Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan
Eight days across Nepal's three essential faces — the UNESCO heritage of Kathmandu, the lakeside Himalayan views of Pokhara, and a wildlife safari through Chitwan National Park — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Nepal's three headline destinations, in one well-paced trip
If you only have one trip to Nepal, this is the itinerary built to answer it. Eight days takes you through the country's three most-asked-for stops — Kathmandu's living UNESCO heritage, Pokhara's lakeside views of the Annapurna Himalaya, and a wildlife safari through Chitwan National Park's grasslands and sal forest — without the guesswork of sequencing it yourself.
You'll walk the pagoda-roofed squares and stupas of the Kathmandu Valley, wake for sunrise over the Annapurna range from Sarangkot above Phewa Lake, and spend a full day in Chitwan looking for the greater one-horned rhinoceros by jeep and gharial crocodiles by canoe. Between the sightseeing sits Nepal's everyday texture — momos, marigold garlands, prayer flags, and a slower pace than the Kathmandu traffic first suggests.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing are arranged for you throughout. Prefer it fully private, extended with a Himalayan scenic flight, or reshaped around a short Annapurna trek? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
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What you'll actually see
Kathmandu's UNESCO heritage
A city of pagoda-roofed Durbar Squares, hilltop stupas and riverside temples, all still in daily religious use rather than roped off as monuments. You'll cover the essential sites — Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath — with a guide who can explain what you're looking at, not just where to stand.
Sunrise over the Annapurna Himalaya
Pokhara sits on Phewa Lake with the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peaks rising almost directly behind it. An early start to Sarangkot puts you above the lake for sunrise, when clear skies turn the snow line gold — one of the more reliable Himalaya views in Nepal, without a trek.
A jeep safari in Chitwan National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Nepal's leading rhino stronghold — jeep safaris here have a strong chance of a close encounter with the greater one-horned rhinoceros, alongside deer, monkeys and, at the Kasara breeding centre, gharial crocodiles. Run as a jeep safari and canoe outing rather than elephant-back riding — see the "Good to Know" section below for why.
Everyday Nepal, between the sights
Newari courtyards in Kathmandu, lakeside cafés in Pokhara, Tharu communities on the edge of Chitwan — plus the food that ties it together, from steamed momos to a Nepali dal bhat thali. This itinerary leaves room for that texture, not just the checklist.
Your 8-day itinerary
A logical loop through Nepal's three headline stops, with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Tribhuvan International Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Settle in, then ease into the city at your own pace. Thamel's tangle of trekking shops, cafés and prayer-flag-strung lanes is an easy first evening, with your first Nepali dal bhat thali or bowl of momos to start the trip properly.
A guided day through the Kathmandu Valley's essential heritage: Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old royal palace complex with its temples and carved wood windows; Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa known as the Monkey Temple, with panoramic views over the valley; and Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world and the centre of Kathmandu's Tibetan Buddhist community, best experienced with a slow circuit of its prayer wheels at dusk.
Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara by private vehicle, a scenic drive along the Trishuli and Marsyangdi river valleys with the terrain opening out as you go. On arrival, check in lakeside and spend the afternoon at your own pace — a walk along Phewa Lake, a rowboat out to the Tal Barahi Temple on its island, or simply watching the Annapurna range catch the evening light.
A pre-dawn transfer up to Sarangkot, the hilltop viewpoint above Pokhara, timed for sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and the distinctive fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre. Back in Pokhara for breakfast, the rest of the day covers the city's other sights at an easier pace — Devi's Falls, the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave, and free time by the lake for boating, café-hopping or, for the more adventurous, tandem paragliding above the valley.
A transfer south from the hills of Pokhara down into the subtropical Terai lowlands and Chitwan National Park, a change of landscape, climate and pace in one drive. Check in to your Chitwan lodge in time for a relaxed evening — an included Tharu cultural programme introduces the indigenous community of the region through music and dance before dinner.
A full day built around Chitwan's wildlife: an open jeep safari through the park's grassland and sal forest, where sightings of the greater one-horned rhinoceros are common and deer, monkeys and a wide range of birdlife are near-certain, followed by a canoe trip along the Rapti or Narayani River to look for gharial and marsh crocodiles. The day rounds out with a visit to a nearby Tharu village and, time permitting, the elephant breeding centre at Kasara.
Transfer back to Kathmandu, with the option of an early jungle walk in Chitwan before you leave, if your onward timing allows. The evening is free — a good window for last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel, a Nepali cooking or momo-making session, or simply a final unhurried dinner before departure.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time before you're transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey. If you'd like to extend, we can add a short Annapurna trek, a scenic mountain flight past Everest, or extra nights in any of the three destinations.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, weather and local conditions. Wildlife is wild — sightings can never be guaranteed.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
October to April is the main season, with October–November and March–April giving the clearest mountain views for sunrise at Sarangkot. The monsoon (roughly June–September) brings cloud cover that can obscure the Himalaya — we'll advise on timing for your dates when you enquire.
Currency
The Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara; carry cash for park fees, markets, tips and smaller vendors, especially in Chitwan.
Responsible wildlife viewing
Chitwan's safari is run by open jeep and canoe rather than elephant-back riding, in line with the welfare-led shift most reputable operators and lodges in the park have made since 2022. Rhino and gharial sightings are common but, as with any wild animal in its natural habitat, never guaranteed.
Getting between destinations
This itinerary uses private road transfers between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan — scenic, but 5–7 hours each way depending on conditions. Domestic flights (around 25 minutes on each leg) are available as a paid upgrade if you'd rather save the travel time — ask us when you enquire.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing for the Terai lowlands, warmer layers for early starts in Kathmandu and Pokhara, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Modest cover-ups are appreciated at temples and stupas.
Visas & documents
Most nationalities can obtain a Nepal visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, though requirements and fees vary by passport and can change. Please verify based on your own nationality before you travel — we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Nepal, from stupa to safari
Good to have answered
Is the US$899 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 8-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels, daily breakfast, airport and listed intercity transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size and whether you'd like domestic flights instead of road transfers, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Will we definitely see a rhino in Chitwan?
Sightings are common — Chitwan is home to one of Nepal's largest greater one-horned rhinoceros populations, and jeep safaris regularly get close. But these are wild animals in their natural habitat, so no responsible operator can guarantee a sighting. Deer, monkeys and a wide range of birdlife are seen on almost every safari either way.
Do we ride elephants during the safari?
No — this itinerary is built around jeep safari and canoe outings rather than elephant-back riding. Welfare organisations and much of the Chitwan tourism industry have moved away from elephant riding since 2022, and we've followed that shift. If you'd specifically like an ethical elephant encounter, such as an observation-only visit to a breeding or care centre, let us know and we can look into what's currently available.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport is well connected across Asia and the Middle East; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your airport transfers to match your flights.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add nights in any destination, upgrade to domestic flights, add a scenic mountain flight past Everest, or extend into a short Annapurna trek. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
Is there much walking or altitude to worry about?
This is a sightseeing itinerary, not a trek — Kathmandu sits at around 1,400m and Pokhara lower still, well below altitudes where altitude sickness is a concern. Expect comfortable walking through heritage sites and moderate activity on safari; Sarangkot's sunrise viewpoint is reached by vehicle, not on foot. Let us know if you'd like a more active pace or a trekking extension.
Do I need a visa for Nepal?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, but requirements, fees and eligible passports do change. Please verify based on your own nationality before you travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Nepal adventure
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.