Trip Overview
Why Choose Best of Nepal?
Because Nepal is more than places to see—it is a country to experience.
Meet local artisans, learn traditional crafts, share a meal with a Newari family, walk through villages, connect with Buddhist spirituality, experience the Himalayas, discover Chitwan’s wildlife and meet local communities.
This journey takes you beyond sightseeing and into everyday Nepal—with meaningful experiences, genuine connections and stories you will carry home.
Don’t just visit Nepal. Meet Nepal. Live Its Stories.
Best of Nepal – 12 Days | Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival – Transfer to Bhaktapur & Evening Heritage Walk
Day 2: Bhaktapur – Morning hike, Heritage walk , Artisan Crafts & Newari Family Experience
Day 3: Bhaktapur – Changunarayan – Nagarkot | Heritage & Himalayan Sunset
Day 4: Nagarkot – Dhulikhel – Namo Buddha – Khwopasi Hike – Balthali
Day 5: Balthali – Rural Village Experience – Bhaktapur | Evening Heritage Walk
Day 6: Bhaktapur – Pokhara | Scenic Journey & Lakeside Exploration
Day 7: Pokhara – Sarangkot Sunrise, Heritage, Nature & Optional Adventure
Day 8: Pokhara – Chitwan | Scenic Drive & Tharu Community Experience
Day 9: Chitwan – Jungle Safari, Nature, Wildlife & Tharu Culture
Day 10: Chitwan – Kathmandu | Scenic Drive & Rest Day
Day 11: Kathmandu – Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Artisans, Swayambhunath or Boudhanath | Farewell Dinner
Day 12: Kathmandu – Departure
Detail Itinerary
BEST OF NEPAL — A JOURNEY INTO LIVING NEPAL
11 Nights / 12 Days
Heritage • Culture • Community • Spirituality • Nature • Adventure • Wildlife
Route: Kathmandu → Bhaktapur → Changunarayan → Nagarkot → Dhulikhel → Namo Buddha → Khwopasi → Balthali → Bhaktapur → Pokhara → Chitwan → Kathmandu
This is more than a sightseeing tour. It is a journey through the many faces of Nepal—meeting local people, experiencing living traditions, walking through rural landscapes, discovering spiritual practices, enjoying the Himalayas and connecting with nature and wildlife.
DAY 1 — ARRIVAL IN NEPAL | KATHMANDU → BHAKTAPUR
Overnight: Bhaktapur
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to historic Bhaktapur. After check-in and a short rest, take a gentle orientation walk through the old city and its traditional squares and courtyards.
This first evening is about slowing down and getting your first feeling of living Nepal.
Experience: Welcome to Bhaktapur • Heritage orientation • Local evening walk
DAY 2 — BHAKTAPUR | LIVING HERITAGE & LOCAL LIFE
Overnight: Bhaktapur
Spend the day experiencing Bhaktapur beyond its monuments.
Explore the historic squares and temples, then meet local artisans and discover traditional craftsmanship through:
- Woodcarving — meet an artisan and learn about traditional designs and techniques.
- Pottery — visit the pottery community and experience this traditional craft.
- Lokta paper making — discover how traditional handmade paper is produced.
Later, visit a Newari family to learn about local lifestyle, food and traditions. Participate in preparing traditional dishes and share a meal with the family.
In the evening, enjoy a relaxed walk through Bhaktapur’s historic streets and taste local specialties.
Experience: Heritage • Artisans • Pottery • Lokta paper • Newari family • Local food
DAY 3 — BHAKTAPUR → CHANGUNARAYAN → NAGARKOT
Overnight: Nagarkot
After breakfast, travel to Changunarayan, one of the Kathmandu Valley’s oldest temple sites. Explore its ancient architecture, stone and wood carvings and surrounding village landscape.
Continue to Nagarkot, travelling through countryside and terraced farmland. Enjoy the peaceful mountain environment and, weather permitting, a beautiful Himalayan sunset.
Experience: Ancient heritage • Village life • Rural landscapes • Himalayan views
DAY 4 — NAGARKOT → DHULIKHEL → NAMO BUDDHA → KHWOPASI HIKE → BALTHALI
Overnight: Balthali
Begin with an early morning Himalayan view from Nagarkot. After breakfast, drive toward Dhulikhel and continue to Namo Buddha, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site.Spend time understanding the site’s spiritual significance and observing the peaceful monastic surroundings.
From Namo Buddha, drive to Khwopasi. Start hiking ( 1 hr) to Balthali through forests, terraced fields, Suspension bridge, villages and rural landscapes.The hike provides an opportunity to see Nepal at a slower pace and understand local farming and village life.Arrive in Balthali, check in and enjoy a peaceful evening surrounded by nature.
