Photographic Tour in Nepal

On arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport, our Himalayan Smiles Treks & Adventure guide and staff will receive with warm welcome and garlands and then a short drive into hustle, bustle city life of Kathmandu city where the hotels are located around Thamel area, an interesting place to be, on reaching respective hotels check in and after some refreshment, our guide will brief with orientation programs regarding the activities while in Nepal with us from sightseeing to tours and other necessary details with afternoon tour of interesting places of delight. Our interesting tour starts visit of holy Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath with golden roofs, as non Hindu cannot enter the main premises, one can have view from the east bank of the River Bagmati, this temple famous and dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the main gods in Hindu religion, in the month of February as per Hindu calendar celebration and fare takes place where thousands of pilgrims and worshippers from India and Nepal. From this holy sites a short drive to Bouddhanath Stupa, also called as ‘Little Tibet’ as this place is inhabited by Tibetans and Tibetan origin Nepalese people of Tibetan Buddhism. A huge dome of Stupa with prayer wheels that circles the wall, a fascinating Stupa with all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha believed to be more than 600 years old or more, the entire area with markets of Tibetan and Chinese goods and nice restaurants, shops and many monasteries, afternoon drive leads further beyond Kathmandu city towards east about 8 k.m. to reach at Bhaktapur old medieval city with Nepali authentic houses and temples, Bhaktapur, third largest city around Kathmandu valley, this city was once a capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom from the 12th to 15th century. The main Bhaktapur of 4 square miles located at an altitude of 1,401 m high, with immense old culture, traditional art and architecture, pottery and weaving industries, rich local customs of every-day life. Nepal’s old Malla dynasty’s achievement in arts and crafts is reflected at Bhaktapur city. Bhaktapur is also known by woodcarving artists, for its cap known as Bhadgaon Topi, and for its curd. Bhaktapur although a medieval looking city slowly emerging into modernization but still retains its past glory with old temples, royal courtyard and bazaar itself steeped with old history and monuments with many heritage sites to visit in this old part of the city of Bhaktapur around here visit of Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Bhaktapur Nytapola Temple, Dattarya Square with famous peacock window Pottery square and market, after an exciting and impressive time here, back to hotel in Kathmandu with late afternoon fee at leisure and a group dinner in the Nepali authentic restaurants.

As per the time informed by our guide and staff, early morning with refreshing tea / coffee o pack breakfast depart towards Kathmandu domestic airport for the scenic and sweeping one hour mountain flight, all seats with window facing the mountains, where both side of the passengers can witness the grand mountain vista, from the take off to touch down views of magnificent Himalayan chain of mountains from Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang to Jugal Himal which extends towards Gaurishanker, Melung Tse, Cho-Oyu and Mt. Everest at close distance view of Mt. Makalu can be seen also. Mid morning after the mountain flight transfer a scenic drive of 4-5 hours to the low land of Terai, in the mid south west Nepal where the deep lush green tropical jungles are located, during the journey tremendous views of Nepal hill landscapes with amazing panorama of snow capped mountains, on reaching the warm area of Chitwan, our jungle guide and naturalist will receive you near the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park where all good hotels, lodge and resorts are located. On reaching the respective hotels/ resort the manager or naturalist will brief with information regarding your jungle safari programs and hotels. After checking into your rooms with lunch, afternoon enjoy the elephant ride a safari for few hours, where the ride takes in the deep jungles with high tree lines of Sal and Kapok with thick bushes on the lookout for wildlife and exotic birds, if lucky can see Royal Bengal Tigers poaching in the tall elephant grass and one horned rhino wading in a pool and grass land, the elephant driver (Mauthe) tries his best that every visitors can see some wildlife from Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopards, sloth bear, peacocks, jungle fowls, many types of deer to rhinoceros including plenty of birds life and reptiles like snakes, python, crocodiles. The sunset view from Chitwan is glorious as the evening approaches retire back to hotel with lively evening dinner and local Tharu folk dances.

At Chitwan enjoy and make the most of it, before breakfast a activities will be set by our naturalist for few hours, either elephant safari, nature walks or bird watch and a visit to tower (Machan) where you can observe some Wildlife, after a pleasant walk and safari back to hotel for breakfast and then full day jungle activities a canoe ride on Rapti river where you can see more bird life with two species of crocodiles the marsh mugger (flesh eating) and the Gangetic Gharial (fresh water vegetable and fish eating). In between with lunch break and then take part in elephant briefing and bathing where you can join in to wash the elephant on the pools of Rapti River, afternoon either jungle walk, elephant safari or jungle drive on the lookout for more wildlife as Chitwan is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger, one horned Rhinoceros, 4 types of deer Sambar, Spottedr, Hog and Barking deer, with sloth beer and many reptiles and exotic bird life. Evening enjoy the Tharu culture dance show in dinner time or the slide show of the park and wildlifes.

