Upgraded - Highlights of Nepal

Our trip begins today in Kathmandu, Nepal's colourful capital city. Upon arrival, a transfer will take you to the palatial Hotel Yak & Yeti. This five-star hotel is partially housed in the historic Lal Durbar, otherwise known as the "Red Palace", built by the Rana dynasty over a century ago. For those arriving on time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for a welcome meeting, followed by the chance to head out for dinner for those who wish. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will leave any essential information details at the hotel reception so you can catch up later. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), which is around a 45-minute drive from the hotel, depending on traffic. As part of our Upgraded range, we also offer a complimentary transfer to those who have made pre-tour accommodation arrangements through Explore, regardless of your arrival day. If you have some free time before the welcome meeting this afternoon, you might want to explore the nearby neighbourhood of Thamel, a short 15 minute walk away from the hotel. Known as the heart of Kathmandu's buzzing nightlife, Thamel has enough cafes, restaurants, bookshops and boutiques to keep you occupied for a few hours.

After breakfast, we'll set out to explore the capital's bustling streets, starting with a visit to Durbar Square. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is an open-air museum of temples, courtyards and palaces dating back several centuries. Nowadays, the square is a bustling, chaotic plaza where street vendors and locals go about their daily lives. If we're lucky, we might catch a glimpse of the Kumari, also known as Nepal's living goddess, offering blessings to visitors from her window. She is believed to be the living embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju; therefore, her feet must never touch the ground. During our orientation walk around Nepal's bustling capital, we'll familiarise ourselves with Nepalese culture through some of the country's most popular and well-loved foods. Together with your tour leader, you'll seek out momos, Nepal's beloved dumplings, yomari, a sweet Newari delicacy filled with jaggery and sesame, and crispy samosas. To wash it all down, we'll enjoy a cup or two of Nepali tea, followed by a handful of fragrant paan, a traditional herbal digestive. Bellies full, our vehicle will meet us on the outskirts of Durbar Square to take us to one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and the spiritual centre of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal - Boudhanath Stupa. We'll join pilgrims walking the sacred kora path before attending a private interaction with a senior monk. This intimate session offers insights into meditation and the philosophy that shapes Himalayan culture. Before leaving the stupa, you will have the opportunity to light a traditional butter lamp, a symbolic offering of light and a wish for a prosperous and healthy life. We'll return to our hotel to relax and freshen up before we head out in the evening to enjoy a welcome dinner featuring authentic traditional Nepali cuisine and traditional local dancers.

We begin the day with a visit to Changu Narayan Temple, located around one hour from our hotel in Kathmandu. Widely regarded as the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, it dates back to the 5th century. A further 45-minutes by vehicle brings us to the City of Devotees, also known as Bhaktapur. The medieval city is known for being one of the best-preserved royal cities in Kathmandu Valley, but also for its long tradition of craftsmanship. Techniques in pottery, woodcarving, metal work and handmade paper have been passed down through the generations, and we'll see how locals still rely on these skills today. During our time in Bhaktapur, we'll visit artisan workshops to learn more about local creative traditions. We'll stop at the Lokta paper workshop and see how paper is made using the bark of the Himalayan Daphne plant. The process includes boiling, pulling and moulding the material before it dries in the sun. This highly durable, eco-friendly paper was once reserved for royal decrees. We'll also visit Pottery Square, Bhaktapur's most iconic artisan neighbourhood. Here, generations of potters shape clay vessels using simple spinning wheels and age-old techniques. We'll try our hand at crafting our own small clay piece under the guidance of a local artisan. Today's special lunch stop will be at Sikami Chhen, a 200-year-old traditional Newari family home that was carefully restored following the 2015 earthquake. The property received UNESCO Special Recognition for Sustainable Development for the Shilpakar family's efforts to rebuild the home using only traditional woodcarving methods and craftsmanship. Here, we'll enjoy a homemade Newari lunch where we'll get to try Bhaktapur's famous Juju Dhau, a sweet yoghurt known locally as the 'King of Yoghurt', along with Bara, a savoury lentil pancake. After lunch, we'll visit the family's woodcarving workshop to learn about the intricate restoration work carried out by members of the Shilpakar family and gain an insight into the craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations. In the late afternoon, we'll begin our winding drive up to Nagarkot, a journey of around one hour. This hillside station is famous for offering one of the most expansive views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, Langtang, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Annapurna. Our hotel for the next couple of nights is Club Himalaya, a property perched on a hillside, offering unobstructed views of the eastern and western mountain ranges. If the weather permits, we'll try to catch the sunset from the hotel's terrace. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

We have an early start this morning, rising before dawn to gather on the terrace and witness one of Nepal's most iconic sights: the sunrise over the Himalayas. Our tour leader will tell us the names of the various peaks we'll be able to spot. It's worth noting that visibility of the Himalayas is dependent on the weather - if we're unlucky today, we'll try again tomorrow. After a relaxed breakfast, we'll set out on a guided hike through the pine forests and terraced hillsides that surround Nagarkot. Our walk today is approximately 6-7 kilometers/3-4 miles, and will take around three to four hours, depending on our pace. It's a gentle walk on undulating terrain, and the route will give us insight into rural farming life in Kathmandu Valley. There will be plenty of time to stop, take photos and learn about the traditional architecture and lifestyle of the Tamang and Thakuri communities who call these ridges home. After our walk, we'll return to the hotel, and the rest of the afternoon is free to relax and make the most of the hotel's facilities. Enjoy a dip in the indoor heated pool or treat yourself to a relaxing massage at the hotel's spa. Later this evening, we'll have a momo-making workshop with a local chef who will teach us how to shape these traditional Nepalese dumplings before we sit down to eat.

