The magical mountain kingdom of Nepal

• Kathmandu Valley
• Close-up views of Annapurna range
• Chitwan Safari Park

Draped along the spine of the Himalayas, the kingdom of Nepal has some of the best walking trails in the world. It’s unique scenery, timeworn religious temples and cultural treasures can only be fully explored and appreciated on foot. Our new guided walking & sightseeing holiday, Nepal Panorama, affords you the opportunity to see and experience the best of what this special country has to offer.

Our 15-night tour includes a balance of part-day walks and diverse sightseeing of man-made and natural wonders, starting from Kathmandu. We spend our first three nights here exploring the many intriguing sights that compose this mystical city. Situated due east are the Pashupatinath and Boudhanath Hindu temples, both built in pagoda style with gilded roofs, and a highlight on our first afternoon.

The following day we explore the historical centre of Nepal, the Kathmandu Valley. We start the morning with a city sightseeing tour taking a closer look at its rich culture, bustling narrow streets and jammed bazaars. The Temple of the Living Goddess – Kumari Devi serves as our next stop, before continuing onto Durbar Square that takes its name from the old Royal Palace. After lunch we drive the to Swayambhunath temple complex, one of the most popular symbols of Nepal and an important Buddhist centre. The excellent views over the Kathamandu Valley round off the day.

On day four, after a short transfer, we arrive at Kakani. Our walk from here traces a path through the forests and villages of the Shivapuri National Park where we should gain a glimpse of the Himalayan Barbet and flocks of bright minivets. We then descend to Budhanilkantha for an overnight stop. After an early breakfast the following morning we start our walk to Nagi Gompa. This walk affords beautiful views of the Nagarjun Mountain, paddy fields of the Kathmandu Valley and a visit to the Gompa monastery. We spend the night at the stunning Le Meridian Resort & Spa, where you can relax in style.

Our tour progresses onto Bhaktapur, the third major city in the Kathmandu Valley. We spend some time exploring this well-preserved medieval city on foot, before transferring to Nagarkot, famed for its stunning hilltop position. Here you can view spectacular sunsets over the valley and memorable sunrises over the Himalayas. We spend the afternoon walking in the surrounding hills, admiring the panoramic views of Mount Everest that add a magical touch to this exclusive spot. The following morning includes a sunrise vista to marvel followed by a days walk towards Dhulikhel passing Tamang village and magnificent views of the Himalayans.

Day eight undertakes a walk to the medieval city of Patan through paddy fields and interesting villages. Patan is the second major city of the Kathmandu Valley and is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. The following two nights are spent at Hattiban where the programme will include a full days walk through green rice terrace fields to the ancient village of Bungamati and a half day walk to the hill top of Champadevi with majestic views of the Himalayas.

From day 11 we take a short flight to Pokhara to enjoy three nights at the beautiful Fishtail Lodge, situated beside the Phewa Lake. Our afternoon walk includes 3 hours of moderate hill walking to the Peace Temple where you can admire the lake from above. The next day we walk through the small colourful ethnic villages of Gurungs and Ghaleys, winding around terraced fields to a vantage point for a stunning mountain panorama. Our final day in Pokhara involves a walk to the magnificent David’s Falls followed by a leisurely boat trip across the lake itself, surrounded by Himalayan snow capped peaks.

From day 14 we travel onward to the Narayani Safari Lodge, situated on the banks of the Rapti River in the Royal Chitwan National Park. Here we spend two nights at a more leisurely pace, riding on an elephant with close-up views of magnificent rhinos, a river trip in a dug-out canoe, and the opportunity to experiencing something of the local culture with a visit to a nearby village. On day 16 we take a leisurely return drive to Kathmandu for a final overnight stay and farewell dinner, affording us time as a group to reflect and recount tales of this amazing holiday.

Those of the more adventurous spirit may be tempted by a five-night trek of the Annapurna mountain range. We trek below the great mountains, with wonderful views of Machhapuchare, Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, camping in comfort in idyllic spots on ridge tops and valleys. Our trek follows the Ghalel ridge at about 8,000ft passing through Gurung, Brahmin and Chettri villages.

Why not try...

A guided walking and sightseeing holiday in India and Bhutan, click here for more information.

[Back to the top]