DISCOVER NEPAL

Day 1 Fly overnight from your chosen airport to Kathmandu via Doha/Dubai.

Day 2 Arrive at Kathmandu, at an altitude of 1,400m. Transfer to the centrally located, 4-star Hotel Aloft for a two-night stay. The cosmopolitan capital is colourful, frenetic and fascinating in equal measures and a great place to explore.

Day 3 Weather permitting, an optional morning tour today is a spectacularly scenic flight over the Himalayas and Mount Everest (weather permitting), approx. US$275 – bookable locally. Visit Narayanhiti Palace Museum, where exhibits include the centuries-old crown of Nepal’s monarchs, and the Golden State Coach gifted by Queen Elizabeth ll in 1961. Continue to the immense circular stupa of Boudhanath, a beacon of Buddhist belief, crowned with a white dome, built in the 6^th century, shortly after the Buddha’s death, and hugely expanded in the 14^th century; and Durbar Square, its fountains, ponds, courtyards and shrines creating a serene spiritual enclave for Hindu and Buddhist rituals, religious and royal ceremonies. (B, D)

Day 4 Drive (6hrs) to Chitwan. Nepal’s first National Park, Chitwan was established in 1973, and given UNESCO status in the 1980’s. Take an ox cart ride to Tharu village, where culture meets nature, and daily life is infused with traditional customs. Two nights at the 4-star Kasara Resort, on the border of the reserve. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Chitwan means ‘heart of the jungle’, and today’s activities include a jungle walk, a canoe ride, and a jeep safari within the park, where a rich variety of flora and fauna includes 68 species of mammals and well over 500 bird types. This evening, enjoy a Tharu cultural show and dinner, and a talk about the region’s elephants and rhinos hosted by a local jungle naturalist. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Travel (4hrs) to Lumbini, believed to be the birthplace of Buddha. Visit the Maya Devi Temple, where multi-coloured prayer flags flutter over stupa ruins, and the huge Lumbini Garden is a beautifully landscaped area, forming a cushion of calm around it; and later take a rickshaw ride. Overnight at the 4-star Hokke Hotel. (B, D)

Day 7 Drive (7hrs) to Pokhara Lakeside, the gateway to the Annapurna Mountains, set in a valley studded with temples, and hemming the shore of Phewa Lake. Sail to the Hindu Barahi Temple, Pokhara’s most revered religious monument, set on a small island in the lake. Overnight at the 3-star Atithi Resort & Spa. (B)

Day 8 Visit the Gurkha Memorial Museum, celebrating the international achievements of the elite regiment; and the Mountain Museum, covering landscapes and legends from Everest to Edmund Hillary and the Yeti. Visit the Old Bazaar, and travel to the splendidly scenic gorge of the Seti Gandaki (White River) to view the crashing cascade of Devi’s Falls. Drive up to Kandani Danda for two nights at the famously hospitable, 4-star Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, stunningly positioned above the valley, at an altitude of 2,000m. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Wake to a sunrise view of the Annapurna range (if the weather is kind) and explore on foot with a morning birdwatching walk and village walk. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the peace and panoramas of the lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Drive (5hrs) to Gorkha, and visit the ‘Tallo Durbar’ Gurkha Museum, focused on the history, campaigns, and regimental life of the soldiers. Overnight at the authentic and simply styled Gorkha Gaun Resort. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Enjoy breath taking views from the cable car to visit the Hindu pilgrimage site of Manakamana Temple, its name translating as ‘heart wish’, reflecting a belief that those who come here and wish from the heart will have their wish fulfilled. Travel (5hrs) to return to the UNESCO listed Kathmandu Valley, for two nights at the modern, 4-star Vivanta by Taj Kathmandu Hotel, in the vibrant Patan district. (B)

Day 12 Sightseeing in Patan includes the trio of Bahal courtyards of the Buddhist monastery, entered via a stately gate and packed with shrines and statuary; and, behind the monastery, the Swayambhunath stupa; and later, enjoy a ‘singing bowl’ experience. Visit the city of Bhaktapur, Nepal’s ‘cultural gem’, a living museum of arts and heritage, encompassing countless temples, and with its own UNESCO listed Durbar (royal) Square; and the Thangka Painting School, teaching the traditional artistry, motifs, and iconography of the deities of Tibetan Buddhism. Enjoy a ‘farewell’ dinner with a local family and an Everest summiteer or Sherpa. (B, D)

Day 13 Transfer to the airport for your return flight from Kathmandu, via Doha/Dubai. (B)

• Key
• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner