Nepal: Kathmandu, Chitwan & Hiking

Welcome to Nepal. Swap hellos with the crew, settle in, and let the journey ease into motion.

Today, we’ll hit the streets, diving into Kathmandu Durbar Square that tells the story of the city’s past. Check out landmarks like Hanuman Dhoka and the Kumari Ghar before heading up to Swayambhunath (a 2,000 year-old Buddhist Stupa) for an epic view of the city. The afternoon’s yours to wander, reset, or chase whatever Kathmandu’s throwing your way.

Rise and shine! Time to roll out of the capital as the city slowly wakes up.  By the evening, jungle takes the lead. We’ll arrive in Chitwan National Park - Nepal’s wild side. This is rhino country, elephant territory, and one of the few places where Bengal tigers still roar.

We’ll ease into the day with an included morning safari, catching the park as it comes alive. Eyes up for wild wonders. Still not satisfied? An optional evening safari is up for grabs — wider trails, changing vegetation, and quiet stops by lakes and lookout towers as wildlife moves on its own terms.

We’ll be up early and back on the road, saying goodbye to the jungle as we begin the long but scenic drive to Kathmandu. By the afternoon, we’ll roll back into the capital and check in at the hotel. The rest of the day’s yours — unwind, share goodbyes with those leaving us tomorrow and soak up the final dose of Kathmandu energy.

This morning we'll share final goodbyes with some of the group before taking in the magical mayhem of Kathmandu as we drive up to Sundarijal, at a heady elevation of 1350m. Ready for the very first trek of the trip? Expect around 5 hours on the trail, winding through forest paths past a medieval reservoir and dam. We’ll pause at a local tea shop to refuel with a steaming cup and soak up sweeping valley views before lunch. Then it’s back on the move, heading deeper into Shivapuri National Park — thick pine forest, oak, and rhododendron lining the way. By nightfall, we’ll roll into our home base for the evening: Chisapani at 2125m. After an included dinner, it's time to rest and recharge for tomorrow.

Ah, nothing like mountain views and birdsong to kick off the day. After breakfast, we’ll get moving on a roughly 3-hour trek from Chisapani, stopping by in Chauki Bhanjyang to rest and refuel with lunch. From there, it’s on through mid-hill villages and terraced farmland as we make our way to Nagarkot at 2195m.  Nagarkot is the Kathmandu Valley’s go-to hill station, and it’s easy to see why — Himalayan peaks on one side, deep valleys and pine forests on the other. This place does sunrises and sunsets right, and luckily, we’ll be front and centre for golden hour before heading to our lodge, sitting down for dinner, and calling it a night.

Okay, alarm on. (Trust us, it’s so worth it.) We’ll catch Nagarkot’s famous sunrise as the Himalayas light up in gold. After breakfast, lace up for a relaxed six-hour trek, following easy trails through community forests and mid-hill settlements as we make our way to Dhulikhel. After 6 hours of fairly leisurely hiking (at an elevation of 1550m) , we’ll roll into Dhulikhel - a town rich in Newari culture and mountain soul. Cue camera roll moments with views across the Northeastern Himalayas. Then it’s dinner, downtime, and a well-earned night’s rest at the lodge.

Sunrise round two. We’ll kick off our final hiking day with glowing Himalayan views, then fuel up before hitting the trail. Today’s hike clocks in at around four hours, climbing up to Kali Mandir — a hilltop temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. Next, we'll descend into Kavre village, passing tea houses and local shops along the way. From there, it’s pine forests, fresh air, and that final-trek feeling as we move through Phulbari. Waiting at 1,750m, Namobuddha is one of Nepal’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. We’ll explore the hilltop shrines and hear the legendary story of Prince Mahasattva, whose selfless act is carved into stone beside the stupas - a meaningful way to wrap up the trek before driving back to Kathmandu. Back in the capital, it’s time for our final night together — stories flowing, photos flying, and one last soak-up of everything this adventure delivered.

Before we wrap things up, there’s one epic add-on you won’t want to skip — a scenic flight over Mt Everest, serving next-level Himalayan views from the air. Then after breakfast, it's time for those final hugs, final photos, and a final look at those legendary Himalayan horizons