Excellent
Essential Nepal Adventure
New Tour
Discover the rich culture and breath-taking landscapes of Nepal on this 13-day Essentials adventure tour. Explore the temple-filled Kathmandu Valley and the beautiful Newari town of Bandipur. Spot wildlife on safari in Chitwan National Park, meditate in Lumbini and go boating in Pokhara. End your adventure with a spectacular 3-day Poon Hill trek in the Himalayas or opt to stay in Pokhara for a serene yoga retreat. This value-packed tour showcases the very best that Nepal has to offer, without breaking the bank, with hostel and homestay accommodation.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour Overview
Duration
13 daysStarts
KathmanduEnds
KathmanduRange
EssentialsTour Guide
Escorted by a tour leaderGroup Size
Min 4 / Max 20Minimum age
18 (maximum age 55)Departs
SundaysHotel Rating
Hostels, simple guest houses & teahousesCountries
NepalArrival Transfer
No - can be booked for a supplementDeparture Transfer
No - can be booked for a supplementMeals included
None ProvidedExcellent
4.4 out of 5 based on
275 reviews
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Kathmandu
Day 1 - Kathmandu
After arriving in the city of Kathmandu, make your own way to the hostel where you will meet your fellow travellers and tour leader for a welcome meeting on the rooftop at 6pm. Then consider heading to Durbar Square with the group to get a taste of delicious Nepalese food from one of the local restaurant before heading to the Thamal District to check some live music.
Day 2 - Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Day 2 - Sightseeing in Kathmandu
This morning there's an optional Everest sightseeing flight for early risers. Marvel at the sunrise over Everest, a truly stunning sight! We then re-group later in the morning to take in some of the highlights of Kathmandu, including the Swayambhunath Stupa Temple, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath Temple.
Day 3 - Temples in Nagarkot
Day 3 - Temples in Nagarkot
Kathmandu - Lalitpur - Nagarkot. Today, we depart from Kathmandu and head towards Nagarkot. Enroute, we make a stop at Lalitpur with an abundance of temples to visit -such as the Golden Temple and the Bangla Mukhi Temple. We also have the pleasure to meet a living goddess who lives in the area. We then resume the journey, arriving Nagarkot in time for lunch, with options aplenty. The rest of the afternoon and evening is for leisure. However, there's an optional 30-minute hike with the guide and group to a picturesque viewpoint to witness a magnificent sunset.
Day 4 - Bhaktapur & Phaphing
Day 4 - Bhaktapur & Phaphing
Nagrkot - Bhaktapur - Pharphing - Kathmandu. It's now back to Kathmandu, with a couple of stops enroute. In the morning we visit Bhaktapur, partaking in a morning walking tour of this city (UNESCO World Heritage Site). We continue onwards to Pharping, which houses a fantastic monastery for us to explore. In this monastery, we're amongst the local monks. Make sure to explore the cave which was home to the meditations of Great Master Padmanabhanagar. We then arrive back in Kathmandu, with a free evening for exploration or relaxation.
Day 5 - Chitwan National Park
Day 5 - Chitwan National Park
Kathmandu - Chitwan. Rise and shine! Today's early start begins our adventure to Chitwan. We stop for breakfast on the way, and reach Chitwan around midday with time for lunch. Once re-fuelled, we embark on a jeep safari! Spectate the wonderful abundance of wildlife this region offers - such as deers, monkeys, rhinos, sloth's, tigers, leopards and more. We then cruise along a river in a canoe, with many more sights to behold. After our canoe ride, we enjoy a cup of coffee with the sunset in the background. We finish the evening with a Tharu Cultural Show which will showcase traditional Nepalese songs and dances.
Day 6 - Temples in Lumbini
Day 6 - Temples in Lumbini
Chitwan - Lumbini. We travel onwards to Lumbini today, arriving in the early afternoon, where there's time to get lunch. We then enjoy a guided tour of the marvelous temples this area has to offer. We then spend the rest of the day exploring the Maya Devi Temple, which is the birthplace of Buddha! There's the opportunity to participate in meditation in the Ashok section of the temple grounds. We also visit a variety of other temples, built by Buddhists communities from various countries.
