13 Days
from
$4,529 pp ex Perth
Tour only from $3,199
Single Supplement – $999
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Authentic Experiences
Discover Nepal in a way few travellers do on this 13-day small group tour filled with colour, culture, and connection. Ride a rickshaw through the winding backstreets of Kathmandu, stand beneath the towering Boudhanath Stupa, and learn the art of the singing bowl. Watch artists at work in a Thangka Painting School, taste your way through Bhaktapur, and spend a night in a welcoming Panauti homestay.
In Chitwan National Park, head out on land and water safaris to spot wildlife, then unwind in lakeside Pokhara as the sun rises over the Annapurna range. Every day brings a new story, a friendly face, and an experience that stays with you long after you return home.
- Explore the backstreets of Kathmandu by Rickshaw
- Visit Boudhanath, the world’s largest Buddhist stupa
- Have an experience with a Singing Bowl
- Visit the Thangka Painting School
- Explore the UNESCO site of Bhaktapur with local tastings and see a pottery class
- Visit Bamboo School and learn about this amazing national education program
- Visit one of the oldest temples in Nepal, Changunarayan
- Stay at Panauti Homestay with many local activities
- Go on land and water safari in Chitwan National Park
- Explore Pokhara and the Phewa Lake, the second largest in Nepal
- Experience an incredible sunrise with views of Annapurna
- PLUS so much more!
Journey Map
Fitness Level
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Moderate
Challenging
Tough
Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal!
On arrival in Kathmandu: Having cleared immigration, collected your luggage and passed through customs, please make your way towards the exit of the terminal building where you will see a bank of people waiting. Amongst them will be an Office Representative who will be waiting to greet you with a paging board.
Upon Arrival transfer to hotel for check in.
In the evening, welcome dinner at Dechenling Restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi 4* or similar. Meals: Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
Today we start the day with visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square. Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of the old city Kathmandu. Once residence of Nepal’s royal family it has numerous ancient shrines and temples in and around the premises. The place is decorated with wooden carvings and rich architecture and history. All around the splendor of historical monuments is the hustle & bustle of the marketplace. Vegetable vendors, trees of flutes, salesmen with their wares displayed on their person, souvenir hawkers, and street shop selling imported goods and tucked away in a quiet corner the glittering bead market for custom made bead necklaces. A few steps away is the Temple of the Living Goddess, from where you can see the Kumari in one of the open windows that overlook the inner courtyard.
Enhancement activities:
- Rickshaw ride: Later, we can take a rickshaw to Thamel. The rickshaw ride will take you through the narrow streets of Kathmandu and you will see the old traditional houses with many wooden sculptures.
Later, visit Patan, city of fine arts. Patan is better known as “The city of a thousand golden roofs.” Once separated from the capital, Patan and Kathmandu are now separated only by a bridge over the Bagmati River. The city of Patan has recovered its label of origin “Lalitpur”. The historic heart of the city is entangled with narrow streets and theatrical decoration: brick houses with carved wooden balconies and bronze decorations, patios and backyards that house oratories, temples, etc. The city is famous throughout the country for its traditions of blacksmith and goldsmithing. Artisans model effigies of the divinities of the Hindu and Buddhist pantheons. Many stupas, chaytyas and bahals (ancient Buddhist monasteries) attest to the long history of Buddhism in the city that remains today a Bastion of Newars Buddhism in the Kathmandu Valley. The four stupas, erected in the four cardinal points, originally defined the city. They were erected during the reign of Emperor Ashoka some 250 years before our era.
Enhancement Activities:
- Session with Singing Bowl
Singing bowl therapy: Metal Singing bowls are used to deepen meditation and promote relaxation. They produce sustained sounds and vibrations when hit or circled with a mallet.
Sound therapy and guided meditations often make use of singing bowls. Bowls of varying sizes are placed around the room, around your body, or on your body. You can use them by yourself or with the help of a meditation or healing practitioner.
- Visit Thangka Painting School
Many local artists in Patan operate workshops where they create Thangkas for religious institutions, art collectors, and tourists. These workshops often offer guided tours and opportunities to learn about the process of creating Thangka paintings.
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi 4* or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
In the morning, visit Boudhanath. Boudhanath which is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist stupa (temple) and a site of great veneration for Buddhists. Around the stupa a number of monasteries have sprung up number of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism including one (on the west side of the stupa) that houses an enormous, seated statue of Maitreya Buddha splendidly adorned. The Stupa is located in the area of ancient trade route to Tibet where Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Hence, a complete township has developed around Boudhanath.
