Nepalese experience
Without Visual Borders
An unmissable and fascinating tour through the wonders of Nepal. In seven days you will touch the heart of this mysterious corner of Asia, between UNESCO heritage sites, the Kathmandu Valley and the peaks of the Himalayas. The program aims to explore Nepal through all senses, the taste will be stimulated with the typical Nepalese dinner, the touch tested during the creation of ceramics, the hearing hypnotized by the demonstration of the Tibetan bells and finally the smell enhanced by the pungent smell of the thousand spices of the local bazaars opposed to the enveloping incense perfume around the stupas.
Free individual departures – Minimum 2 participants
Available all year long, on request
After arriving at Tribhuwan International Airport (Kathmandu) and handling customs formalities, you will meet the local Italian speaking assistant who will welcome you in the country giving you the Khada (Tibetan silk scarf) in front of the arrivals hall.
Private transfer to your hotel. Rooms available from usual check-in hours.
Start of visits to the outskirts of Kathmandu to admire the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal.
This ancient stupa of Boudhanath, on top of a huge mandala, is probably one of the largest in the world. There are over 50 monasteries around and it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It is built on the old trade route that leads from Tibet to the Kathmandu valley. Under the wise eyes of the Buddha who looks out of the golden central tower, it seems that he is observing thousands of pilgrims gathered every day to make a kora (ritual circumnavigation) of the dome. In the evening the whole place lights up with butter lamps and the swaying smell of sage gives a calming effect.
During the visit of Bouddhanath, we will visit the Shakya monastery where the monks will welcome us and the Hi Lama will offer us the Himalayan silk scarf of Khada, at the end, the Hi Lama will give us a blessing.
Later on, we will be followed by the expert music teacher of ethnomusicology and traditional Nepalese music where we could listen to the most typical Nepalese sounds and songs.
Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
Return to the hotel and overnight
Breakfast, then we will discover the beauties of Kathmandu, we will visit the center of this mystical city; our first destination is Durbar Square:
Durbar, which means palace, is where kings were once crowned and from where they ruled. Kathmandu has its Durbar square in the center; here the charm of the historic center blends well with traditional architecture in a rich cultural context. The entire square was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. The massive complex consists of three main squares, which house palaces, temples and a courtyard. in the South of Basantapur, there is an ancient royal elephant stable, which today houses souvenir stalls and leads to Freak Street (the street still lives in the ancient glory of being the hippie destination par excellence during the Flower Power era). The temple of the living Goddess, Kumari, is also at the southern end. Kumari is a young Shakya girl from the Newar community, chosen through an ancient and mystical selection to become the human embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju. The main square of Durbar is the area most affected by the 2015 earthquake. Three main temples in the area, Kasthamandap, the Narayan temple, Trilokya Mohan and the Krishna temple have been completely destroyed, while others have been partially damaged. On the northeast side, the square is made up of Hanuman Dhoka, the main entrance to the old royal palace. The Taleju Bhawani temple, the oldest of all temples, is located in this area. Although the old royal palace has been partially damaged, the restoration is in process. The square is slowly making progress to revive once again its ancient and mystical charm and the glory of being a living museum with the best traditional architecture in the world.
Then we will come across the lively and dynamic life of the Nepalese by crossing the small alley of Ason and Indrachwok in rickshaw, our race will end in Ason, a local bazaar and a well-known place for daily purchases.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
After having a refreshing break, we will move to the art city of Patan which is only 5 km from Kathmandu.
One of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu valley.
The city houses Buddhist and Hindu temples and over 1000 monuments boasting the best wood and stone sculptures. The city is known for its rich tradition of art and crafts such as metal statues and ornate architecture. The square is a mélange of an ancient royal palace, artistic courtyards and pagoda temples. The former complex of the royal palace has been transformed into a museum; the main courtyards in the building are Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Sundari Chowk is well known for a stone architecture masterpiece, the royal bath called Tushahity. Other main attractions are the Krishna Temple, the Bhimsen Temple and the Golden Temple.
During the visit of the square we will witness the sound of Tibetan bells whose sound has healing and relaxing properties. They were invented by the ancient Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhist monks for physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation. Tibetan bells are also called Himalayan bowls, a source of positive energy in the form of sound vibrations. When the edges of these bowls are hit, a long and reverberating sound wave is produced which calms the senses.
After relaxing, we will return to the hotel to prepare for dinner in a local restaurant where a typical Nepalese folklore show will be offered.
Overnight stay.
After having breakfast ,we will move to Pokhara, during the journey by car, we will stop for lunch in a local restaurant, after lunch we could experience the thrill of walking on the suspension bridge over the Trishuli River.
Then we will continue the journey to Pokhara, we will arrive at the hotel for check-in and before dinner, we will attend the moment of prayer in the Pokhara monastery.
Afterward, we will move to the Pokhara lake where a tasty dinner awaits us in a restaurant along the lake.
Return and overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will transfer by car to the closest point to the stupa of peace, from here we will continue to reach the stupa on foot through the Pokhara valley; the path crosses some villages and stretches along a ridge with a splendid view of Phewa Tal, a very white stupa of considerable size built by Buddhist monks. The temple itself is located in a favorable point that offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range, the city of Pokhara and Lake Phewa. After the visit, we descend in time for lunch in a nearby local restaurant, bars, small bookstores and fruit stalls.
