Nepal Cultural Discovery: Temples, Wildlife & Mountains
Every face of Nepal — ancient kingdoms, mountain sunrises, jungle safaris and Himalayan reflections
From
£2,895pp
About this tour
The Kathmandu Valley contains three medieval kingdoms — Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur — each a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each sufficiently distinct that a day in one gives no real preparation for the next. This twelve-day journey gives each its proper due, spending a full day in each, then adds a night at Nagarkot on the valley rim for the Himalayan sunrise (on a clear morning, Everest is visible on the eastern horizon), before the Pokhara and Chitwan sections complete the Nepal picture. Arjun Gurung leads throughout, his knowledge of Newari art and architecture at scholarly depth, his warmth with guests at the level of a trusted companion. The extra days in the Kathmandu Valley — including Changu Narayan, Nepal's oldest temple complex on its forested hilltop, and the extraordinary Bungamati village where traditional Newar house design has been maintained without modification — give this tour the completeness that serious cultural travellers seek.
“Arjun Gurung leads this as his signature tour — the one that allows him to give the Kathmandu Valley the scholarly attention it deserves. His Comparative Religion master's and twelve years of guiding combine to make this the deepest cultural tour available in Nepal.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- All three Kathmandu Valley kingdoms given full days — the completeness makes each more meaningful
- Nagarkot ridge night provides the Himalayan sunrise that Kathmandu itself cannot offer — Everest visible on clear mornings
- Arjun's academic knowledge of Newari architecture gives the valley temples an intellectual depth most tours miss entirely
- Pokhara and Chitwan sections identical to the Classic tour — proven and much-loved
- Private throughout — pace adjustable in real time
- Dwarika's Hotel as Kathmandu base — the finest heritage hotel in Nepal
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Arrival — Kathmandu
Kathmandu
ArrivalDwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu
Arrival — Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Arjun meets you at the airport and transfers you to Dwarika's Hotel. Evening dinner in the hotel's extraordinary Krishnarpan restaurant — a royal Nepali feast in the candlelit heritage courtyard.
2Boudhanath & Pashupatinath
Kathmandu
GentleDwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu
Boudhanath & Pashupatinath
Kathmandu
The great stupa and the sacred cremation ghats — the Buddhist and Hindu faces of Nepal's religious life.
3Kathmandu Durbar Square & Kumari
Kathmandu
GentleDwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu
Kathmandu Durbar Square & Kumari
Kathmandu
The medieval palace complex, the living goddess Kumari, the Kasthamandap pavilion and Swayambhunath Monkey Temple.
4Patan — The Jewel of the Valley
Kathmandu
GentleDwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu
Patan — The Jewel of the Valley
Kathmandu
A full day in Patan: Durbar Square, the Patan Museum (the finest museum of Nepali art and religion in existence), the Golden Temple and the traditional metalwork courtyards of Mahabouddha.
5Bhaktapur & Nagarkot Sunrise Ridge
Nagarkot
ModerateThe Club Himalaya, Nagarkot
Bhaktapur & Nagarkot Sunrise Ridge
Nagarkot
Bhaktapur's full medieval experience — Durbar Square, pottery square, the 55-Window Palace, Changu Narayan temple on its hilltop — then transfer to the Nagarkot ridge for the night at The Club Himalaya.
6Nagarkot Sunrise — Flight to Pokhara
Pokhara
Easy travel dayTiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Nagarkot Sunrise — Flight to Pokhara
Pokhara
Dawn at Nagarkot's viewpoint — Everest visible on the far horizon on clear mornings, the Rolwaling, Langtang and Jugal ranges in between. Mountain flight to Pokhara. Check in to Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge.
7Pokhara: Dawn Lake & Mountain Views
Pokhara
GentleTiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Pokhara: Dawn Lake & Mountain Views
Pokhara
The signature Phewa Lake dawn in the rowing boat, then the World Peace Pagoda, then an afternoon at the International Mountain Museum.
8Pokhara Valley Exploration
Pokhara
EasyTiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Pokhara Valley Exploration
Pokhara
Gupteshwor Cave, Davis Falls, Tashiling Tibetan settlement and a free afternoon on the lakeside.
9Flight to Kathmandu — Chitwan
Chitwan
Travel dayMeghauli Serai, Chitwan
Flight to Kathmandu — Chitwan
Chitwan
Mountain flight to Kathmandu, connecting to Bharatpur. Transfer to Meghauli Serai on the Rapti River.
10Chitwan: Elephant Safari & Canoe
Chitwan
GentleMeghauli Serai, Chitwan
Chitwan: Elephant Safari & Canoe
Chitwan
Dawn elephant-back safari for rhino encounters in the sal forest, then afternoon dugout canoe on the Rapti River.
11Chitwan: Full Jeep Safari
Chitwan
EasyMeghauli Serai, Chitwan
Chitwan: Full Jeep Safari
Chitwan
Full-day open-top jeep safari into the park's core zone for wildlife diversity. Evening Tharu cultural performance at the lodge.
