Mystic Himalayan Cultural Tour

The flight into the Himalayas reveals breathtaking views of the great peaks of Mt. Dorje Lakpa 6,966 m, Mt. Ganesh Himal 7,422 m, Mt. Langtang 7,227 m, etc., (weather permitting) taking you right into the Himalayan capitals at Kathmandu. After immigration formality at the airport, you will be greeted and welcomed by a Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, Spend the rest of the day at leisure for personal activities, explore around the city center or take a rest following your program briefing, 

(Optional: Early morning you could take an optional Mount Everest flight tour – The Highest Mountain on Earth).

visit Kathmandu Durbar square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the most important monuments of the Nepalese capital in the open-air museum filled with the temples, courtyards and palace of the Malla Kings, who ruled over the city. The palace’s main courtyard is where the Kings of Nepal were crowned and had their coronations solemnized. Other impressive sights include a giant statue of Kal Bhairab, the God of Destruction, stunning Shiva-Parvati temples, Taleju, and the Kumari Palace, where the Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her balcony window.

Swoyambhunath Stupa with its 2,500-year history, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is probably the most sacred ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography, ancient carvings, the smell of incense and butter lamps, the mystical atmosphere is heightened by devotees who make a ritual circumambulation of the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels set into its base. This famous stupa is surrounded by typical houses of priests, Chaityas and monasteries. 

We will visit the Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site), the city of fine arts & crafts in metal, stone, and terracotta, officially known as Lalitpur Metropolitan City and one of the largest cities in Nepal, it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, where you will see in its ancient palace with golden gate and window, temples of Krishna, Shiva, Golden temple (Hiranya Barna Mahabihar) as well as monasteries & beautiful courtyard.

Drive to “Chitwan National Park” A World Heritage Site that lies in the Terai region of Southern Nepal, it is well known to be the best-managed National Park in Asia. We will discover a lost world of towering trees, twisting vines, one-horned Rhinoceros, Crocodiles, Python, Deer, and some of the world’s most Exotic birds. 

On arrival, will receive and greeted by resort staff, accompanied by refreshments & be given a briefing on the lodge & its facilities. After being given our programs of the day and the allocation of our room, start exploring Chitwan. 

Village tour to a nearby ethnic Tharu village where we could learn more about the lifestyle of the Tharu (Inhabitants of the Jungle). In the evening we could see an amazing Sunset view from the bank of the Rapti River.

Later we have a slide presentation, one of our jungle experts will introduce background data and the history of the Chitwan National Park as well as some other topics relating to wildlife. 

Enjoy the full day of jungle safari to discover the nature and wildlife of Nepal.

Canoe ride along the Rapti River (Subject to water level), an excellent opportunity for Bird Watching, we could see two rare species of crocodiles; the Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating Gharial.

In the afternoon, Jeep Safari is an excellent opportunity to see different kinds of deer, rhinoceros, wild boar, monkey, leopard, sloth bear, and the Royal Bengal Tiger (If we are lucky). We will also encounter many other smaller mammals that have made Chitwan their home.

(Note: Due to animal rights activists it is banned elephant-back tours in Chitwan by most resorts, instead will provide Jeep Safari. 

During the monsoon period Canoe ride and Jeep Safari is closed from June till the end of September as the national park authorities close their entry into the jungle to prevent damage to forest track, and secure human lives from monsoon-induced disasters and felling of the trees)

In the evening Tharu cultural dance presentation by the local villagers (in which we also could participate). 

After breakfast, we embark on a road trip to Pokhara (4 – 5 hrs. drive),

After breakfast, drives to Pokhara (5 hrs.), the second largest city of Nepal located 220 km/827 Mt., west of the capital Kathmandu. It is home to Gorkha soldiers. The Annapurna Range with three out of the ten highest mountains in the world — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu are within approximately 15 – 35 miles of the valley. Due to its proximity to the Annapurna Mountain range in the Himalayas, the city is the gateway to famous Mustang trekking, Mount Annapurna Circuit trail, and Jomsom – Muktinath,

Later we will visit the famous “David fall”, a beautiful waterfall, it marks the point where a stream from Phewa Lake vanishes underground through a narrow gorge into a mysterious hole in the ground, the Gupteswor Shiva Cave, one of the longest caves in Nepal and Tibetan refugee camp,

In the afternoon take a boat ride in Phewa Lake and reach the temple of Tal Barahi temple in the island, later simply walk around the main tourist hub near Fewa Lakeside, 

Early morning an hour's drive to Sarangkot hilltop to view sunrise over the world’s 10th highest mountain Mt. Annapurna (8,091 Mt.) Machhapuchhre (6993 Mt.) and Dhaulagiri (8,167 Mt.) etc. (weather permitting), drive back to visit Vindhyabasini temple, back to hotel and leisurely Breakfast and departure by a road trip to Bandipur.

