Himalaya Discovery

After breakfast you begin a day’s sightseeing in Kathmandu. You make your way to Swayumbhunath - a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site - for stunning views across the Valley. After spending some time visiting the atmospheric Pashupatinath Temple, you’ll drive to Bhaktapur - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one time Valley capital. Still a functioning town, Bhaktapur is a superb place to spend the night, a city of potters and pagodas - this is the East as people imagine it! Guesthouse - 2 nights (B)

You'll have the morning at leisure. This afternoon, you’ll take a journey of approximately 4 hours north to little-known Nuwakot, a delightful small town near the Trisuli River. You’ll stay at the newly restored and locally owned Famous Farm. You’ll have the chance here to enjoy the charming settings with a number of short walks around the area. Guesthouse - 1 night (BD)

This morning you leave Bandipur and drive a couple of hours to Pokhara. The setting of this lovely little town could hardly be improved. It lies beside Phewa Lake whose still waters reflect the backdrop of stunning Himalayan peaks – Annapurna I, Machhapuchhare (The Fishtail Mountain), Annapurna II, III, IV and South Peak, all crowding the skyline.

There are really two towns here today; one is the busy section, with hotels and restaurants down by the lake that most tourists find themselves in, and the other consists of the noisy back streets of the diminishing old town. Here you will find the bazaar, with traditional buildings built by Newari artisans who migrated westwards from Kathmandu three hundred years ago. Today is free to explore the town. The group leader will be able to recommend and help you to organize any activities or visits that you may wish to do. Hotel - 2 nights (B)

A five hour drive to the fertile grounds of lowland 'Terai' is characterized by a dramatic change in landscape as the road heads to the warmer climes and to the periphery of the world-famous Chitwan National Park, spread over 932 square kilometres of floodplain. The park has a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife, including the famed insignia of Chitwan, one-horned rhino, and the elusive royal Bengal tiger, of which there are believed to be around 80 roaming in the park. An experienced jungle guide will accompany you on your excursions, perhaps the most exciting of which is your safari on elephant-back, penetrating deep into the jungle - rhino, bison, wild boar, monkeys, and a wide array of birds (over 400 species on record) are a common sight, and with luck on your side even the royal Bengal tiger, bear and leopard are a possibility.

Another highlight of the trip is the canoe ride on Rapti River, which drapes the national park, the banks of which are home to sun-bathing 'mugger' crocodiles and the unique long-nosed 'gharial' crocodiles. Afterwards you walk to the Elephant Breeding Centre. Elephants at the breeding centre are well attended to and are taken out by their mahouts (elephant drivers, whose commands they’re used to and follow) on a daily basis between the hours of 10:30am and 3pm, where they go into jungle for collecting fodder, safaris and bathing. However, please remember that elephants are naturally wild animals and their behaviour can at times be erratic and highly unpredictable, especially in the absence of their trainer and controller. Therefore in the interests of visitor safety, please be advised that elephants are chained during the centre’s opening hours. Please also keep your distance from elephants while embarking and disembarking on safari.

Keeping you engrossed and buoyed over the span of your stay will be a village tour, bird-watching walks and cultural shows. Lodge - 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2)