After having lunch ,we will have the opportunity to visit one of the refugee camps established in Nepal, in fact, the refugees are hosted in two camps in the districts of Jhapa and Morang, and receive support from the LWF World Service program. In the last two years, the refugees have taken on the task of supervising the monitoring and maintenance of the camp, they have also implemented a series of activities aimed at building a more independent, strong and self-sufficient community: we will therefore have the opportunity to hear various testimonies from various faces that constitute the refugee camp and for those who want it, they can support the camp's activities by purchasing products made in the laboratories of the camp itself.
After listening and interacting with the inhabitants of the refugee camp, we will return to the hotel for some refreshment.
Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Breakfast and starting of the lake visits, famous as it is possible to admire the reflection of Mount Machhapuchhre and other peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri on its surface, short boat trip in the lake until you reach the island that houses the temple Tal Barahi, considered the most important religious monument in Pokhara. This two-story pagoda is thought to be dedicated to the Hindu god.
In the morning return to the hotel for check-out and then departure to reach the airport and flight to Kathmandu.
For lunch, a culinary demonstration will allow us to prepare and taste the famous "momo", Tibetan ravioli.
Hotel accommodation.
After having a refreshing break, we will go to the "Seeing Handsun" a beauty center and social enterprise that offers training and employment opportunities in massage therapy for the blind people, where it will be possible to have a 60-minute massage.
Afterward, we will move to walk next to the temple of Pashupatinath (the entrance inside the temple is reserved only for the Hindus).
On the banks of the Bagmati River, there is the sacred temple of Pashupati. Pashupati is a manifestation of Shiva and means "The Lord of the Animals". This temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The temple consists of temples, ashrams, idols and inscriptions added over the centuries. The temple is the final destination for devotees during the Maha Shivaratri Festival, where a crowd of thousands of people gathers to pay homage to Lord Shiva. The main temple inside the complex is pagoda-shaped with a gilded roof and silver doors on all four sides of the temple. The Pashupati area is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Thousands of devotees from all over the world come to Pashupatinath every day.
During the afternoon there will be an evening session of Arati; Arati is a Sanskrit word which means "end, closure"; in fact, it is a song, intoned at the end of each bhajana session. During the course of Arati, a camphor flame is lit in front of Sai Baba or in front of one of his images; it is a typically Indian custom that has no correspondence in western culture or religious rites.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Early morning Yoga session.
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Durbar Square Bhaktapur. The name of Bhaktapur literally means "City of the devotees". The best preserved of the three main medieval towns in the valley, Bhaktapur includes some of the most breathtaking religious architecture in the whole country. It has three main squares, Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square and Dattatreya Square; studded with pagoda and shikhara-style temples. Free of traffic and pollution, Bhaktapur is the cleanest city in the valleys by far. Narrow stone-paved streets stretch through red brick houses, which lead to hidden temples, water sprouts and courtyards. The city proudly displays its cultural life through its daily lifestyle; the craftsmen have continued traditional works such as weaving, pottery and woodwork for generations, it is in fact frequent to meet people engaged in their work on the edges of the road. Locals gather in the common courtyard to bathe, collect water, do laundry and some just to socialize. Bhaktapur is known for its cultural handicrafts such as pottery, puppets and masks, it is the perfect place to shop if you want light and easy to carry souvenirs. The main attractions of this city are Window Palace, Golden Gate, Lion's Gate, Mini Pashupati Temple, Nyatapola Temple and Bhairav Nath Temple, among others. The reconstruction of Asi Dega and the temple of Batsala, which have been completely destroyed by the earthquakes, is in process, . Before lunch, we will dedicate ourselves to the production of ceramic artifacts followed by the expert hands of talented craftsmen.
For lunch, we will stop at the Village Café where we will taste special "Yomari" foods.
In the afternoon, the friends of the "Nepal Association of Blind" will be waiting for us. They will provide us with information about the association, its activities in the Nepalese territory and at the end of the meeting, they will give us the white cane, which in addition to acting as an aid for the everyday autonomy of the blind, is a symbol of friendship.
Return to the hotel, dinner with a Nepalese family based on a barbecue.
Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out, transfer to the airport in due time, flight to Italy.
Tariff per person, starting from:
Departure | Double |
---|---|
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025 | € 2,870 |
Notes
Available all year long, on request
Proposed or similar hotels:
End of services
Note: Depending on weather conditions, roads and travel time, the order of visits may be subject to change.
Tips are not included but recommended for drivers and guides.
To participate in this trip you need a Nepalese visa, a passport is required, which must be valid for 6 months and have 1 free page, and 1 passport photo, the visa is obtained locally (US $ 25 or equivalent in Euros).
Dedicated group departure minimum 2 people.
In case of failure to reach the minimum number, the fee will be renegotiated.
Please note:
This quotation does not constitute a contractual proposal and is subject to reconfirmation when the space is blocked based on the actual availability of hotel services and flights and the availability of booking classes.
The tariff includes
The tariff does not include
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