In the Footsteps of Buddha: India to Nepal

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Varanasi, India - Lumbini, Nepal - Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Duration:
2 days / 1 night (flexible)
Price:
from £ 429.- per person (excluding flights)

Take a spiritual overland trip from the holy city Varanasi to the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. Pass small villages and stupas before crossing into peaceful Nepal. Drive across remote countryside, watch daily life unfold from your window and wave goodbye to your stint in beautiful India. During this trip, you’ll journey from the ghats of the Ganges to the Nepalese border by private car. Along the way, you’ll see the landscape grow increasingly greener. After crossing the border, you’ll continue into Nepal, a country nestled in the Himalayas, spending a night in Lumbini before continuing onto Chitwan National Park.

Day 1 – Varanasi, India to Lumbini, Nepal

You’ll leave Varanasi early this morning. There’s a long drive ahead, but by evening you’ll be in Nepal! Along the way you’ll pass small villages and see local people working on the land. Approaching the border town Sunauli, you’ll notice how the landscape becomes greener and greener. After the necessary paperwork, you’ll continue to your rustic, comfortable hotel in Lumbini, surrounded by mango and palm trees.

Day 2 – Lumbini to Chitwan

After breakfast, you’ll visit the historic holy centre of Lumbini, scattered with ancient ruins. Since the late 1970s, Buddhist countries across the world have built their own temples here, each one more colourful than the last. It’s incredibly interesting to see how each nation interprets the Buddhist teachings. You’ll visit these temples by rickshaw. The temples by Myanmar, Sri Lanka and China are particularly impressive.

Afterwards, you’ll drive to the subtropical lowlands of Chitwan, stopping for lunch at a restaurant with gorgeous views of the green valleys. We recommend trying the typical Nepalese thalis. By the end of the afternoon you’ll arrive at our cozy lodge on the edge of Chitwan National Park. Get ready to start your Nepal adventure!