Day 1 – Welcome to Nepal!
When you arrive in Kathmandu, your driver will be waiting to take you to a small heritage hotel in historic Patan, just south of Kathmandu. The property has been carefully restored in traditional Newari style, and the rooms combine this classic design with modern comforts. It offers a strong sense of local culture and is a peaceful base for exploring Patan’s beautifully preserved Durbar Square and intricate temples.
Day 2 – Free time to explore Patan
Patan is one of our favourite corners of the Kathmandu Valley. While many visitors head straight for Kathmandu, Patan has a more laid-back feel, with quiet alleyways, hidden courtyards and beautifully preserved temples around every corner. Start at the impressive Patan Durbar Square before wandering through the backstreets, where local craftsmen still create intricate metalwork and wood carvings using traditional techniques. There are plenty of small cafés and rooftop terraces where you can pause for a cup of chai and watch daily life unfold below.
Optional: Wellness experience
Step away from the buzz of Kathmandu and slow things down with our AVATA Wellness package. This well-balanced experience combines yoga, a relaxing massage and a sound bath healing session, rounded off with a nourishing three-course dinner. Ideal if you’re arriving after a long flight or looking for a calm end to your trip, it’s an easy way to reset and feel refreshed without committing to a full retreat.
If this sounds of interest, ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Day 3 – Transfer to Pokhara
After breakfast, you’ll be collected by your driver and driven to Pokhara (a journey of around 6 hours). As you approach Pokhara, you’ll see the Annapurna Mountains appear on the horizon, including the most striking landmark, Machapucchre, and Fishtail Mountain. You’ll stay in a comfortable hotel near the centre, within walking distance of Phewa Lake. Here, you’ll find everything from small bistros to colourful restaurants, serving local cuisine and some of the best Western food in Nepal.
In the early evening, your driver will collect you from your hotel and take you up to Sarangkot viewpoint (1,600m), about a 30-minute drive above Pokhara. Sarangkot offers some of the best panoramic views in the region, and as the sun begins to set, the views open up to the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, with the distinctive peak of Machhapuchhre rising sharply between them. A taste of things to come…
Day 4 – Journey into the Forbidden Kingdom: Upper Mustang
Upper Mustang was largely closed to foreign visitors until 1992, when Nepal first allowed limited tourism to protect its fragile culture and environment. Even today, access is still regulated. Travellers need a special permit and must travel with a licensed guide, which helps preserve the region’s Tibetan Buddhist traditions and delicate high-altitude landscape. Its long isolation is exactly why Upper Mustang feels so distinct.
Your journey begins in Pokhara, leaving behind lakes and green hills as the road follows the Kali Gandaki Valley northwards. The scenery gradually shifts from fertile farmland to rugged mountain terrain. After passing through Beni, the route climbs steadily into the Himalayas, where the air becomes drier and the landscape more dramatic. By the time you reach Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang, you’ll find yourself in a windswept high-altitude desert framed by snow-capped peaks.
Day 5 – Drive from Kagbeni to Lo Manthang
Today’s drive takes you deep into Upper Mustang, a remote Himalayan region close to the Tibetan border. Leaving Kagbeni’s narrow lanes and mud-brick houses behind, the landscape becomes increasingly stark and otherworldly. The route passes through villages such as Chhusang and Chele, where colourful cliffs, deep gorges, and fluttering prayer flags line the way. Vegetation becomes sparse, replaced by vast open valleys and striking rock formations as you approach the walled city of Lo Manthang. Now it’s time to relax after the long drive, tomorrow is for exploring.
Day 6 – Explore the ‘Forbidden Kingdom’ of Lo Manthang
You’ll spend today acclimatising and exploring the legendary “Forbidden Kingdom” of Lo Manthang. Set high on the Tibetan plateau against a stark Himalayan desert backdrop, this remote walled city flourished from the 15th to 17th centuries as the capital of the Kingdom of Lo and an important hub on the trans-Himalayan salt trade routes.
Wander through its narrow alleys and mud-brick streets, where whitewashed houses, fluttering prayer flags, and ancient monasteries reflect centuries of Tibetan-influenced culture. You’ll have time to visit the monasteries of Jampa Lhakhang, Thubchen Gompa, and Chode Gompa, that are well-known for their Tibetan artwork and living spiritual traditions.
Day 7 – Drive from Lo Manthang to the sacred temple of Muktinath
Leaving the ancient walled city behind, the road descends through wide valleys and traditional Tibetan-influenced villages such as Ghami. The landscape remains stark and windswept, with dramatic mountain views and very little vegetation. After passing Kagbeni, greenery slowly returns as the route follows the Kali Gandaki River toward Jomsom, a lively mountain town.
