Nepal wildsafari 9 dagen — Chitwan, Pokhara & Kathmandu

Met at Tribhuvan International Airport with a name sign and driven to your hotel.

• Arrival: Nepal visa on arrival for most nationalities (or apply online beforehand). The airport is 20–40 minutes from Thamel or the old city.
• Evening: A first walk through Thamel or Durbar Marg, and dinner of dal bhat or momos.
• Tip: Get Nepali rupees from an ATM in Thamel; cards are not accepted everywhere.
• Overnight: Kathmandu

The three great shrines of the valley with a licensed guide, at an unhurried pace.

• 9:00 a.m.: Swayambhunath, the 'monkey temple' stupa on a hill over the city, about 1½ hours.
• 11:00 a.m.: Kathmandu Durbar Square: the old royal palace, Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess.
• 2:30 p.m.: Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu temple, on the Bagmati river (non-Hindus watch from the far bank).
• 4:30 p.m.: Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world, for the evening kora with Tibetan pilgrims, and butter tea on a rooftop.
• Tickets: Kathmandu valley heritage sites each charge foreign visitors an entry fee, from about NPR 200 at Swayambhunath to about NPR 1,000–1,800 at Pashupatinath and the Durbar Squares.
• Tip: Cremations take place at Pashupatinath; watch respectfully and do not photograph mourners closely.
• Overnight: Kathmandu

The best-preserved medieval city of the valley, then south to the jungle.

• 8:00 a.m.: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nyatapola temple and the potters' square, about 2 hours.
• Drive: Bhaktapur to Chitwan is about 170 km, 5–6 hours.
• Evening: Arrive at your lodge; sunset by the Rapti river.
• Tickets: Kathmandu valley heritage sites each charge foreign visitors an entry fee, from about NPR 200 at Swayambhunath to about NPR 1,000–1,800 at Pashupatinath and the Durbar Squares.
• Overnight: Chitwan

Nepal's best wildlife park: one-horned rhinoceros, gharial and mugger crocodiles, sloth bears and, with luck, a tiger.

• Early morning: Canoe down the Rapti river at dawn, watching kingfishers and crocodiles on the banks, then a short jungle walk with two naturalists.
• Afternoon: Jeep safari deep into the park (about 4 hours), past grasslands where rhinos graze.
• Evening: Tharu cultural show, with the stick dance of the indigenous people of the Terai.
• Tickets: The park permit (per person per day) and safaris are booked through your lodge.
• Tip: Wear neutral colours and bring insect repellent.
• Overnight: Chitwan (Sauraha)

More time in the jungle means much better chances of rhino, sloth bear and the rare tiger.

• Morning: Bird walk or a longer guided jungle walk (more than 500 bird species are recorded here).
• Afternoon: The elephant breeding centre and gharial breeding centre, then a Tharu village by bicycle.
• Sunset: Drinks on the Rapti river bank.
• Overnight: Chitwan

North into the hills to Phewa Lake.

• Drive: About 160 km, 5 hours.
• Afternoon: Boating on Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple.
• Overnight: Pokhara

The Annapurna range at sunrise, then the sights around the lake.

• 5:30 a.m.: Drive up to Sarangkot (1,600 m), 30 minutes, for sunrise on Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).
• Morning: The World Peace Pagoda on the ridge across the lake.
• Afternoon: Devi's Fall, Gupteshwor Mahadev cave and the International Mountain Museum.
• Optional: Paragliding from Sarangkot (about 30 minutes in the air), the best in Nepal.
• Tickets: Small entry fees at the falls, cave and museum.
• Tip: Mountains are clearest from October to April; in the monsoon they hide in cloud.
• Overnight: Pokhara

Back to the capital by air or road.

• Travel: A 25-minute flight, or about 200 km by road, 6–7 hours.
• Afternoon: Free for Thamel.
• Overnight: Kathmandu

Transfer to Tribhuvan airport for your flight home.

• Drop: Allow 3 hours before an international flight.
• Overnight: Your onward flight