Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Tibet and Pokhara tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: ARRIVE ~ KATHMANDU
Flight arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Meet, assist by office representative and transfer to hotel. Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02: KATHMANDU
OPTIONAL: MOUNTAIN FLIGHT
One of the must-see landmarks of Nepal is of course the highest peak in the world – Mount Everest. One awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains of this earth. Mountain flight offers a panoramic view of the Himalaya in a just one hour. Even those visitors who like the rigors of a trek still don’t miss the opportunity to “conquer” the mountains in one fell swoop. This one hour flight takes you the Eastern Himalayan Ranges of Nepal, some of the highest peaks in the world including Mt. Everest The flight is an altogether different feeling as one comes face to face with the worlds tallest and most enigmatic of Mountains.
Breakfast at the hotel.

AM:
Kathmandu City: Known as Kantipur, is the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal. A 218 square miles of land, situated above 4400 ft above sea level, Kathmandu is the hub of Nepal's traditional culture and arts. Kashtamandap the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and the Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka, Seto Machendranath and the ancient place of the Nepalese Royalty.

Swoyambhunath Stupa: watches over the valley from the top of a hillock on its western side. The stupa is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swoyambhunath is also known as Sengu and is listed as a World heritage site.

PM:
Patan City: Located about 5 km south of Kathmandu in the Kathmandu Valley, on the southern side of the Bagmati River, Patan is one of 3 royal cities in the valley. A destination for connoisseurs of fine arts, Patan is filled with wood and stone carvings, metal statues, ornate architecture, including dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and over 1200 monuments. The city of Patan is believed to have been built in the third century B.C. by the Kirat dynasty. It was expanded by Lichhavis in the 6th century A.D. and again by the Mallas in medieval period. Durbar Square, like its counterpart in Kathmandu, is an enchanting mélange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03: DRIVE TO NAGARKOT
After breakfast drive to Nagarkot en-route visit Bhaktapur.

Bhaktapur City (Bhadgaon): Also known as city of devotees, this place is the home of medieval art and architecture. Lying 14 kms./9 miles east of Kathmandu City, this place was founded in the 9th Century and is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 4600 ft. above sea level. In Bhadgaon, you will visit the Durbar Square with its array of temples overlooked by the Palace of 55 windows built by King Bupatindra Malla. The Nyatapola Temple, also built by King Bhupatindra Malla, is the best example of Pagoda style and stands on five terraces on each of which stands a pair of figures - two famous strong men, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and two goddesses.
After lunch drive to Nagarkot.

Nagarkot is a village located about 32 kilometer east of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is located on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley at an elevation close to 6,800 feet above sea level. It is one of the most scenic spots in the region, renowned for its sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas.  You can pick Mount Everest out with its snow-topped peaks on a clear day as there is an observation tower at the very top of the village’s hills. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: IN NAGARKOT
Early morning Sun rise view.
Nagarkot has become famous as one of the best spots to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal.  Visitors often travel to Nagarkot from Kathmandu to spend the night so that they can be there for the breathtaking sunrise. Nagarkot has become famous as one of the best spots to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. It also offers an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley to the east. With an elevation of 2,195 meters, Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Valley and is described by visitors as a place whose beauty endures year round.
After Sun rise trip day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05: FLY TO LHASA
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lhasa. Meet assistance at the airport by our representative. Check in to the hotel and rest for most of the day. Lhasa: Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet, is a city of wonders. The visits to Potala Palace, Norbulingka, and Sera monastery, Drepung Monastery and Jokhang Temple would be an awesome experience. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 06: SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Visit: Sera monastery; Jokhang temple & Barkhor Street
Era Monastery: 5km North of Lhasa, its setting is one of the prettiest in Lhasa, hugging the ridge that forms the Northern wall of the Kyi Chu Valley. Founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, belonging to the Gelugpa sect and is one of the three great monasteries of Tibet, the other two being Drepung & Ganden. In its heyday, Sera hosted a huge monastic population and five colleges. Like Drepung, the colleges in Sera specialized in: Sera Me in fundamental precepts of Buddhism, Sera Je in instruction of itinerant monks and Sera Ngagpa in Tantric studies

