Kathmandu - 3 nights. Visit 'KUMARI' the Living Goddess, Kasthamandap, and the Big Bell, Kal Bhairab. Drive up to the hilltop Swayambunath Temple (a Buddhist Stupa) and get a great view of the Kathmandu valley.
Visit the Palace of Fifty five Windows. In this magnificent palace is a balcony with Fifty five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving. The palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century.
Take a tour of the Boudhanath Stupa. Bouddhanath, a World Heritage Site, is situated about six km to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest Stupa in the Valley. At over a hundred feet in height, it is a magnificent example of ancient Stupa design.
Also visit Pashupatinath Temple, one of Hinduism's most revered shrines. The richly ornamented pagoda houses the sacred lingam, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva. Chronicles indicate the temple's existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati river flowing beside the temple, also a World Heritage Site.
Royal Chitwan National Park - 2 nights at one of the best managed and preserved wildlife parks in Asia. Besides the Bengal Tiger, wildlife here includes the rare one horned rhino, four species of deer, sloth bear, and leopard. The park also offers great opportunities to Bird watching enthusiasts, as more than 400 species of birds are found here. Maharaja Upgrade guests stay at Tiger Tops Tented Camp.
Activities will start with a brief introductory lecture on the Park by your local Visit Facilitator. During the two nights stay here, you will participate in jungle safaris on Jeeps and elephant back, as well as, nature walks and canoe rides. Another activity that you can enjoy is the "Crocodile Walk". It's a 45 minute walk through grassland and forest, heading upstream along the Narayani river. There you'll board one of the boats and float back to the camp, observing crocodiles along the banks all the way.
An indigenous cultural performance of Tharu stick dancing can be enjoyed in the evening.
Pokhara: 2 nights - A three and a half hour drive from Royal Chitwan National Park, the picturesque valley of Pokhara provides some amazing scenery. The breathtaking beauty and serenity of Phewa Lake, and the awe inspiring magnificence of the fish-tailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6,977 m) rising behind it have to be seen to be believed. The Pokhara valley offers great trekking opportunities, as it is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, world famous views of the Himalaya.
Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers.
Explore the old trading town of Pokhara, and observe decorated pony trains from the Kali Gandaki trade routes jostle with mountain men bartering in the bazaar. Visit the Bindhyavasini Temple and the fascinating Butterfly Museum located in the grounds of the university. Enjoy a boat trip on Phewa Lake passing the simple three-story villa where the King of Nepal maintains his winter home. Stop at the small golden temple to the Hindu god Varahi which is nestled in foliage on an island in the centre of the lake.
