Nepal’s Golden Triangle: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan-8 Days

You’ll get vistas of the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below as you soar into Kathmandu. After clearing customs, a representative will be there to welcome you outside the airport and help you navigate the initially disorienting tiny, winding streets of Kathmandu to your accommodation.

After you’ve settled in, go exploring in the city. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is an excellent site to start your trip because it is surrounded by tiny stores, historic temples, and neighborhood eateries. Swayambhunath, the white stupa standing above the valley, is the ideal location to watch the sun set over the valley if you want to get some exercise.

The evening is a nice time to eat, and Thamel, a popular tourist destination, offers a wide selection of eateries serving both Western and regional Nepali cuisine.

You’ll drive to Bhaktapur, one of the three old cities in the Kathmandu Valley, after breakfast. Bhaktapur, one of three historic cities in the Kathmandu Valley, is located about 8.5 miles (14 km) to the east of Kathmandu; the city, which is formed like a conch shell, has been respected since it was established in the ninth century.  This place, also called Bhadgaun, which means “city of devotees,” is where the valley’s authentic medieval art and architecture can be found.

Once you’ve had a chance to explore Bhaktapur, you’ll make your way back to Kathmandu to see Swayambhunath, which is set atop a hill and is where the fabled Buddhist saint Manjushri first saw a lotus growing in the long-gone Kathmandu Valley lake. Swayambhunath is one of the best places to see religious cooperation between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus and offers a beautiful perspective of Kathmandu.

One of the world’s oldest sanctuaries, the stupa is a Buddhist building in the shape of a dome that dates back more than 2,500 years. The greatest Buddha statue in Nepal is Swayambhunath; it is made of a solid hemisphere of brick and soil supporting a conical spire topped with a pinnacle of copper gilded. Monasteries also showcase prayer wheels and exquisite artwork. Lord Buddha’s all-seeing eyes are painted on the spire’s four-sided base.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is then yours to explore, shop, and, of course, check out Kathmandu’s nightlife and many great restaurants.

Driving time: 2 hours (return)

To avoid traffic in Kathmandu, you’ll start your overland journey to Bandipur right after breakfast. After a late lunch, you’ll arrive in Bandipur and have the rest of the day to explore the quaint settlement. You might want to climb the neighboring hill before sunset to observe the stunning formations of the foothills as they change color.

Bandipur is a living museum of Newari culture and sits atop a tall ridge above the highway stop of Dumre. It is a community that has been carefully preserved. Traditional Newari homes adorn its winding pathways. Even though it has required a lot of work to maintain the mystique while growing the town as a tourist destination, time seems to have stopped here. Despite being close to the earthquake’s epicenter, a few of village homes fell, but overall Bandipur only suffered minimal damage.

Driving time: 6 hours

After savoring the dawn and the early morning, you’ll depart Bandipur and travel by land to Pokhara, one of the magical locations to see the Phewa Lake and the majestic Machhapuchhere (22,890 feet/6,977 meters) rising behind it. You can go to Begnas Lake en route, a lovely location for a quick walk or boat cruise.

You will check into your accommodation after arriving in Pokhara, then go out and explore the lakeside before unwinding over supper.

Valley of Pokhara

The second-largest city in Nepal, Pokhara, is located in a serene valley next to Phewa Lake and rises to a height of 2,713 feet (827 meters). Many of Nepal’s well-known treks and rafting locations begin here. In the valley that encircles Pokhara, there are dense trees, roaring rivers, a clear lake, and famed Himalayan views.

Driving time: 3 hours

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Pokhara Airport for your flight to Bharatpur, Chitwan’s main airport. A car will meet you there to take you to the jungle of Chitwan National Park.

After you arrive at your lodge, settle in and take a walk around the grounds. You can choose from a number of activities to do this afternoon or simply relax and enjoy some free time.

Flight time: 20 minutes

Choose from a selection of options today, or spend the day unwinding and adventuring on your own. The beautiful elephants of Nepal can accompany you on a full day of jungle safari excursions as you hunt for wildlife in the dense jungle. Alternatively, you can go on a river safari in historically accurate wooden canoes to see animals and birds along the river banks.

The bigger one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer, and barking deer, as well as a rich diversity of birdlife, are among the wildlife in Chitwan. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Royal Bengal tiger, leopard, or sloth bear (although tigers are becoming less and less common to see these days).

After breakfast in Chitwan, you’ll be transferred to Bharatpur airport and return to Kathmandu by flight.

Once you’re back in Kathmandu, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours. Explore the city’s streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

Flight time: 25 minutes

It’s time to bid Nepal adieu. Take advantage of your last few hours in Kathmandu by eating breakfast in a café, taking one more stroll past the temples and down the winding lanes, and buying one last souvenir. To get you to the airport for your journey back home, a driver will be waiting for you at your hotel. It is ideal to arrive at the airport at least two hours before takeoff.