This morning, we'll drive to Bandipur, approximately a six-hour drive from Nagarkot. Upon arrival in Bandipur, we'll have an orientation walk of the small Newari town and its bazaar. A visit to the hilltop town of Bandipur offers a glimpse into life in Nepal during the 18th century, which has retained its age-old cultural attributes. It also gives us the chance to stop and stretch our legs on the long drive between Nagarkot and Pokhara. Bandipur is a small town, and accommodation choices are limited. We've chosen a heritage guesthouse that's more than 100 years old, located on the pedestrianised main street. The guesthouse doesn't have premium facilities, but its traditional charm more than makes up for it. You'll find plenty of cafes and small eateries within a stone's throw of the guesthouse, and there's a terrace out back where you can sit and relax with a book.

Following breakfast, we'll take the scenic drive to Pokhara, Nepal's most enchanting lakeside city. The drive takes around three hours. Pokhara is widely regarded as one of Nepal's most beautiful cities, acting as the gateway to the Annapurna region. Upon arrival, we'll have the chance to stretch our legs and take a stroll along the lakeside promenade. There are restaurants and cafes by the water to grab lunch this afternoon. We'll reconvene in the early afternoon for our transfer up to the Sarangkot Mountain Lodge, which will be our base for the next three nights. Perched on a high ridge, Sarangkot Mountain Lodge is known for its impressive views of the surrounding mountains. Each room has its own private balcony offering unobstructed views of the Annapurna Range. The rest of the evening is at leisure to relax and unwind after our busy day.

With a cup of coffee in hand, we're up early to try our luck at catching a spectacular Himalayan sunrise from our mountain lodge. After breakfast, we'll drive for 10 minutes to visit Sharing Seeds, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to teach young farmers sustainable farming practices to help them make a living in their home villages. Many young Nepalese men and women leave their villages and towns in search of work abroad and a better quality of life. Sharing Seeds was established to support local farmers in learning how to harvest and sell Arabica coffee beans by generating income for themselves. Here, we'll learn all about the project's mission, whilst also seeing the whole bean-to-cup process, before enjoying a cup of coffee at the end. After our visit to Sharing Seeds, we'll head back to the hotel to freshen up before exploring Pokhara. A short 10-minute walk takes us to the cable car station, where we'll take a scenic journey to Pokhara's lakeside, taking in the panoramic views of Machhapuchhare, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna II, and Lamjung peaks. Arriving at the cable car station in Sedibagar (lakeside), our vehicle will meet us and take us to our first stop of the day, the Tibetan Refugee Settlement, home to many Tibetan refugees who fled Tibet following its annexation in 1951. The Chinese People's Liberation Army successfully defeated the Tibetan Army, resulting in the dissolution of the Tibetan Government and marking an end to the former country's independence from the rest of China. Following the clandestine exit of the Dalai Lama in 1959, over 80,000 Tibetans fled their home, with many settling in Pokhara. Following a recent trade agreement between China and Nepal, these refugees no longer hold the right to own land, work or claim benefits. By way of earning a living, they create handmade jewellery, carvings and handicrafts which they sell at the centre. The rest of the afternoon has been left free for you to explore the lakeside at your own leisure. There is the option of doing a boat ride on Lake Phewa. As the evening approaches, we'll reconvene at the lakeside to witness the Aarti Pooja ceremony after which we'll head to dinner. Depending on the season, aarati pooja time might differ.

After breakfast, we take a scenic one-hour drive to the village of Hemjakot, a traditional Gurung settlement perched high above the Pokhara Valley. The Gurung people are one of Nepal's most distinct ethnic groups and are perhaps best known for their world-famous Gurkha soldiers. The high-altitude settlements where many Gurkhas originate from help develop exceptional stamina, endurance and leg strength, contributing to their reputation as some of the world's finest soldiers. From the car park, we'll walk for around 15 to 20 minutes, passing terraced farmland and small stone homesteads. On arrival, we'll have the opportunity to explore the settlement, visit local homes and observe the traditional agricultural practices that have sustained families here for centuries. We'll also try our hand at preparing some local dishes with a family using ingredients grown on the surrounding farms. These include Dal Bhat, a quintessential Nepali meal of lentil soup, rice and seasonal vegetable curries, and Sel Roti, a traditional ring-shaped rice bread often reserved for celebrations. After lunch, we'll return to the mountain lodge, where the rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. The hotel has its own spa, offering massages, and an infinity pool with incredible views of the Himalayan mountain range. If you'd prefer to do some more exploring, Ganesh Temple is around a 15-minute walk from the lodge. Alternatively, our tour leader can help arrange a hike on one of the trails in the surrounding area. This evening, dinner will be served at the property.

Today you will return to Kathmandu, travelling through the scenic foothills of the Himalayas. The drive takes approximately eight hours (around 213 kilometres/132 miles) and follows winding river valleys, terraced farmland and rural hillside communities that offer a glimpse into Nepal's everyday countryside life. Our final stay will be at the Dwarika's Hotel, a property widely regarded as one of Nepal's most distinctive and culturally significant heritage properties. The hotel was built around intricately carved wooden elements rescued from historic Newar buildings across the Kathmandu Valley. Many of these architectural pieces date back several centuries and have been carefully restored, transforming the property into what feels like a living museum of traditional craftsmanship. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to relax within the hotel's beautiful courtyards, explore its traditional architecture and galleries, or enjoy the range of facilities available. The hotel also offers a wellness spa, swimming pool, and peaceful courtyard spaces ideal for unwinding after the journey.

After breakfast at the hotel, your journey through Nepal comes to an end. There are no planned activities today, so you're free to depart at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) which is around 15 minutes from the hotel. As part of our Upgraded range, we also offer a complimentary transfer to those who have made post-tour accommodation arrangements through Explore, regardless of your departure day.