Experience: Sunrise • Buddhist spirituality • Hiking • Villages • Agriculture • Rural Nepal
Hiking duration and route can be adjusted according to the group’s fitness level and local trail conditions.
DAY 5 — BALTHALI → BHAKTAPUR | RURAL LIFE & EVENING HERITAGE
Overnight: Bhaktapur
After breakfast, explore the surrounding area of Balthali with a relaxed village and nature walk. Enjoy the countryside, forests, farmland and panoramic views while observing local daily life.Later, drive back to Bhaktapur.
After check-in and rest, experience Bhaktapur in the evening, when the streets become quieter and local life takes over.Enjoy an evening heritage walk through traditional squares, courtyards and lanes, with opportunities to try local snacks and observe the city after the daytime visitors have left.
Experience: Rural Nepal • Village life • Slow travel • Evening Bhaktapur
DAY 6 — BHAKTAPUR → POKHARA
Overnight: Pokhara
After an early breakfast, depart Bhaktapur at approximately 6:00 AM for Pokhara.
The journey takes you through changing landscapes of hills, rivers, villages and terraced farmland. Arrival in Pokhara is expected around 2:00 PM, depending on road conditions.
After check-in and a short rest, explore Lakeside and Phewa Lake. Enjoy a relaxed walk, local cafés, shops and, if time permits, a sunset boat ride.
Experience: Scenic journey • Changing landscapes • Phewa Lake • Lakeside
DAY 7 — POKHARA | MOUNTAINS, NATURE & ADVENTURE
Overnight: Pokhara
Start early with a visit to Sarangkot for sunrise and panoramic Himalayan views, including the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre.Continue with selected Pokhara highlights such as:
- World Peace Pagoda — Buddhist monument and panoramic viewpoint
- Davis Falls — natural waterfall
- Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave — important Hindu sacred site
- Phewa Lake — traditional boating experience
- International Mountain Museum — introduction to Himalayan mountaineering and mountain cultures
Travelers seeking adventure can choose optional activities such as paragliding, ziplining, cycling or hiking, depending on availability and interest.
Experience: Himalayas • Spirituality • Nature • Adventure
DAY 8 — POKHARA → CHITWAN | FROM MOUNTAINS TO TERAI
Overnight: Chitwan
After breakfast, drive to Chitwan, watching the landscape gradually change from the hills to the subtropical Terai.After arrival and check-in, experience a Tharu village and community visit. Learn about traditional houses, culture, food and the relationship between the Tharu people and their environment.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Tharu cultural program.
Experience: Scenic journey • Tharu culture • Community • Terai lifestyle
DAY 9 — CHITWAN | WILDLIFE, NATURE & CONSERVATION
Overnight: Chitwan
Spend the day discovering Chitwan’s natural environment. Activities includes:
- Jeep safari in and around Chitwan National Park
- Wildlife and bird watching
- Canoeing
- Nature walk with a local/naturalist guide
- Learning about wildlife conservation
- Community or cultural experience
Wildlife sightings depend on season, weather and natural conditions.The day connects wildlife conservation with local livelihoods and community life.
Experience: Wildlife • Nature • Conservation • Community
DAY 10 — CHITWAN → KATHMANDU | REST & REFLECTION
Overnight: Kathmandu
After breakfast, drive back to Kathmandu.This is intentionally a slow and restful day after several active experiences.After hotel check-in, enjoy free time to relax, explore nearby areas or simply reflect on the journey so far.
Experience: Scenic journey • Rest • Personal time
DAY 11 — KATHMANDU VALLEY | HERITAGE, ART & SPIRITUALITY
Overnight: Kathmandu
Explore the cultural and spiritual heart of Kathmandu Valley.
Kathmandu Durbar Square-Discover historic palaces, temples, courtyards and the living traditions surrounding the old royal city.
Patan Durbar Square-Explore the artistic heritage of Patan and meet local artisans to understand traditional metalwork, sculpture, woodcarving and other crafts that continue today.
Swayambhunath-Discover the spiritual traditions of one of Nepal’s most important Buddhist-Hindu sacred sites and learn about prayer, rituals and religious coexistence.
OR
Boudhanath-Experience the atmosphere around the great stupa, prayer wheels, monasteries and Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Farewell Dinner
End your Nepal journey with an authentic Nepali dinner, accompanied by traditional food, cultural stories and a warm farewell.
Experience: UNESCO heritage • Artisans • Buddhism • Hinduism • Spirituality • Nepali cuisine
DAY 12 — KATHMANDU | DEPARTURE
Enjoy breakfast and some free time depending on your flight schedule.Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.
Until We Meet Again in Nepal.
