Arrive at Kathmandu airport, where an airport officer will meet you outside the International Arrival Hall. Look for a placard, or signboard, displaying your name. After meeting the officer, continue by air-conditioned private vehicle to the city center with arrival assistance provided.

Once your transfer is complete, the remainder of the day is free for you to spend independently. You may stroll around the local area at your own pace and use this unscheduled time to become familiar with your surroundings.

Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital and lies within the Kathmandu Valley.

Begin your full-day sightseeing after breakfast, meeting your guide at 9:30 am. Visit Pashupatinath Temple beside the Bagmati River, a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and known as the “abode of Shiva.” Only Hindus may enter the complex to worship, while others can observe Hindu rituals, morning activities, and funeral ceremonies at the cremation ghats from across the holy river. Continue 3 kilometers to Boudhnath Stupa, also called “Mini Tibet.” One of Nepal’s largest Buddhist stupas, it is surrounded by Tibetan settlements, monasteries, prayer flags, and mane.

In the afternoon, drive to hilltop Swoyambhunath Stupa, known as the “Monkey Temple,” overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and Central Himalayan ranges. Both Hindus and Buddhists pay homage here, reflecting Nepal’s cultural harmony. Continue to Patan Durbar Square, another UNESCO site located in Kathmandu. Explore Patan, the “City of Beauty,” and walk its narrow lanes to see local Newari people, ancient royal complexes, medieval architecture, Krishna Temple, Mahaboudhi Stupa, and the Golden Temple. Patan is also known for metalwork and woodcarving.

The Kathmandu Valley was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

After breakfast, meet your guide and drive 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, the best-preserved ancient city and a cultural center for Newari people. Although earthquakes in 1934 and 2015 destroyed many decorated buildings and shrines, the main square retains several temples and architectural showpieces. See the Lion Gate, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Palace of 55 Windows, Bell of the Barking Dogs, Nyatapola Temple, and replica of Pashupatinath Temple. Observe Newari people engaged in traditional routines and daily work. Along Bhaktapur’s narrow lanes, you can bargain for Thankas, described as oil paintings on silk, and purchase one if interested.

Your guide sees you off in Bhaktapur before you continue with your driver to Nagarkot. The hill station is 38 kilometers from Kathmandu, with the drive listed as approximately 1.5 hours. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, Nagarkot is known for sunrise and sunset views over the Himalayas, including 8 of Nepal’s 13 Himalayan ranges. Use your free time to stroll around the area or relax while watching the sunset. In very clear weather, you may also see Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.

Bhaktapur is also called Bhadgaon, a name that means “City of Devotees.”

After breakfast, your driver picks you up at 7:30 am for the 205-kilometer journey to Chitwan, which takes approximately 7.5 hours along a scenic mountain highway. Chitwan is described as one of Asia’s finest national parks and is known for one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers, deer, and other wild flora and fauna in their natural habitat. On arrival, a local naturalist welcomes you. Enjoy lunch in the dining complex, followed by a briefing on the scheduled activities.

Begin the afternoon program with a jungle walk inside the forest, escorted by a local naturalist. Continue to Tharu villages on the edge of the park, where you can observe the lifestyle and culture of the Tharu, Indigenous people from Nepal’s plains region. In the evening, attend a Tharu Stick Dance performance. Dinner is also included this evening.

Chitwan National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. 

Begin the morning with a canoe ride on the Rapti River, watching for water birds and crocodiles along the river. After completing the canoe trip, continue to an elephant briefing and visit the elephant breeding center. The river excursion and elephant-focused activities form the morning portion of your full-day jungle program.

In the afternoon, take a jeep safari through the dense forest to look for Nepal’s wildlife. The main focus is spotting a one-horned rhinoceros, although you may also see a tiger if luck and conditions allow. Return after the safari. Lunch and dinner are included during the day.

Established in 1973, Chitwan National Park was Nepal’s first national park.

Depart in the morning for the five-hour drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism. The journey occupies the first part of the day, with your destination sightseeing scheduled after arrival. Your afternoon is dedicated to the listed sites within Lumbini Garden.

Begin the afternoon sightseeing tour at the famous Maya Devi Temple. Continue to the other monasteries located inside the garden area, keeping the visit focused on the temple and monastic sites specified in the program. The day’s planned sightseeing concludes within Lumbini Garden.

Lumbini was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

Depart in the morning for the seven-hour drive to Pokhara. The city is known for its Himalayan views and snow-fed lakes, including the reflection of Mount Fishtail and the Annapurna range on Lake Phewa. The journey occupies the first part of the day before you arrive in this lake and mountain destination.

Pokhara also serves as a base for trekking in the Annapurna region and for day hikes around the valley rim. After arrival, the rest of the day is free for you to spend independently. Stroll around the Phewa Lakeside area at your own pace, with no additional scheduled sightseeing listed for the day.

Phewa Lake is the largest of Pokhara’s three major lakes.

Leave early in the morning for an excursion to Sarangkot, timed to see sunrise over Mount Annapurna, the Dhaulagiri massif, and Mount Fishtail. After the sunrise viewing, return for breakfast. This early excursion completes the mountain-viewing portion of the day before the itinerary continues with afternoon sightseeing in Pokhara.

In the afternoon, begin a Pokhara city tour. Visit Bindavashini Temple, Seti Gorge, Devi’s Fall, and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave in the listed sequence. The program also includes a complimentary boat ride on Phewa Lake, adding the scheduled lake excursion to the temple, gorge, waterfall, and cave visits.

The name Seti means “White River.”

Depart Pokhara for the 200-kilometer drive back to Kathmandu. The road journey is scheduled to take approximately six hours, making the transfer the main planned activity for the day. Upon reaching Kathmandu, complete your arrival transfer before beginning your free time.

The remainder of the day is yours to spend independently. No sightseeing, guided visits, or additional scheduled activities are listed. You can manage this unstructured period according to your own plans after completing the drive and transfer to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is Nepal’s largest city and its political and cultural capital.

At the scheduled time, transfer to Kathmandu airport for your departure. The journey is arranged to bring you to the airport in time for your flight, making the departure transfer the only planned movement for the day. Follow the confirmed flight timing when preparing to leave.

After reaching Kathmandu airport, complete your departure arrangements and board your flight back home. This airport transfer marks the conclusion of your 10-day journey. No additional sightseeing or activities are scheduled before your departure.

Kathmandu’s airport was declared Tribhuvan International Airport in 1964.