Day 7 - Pokhara and Momo Class
Day 7 - Pokhara and Momo Class
Lumbini - Pokhara. Today we travel to one of the most iconic cities in Nepal - Pokhara! Take some time in the afternoon to acclimatise before we enjoy a momo making class. Learn the traditional methods of Nepalese cooking, with chance to taste these iconic dumplings.
Day 8 - Free time in Pokhara
Day 8 - Free time in Pokhara
Today if free for you to explore Pokhara, with many laid back options such as local sightseeing, visiting the Mountain Museum, or relaxing by the lakeside. However, for tour-goers with action in mind, there are several optional activities which can be undertaken, such as - The Kushma bungee jump (second highest in the world!) or Paragliding.
We then gather mid-afternoon for a boat ride on beautiful Lake Phewa. This evening you can opt to join the group for a movie night at the nearby Movie Garden.
Day 9 - Poon Hill Trek or Yoga in Pokhara
Day 9 - Poon Hill Trek or Yoga in Pokhara
Pokhara - Ghorepani. The next three days offers one of the most amazing hikes in the Poon Hill region of the Himalayas. From Pokhara we head into the Himalayas embark into the Himalayas and start our hike with a largely uphill 2-3 hour trek through the jungle in Ghorepani village. Arriving in the evening, we stay in a local guesthouse for dinner and amazing sunset views.
Please Note: If you do not wish to partake in the 3 day Poon Hill Trek on days 9 - 11, you can opt to stay in Pokhara for a 3-day yoga retreat. Note - there is a surcharge for the yoga experience. If you choose to stay for the yoga experience, you can expect three days of restorative yoga practices, dance classes, tea ceremonies, candlelight meditations, and nature walks – interspersed with some leisure time for you to spend how you see fit.
Day 10 - Poon Hill & Tadapani
Day 10 - Poon Hill & Tadapani
Ghoerpani - Tadapani. On the Poon Hill trek wake up early and take an optional 1-hour hike to Poon Hill to watch an incredible sunrise with stunning panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. We then re-group and set off for our 6 hour hike, across varied terrain, mostly up hill, with a break for lunch. We arrive in Tadapani village for group dinner and more breath-taking views.
Day 11 - Jungle Trek
Day 11 - Jungle Trek
Tadapani - Pokhara. On the final day of our trek enjoy breakfast before a 3 hour hike through jungles and local villages. On this mostly flat path we eventually arrive at our end point, with a private transfer back to Pokhara. Arriving in the mid-afternoon we have free time for leisure. It might be a good idea to enjoy a foot massage after all that walking!
Day 12 - Bandipur
Day 12 - Bandipur
Pokhara - Bandipur. There's an early transfer today to Bandipur, the location of our final overnight stay. Arriving in the afternoon, partake in a walk through this preserved town with an abundance of charm. The evening is at leisure, and it is recommended that the group look to head into town for one final meal together.
Day 13 - Kathmandu
Day 13 - Kathmandu
Bandipur - Kathmandu. Today is our final day on the tour, however we have time to embark on one last thrilling activity - white water rafting! We'll spend a couple of hours enjoying the waters before we transfer back to Kathmandu, where our Nepal adventure tour comes to an end at approximately 6pm.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Post Tour Accommodation - Kathmandu
Dorm
Double
Twin
Single
Pre Tour Accommodation Kathmandu
Dorm
Double
Twin
Single
Additional Excursions
Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.
Add-on: Everest Scenic Flight
$605
per passengerAdd-on: Yoga Retreat Supplement
$125
per passengerAdd-on: Kathmandu Airport Transfer (max 2 pax)
$55
per passengerHotels
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Prices & Dates
Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Dorm' prices are based on dormitory rooms in the Kathmandu hostel and teahouses, twin share on the rest of the tour. 'Twin/Double' and 'Single' room prices include a private room upgrade at the Kathmandu hostel. Twin/Double rooms are based on two people travelling together and are subject to availability. ROOM SHARE OPTION: If you are a solo traveller and happy to share of room then you can pay the ‘Dorm’ price or you can opt for a Single Room throughout the tour, subject to availability. Note: All travellers will be in dorm style rooms in teahouses on the trek - private rooms are not available.
Similar Tours
Explore more exciting tours in Nepal to discover even more unforgettable adventures!
Our customers say
Excellent
4.4 out of 5 based on 275 reviews