Bandipur is located on a hillside between the Kathmandu – Pokhara highway in the district of Tanahu in Nepal. It is a well-preserved old town and its cultural environment makes it very attractive to know the customs and lifestyles of the Nepalese population. We visit the town on foot and travel along its narrow, bustling streets.

Bandipur was established as a funneling point of a trade by Newar traders from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley after it had been conquered in 1768 by Prithvi Narayan Shah. They took advantage of its malaria-free location to develop it into an important stop along the India-Tibet trade route. With them, they brought their cultural heritage and architecture which basically has remained unchanged to this day.

Originally a simple Magar village in the early 19th. Century Bandipur developed into a prosperous trading center and a community with town-like features: substantial buildings, with their neoclassical façades and shuttered windows and streets paved with slabs of silverish slate. 

Drive back to Nagarkot mountain resort, it is considered one of the most scenic spots to view the majestic Himalayan ranges including Mount Everest as well as other peaks of the eastern Himalayan range (if weather permits), check-in, in the afternoon walk around the Nagarkot village and view the sunset with glowing Himalaya, 

(Weather permitting), The scenic beauty of the place makes it a very popular hiking route. 

Early morning wakeup call to view the sunrise over the Himalayas, you will have 360* panoramic view of majestic Himalayan ranges, (weather permitting), 

After breakfast we head to Changu Narayan, 2 hrs. soft Trekking to Changu Narayan, the first 20 minutes are a gentle climb and then a downhill trail through the pine forests, arrive in Changu and explore the Changu village, here we take our vehicle and drive downhill to Bhaktapur, the medieval capital known as the city of devotees, we will explore the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries, an example of exquisite woodworks in the Palace of 55 windows with the golden gate, the main entrance of the palace, the beautiful Dattatreya, the Bhairab, the tallest Nyatapola Temple and ceramics Square, 

Later we drive to Dhulikhel village, one of the old trade routes to Tibet. 

After breakfast, visit the old town of Dhulikhel, later an hour's drive to Namobuddha, a beautiful village that lies at the top of the hill in Shyampati where you could see The Thrangu Tashi Yangtze Monastery. 

According to the legend, the prince (Mahasatwo/Ngingdui Tshenpo), at the top of the hill, looking at the jungle, discovers a tigress lying near the rock. Very quickly, he realizes that the tigress was about to die due to hunger with her five little babies still sucking milk from her, the survival of the babies depends on their mother. Mahasatwo decides to give his life to the tigress in a bust of love and compassion. So, Prince Mahasatwo cuts his body to present his warm blood in the mouth of the mother tiger, and the taste of blood gives the appetite to the starving family. As the tigress accepts the sacrifice from the prince, she leaves only the bones. The bones of the prince were brought back to the village and buried in the tomb which is the actual stupa of Namo Buddha. About 3500 years later, the Gautama Buddha came to the village of Sange da Fyafulsa, He conducts 3 circles around the Stupa before he declared that he was the reincarnation of prince Mahasatwo. It was the moment that Gautama Buddha renamed this village which is henceforth the name of Namo Buddha which means Homage to Buddha.

From Namobuddha, we hike up to 2 – 3 hrs towards a beautiful small farming Balthali village, in the afternoon enjoy the natural serenity around,

After Breakfast, continue our gentle downhill hiking for 1 ½ hrs to Panauti rural village, this beautiful monument complex and old town restored by the help of the French government in 1975, 

visit Pashupatinath, the sacred Shiva temple, which serves as the seat of the national deity, this extensive Hindu temple ground offers an "extensive collection of temples, ashrams, sculptures” etc. for centuries along the banks of the sacred river Bagmati, considered Varanasi for Hindus, where we could witness their final rituals of cremation.

Boudhanath, "a UNESCO World Heritage site", it’s a massive mandala that makes it one of the largest spherical Stupa and the most sacred Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet where in the vicinity many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. On the great Stupa of Boudha is said to have buried the remains of Kassapa Buddha. 

In the morning an hour drive to Dakshinkali temple where you could see the Hindu ritual ceremony in order to fulfill wishes, accomplishing their difficult jobs / achieve their desires perform an animal sacrifice. 

On the way back visit the Pharping village, Shesh Narayan temple along with the monastery of Padma Sambhava, continue to Kirtipur and visit one of the oldest medieval Newar settlements, 

Drive to Khokana, a small farming village of medieval and traditional Newari, which is a living museum. It is famous for its unusual process of mustard oil, which is used for therapeutic massage and Nepalese cuisine. This was also the first town electrified before Kathmandu.

The center is the famous temple of Shree Rudrayani, Chaityas, and Mother Goddess Temple, continue to visit Bungamati, which is the birthplace of the deity Rato Machhendranath or Bungadeya a god of the primordial rain was later identified with the benevolent Aryavalokiteshvara,

Leisurely breakfast, In the morning free for personal activities, we can explore the narrow lively, and endless streets of Thamel town where we will find all kinds of good restaurants, typical Nepali handicrafts, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear store, later at the arranged time transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future. End of Service.