow-capped peaks in the distance that get closer and closer.

The air is considerably cleaner, and the mood gets more relaxed as we get closer to Pokhara. The first time you see Fewa Lake shining in the afternoon sun, with the stunning Annapurna range in the background, it will steal your breath away. As the sun sets behind the mountains this evening, settle into your lakefront room and perhaps take a leisurely stroll along the coast. This will set the mood for the natural beauties that you will explore tomorrow.

Today is a great balance between the beauty of nature and the peace of the spirit. We start our trip with a peaceful boat ride over Phewa Lake, where the clear waters wonderfully reflect the beautiful Annapurna range. As the morning sun shines over Machhapuchhre's famous fishtail peak, you may glide by little islands and observe fishermen in traditional wooden boats. We then look at some of nature's most interesting contrasts.

For example, Davis Falls, where a whole  river  disappears  into  strange  underground  passages,  and  Gupteshwor  Cave,  a  natural temple with stalactites and Hindu temples concealed under the ground. The day ends with a beautiful hike up to the World Peace Pagoda, which is white and beautiful and sits on top of a hill covered with trees.

This holy site not only brings peace to the soul, but it also has one of the most beautiful views in the valley. The entire Annapurna range can be seen over the horizon, while Pokhara sparkles next to the lake below. As the sun sets, take a stroll around the lively Lakeside neighborhood, where attractive cafés, artisan stores, and the soothing lapping of the lake waves create the perfect setting for reflecting on the amazing things that happened today.

We start before daybreak, heading up to Sarangkot in the calm of the morning. As the first golden light hits the horizon, you may see an incredible sight: the sun setting the snow-covered peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges on fire with red and gold. The famous fishtail top of Machhapuchhre seems like you could reach out and touch it in the bright morning air. This is a magnificent experience in the Himalayas that you will never forget.

After taking in these amazing vistas, we go down for breakfast and then start our picturesque journey back to Kathmandu. The 6- to 7-hour trip goes through river valleys and terraced hillsides, giving you one last look at the timeless beauty of rural Nepal. The view changes from peaceful farmland to a busy city as we get closer to the capital. You may rest in the evening. Maybe you'll have a goodbye meal and think about how different Pokhara's calm lakes are from Kathmandu's busy streets.

We begin our final day of travel at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a medieval masterpiece where the tall pagodas and royal courtyards create a sense of timelessness. Walk down cobblestone lanes that are full of the sounds of traditional pottery wheels, and the smell of fresh bread baked over an open fire fills the air. The beautiful 55-Window Palace and Golden Gate show off Newari architecture at its  best,  while  the  Nyatapola  Temple  is  a  great  example  of  how  smart  people  used  to  build things.

As the light of the afternoon fades, we move on to the Boudhanath Stupa, which is the spiritual center  of  Tibetan  Buddhism. The Buddha watches over the long line of pilgrims who are walking around the huge mandala and spinning prayer wheels. The air is filled with the sound of monks singing, prayer flags waving, and the calm beat of devotion. This creates a deep sense of tranquility that has lured spiritual seekers for ages. As night falls, we complete our tour at the holy Pashupatinath Temple.

See the deeply touching ceremonies along the Bagmati River, as traditional Hindu customs come to life among temple spires and sadhus meditating on the ghats. The twilight aarti ceremony fills the air with incense and chanting, making for a dramatic goodbye to Nepal's spiritual environment. This is a scene that will never change, where life, faith, and eternity all come together in the fading light.

Enjoy one more breakfast in the Himalayas as your trip across Nepal comes to an end. Take a moment to think about all the amazing things you've seen and done along the trip, such as the solemn chants in old temples, the peaceful reflections on Phewa Lake, the beautiful dawn above Sarangkot, and the busy streets of Kathmandu. When the time comes, you will be taken to Tribhuvan International Airport with warm wishes and a customary Namaste.

When you check in for your flight, don't only bring back trinkets. Bring back the warmth of Nepali hospitality, the beauty of its landscapes, and the peace of its hallowed places. Your  adventures  finish  here,  but  the  spirit  of  Nepal—the  mountains,  the  people,  and  the peace—will stay with you long after you go home.