Magnificent scenery, fascinating culture and wildlife.

Saturday, 14 December 2024

Depart the UK on overnight flight to Kathmandu

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Kathmandu.

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Sunday, 15 December 2024

Arrive in Kathmandu

On arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met by our Veloso Tours local guide and transferred to your chosen hotel for a 3 night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Your guide will give you a short orientation tour to get you used to your local surroundings. The rest of the day is at leisure.  

The roofs of the pagodas, the smells from the street stalls and the local people all combine to make Kathmandu a truly intoxicating and evocative city. Formerly three separate kingdoms, Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, these city-states were united during the late 18th century to create modern Nepal but still retain their individual characters. 

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Monday, 16 December 2024

Guided tour of Kathmandu

Enjoy a full day city tour today in the company of your expert Veloso Tours guide. We start at Durbar Square. Some of the square’s 50-plus monuments date from the 12th century, most are from the time of the Malla Kings. Probably the most famous building here is the Kumari Bahal, a building richly decorated with beautiful woodcarvings, which is home to the Royal Kumari, the Living Goddess, a manifestation of the great goddess Durga. Nearby the former Royal Palace is a Mall Dynasty dwelling, once considerably more extensive than today. 

Next we visit Swayambhunath, the most ancient of the Valley’s holy shrines this golden-spired stupa tops a wooded hillock. Records of its history date as far as the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be older. It is the Kathmandu Valley’s most sacred Buddhist shrine and whilst its worshippers include the Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, Newari Buddhists are the most fervent devotees.

In the afternoon, discover Boudhanath Stupa. This great stupa is one of Nepal’s most distinctive monuments and also one of the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal and, with a diameter of over 100 meters, amongst the largest in the world. 

Then, take a break from the sightseeing and walk around the bustling area surrounding the stupa. There are six major monasteries and a host of smaller ones as well as cafes, restaurants and shops selling Tibetan carpets and plenty of Newari silversmiths. On the evening, we visit Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the subcontinent’s great Shiva sites, Pashupatinath.

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

Drive to Pokhara

Today we drive through incredible Himalayan mountain scenery past local villages and steep ravines to arrive to Pokhara. It's a long day and the mountain roads can sometimes be slow, but the views are very rewarding and invigorating. Check in at your chosen hotel for a 2 night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. 

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Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Guided tour - extend on an Annapurna trek

You can extend your time in Pokhara with a choice of treks in the beautiful Annapurna Mountains. Please see the links below: https://www.veloso.com/nepal/tours/annapuna-lowlands-trek/

https://www.veloso.com/nepal/tours/ghorepani-poonhill-trek/

Today though, enjoy a guided tour of Pokhara with your local guide. The serenity of its beautiful lakes and the magnificent Himalayan peaks rising behind create an ambience of peace and magic. Today the city is not only the starting point for trekking and rafting but also a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

We start at Bindabasini Temple, a striking temple that looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara. This is an ornate, two-tiered temple is dedicated to Durga. We continue to David’s Fall, a scenic waterfall about 2km south west of Pokhara city. Our next stop is the Gupteshwor Temple situated across the road is a beautiful temple built inside the cave. It holds an auspicious value among the Hindu pilgrims because inside the cave is a well preserved shivalinga (phallic form of Lord Shiva) where people come and worship Lord Shiva.

We then visit Gurkha Memorial Museum is a fine tribute to the ‘bravest of the brave’ soldiers (Bravest of the brave is the Gurkha motto). Dedicated to the Gurkha soldiers who joined the British army since 1875 and later the Indian army after the independence. The Gurkhas’s fought valiantly for the queen and were well renowned in the battlefield; some of them have been awarded the Victoria Cross medal for their services. The journeys of the Gurkhas’s through lot of other peacekeeping movements have been beautifully displayed. Unseen videos and pictures of the fighters, emotional moments and a unique aspect of their family lives. The uniforms, the weapons, the victories have been neatly numbered and placed. It arouses your respect towards these people for the level of dedication and loyalty they have displayed without failing to prove their worth each and every time.

We finish the day with the highlight, a cruise on beautiful Fewa Lake. Fewa (Phewa) Lake is the second largest lake in Nepal. The wooden boats at the lake with the endless book shops, lodges and restaurants along the lakeside make the whole environment vivid and vibrant. In the middle of the lake stands the famous Barahi temple. The reflection of the Fishtail Mountain in the crystal clear and serene water of Phewa Lake is something not to be missed.

Thursday, 19 December 2024

Drive to Chitwan National Park

This morning we drive to your chosen lodge for a 3-night stay on full board basis. Royal Chitwan National Park is the first and best protected area in Nepal. It offers protection to an array of mammals such as the one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, sloth bear and wild bison, as well as more than 400 species of birds. The afternoon is at leisure. 

In the evening, we take a traditional Patela boat ride downstream the Rapti River towards the western boundary of the park formed by Himalayan Narayani. As you sail, look out for crocodiles and several Wetland Species, migrants and residents and if lucky get a closer view of the Rhinos wallowing in water.

Disembark at a preselected spot and another short walk gets you to a view point where chairs and a small BBQ are set up. Over chilled sundowners and hot grilled snacks enjoy the sunset and soak in the lovely views.

In the evening enjoy a cultural performance at your Lodge. Centuries old culture of ostensible survivors in Nepal, Tharu Dance is an amazing way of expressing the significance of festivals, farmland and the tradition of united families in the life of Tharus. The cultural performances are organised at the lodge after sunsets. We encourage guests to interact and join them in the performance.

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Friday, 20 December 2024

Jeep safari and canoe ride

Enjoy a morning Jeep safari & an afternoon canoe ride in the National Park.

In-between game drives you have the option of visiting a village visit that takes you to Tharu houses and an opportunity to experience the coexistence of modernity and tradition in the village. You will get a chance to learn and explore while streaming through the pollution free roads, stretches of farmlands and ancestral homes and welcoming locals.

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Saturday, 21 December 2024

Guided nature walk

This morning enjoy a guided nature walk, a unique highlight of Chitwan. This on-foot safari helps you to be into the shoes of naturalists to explore study and unravel the hidden secret in the woods. The jungle walk offers a great chance of spotting wildlife and is quite adventurous. As per the interest of the guest the nature walks can be longer or shorter. There are well-defined circuits developed after observing the animal movement in different habitats of the park. The nature walks are led by an experienced naturalist and lodge’s local nature guide.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Sunday, 22 December 2024

Drive back to Kathmandu

Start after an early breakfast and drive back to Kathmandu. It is a long drive, but again passes some spectacular scenery and the fascinating local life and culture. We will have regular stops on the way to stretch your legs. 

In Kathmandu, transfer to your chosen hotel for your last nights stay in Nepal on a bed and breakfast basis.

Monday, 23 December 2024

Fly back to the UK

Transfer to the airport and fly back to the UK on a same day flight.