Classic Nepal Tour with India

Day 1 - Kathmandu

Join your tour group at the hotel.

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu (4-star)

Day 2 - Kathmandu

This morning we’ll head out for a guided tour of Kathmandu’s most famous attraction: Durbar Square. Colourful, noisy and crammed with monuments, temples, pigeons and street hawkers, it’s a great place to pick up the rhythm of life in Kathmandu. We’ll admire the woodcarvings in Kumari Bahal, imagine the dancers and players who once performed in the courtyard at Nasal Chowk, and we’ll learn about the Royal Kumari, a child worshipped as a Living Deity who lives here. This afternoon there’s an optional visit to the nearby city of Bhaktapur to see its own Durbar Square. Its Palace of Fifty-Five Windows, each intricately carved in sandalwood, is considered one of the finest examples of Pagoda style architecture in Nepal.

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu (4-star)

Day 3 - Kathmandu - Pokhara

Today we swap the history and culture of Kathmandu for the lakes, mountains and waterfalls of Pokhara. Once a laid-back hippie hide-out, Pokhara is now better known as the gateway to the Himalayas. We’ll spend most of today on the road but it’s a spectacular drive, ending on the shores of sparkling Lake Fewa. Here we’ll stay in splendid isolation at one of Pokhara’s oldest established hotels with views of mythical Mount Machhapuchre - Mount Fish Tail - whose high jagged peak has never been scaled.

Fish Tail Lodge by Annapurna, Pokhara (3-star)

Day 4 - Pokhara

Today’s included sightseeing tour of Pokhara starts with a drive up to the World Peace Stupa, which stands high on Anadu Hill overlooking the surrounding mountains, valleys and Lake Fewa below. With its white circular walls and gleaming gold spire, it’s a tranquil place, and we’ll pause a while to take in the view before taking a gentle hike to the extraordinary Shiva Statue at Pumdikot, the tallest in Nepal. Later this afternoon we’ll step onto a boat to cruise Lake Fewa, stopping at a small island where we’ll walk to Tal Barahi temple, a statuesque two-storey pagoda that’s Pokhara’s most revered religious shrine.

Fish Tail Lodge by Annapurna, Pokhara (3-star)

Day 5 - Pokhara

This morning you can choose from a range of optional activities in and around Pokhara. For thrill-seekers there’s the chance to soak up the views from a whole new perspective, zip-wiring or paragliding in the surrounding hills and mountains. More sedate options include a visit to the Gurkha Museum and the International Mountain Museum where you can learn more about the surrounding mountains, as well as the mountaineers who have climbed here and the people who call them home. You can also see original clothes, photos, ropes and equipment from some of the earliest climbs. Later we’ll make our own ascent by cable car to the viewpoint at Sarangkot, to see a sweeping panorama of Himalayan peaks including Machhapuchre (6,997m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna II (7,937m). After lunch in the mountains, we’ll hike to a Tibetan camp and monastery before returning to Pokhara with a stop at the traditional old bazaar whose stalls sell everything from singing bowls and statuettes to colourful clothes and jewellery, and finally the peaceful Bindyabasini Temple.

Fish Tail Lodge by Annapurna, Pokhara (3-star)

Day 6 - Pokhara - Chitwan National Park

We’ve experienced its great cultural centres and legendary Himalayas, today we journey to one of Nepal’s other treasures: Chitwan National Park, a road trip of around six hours. Nepal’s first national park promises some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia; its thick jungle and grassy plains are home to species including the royal Bengal tiger and the one-horned Asian rhino, as well as crocodiles, elephants, and migratory birds. Our base in this natural nirvana is Jagatpur Lodge, an elegant gathering of deluxe guest rooms and balconied wooden pavilions.

Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna, Chitwan (4*)

Days 7-8 - Chitwan National Park

During your stay you’ll be able to choose from several exciting, included activities including wildlife walks and jeep safaris and guided river tours. All these adventures give you the chance to spot exotic and rare creatures living in their natural habitat. You’ll also meet the local communities who make Chitwan National Park their home and take your seats for a lively cultural show.