In the afternoon, visit Pashupatinath Temple. Pashupatinath is one of the holiest Hindu Shrines. This is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most important religious sites among the four in the world. Pashupatinath Temple’s existence dates back to 400 A.D. The temple covers a huge area and the river Baghmati flows through the premises which is a very holy river. Cremations of the Hindus take place on the riverbank where there is a raised platform. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple that is also known as ‘The Temple of Living Beings presiding deity here is Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of the lingam. However, only Hindus are allowed inside.
Later, after sightseeing, drive back to hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi 4* or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
In the morning, drive towards Bhaktapur.
Bhaktapur is located about 20 km east of Kathmandu and drive around 30 min. Bhaktapur is another Newar city founded in the 9th century. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the centre of Bhaktapur. The Square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights some of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. The main items of interest in Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate and the statues of kings on stone monoliths. The Golden Gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla as the entrance to the main courtyard of the Fifty-five Windowed Palace. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th Century. Bhaktapur Durbar (Royal) Square was added to the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1979.
Enhancement Activities:
- Taste Juju Curd: Bhaktapur had been a city from where the local special curd was always supplied to the royal palace. In this way, the local curd got a name “Juju Dhau”, “Juju” means King, and “Dhau” means curd. We will taste this special curd from one of the local producers.
- Pottery Experience: One of the most practiced works in this medieval city is “Pottery”. We can see the local people making clay products using wooden sticks to turn wooden wheel, keeping clay on the wheel and giving the shape as they like. This is the technique they had been using to make clay pots since their ancestors. Anybody interested can make his/her dirty by trying to make similar one.
Later, visit Bamboo School. Bamboo School was established in 2002 and with about 1300 students in the first year. Now they have expanded with currently 51 schools in 51 districts of Nepal and still expanding. They have plan to expand their educational empire across Nepal’s 77 districts. Government of Nepal provides free schooling education system but the quality of education in this school is very low. So, to provide quality education for the low-income family the tuition fee is very affordable at just Rs 100 ($1) per month for all students. Accommodation: Hotel Heritage 4* or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
In the morning, drive to Changunarayan temple for visit followed by a small hike to Telkot. Changu Narayan Temple: The oldest temple in the valley is the Changu Narayan Temple, located 22 km from Kathmandu and a 25-minute drive from Bhaktapur city. The original temple was built in the 4th century during the time of the Lichhavi rulers and is perched on a hill overlooking Bhaktapur city. Much of it was rebuilt in the 18th century. This temple is known for its beauty, location and age. It is a Vishnu temple. One of the oldest Lichhavi period stone inscriptions is also found here. A Vishnu image with ten heads and ten arms is another fine example of stone carving from the 5th century.
After sightseeing at Changunarayan hike towards Telkot (approx. 1.5hrs).
The area of hiking is along the scenic ridge of greeneries between Changunarayan hill and Telkot. The path is superbly spectacular with the wonderful sight of the valley down to the Kathmandu, Sankhu and Bhaktapur. The walk follows the saddle of a ridge with great views of the valley on one side and the Himalayas on the other. The route passes through small villages and farmlands that are almost always bustling with activity as the farmers work their fields. Few Tamang villages lie between Changunarayan hill and Telkot.
Later, drive towards Panauti. Panauti is one of the oldest towns in Nepal consisting of many temples and monuments. It is a small state and has a population of about 15000 people. This old town is situated at the confluence of the two rivers Rosi and Punyamati. In addition to these two rivers, third river named Lilawati also converges by making tri junction called Triveni. This historical site consists of variety of Buddhists and Hindu religious monuments making it one of the most important medieval sites. Tourists will often find here colorful stones, petals and other items laid out on the pavement to welcome everyone with great hospitality.
The town has been listed as the UNESCO tentative site since 1996. Panauti is one of the oldest towns in Nepal. It was a small state given by the king Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. This town was founded by Ananda Malla between 1274-1310 AD, however others believed that it was founded by King Harisingh Dev as the golden scripture dated 1385. The golden scripture is located within the Indreshwar temple. The town was once the busy trading hub during the era of kings and queens. It was a separate town until the unification of Nepal.
Upon arrival at Panauti, check in at Panauti Community homestay.
Activities at Panauti Homestay:
- Welcome ceremony with Tika & Garlands & Welcome drinks.
- Visit Panauti Village.
- Cooking class with local people.
- Wear Traditional attire/ Sari – A dress, worn especially by South Asian women, consisting of a very long piece of thin cloth wrapped around the body.
- Mehendi Ceremony – Practice of making designs on someone’s hands with henna (a reddish-brown dye), especially for someone’s wedding day in Nepali weddings.
