Travel for the Visually Impaired: Nepalese Experience

After arriving at Tribhuwan International Airport (Kathmandu) and handling customs formalities, you will meet the Italian speaking local assistant who will welcome you into the country giving you the Khada (Tibetan silk scarf) in front of the arrivals hall .
Private transfer to your hotel. Rooms available from normal check-in time.
Start of visits to the outskirts of Kathmandu to admire the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal.
This ancient Boudhanath stupa, atop 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 from Tibet to the Kathmandu Valley. Under the wise eyes of the Buddha who looks out from the central golden tower it seems that he is watching thousands of pilgrims gather every day to do a kora (ritual circumnavigation) of the dome. In the evening the whole place lights up with butter lamps and the wavering 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 Khada's Himalayan silk scarf) at the end the Hi Lama will give us a blessing.
Afterwards, the music teacher expert in ethnomusicology and traditional Nepalese music will be waiting for us where we can listen to the most typical Nepalese sounds and songs.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant.
Return to the hotel and overnight

Breakfast, then we will go to discover the beauties of Kathmandu, we will visit the center of this mystical city; our first destination is Durbar Square:
Durbar, meaning palace, is where kings were once crowned and where they ruled from. 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. South of Basantapur is an old royal elephant stable, which now houses souvenir stalls and leads to Freak Street (the street still lives in the former glory of being the quintessential hippy destination 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 incarnation of the Hindu goddess, Taleju. Durbar's main square is the area most affected by the 2015 earthquake. Three main temples in the area, Kasthamandap, Narayan temple, Trilokya Mohan and Krishna temple were completely destroyed, while others were partially damaged. On the northeast side, the square is made up of Hanuman Dhoka, the main entrance to the old royal palace. Taleju Bhawani Temple, the oldest of all temples, is located in this area. Although the old royal palace has been partially damaged, the restoration process is ongoing. The square is slowly making progress to once again revive its ancient and mystical charm and the glory of being a living museum with the best traditional architecture in the world.
After that we will come across the hectic and lively life of the Nepalese by rickshaw through the small alley of Ason and Indrachwok, our ride will end in Ason a local bazaar and well known place for daily shopping.
Lunch at local restaurant.
After the refreshment 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 is home to Buddhist and Hindu temples and over 1000 monuments that boast the best wood and stone carvings. The city is known for its rich tradition of arts and crafts such as metal statues and ornate architecture. The square is a mélange of old royal palace, artistic courtyards and pagoda temples. The former royal palace complex has been converted 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 masterpiece of stone architecture, 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 the Tibetan bells whose sound has healing and relaxing properties. They were invented by 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, reverberating sound wave is produced that 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.

After having breakfast, we will move to Pokhara, on the way by car, we will stop for lunch at 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.
Then we will move to Pokhara Lake where a tasty dinner will be waiting for us in a lakeside restaurant.
return and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.
We will transfer by car to the closest point to the peace stupa, from here we will continue to reach the stupa on foot through the Pokhara valley .; the path crosses some villages and winds 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 vantage point that offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range, the city of Pokhara and Lake Phewa. After the visit, descend in time for lunch at a nearby local restaurant, bars, small bookshops and fruit stalls.
After lunch we will have the opportunity to visit one of the refugee camps set up in Nepal, in fact, the refugees are housed in two camps in the districts of Jhapa and Morang, and receive support from the LWF World Service program. Over the past two years, refugees have taken on the task of overseeing the monitoring and maintenance of the camp, and 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 make up the refugee camp and for those who want it can support the activities of the camp 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 start of the visits of the lake, famous for admiring 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 that will allow us to prepare and taste the famous "momo", Tibetan ravioli.
Hotel accommodation.
After the refreshment break we will go to “Seeing Handsun” a beauty and social enterprise center that offers training and employment opportunities in massage therapy for the blind, where it will be possible to have a 60-minute massage.
Later we will move to stroll next to the Pashupatinath temple (the entrance inside the temple is reserved for Hindus only).
On the banks of the Bagmati River is the sacred temple of Pashupati. Pashupati is a manifestation of Shiva and means "The Lord of 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 crowds of thousands gather to pay their respects to Lord Shiva. The main temple within the complex is pagoda-shaped with a golden 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 chant, sung at the end of each bhajana session. In the course of Arati, a camphor flame is lit in the presence of Sai Baba or in front of His image; it is a typically Indian custom that has no correspondence in either 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 translates to "City of devotees". The best preserved of the valley's three major medieval cities, Bhaktapur encompasses 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 by far the cleanest city in the valley. Narrow stone-paved streets wind their way through red brick houses, leading to hidden temples, water shoots and courtyards. The city proudly displays its cultural life through its daily lifestyle; the artisans have continued traditional works such as weaving, pottery and woodwork for generations, in fact it is common to meet people engaged in their work on the side of the road. Locals gather in the communal 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 is underway, which were completely destroyed by the earthquake. Before lunch we will dedicate ourselves to the production of ceramic artifacts followed by the expert hands of talented artisans.
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 who will provide us with information about the association, its activities in the Nepalese territory, at the end of the meeting they will give us the white cane, which in addition to serving as an aid for autonomy daily life of the blind, it is a symbol of friendship.
Return to the hotel, barbecue dinner with a Nepali family.
Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out, transfer to the airport in good time, flight to Italy.