From here, continue to Muktinath, one of Nepal’s most important pilgrimage sites. This centuries-old, hillside temple is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, and has long been a crossroads for pilgrims traveling between Tibet and Nepal. Known for its 108 holy water spouts and an eternal flame, it’s said to cleanse sins and grant spiritual liberation.
Day 8 – Drive from Muktinath to Pokhara
This morning you’ll visit Muktinath’s sacred temple complex and experience some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Himalayas. The road then descends through the Kali Gandaki Valley, passing prayer-flag-lined hillsides, mani walls, and traditional villages. As you leave the high mountains behind, the dry terrain gradually gives way to greener slopes and subtropical vegetation. By the time you return to Pokhara, the familiar lakeside scenery feels worlds away from the stark beauty of Upper Mustang. You’ll stay in Pokhara overnight, before your adventure continues tomorrow.
Day 9 – Pokhara to Lumbini
Today, you’ll be collected and driven around six hours to Lumbini. By the end of the afternoon you’ll arrive in the historic holy centre of Lumbini, best known as the birthplace of Buddha. Since the late 1970s, Buddhist countries around 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 stay in a comfortable hotel, just walking distance from the main temples and pilgrimage sites. After a busy afternoon of sightseeing, you can return to the hotel’s lush gardens for a chance to unwind and take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool before continuing your journey the next morning.
Day 10 – Lumbini to Bardiya National Park
This morning, you’ll be collected and driven to Bardiya, Nepal’s largest national park. It’s known as one of the best places in Nepal to spot Bengal Tigers and it’s remote location means there are fewer visitors than the more well known Chitwan National Park. It’s a scenic 6.5 hour journey through the Terai plains and quiet rural landscapes. It’s a long journey but well worth the effort!
For your first night here, you’ll stay at a peaceful jungle lodge, on the edge of Bardiya National Park, surrounded by lush green gardens and the sounds of the wild. After a warm welcome from the local team, take some time to settle into your traditional cottage and soak up the peaceful surroundings.
Day 11 – In search of the Bengal Tiger
This morning you will set off on a jeep safari in Bardiya National Park, one of Nepal’s largest wildlife reserves. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, swamp deer, gharial crocodile and over 250 species of bird. Keep your eyes peeled for the endangered tiger, and equally elusive one-horned rhino.
For the next two nights, you’ll be staying at the Bardiya Community Homestay in a private room, with a mosquito net and fan. Western style toilets are in a separate building but not far away. There are no hot showers, but your host will provide a bucket of hot water on request. In the evening, take a gentle walk around the village with your host and watch the sun set over the surroundings.
Meaningful Travel
Your homestay accommodation is part of a Nepali Community Homestay project in which local women open up their homes to visitors. This innovative social enterprise supports a network of community homestays throughout Nepal. Not only does this allow tourists to learn more about the Nepali people and gain a better understanding of the local customs, but also provides these women with a much needed source of income. All the homestays are run by the local women; an initiative to empower all the women of the community.
Day 12 – Jungle walk & cooking class
Today starts with a guided jungle walk to the Machhan (jungle tower) where you can spot birds and learn about the forest ecosystem. You’ll carry a packed lunch along the way. In the afternoon, you’ll master the art of making a traditional hand fan, used by the indigenous people for many years to keep cool in the summer heat. Later that evening you’ll learn to prepare authentic Tharu food in a cooking class, where you’ll experience hands-on learning and dine together with your host.
Days 13 & 14 – Return to Kathmandu via Bhairahawa
This morning bid farewell to your hosts as you enjoy a final breakfast. The next two days involve long journeys of 6 to 7 hours, but there are lots of opportunities to stop and stretch your legs and take in the scenic views. To break up the journey you will spend one night in Bhairahawa. Located in the southern plains of Nepal near the Indian border, the town has a local, provincial feel with busy markets, small restaurants and everyday Nepalese life.
The following morning, you’ll be collected for your final journey back to Kathmandu. The journey takes you from the flat Terai region into the rolling hills of central Nepal, with changing scenery along the way. You’ll pass small villages, local farms and forested valleys, giving you a glimpse into rural life in Nepal. You’ll stay overnight in the Patan hotel where you began your Nepal adventure.
Day 15 – Departure from Nepal
Today, you’ll be collected from your hotel in Patan and driven to Kathmandu Airport to catch your international flight home. As you make your way through the city one last time, take some time to reflect on the experiences you’ve enjoyed along the way, from ancient temples and mountain views to wildlife encounters and warm Nepalese hospitality.
Accommodation