Accommodation: Panauti Homestay or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel. After breakfast, drive back to Kathmandu Domestic Airport for a short flight to Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan. [25 mins Flight]
Upon arrival, meet by your Naturalist and drive towards your hotel in Chitwan.Chitwan National Park today stands as a successful testimony of nature conservation in South Asia. This is the first national park of Nepal established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem significantly valuable to the whole world. The park covering a pristine area of 932 sq. km is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal. There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is especially renowned for the protection of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, gharial Crocodile along with many other common species of wild animals. The estimated population of endangered species of animals such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelopes, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and python, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth, palm civet, wild dog, langur, rhesus monkey, etc.
Lunch is served at the hotel. In the afternoon, Ox-Cart ride to local Tharu village.
Accommodation: Jagatpur Lodge 4*Star or similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
In the morning, experience the most exciting activity in Chitwan – Full Day Jeep Safari. Enjoy Jeep safari, an unusual program, beginning as a jeep safari with an experienced driver at the wheel and an expert naturalist leading you deep inside the forests on motorable tracks, exploring the mystery and magic of the jungle from the comfort of your seat. This exciting activity lasts from 3 hrs. Up to 4 hrs. in search of wild animals such as several types of deer (spotted deer, barking dear, hug dear), monkeys, wild boar, sloth bear, Hyena, leopard and, if lucky, the Royal Bengal tiger. Apart from the wild animals, we would visit deep inside the national park where the Naturist would brief you about the forest and its types, trees and its species, different species of birds etc.
Lunch is served inside the park. After safari drive back to hotel. Leisure at hotel.
In the evening BBQ dinner at hotel.
Accommodation: Jagatpur Lodge 4* Star or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
In the morning Canoe ride at Rapti River. Start boating in a traditional patela boat for about 45 minutes which takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view aquatic birds, crocodiles, Gharials and the animals of the riverbanks. After boating walk back to the resort.
After canoeing short, guided jungle walk & visit Crocodile Conservation Project visit. Guests will be taken to the Crocodile Conservation Project, an initiative to preserve and protect the endangered crocodiles of the park. Established in 1971, the Gharial (distinguished from other crocodiles by its narrow snout) conservation centre has been breeding this endangered species and releasing them to the wild every year. Our naturalist will accompany them, guiding them and providing information about various methods and programmes being undertaken to increase Gharial population in the wild.
Accommodation: Jagatpur Lodge 4* Star or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
After Breakfast, drive back to Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan for a short flight to Pokhara. [20 mins Flight]. Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 900m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is known as a centre of adventure. The enchanting town has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic. Geology of Pokhara got built up almost 12 to 13 thousand years ago because of having huge floods from the bottom of Fishtail Mountain through Seti River as this river is a glacial river origin from the base of fishtail mountain.
Upon arrival, check in at your hotel.
In the Afternoon an hour boat ride on Phewa / Fewa Lake.
- Phewa Lake: The center of attraction in Pokhara is the Phewa Lake – the second largest lake in the Kingdom. It is the largest and most enchanting of the three lakes that add to the resplendence of Pokhara. Here, one can sail or row a hired boat across to the water or visit the island temple in the middle.
In the afternoon, visit Gandharva tribal community: The Gandharva is a tribal community of musicians and singers who live in the Pokhara region of Nepal. They are also known as Gayak and Gaine, which both mean “singing”. The Gandharva is part of the Indo-Aryan ethnic group. They are traditionally traveling musicians who sing folk songs and improvise new songs. They play the Nepali sarangi, a type of violin, as their main instrument. They are Hindus by religion. They are sometimes called “caste of professional musicians” and “itinerant bards”. Gandharva’s traditional singing occupation is dying out. Many young people work as taxi drivers, and some have food shops which improved them financially and socially. They are regarded as untouchable and treated as marginalized in Nepali mainstream society.
In the evening, take a leisure stroll along the scenic lake, stop at one of the many lakeside cafes, and enjoy the splendid scenery in sight, you may feel the time seems to stand still here.
Accommodation: Atithi Resort & Spa 4* Star or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (during wedding)
Breakfast is at hotel.
Early in the morning, drive to Sarangkot to see the sunrise and magnificent views of Annapurna. At an altitude of 1592 meters, this mountain is located north of Pokhara overlooking the valley and Fewa Lake. Sarangkot is a beautiful town known for its sunrise, where on a mirrored day you can see an unobstructed view of the Himalayan Mountains in the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Fishtail range. The view of the Annapurna Himalayas from Sarangkot is almost a religious experience. From here you can see a panoramic sweep of the Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) in the west to the perfect pyramid of Machhapuchhare (6,997 m), the peak of Annapurna II (7,937 m) to Lamjung (6,983 m) in the East. Most people come here at sunrise or sunset, when the sun picks up the peaks, turning them from a purple pink to a heavenly gold.