Jagatpur Lodge by Annapurna, Chitwan (4*)

Day 9 - Chitwan National Park - Kathmandu

Putting the jungle behind us we follow the road to Kathmandu, a gloriously scenic six-hour-drive past lush, forested valleys, mist-shrouded mountains and terraced rice fields. There’ll be a warm welcome waiting at our Kathmandu hotel, after which there’s time to relax ahead of our final day’s sightseeing tomorrow.

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu (4-star)

Day 10 - Kathmandu

Our last full day in Nepal brings us face to face with two of the country’s most sacred and symbolic sites. Pashupatinath straddles the banks of the holy Bagmati River and is Nepal’s oldest and most important Hindu temple complex, whereas beautiful Bouddhanath dominates the skyline with its whitewashed dome, gilded gold tower and fluttering prayer flags. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are absolute must-sees for visitors to Nepal. This afternoon there’s an optional visit to Patan, an ancient city to the south of Kathmandu - the temples, palaces and courtyards in its Durbar Square are amongst the loveliest in Nepal. Back at the hotel there’s time to freshen up before we step out this evening for a farewell dinner of traditional Nepalese food accompanied by cultural dancing and folk music.

The Malla Hotel, Kathmandu (4-star)

Day 11 - Kathmandu - Jaipur

Today we put the serene beauty and mountains of Nepal behind us and embark on the next chapter of our journey: India. Flying to Delhi, we’ll transfer by road to Jaipur, stopping for lunch en route. This evening, those who wish can join a traditional prayer ceremony known as ‘Aarti’ at Birla Temple, one of Jaipur’s most beautiful landmarks.

Jaipur Marriott Hotel (4.5-star)

Day 12 - Jaipur

We’ll visit the classic, romantic Rajasthani Palace known as Amber Fort. We’ll stop for photos at the Palace of Winds before admiring the outside of this dreamy, yellow stoned fortress and then taking a guided tour of the interior with its lavishly painted walls and entire rooms embedded with semi-precious stones and mosaiced mirror pieces. Heading back to Jaipur, we’ll visit the Maharaja’s City Palace whose Armoury Museum contains a fearsome array of weapons including blunderbusses, swords, pistols and daggers.

Jaipur Marriott Hotel (4.5-star)

Day 13 - Jaipur - Agra

Back on the road we head to Agra, home of India’s most iconic monument, the exquisite Taj Mahal. On the way we’ll stop at Chand Baori, one of India’s largest and deepest stepwells. Built in the 9th century to harvest and conserve water, this beautiful stone structure extends 100-feet into the ground and is a spectacular feat of ancient engineering. Arriving in Agra in the early afternoon, the rest of the day is free before this evening’s optional visit to the Kalakriti Cultural Centre to watch the love story behind the Taj Mahal told through dance, music and song.

Grand Mercure Agra (4-star)

Day 14 - Agra

We’ll rise early to witness one of the most beautiful and romantic sights in the world: sun rise at the Taj Mahal. The symmetry and scale only become more impressive up close, as exquisite detail covers every inch of the translucent white marble. Returning to our hotel for breakfast, we’ll venture out again later for a visit to Agra Fort, a palatial red-sandstone and marble fortress comprising exquisite gardens, courtyards, pavilions and palaces.

Grand Mercure Agra (4-star)

Day 15 - Agra - Delhi

We head to the colour and clamour of Delhi today, arriving early in the afternoon. The rest of the day is free to relax or get an early taste of India’s crazy, colourful capital ahead of tomorrow’s included sightseeing tour.

The Leela Ambience, Delhi (5-star)

Day 16 - Delhi

Today we’ll immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of Old and New Delhi. After admiring the shaded colonnades in India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, we’ll take a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk market and stop for photos at the 17th-century Red Fort. Later, we’ll visit Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple whose communal kitchen serves thousands of devotees each day, and pass historic India Gate and the Presidential Building, official residence of the President of India.

The Leela Ambience, Delhi (5-star)

Day 17 - Delhi

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Delhi