The 2015 earthquake damaged some structures but it magnified Nepal’s spirit and positivity. As you celebrate this strong country, this two-week tour will connect you with timeless landscapes and cultures, while also providing an intimate look at the rebuilding process. Your days will be filled with urban highlights, a Himalayan trek, and a jungle safari, with a whole host of spiritual experiences along the way. Nepal is far from bowed, it’s seriously bouncing back. Are you planning your dream...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Kathmandu – Overcoming Culture Shock in the Capital
Through the shroud of dust leftover from the 2015 earthquake comes color, particularly from women in saris heading to temples with their sticks of incense, or the mandala paintings that fill shop windows. Kathmandu can be chaotic, like most capital cities, adding another layer to decipher as you touch down to an instant atmosphere of spirituality. A guide will meet you at the airport to escort you to your hotel before taking you to a couple of places away from the crowds, like the aptly named Garden of Dreams. Over Himalayan coffee, you’ll get a background of the city and country. The afternoon and evening will be free with the guide available to transport you around Kathmandu if required.
What's Included:
Day 2
Kathmandu – A Site Director Guides You Through the Remains of Patan
Day 3
Kathmandu – Tibetan Buddhists in Boudha
Day 4
Pokhara – Reconstructed Temples and Onwards to the Lake
Day 5
Pokhara – Sunrise From Sarangkot and Lessons in Meditation
Day 6 - 9
Annapurna Conservation Area – The Superb Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
Day 10
Chitwan National Park – Into the Jungle
Day 11
Chitwan National Park – Continuing the Rhino and Tiger Safari
Day 12
Bandipur – Final Safari Activity and an Old-World Bazaar Town
Day 13
Kathmandu – An Old Micro City After the Earthquake and Final Night in Nepal
Day 14
Kathmandu – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Learn all about the earthquake reconstruction process by touring Patan Durbar Square with a site director
- Escape to the mountains on a classic four-day Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, where the Himalayan landscape remains as blissful and beautiful as ever
- Enjoy a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, where rhinos are your neighbors and you’ll occasionally glimpse tigers in the green
- Admire the miraculous story of Bhaktapur, where the strength of giant pagodas and temples carried the monuments through the earthquake
- Spend a night in the old bazaar town of Bandipur, which provides insight into a culture and setting that has persevered for generations
- Explore different snippets of Buddhist culture, including a monastery in the mountains and a Tibetan community in Boudha
Detailed Description
After the loss endured as a result of the 2015 earthquake, the country is taking its next steps to reconstruct the old and reconnect with its traditional spirituality. This country has always lived in the shadow of Mother Nature, with a landscape that stretches from the highest of Himalayan Mountains to the most exotic of tropical jungles. When nature rules you can only sit back and let the environment take its course. So the only question you can ask yourself will be how much can you celebrate over the course of your two-week journey.
Taking you on a two-week celebration of highlights, this two-week vacation will mix a little of everything that makes Nepal so great. From trekking and temples to rhinos and rivers, followed by holy moments and sun rises over stupendous landscapes. Central to the experience will be a rare chance to look into the earthquake rebuilding process. You’ll be guided through Patan by a site director and visit mountain villages that show their scars with pride.
Start and end in Kathmandu. Three medieval kingdoms coexisted here and each has their own earthquake story. Patan’s concerns rebuilding, Kathmandu’s covers many centuries, while Bhaktapur’s great monuments have somehow survived serious damage, even if the smaller temples no longer stand. Nearby Pashupatinath will immerse you in local Hindu culture while Boudha provides your first insight into Tibetan Buddhist culture in the country. Then, fly to Pokhara to watch the sunrise from Sarangkot. Meditate in a monastery with a local monk before you head off on a multi-day trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
You’ll walk to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, which is an accessible introduction to Himalayan trekking, complete with all the astonishing views and village culture. You’ll stay in comfortable teahouses along the way, and soak up the hospitality of villagers who have always lived in a land without roads. After your mountain trek, you’ll transition to the jungle. Rhinos peek out from the grass, tiger prints enliven the sand, and an elephant rumbles past in all its might. Return to Kathmandu via the historic trading bazaar of Bandipur, which provides another superb insight into a culture that has survived multiple earthquakes. Upon flying out from Kathmandu you’ll realize that not only has Nepal survived, it has found expression to thrive.
Consider reading about the best Nepal operators whom we work with.
Starting Price
$4,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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