Drive back to hotel for breakfast and free for couple of hours to rest. Later, visit major places of Pokhara city.
- Shiva Temple: Shiva Statue is one of the major attractions of Pokhara Valley. It is the tallest statue of Lord Shiva in Pokhara. This statue was built in Mathura of India and then brought here in Nepal and installed. It is located in the southern part of Pokhara at an elevation of 1500 meters from sea level. Another attraction of this statue is Shiva Damaru which is the biggest in Asia.
- World Peace Stupa in Pokhara, also called Shanti Stupa, is a stunning monument located on the Anadu Hill overlooking the mesmerizing Phewa Lake with the charming Annapurna Mountain range in the backdrop. It is a popular tourist attraction and a striking landmark, or a pleasant pit stop for the intrepid climbers. The surroundings have several trekking trails to cross Phewa Lake and explore the Himalayas. The picturesque beauty is quite captivating, and the tranquil vibe of the monument is worth a visit for those seeking it.
Accommodation: Atithi Resort & Spa 4* Star or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Free day at Pokhara. Leisure/ Shopping, or Optional Activity:
- Hot Air Ballon
- Helicopter Flight to Annapurna Base Camp.
Accommodation: Atithi Resort & Spa 4* Star Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
Later, drive towards Pokhara Airport for a short flight to Kathmandu. [25 mins Flight]. Upon arrival at Kathmandu drive towards hotel.
Mha Puja, the worship of the inner self, is unique to people from Newari community. Newar believe that one needs to understand and respect oneself before he/she can understand others. Mha puja is a process of purification, strengthening and understanding of oneself. This celebration carries all the grandeur that a typical Nawa festival or ritual possesses. It is also distinct from other Hindu or Buddhist worships; in that it is the worship of oneself and not the usual worship of Gods and Goddesses or others. Mha puja exposes the relationship of a person with the surrounding nature and the cosmos. Understanding one’s role in life makes him/her more knowledgeable and unselfish. Worshipping and blessing oneself to achieve unselfishness and generosity is unique by itself. Mha puja is also for prosperity and physical wellbeing. No other Newar festival is solely devoted to enriching oneself both physically and spiritually. The religious and spiritual aspects of Mha puja fall perfectly in line with the socio- religious nature of Newar festivals. Incidentally, Mha puja is performed and celebrated on the Newari New Year’s Day, giving it additional social flavor.
Mha Puja is celebrated with as much vigor as any other important festival. According to Hindu religion, soul or the inner self never dies. Only the body which the soul uses as a vehicle dies. The soul gets to be born in a bodily form (human, animal, plant, etc.) according to its performance in past incarnations. Human life is considered the superior being at the top of the life cycle. It is interesting to note that Mha puja perfectly fits into this popular Hindu mythology and yet it is unique to Newa culture. The worship of the divinity in oneself takes place in a sophisticated, interesting and exhilarating atmosphere. The elaborateness with which Mha puja is performed exemplifies the Newa tradition of well-organized and devoted rituals on a grand scale.
Later, in the evening Cultural Program followed by dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Barahi 4* Star. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
A full day to explore Kathmandu on your own, or relax before your flight home. Farewell Nepal!
What’s Included?
- Economy Class flights with Malaysia Airlines
- 12 night’s accommodation in Nepal
- Meals as per the itinerary
- All transfers throughout
- All road transportation throughout
- An English-speaking local guide
- All tours as mentioned in the itinerary
- Kathmandu – Chitwan domestic flight in Nepal
- Chitwan – Pokhara domestic flight in Nepal
- Pokhara – Kathmandu domestic flight in Nepal
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Availability
| Start Date | End Date | Duration | Availability | Price |
|---|
Start Date
April 11, 2026
End Date
April 23, 2026
Duration
13 days
Availability
Available
Price
4,529 AUD
Why Choose Mike Drew Travel?
Hand-crafted journeys & immersive experiences
Small group tours providing intimate connections to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection to the community, tribes, cultures and lands explored.
We’ve walked the walk
Exploring the world’s most remote reaches and challenging destinations requires a high level of expertise which can only be learned from first-hand experience. We know because we go.
Your safety first
In an ever-changing global landscape of rules, regulations and restrictions, rest-assured you are being looked after by those in the know. Given the remote regions that we explore, our passengers safety is our top priority.