Jokhang Temple: The oldest and the most revered religious structure in Tibet, it dates back to 639 to 647, construction initiated by king Songtsen Gampo to house a Buddha image Akshobhya brought to Tibet by his Nepalese wife. But now, the main statue in this temple is of the Sakyamuni, which was a gift from his Chinese wife Won Cheng in 641 A.D to King Songtsen Gampo. The statue of Akshobhya being switched to Romoche. Pilgrims from all over Tibet come to worship here and prostrate themselves in full length in front of the main doors of' the temple. It is truly a moving and unrivalled experience to witness such a sight and more so to actually join them in their pilgrimage around the temple.

Barkhor Street: The traditional lifestyle and appearance of Lhasa's Old City district are well preserved in Barkhore Street: The stone houses, and the man-laid stone roads, Barkhore Street is the commercial center in Tibet shops line one next to another. Here visitors can get everything Tibetan they could hope for, such as the prayer-wheels, the boots and hats, robes, and bags. Commodities made in India and Nepal can also be found here. There are many art galleries and stores for arts and crafts, which specialize in thankas. The thankas are paintings of Buddha. Brightly colored and vividly depicted. Artisans paint and sell thankas on the street. Overnight at Hotel

Day 07: SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Visit: Potala palace, Drepung Monastery & Norbulingka
Potala: The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. It is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m. A vast white and ochre fortress soaring head and shoulders over this, one of the world’s highest cities. Potala dominates the Lhasa skyline and as the residence of Dalai Lamas.

Drepung Monastery: The Trepung (Drepung) Monastery is one of the 3 biggest monasteries, located on the slope of Mt. Guopei, it is 10 km to the west of Lhasa. The Monastery is so big that it resembles a town. It was built by Zongkaba's disciple Jiangyang Qujie in 146. The Monastery consists of a number of grand halls chambers, and the dalai Lama’s’palaes.The Drepung Monastery used to nourish a lot of scholars of Buddhism in Tibet.

Norbhulingka: Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas is a short distance away in the western part of town; and in Lhasa’s low-lying surrounding hills are the imp Gelungpa monasteries of Sera and Drepung. In the palace there are many splendid murals painted by a Fourteenth Dalai Lama's painter. The topics of the murals are vast, including: Tibetan officials, Sakyamuni preaching under a Bodhi tree, Tibetan history. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 08: DRIVE TO GYANTSE
Visit Kumbum Stupa & Palkhor Monastery Drive about 7 hours to Gyantse via Kampa La pass (4794m), Yamdrok Tso (4482m) also known as Turquoise Lake covers 600 sq. km. and is one of the three largest lakes in Tibet. Crossing Karo La pass (5010m) & two other smaller passes we come to Gyantse.

Gyantse: The third most important city Gyantse is one of the least Chinese influenced towns in Tibet and is worth a visit for this reason alone.

Kumbum Stupa: It is one of the most revered and unusual architectural masterpieces. It was built in 1440 and is in the shape of a 108-sided mandala. Kumbum means 10,000 images. The Stupa raises over four symmetrical floors and is surmounted by a gold dome. The dome rises like a crown over four sets of eyes that gazes serenely out in the cardinal directions of the compass.

Phalkor Monastery: It was founded in 1418.It was designed by Newari architects from Nepal. The former has a special influence over Buddhism owing to its unity of Gelugpa, Sakyapa & Bhuton sect.
Overnight at Hotel

Day 09: DRIVE TO SHIGATSE
Visit Tashilunpo Monastery & Free Market
We drive 2 hours to Shigatse here we will visit the Tashilunpo monastery and free market.

Shigatse: It is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of the traditional Tibetan province of Tsang.