Morning with short jungle programs for interested people, either a bird watch, nature walks, after a last day in Chitwan our journey continues with an interesting drive towards Pokhara, the ride for few hours passing many villages and towns with amazing views of snow capped mountain from Annapurna Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, as the drive nears Pokhara closer towards Annapurna great massive mountain range with magnificent Mt. Maccahapuchare “Fish Tail” which dominates the Pokhara valley, on reaching Pokhara transfer to respective hotels by the lake Phewa, after a welcome and briefing regarding your stay and programs, after lunch and refreshment a short walk with great evening dinner with cultural folk dance of various parts of Nepal ethnic tribes.

An early morning before the crack of dawn, a short drive to the nearby scenic hills of Pokhara valley at Sarankot altitude of 1,460 meters at least 500 m higher above Pokhara valley and its beautiful Phewa lake, a stunning spot for overwhelming panorama catching the sunrise where it hits the tall Annapurna mountain range from Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,457ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft) stretching to Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fish-tail) 6,997 m with world’s 7th highest Mt. Dhaulagiri 8,167 m , 8th highest Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m and Lamjung Himal towards mid east. Here at Sarankot with awesome views of the snow capped peaks with Pokhara valley and the lake, a most remarkable spot and this place is famous and popular for Paragliding also. From here head back to hotel for refreshment visit the local market with traditional bazaar and ethnical diverse traders. In its temples reflects the Newari architecture of Kathmandu valley, although Pokhara majority are of hill people the Gurung and some Magar, Tamang with Hindu Brahmins, Chettries and Dalits. The local bazaar has important and interesting shrines called Bindhayabasini Mandir (temple), this white dome shaped dominates a spacious stone paved courtyard on a shady hill top with excellent views of the bazaar and the Annapurna mountains. A short drive leads to south of Pokhara at Devis Fall also locally known as Pathele Chhago, a beautiful cascading waterfall in a peaceful surrounding, in wet season a torrential waterfalls can be seen, however it’s nice to be here, from here a short across the road leading to huge cave of called Gupteswor Gufa dedicated to Lord shiva where the shrine is located inside the cave the cave leads deeper with raging Seti River flowing inside and vanishes through some channels inside the cave, after a nice pleasant day retire back to hotel for evening dinner and overnight stop.

A pleasant morning after breakfast a boat ride for an hour on Phewa Lake, the ride leads to a visit on a small island where Bahari Temple is located dedicated to female deity, local comes to visit for prayer and worship, in Saturday more crowds offering smaller animals like goats and chickens as well. The view is totally captivating from this wonderful spot in serene atmosphere. From here heading to other side of the lake for an hour hike to reach the ridge where World Peace Stupa is located a Buddhist Peace as well called as Shanti Stupa in Nepali, an excellent next view point a short hike a drive near to the top ridge of Pokhara at Shanti or Peace Stupa, located south of Phewa Lake on a ridge top. Peace / Shanti Stupa, a monument on a hilltop, also known as Ananda hill. Built by a Japense monk Morioka Sonin with local supporters under the guidance of , a head monk founder of . means Peace a word. This beautiful spot offers tremendous overwhelming views of Pokhara valley and of the snow capped peaks towards north. After a great morning return back to hotel and refreshment and lunch late afternoon transfer to Pokhara airport for the flight back to Kathmandu with evening a nice last night typical dinner with Nepali environment.

Morning on your last day in Nepal tour leads west of the city with a short drive to view old monument the landmark of Kathmandu valley the historic Swayambhunath Stupa, located on a hill lock, a fascinating old stupa, the Land Mark of Kathmandu valley where the history tells that this ancient place stood for more than 2,500 years before Kathmandu valley was a huge lake. Although a Buddhist monument where all religions can visit and worships in the Buddhist temples and monastery the views from this place is equally enjoyable and exciting as you can view Kathmandu city with snow capped peaks towards north on a clear fine day. After an interesting visit drive back to hotel with peaceful and exciting morning, as per your flight time transfer to Kathmandu international air terminal for the flight back home or to next port of call after a wonderful and amazing experience in Nepal with outmost service of Himalayan Smiles Treks & Adventure.