12Return to Kathmandu — Departure
Kathmandu Airport
Departure
Return to Kathmandu — Departure
Kathmandu Airport
Final flight to Kathmandu and international departure.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
A thorough journey covering all major cultural regions of Nepal. More ground covered than the Classic tour with additional time in the Valley kingdoms and a Nagarkot ridge night. Never rushed.
Walking
3–5km/day. All flat or gentle except optional Sarangkot. Chitwan entirely vehicle-based.
Transport
Private vehicle; internal flights included. All drives broken every 90 minutes.
Altitude
Nagarkot at 2,175m — the highest point on this tour. One night only; no acclimatisation required. Kathmandu 1,400m.
Heat / Climate
Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr optimal. Chitwan warmer (24–30°C). Nagarkot cold at night — warm clothing essential.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Dwarika's Hotel
★★★★★Kathmandu · 4 nights
Nepal's finest heritage hotel — carved Newar windows, courtyard architecture and the best restaurant in Kathmandu.
- Newar heritage architecture
- Krishnarpan restaurant
- Heritage spa
- Cultural museum
The Club Himalaya
★★★★Nagarkot · 1 night
The best hotel on the Nagarkot ridge — simply furnished mountain rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Himalayan panorama. The sunrise lounge is warmed and ready from 4:30am.
- Himalayan panorama views
- Sunrise from bed
- Everest visible on clear days
- Mountain walking trails
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
★★★★★Pokhara · 3 nights
270-degree Himalayan views from a ridge above Pokhara, with stone cottages, organic kitchen and the most spectacular mountain breakfast available in Nepal.
- 270-degree views
- Stone cottages
- Organic farm
- Dawn Annapurna from terrace
Meghauli Serai
★★★★★Chitwan · 2 nights
Taj Safaris lodge on the Rapti River within Chitwan — the finest wildlife lodge in Nepal.
- Inside national park
- Rapti River frontage
- Taj quality
- Expert naturalists
Enhance your trip
Bungamati Village Walk
+£75
The perfectly preserved Newar village of Bungamati, the winter home of the Rato Machhindranath deity, is 20 minutes south of Patan. A 90-minute guided walk through its traditional streets and courtyards is one of the most authentic experiences in the Valley.
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,895
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£795 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£795 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 11 nights in 5-star hotels and lodges
- Private vehicle throughout
- Arjun Gurung as specialist guide throughout
- Internal flights: Pokhara–Kathmandu and Kathmandu–Bharatpur
- Elephant safari, canoe trip and jeep safari at Chitwan
- Dawn Phewa Lake boat
- Nagarkot sunrise
- Meals as specified (11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners)
- All entrance fees and park fees
- Mineral water throughout
- Return Kathmandu airport transfers
- ATOL-protected
Not included
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Single supplement
- Gratuities
- Personal spending
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Arjun Gurung
Arjun's twelve years of guiding and his master's in Comparative Religion make him the finest cultural guide in Nepal for in-depth Kathmandu Valley exploration. The 12-day cultural tour is his signature journey.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
The valley kingdoms deserve every day they're given
“We've been to Kathmandu before and felt we'd rushed the valley. This tour gave each kingdom a full day and transformed our understanding. Arjun's briefing on Newar iconography before Patan Durbar Square turned what was previously a beautiful blur into a richly legible cultural landscape. The Nagarkot sunrise with Everest on the horizon was the tour's great culminating image. Outstanding.”
Andrew & Barbara Thornton
Oxfordshire · 2024-10-30
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
Visa on arrival, USD 30 for 15 days.
Currency
NPR. Cards at hotels. ATMs in Kathmandu.
Tipping
Guide NPR 2,000/day, driver NPR 1,000/day.
Electricity
230V, universal adapter. Hotel generators.
Health & vaccinations
Hep A, Typhoid recommended. Nagarkot cold at night — warm layer essential.
Flights
Fly to KTM via Doha, Dubai or Delhi.
Local transport
Private vehicle throughout; internal flights included.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Everest really visible from Nagarkot?
On clear mornings (most common in October and November), Everest is visible on the far eastern horizon from the Nagarkot ridge — the distinctive black pyramid summit visible above the Lhotse south face. It requires good visibility and is more distant than many people expect from photographs. The nearer Rolwaling, Langtang and Jugal ranges are closer and in some ways more dramatically beautiful. The sunrise itself — the mountains emerging from darkness into alpenglow in sequence — is magnificent regardless of whether the most distant peaks are visible.
How does this compare to the 10-day Classic tour?
The 10-day Classic covers Kathmandu (3 nights), Pokhara (3 nights) and Chitwan (2 nights) with one full day for each of the three Kathmandu Valley kingdoms combined. The 12-day Cultural tour adds: a dedicated day in Patan, a full day in Bhaktapur (with Changu Narayan temple), a night at Nagarkot for the Himalayan sunrise, and an additional night at Dwarika's Hotel in Kathmandu for a more thorough valley experience. Those who want the best of the valley in depth should choose this tour; those primarily seeking the Pokhara and Chitwan experience should choose the Classic.
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