Rhino, Chitwan & Pokhara panorama

Arrival in Kathmandu. You will be welcomed by your guide with traditional Nepalese welcome and transfer to Hotel. (Check in time 1400 hrs) Dinner in the Local Restaurant. Overnight at the Rokpa Guesthouse.

Breakfast at the hotel. Later proceed to City stroll with your Local Guide. Optional Mountain Flight. Afternoon visit to Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath Temple. Pashupatinath: The temple of Pashupatinath located on the western banks of the Bagmati River on the north eastern side of Kathmandu, is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage site in the world. Until recently Nepal was officially a Hindu Kingdom and Pashupatinath, which literally means “Lord of all Animals”, was considered the main protector deity of Nepal. Pashupatinath is said to have been discovered by a cow herder who dug up the area after seeing one of his cow’s coming to the spot and emptying its milk there. The inner sanctum of the temple has a lingam, a stone phallus with four faces around it. As one of the many forms of Lord Shiva, one of the three main gods of the Hindu Trinity, Pashupatinath draws Hindu pilgrims from all around the world especially on MahaShivaratri, the “Night of Shiva” which falls in early spring. The temple and its surrounding complex is surrounded by a pantheon of other temples like the KiratesworeMahadev, Bhairav, Guheswori, and Gorakhnath each of whom have their own tale of origin and importance.Pashupatinath is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bouddhanath: With a base of 82 meters in diameter, Bouddhanath is claimed to be the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. There are many legends attached to Bouddhanath, chief among which is that of the 5th century Lichivi King Manadev who built it to do penance. Lost and forgotten for centuries Bouddhanath was rediscovered in the 15th century from whence it slowly started gaining reputation among Tibetan Buddhists especially after the 19th century Rana Prime Minister appointed a Tibetan monk as its chief abbot. Today there are more than 50 monasteries surrounding Bouddhanath which is also one of the seven Monument Zones which make up the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites. Overnight at the Rokpa Guesthouse.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you drive in a modern, private minibus from Kathmandu to the Chitwan National Park – to the Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, swamp crocodiles and Indian rhinos. Nepal’s oldest national park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Elephant grass plains alternate with sal tree forests. After a greeting by the local, English-speaking park ranger, the introduction to the rest of the program follows. The order and times of further excursions will be coordinated upon your arrival. In the evening you will go on your first walking safari to look for Indian rhinos. Overnight at the hotel Parkside.

Early morning game drive in a dugout canoe on the Rapti River (approx. 1.5 hours) to look for numerous bird species, swamp crocodiles and sometimes Ganges gavials. The park in the southern Terai is known for its over 450 different bird species. This also includes the rare beards, Sunda maraboos and Indian lesser spotted eagles. During the day you visit an elephant camp, where elephants are born and raised. Overnight at Hotel Parkside.

Breakfast at Hotel. Today is your first extended jeep safari in the untouched 20,000 lake area, the buffer zone. Drive (with driver and English speaking park ranger) in an open, modern jeep vehicle. To increase the prospect of wildlife viewing, you are out and about all day (duration approx. 6 – 8 hours) and have your lunch picnic with you. In the grassy plains you can meet striped hyenas, golden jackals, various types of deer and rare lip bears as well as shy tigers. The park’s holdings include around 85 Bengal tigers, whose population has doubled in the past five years, wild herds of elephants, water buffalos, over 650 tank rhino and wild boar. Overnight at Hotel Parkside.

Explore the park early in the morning on a walking safari (approx. 4 – 5 hours). Experienced, English-speaking rangers accompany you and provide information about the behavior of the animals in the park. In the afternoon, drive through the neighboring villages with a typical ox cart at a leisurely pace. You will visit the traditional Nepalese Terai Tharu village of Gothauli. During a tour you will get an insight into the lifestyle of the Tharu ethnic group living there in harmony with nature. In the evening you will experience the performance of a traditional stick dance in the Hotel Park Side. Overnight at Hotel Parkside.

Breakfast at hotel. Today your half-day jeep safari (duration approx. 3 – 4 hours) begins in the afternoon in the buffer zone. Overnight at Hotel Parkside.

After these impressive days of safari you will travel in a modern, public coach along untouched jungle and mighty Himalayan glacier river landscapes to Pokhara, approx. 140 km north-west of the Chitwan National Park. The “Green Garden City” is located at the foot of the Annapurna-Himalaya Mountains, 40 km away in the north, with a majestic view of the city with the relaxing Fewa Lake. Overnight at the Bar Peepal Resort .

Enjoy the wonderful view from the roof terrace of the Fewa lake and the Sarankot mountain in the background at sunrisetake an easy hike (approx. 100 meters in altitude) along endless rice terraces, fruit plantations and orange trees under the guidance of an English-speaking guide. The destination is the premium coffee farm “Nepal Blue Mountain”, which invites you to a special coffee tasting and informs you about the tree-planting campaign. Overnight at the Bar Peepal Resort .

Today, easy, guided hikes with an English-speaking guide are on the program. Go to the Sarangkot early in the morning. The 1,600 m high local mountain is one of the most famous viewpoints in the country and offers a fantastic view of the Pokhara Valley and the snow-capped Annapurna peaks. You should be up here before 6:00 a.m. in order not to miss the sunrise in good weather. Those who do not want to climb can also go there by car. In the afternoon you walk to the lakeside of the Fewa lake and from there take a boat trip to the south bank (duration approx. ½ hour). Here a path leads through the forest up to the Peace Pagoda (approx. 1 hour). A friendly “Namaste” is called out to you everywhere. Overnight at the Bar Peepal Resort .

Breakfast at hotel. Drive in a modern public coach from Pokhara to Kathmandu (duration approx. 7 hours) to the guesthouse. Later afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the Rokpa Guest House.

Later check out with Tibetan Ceremony. In time transfer to the airport, where your individual return flight.