Itinerary Overview

Days 1–3: Kathmandu Valley & Nagarkot → Days 4–5: Pokhara → Days 6–7: Chitwan → Day 8: Return to Kathmandu. Travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about six to seven hours by tourist bus or around thirty minutes by domestic flight; Pokhara to Chitwan is about a four-hour drive.

Day 1: Kathmandu – Arrival and Durbar Square

After arrival, check in at Thamel. In the afternoon, visit Kathmandu Durbar Square to see ancient palaces, pagodas, and wooden window architecture. In the evening, head to Swayambhunath Stupa for sunset views over the valley.

Day 2: Kathmandu Valley – Stupas and Temples

In the morning, go to Boudhanath Stupa, walk clockwise around the stupa and spin prayer wheels. In the afternoon, visit Pashupatinath Temple to see sadhus and riverbank cremation ceremonies. In the evening, return to Thamel to shop for trekking or handicraft souvenirs.

Day 3: Bhaktapur & Nagarkot – Ancient Capital and Mountain Sunrise

In the morning, explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square, including the Fifty-Five Window Palace and Nyatapola Temple, and stop by Changunarayan Temple along the way. In the afternoon, drive to Nagarkot and check into a mountain-view hotel, preparing for the next morning’s Himalayan sunrise.

Day 4: To Pokhara – Lake City Slow Life

After watching the sunrise in Nagarkot, return to Kathmandu and take a tourist bus or domestic flight to Pokhara. In the evening, stroll along Phewa Lake, rent a boat to paddle to the middle, and admire the reflection of the Annapurna range.

Day 5: Pokhara – Sunrise, Viewpoints, and Paragliding

In the early morning, go up to Sarangkot for sunrise views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Peak) and the Annapurna massif, then visit World Peace Pagoda. In the afternoon, try paragliding, mountain biking, or visit Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave. Enjoy a Nepali set meal at a lakeside restaurant in the evening.

Day 6: Pokhara to Chitwan – Into the Jungle

In the morning, drive to Chitwan National Park. After arriving in the afternoon, visit a Tharu village and an elephant breeding center. Watch the sunset by the river in the evening, and enjoy traditional Tharu song and dance performances at night.

Day 7: Chitwan – Canoeing and Jungle Safari

In the early morning, take a canoe ride along the river to observe crocodiles and water birds. Later, join a jungle walk or elephant-back safari, where you might spot one-horned rhinos, spotted deer, and peacocks—or even a Bengal tiger with luck. In the afternoon, visit the river where elephants bathe.

Day 8: Return to Kathmandu – Wrap-Up and Departure

In the morning, drive back to Kathmandu. If time allows, revisit Thamel or Durbar Square before heading to the airport for departure.

Tips

• Domestic flights are often delayed due to weather, so allow a flexible buffer day for your round trip to Pokhara.
• Jungle activities in Chitwan must be booked in advance through your hotel, and you should follow your guide’s instructions.
• A combined ticket for the three Durbar Squares in the valley offers better value.