Nepal Tour: In the Shadow of the Himalayas (8 Days)

Arrival in Kathmandu

On the night of 10 January, we meet tour representatives at Istanbul Airport. We depart for Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, at 01:20 on Turkish Airlines direct flight TK 726. After a flight of approximately 7 hours, we arrive in Kathmandu at 11:10 local time. We are met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After a short rest, we visit UNESCO heritage site Durbar Square, the historic Hanuman Dhoka palace complex and Thamel Market, where local handicrafts are sold. In the evening, we attend a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

We spend the night at the 4-star Lo Mustang Hotel.

Temples and Bhaktapur

We begin the day with a visit to Pashupatinath Temple, on the banks of the Bagmati River, one of Hinduism's most sacred sites. We then visit Bouddhanath Stupa, a Buddhist temple notable for its large size. In the second half of the day, we walk through the narrow streets of Bhaktapur, a city known for its woodcarving and preserved historic character, where traces of the Middle Ages remain. A local menu is served for dinner in Kathmandu.

We stay at the 4-star Lo Mustang Hotel.

Swayambhunath to Bandipur

In the morning, we visit Swayambhunath, known as the Monkey Temple, on a hill overlooking the city, and take in panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley. We then observe local life at Ason Market. Afterwards, we travel by road to Bandipur, a mountain town overlooking the Himalayas. In the late afternoon, we walk through the village square to see its traditional architecture. For dinner, we enjoy local dishes at the mountain hotel. We spend the night at The Old Inn Bandipur.

Pokhara and Phewa Lake

After spending time in the mountain air, we reach Pokhara, the city of lakes, after a journey of approximately 2,5 hours. We visit Devi's Falls, where the water flows underground, and the sacred Gupteshwor Cave beneath it. Towards sunset, we take a boat tour on Phewa Lake, taking in the mountain views and their reflections on the water. We have dinner by the lake, enjoying the view. We stay overnight at Swiss International Hotel Pokhara.

Elephant safari in Chitwan

We set off early in the morning for Chitwan National Park. After lunch and a rest, we go on an elephant-back safari through the forest, looking for rhinos, deer and rare bird species. In the evening, we take a canoe tour on the Rapti River, ending the day quietly observing crocodiles and waterbirds. Dinner is served outdoors at the resort.

We spend the night at the 4-star Green Park Chitwan hotel.

Chitwan nature and Tharu culture

We spend the whole day exploring Chitwan. In the morning, we go birdwatching and take a nature walk. We then visit the elephant care centre to observe the elephants' life stages. In the evening, we watch a traditional dance performance by the Tharu tribe, the local indigenous people.

For dinner, we enjoy dishes from Tharu cuisine and stay at the 4-star Green Park Chitwan hotel.

Back to Kathmandu

After breakfast, we return to Kathmandu by road, a journey of approximately 5 hours. Upon arrival, we have free time for last-minute souvenir shopping. On the final evening of the tour, we enjoy our farewell dinner in Nepal.

We stay at the 4-star Lo Mustang Hotel.

Return to Istanbul

After an early breakfast, we transfer to the airport at around 09:30. We depart for Istanbul at 12:35 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 727. We arrive at Istanbul Airport at 18:25, where our tour ends.