Tashilunpo Monastery: It was founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. This monastery is one of the few monasteries in Tibet that weathered the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution. This monastery houses the Maitreya Buddha statue weighing 275 Kg made of gold and 26 meters in height.

Free Market: The Market bustles with vendors offering a selection of practical and souvenir items that rival Lhasa’s Bharkhor market. The vendors here get very aggressive in sales so please be prepared. Overnight at Hotel

Day 10: DRIVE BACK TO LHASA
Today you will drive back to Lhasa (it is 280 kms from Shigatse to Lhasa by the new road along the Yalutsangbu River). 
Overnight at Hotel

Day 11: FLY TO KATHMANDU AND CONNECT FLIGHT TO POKHARA After breakfast at fly back to Kathmandu and connect flight to Pokhara
Pokhara is the most popular destination for visitors to Nepal. There is little in its past by way of neither history nor culture impact and the only important role that the old Pokhara played was that it was along the route of trade between India and Tibet. Today it is one of the fastest developing cities of Nepal, mainly due to tourism.
The natural beauty of its lakeside location and its proximity to the mountains has made in the natural choice for trekkers and adventures. Pokhara is also the base for some of most famous trekking circuits of Nepal. By itself surrounding area provides ample scope for short walk and day trips, suitable for children or weary trekkers that can be made around the valley.

PM:
Phewa Lake: The ultimate lake for boating where an island temple is located at the middle of the lake. Another attraction is the reflection of Mount Machhapuchhre and Annapurna range on the crystal clear water of the lake. While boating in Phewa Lake, you can see several varities of fish. Thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake. It’s hard to escape the draw of Phewa Lake and any visitor with even a few spare minutes should endeavour to take a boat out on the water to fully experience the wonderful views of reflected mountains. Paddling out into the middle of the lake is a nice way to spend a quite afternoon.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: IN POKHARA
An early morning drive to Sarangkot to view awesome Sarangkot, which is 9 kms to the north west of Pokhara. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. Conveniently perched high on the top of a ridge at 1,592m., the serene hill resort offers the spectacular panorama of the entire Annapurna range stretching from east to west and the un-spoilt rural settlements just below those towering peaks. Viewing 700m down from the top of Sarangkot you can have awesome sights of the stretching Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake and many more.
Breakfast at the hotel

Devi's fall: Locally known as Patale Chhango (Hell's Fall), Devi's fall (also known as Devin's or David's) is an awesome waterfall lying about 2 km south-west of Pokhara airport on the highway to Tansen. An interesting modern legend says that a foreigner named David was skinny dipping in the Pardi Khola (river) when the floodgates of the dam were opened, sweeping him into an underground passage beneath the fall, never to be seen again.

Seti River Gorge: It is carved by Seti River and is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. KI Singh Bridge at the Bagar, Mahendra Pool & Prithivi Highway Bridge near Bus Park provides a perfect view of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water like milk.

Tibetan Village: Tibetan Village Tashiling in the south and Tashil Palkhel in the north of Pokhara Valley are the two Tibetan villages, which is inhabited by the Tibetan people who keeps themselves busy by producing and trading woolen carpets and other handicrafts.

Annapurna Museum: Museum also known as the Natural History Museum is located at Prithvi Narayan Campus east of the old bazaar. Managed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the museum has an exceptional collection of butterflies, insects, birds, and models of wildlife as well as samples of various precious and semi-precious stones and volcanic rocks.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: FLY TO KATHMANDU
Fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

PM:
Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa.

Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple built in Pagoda Style has gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Pashupatinath is the centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds. Boudhnath Stupa: One of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in Nepal, Furthermore it is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. Boudhanath is an imposing structure standing some 36 meters. The Stupa stands on the massive three level mandala style Platforms surrounded by colourful private family houses. Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list this site is considered very much like Mecca for the Buddhists and every year tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the Himalayan region visit the stupa. Evening: Dinner at Nepalese Restaurant with cultural dance show. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: DEPARTURE
Free till departure. Transfer to airport for the journey onwards.