Nepal Adventure: Rafting & Safari – 10 Days

Greetings from Nepal. You will be greeted at Tribhuvan International Airport upon arrival in Kathmandu and driven to your hotel. You’re invited to unwind by the pool, get a drink at the bar, or go to your hotel for a good start to tomorrow because it probably was a long flight.

You’ll leave for the domestic airport early today to catch a trip to see Mount Everest. Return to the hotel for breakfast after crossing something off your bucket list.

A viewing tour of Pashupatinath, the most revered of all Hindu temples in the nation, continues the morning. Only Hindus are allowed inside, however non-Hindus are welcome to observe from the other bank of the sacred Bagmati River.

After that, you’ll go to Boudhanath, which may be the biggest Buddhist shrine or stupa in the entire world. Buddhists hold Boudhanath in high regard; there are many monasteries from different sects of Tibetan Buddhism located here, including one that is home to a sizable seated statue of Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha). Take a break for lunch on the rooftop of one of the numerous eateries that encircle the stupa.

Then proceed to Swayambhunath, often known as the “Monkey Temple,” which is one of the oldest sanctuaries in the world and was built more than 2,500 years ago.  Swayambhunath, a temple perched on a hill, offers an excellent perspective of the city below and the surrounding area. However, the temple itself is equally worth your time. The Buddha’s loving eyes are depicted on each of the four sides of this old building, and a mysterious third eye representing perfect wisdom is painted in the space between the eyes. The nose is the Nepalese figure of “one,” a sign of togetherness, and it appears as an unfinished question mark.

You’ll fly for 25 minutes to Pokhara after a delicious breakfast. On a clear day, you will be able to see the Annapurna mountain range from the air, one of the tallest in the world.

You will be welcomed and driven to your hotel in Pokhara after landing at the airport.  The panoramic vistas of Machapucchare and three of the fourteen 26,000-foot (8,000 m) peaks in the world—Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu—are among the area’s most impressive sights.

The afternoon can be used to unwind at your hotel or get outside on one of the many little walks nearby. A relaxing approach to unwind is to enjoy beverages on the patio at sunset while seeing the stunning Annapurnas.

Day four is your opportunity to explore the surrounding sites of Pokhara. You’ll get a flavor of the more peaceful Nepal, compared with the congestion and bustle of Kathmandu.

The following activities are accessible from your lodging:

• A ridge-top walk visiting local villages
• Short hikes and environment and bird-watching walks led by naturalists
• Reading about illustrious mountain expeditions while taking a break in Col. Jimmy’s library
• Taking a cooling dip in the infinity pool

After breakfast, it’s time to depart the lodge for a two-day rafting excursion on the Seti River. You will reach the rafting starting spot after a 90-minute journey; here, your guide will give you a briefing on the surroundings and different rafting tactics. This grade-III river offers a relaxing journey with a few white-water rapids and plenty of breathtaking scenery.

You’ll arrive at the river camp after three to four hours, and the crew will be waiting to greet you with refreshments and snacks.

Grab your helmet and vest after breakfast; another exciting rafting morning is waiting. The destination is GhaiGhat, where a car will be waiting to drive you into the Chitwan National Park forest.

A welcome drink will be served to you in the dining room of your accommodation. When you get to the garden, lunch will be ready for you. The huge pool makes it simple to idle away a warm afternoon swimming and reading with a refreshing drink in hand. Settle into your accommodation or explore the lodge grounds.

A naturalist will accompany you to get the most out of this experience, so after tea and cookies in the main area, take a journey to the Narayani River to see a family of elephants swimming and having fun there.  Before dinner, go back to the lodge for a hot shower and a cold beverage.

Early in the morning, you’ll follow the elephants to the grasslands, where the mahouts — those that tend to elephants for a living — will feed the animals, showing you grasscutting and binding techniques along the way. To top it off, while watching the elephants graze in the mist, you’ll be handed a steaming cup of celebratory traditional Nepali tea.

Breakfast is waiting for you back at camp. The remainder of the morning is spent with the mahouts, who prepare kuchis (sandwiches for the elephants) and supervise their daily routines while the elephants relax in their corrals. Around midday, lunch will be provided, after which you can unwind like the elephants.

Join the elephants and their keepers for a stroll in the jungle as the sun sets. You’ll walk next to the creatures while you observe them and take in their trumpeting and rumbling. A naturalist will lead you through the jungle, grasslands, and marshes while keeping an eye out for elephants. Tiger tracks, deer, many bird species, and, depending on the route, perhaps one or two rhinos are among the surprises.

Fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, and bacon will be provided for breakfast outside under shady mango trees to get the day started right.  After that, it’s time for a Narayani River safari. The excursion starts with a stroll through the riverine forest on foot or in a bullock cart and ends with a leisurely float down the river. Keep a look out for any birds or other wildlife, particularly the critically endangered fish-eating Gharial crocodile.

You’re welcome to return to the pool for another early afternoon of sunbathing and relaxing after the lodge serves a Nepali-style lunch.

Once you’ve finished your afternoon nap, you’ll meet a naturalist for a jeep safari in a classic Land Rover to experience Chitwan’s forest. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; the knowledgeable guide is there to help. You might see deer, birds, monkeys, the threatened one-horned rhinoceros, and, hopefully, the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger during the safari.

To wave goodbye to the neighbourhood elephants or to participate in a final-minute jungle activity like bird viewing, get up early. You’ll be driven to the airport in Bharatpur after breakfast to catch a short flight back to Kathmandu. After this, you’ll take a transfer to your hotel where you can spend the remainder of the day as you choose (perhaps shopping for some last-minute souvenirs).

Meet up with your tour guide in the evening for a final dinner in a Nepalese restaurant. You must return to Tribhuvan International Airport in the morning to catch your trip home.