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Wooden rowing boats on Phewa Lake at dawn beneath the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre

Signature journey · 7-day Nepal itinerary

Nepal: The Himalayan Heart

Kathmandu's temples, Pokhara's lake and a flight across the Himalayas into Bhutan

Enquire about this journeySee the journey
7 days / 6 nights◆Kathmandu · Patan · Pokhara · Sarangkot · Kathmandu · Paro◆From USD 1,925 pp

In brief

Nepal: The Himalayan Heart is a private 7-day journey through Kathmandu, Patan and Pokhara (ancient temples, Phewa Lake and a Sarangkot sunrise), ending with a flight across the Himalayas to Paro, Bhutan, from USD 1,925 per person.

Before you begin

Trip notes

A few words on how this journey works, and how much of it bends to you.

01

Think of this itinerary as an inspiring glimpse rather than a fixed plan. Every journey we create is shaped around your interests, travel rhythm and preferences by our local Nepal and Bhutan specialists.

02

Some afternoons are deliberately left open (in Thamel, and again in Pokhara) so there is time to wander, rest, or simply follow your curiosity.

03

The journey is designed to flow straight into Bhutan: on the final morning, a flight across the Himalayas carries you to Paro. If you are not continuing, we can end the journey in Kathmandu instead.

04

This journey is yours alone. You will never be combined with another group at any point, and that privacy is what allows the flexibility above, time and weather permitting.

For travellers

Pace & comfort

This is a gentle cultural journey: unhurried walks through heritage squares, temples and villages, two short scenic flights, and free time built in. Nothing is strenuous, and your private vehicle is never far away.

On foot

Walking is easy, mostly on paved lanes, courtyards and temple steps. Swayambhunath sits at the top of a long stairway, but your vehicle can take you to the upper entrance instead.

Flights

The Kathmandu–Pokhara flight takes around half an hour and depends on the weather, so we schedule it with room to spare. The flight to Paro offers some of the finest mountain views in the world, so ask for a window seat.

Temples & etiquette

Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, dress modestly at temples, and take your shoes off where asked. Your guide will tell you where photographs are welcome.

Visa

Most nationalities can obtain a Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. We will guide you through the requirements for your passport before you travel.

2

Short scenic flights

Gentle

Walking pace throughout

5★

Final night in Kathmandu

100%

Private · never shared

Overview

Your journey at a glance

01Arrive Kathmandu · Thamel on foot · welcome dinnerEasy · Kathmandu02Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) · Kathmandu Durbar SquareHeritage walks · Kathmandu03Patan Durbar Square & artisan workshops · Boudhanath StupaHeritage walks · Kathmandu04Fly to Pokhara · private boat ride on Phewa LakeShort flight · Pokhara05Sarangkot sunrise · rural village walk · free afternoonEasy walk · Pokhara06Leisurely morning · fly to Kathmandu · last eveningShort flight · Kathmandu07Fly across the Himalayas to Paro, BhutanScenic flight

Accommodation is in comfortable, centrally located 3-star hotels. Many guests upgrade to 4- or 5-star hotels, quoted on request.

The route

Where you'll go

N100 km12345
Kathmandu → Patan → Pokhara → Sarangkot → Kathmandu → Paro

The stops

  1. 01Kathmandu4 nights
  2. 02Patan
  3. 03Pokhara2 nights
  4. 04Sarangkot
  5. 05Paro
Tiered pagoda temples of Kathmandu Durbar Square in late-afternoon light

Where ancient temples, Himalayan peaks and everyday life come together.

Day by day

Seven days, valley, lake and sky

First impressions of Kathmandu
Easy
01Arrive Kathmandu · Thamel

First impressions of Kathmandu

Kathmandu approx. 1,400 m

Welcome to Nepal. At Tribhuvan International Airport you are met by our local representative and driven to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the afternoon is deliberately left open, so you can begin exploring whenever you feel ready.

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Later, set out on foot for a gentle introduction to Thamel, Kathmandu's colourful traveller quarter, its narrow streets lined with handicraft stores, bookshops, spice sellers and cafés. There is no sightseeing checklist this evening. Simply walk, watch, and let Kathmandu unfold around you. A relaxed welcome dinner closes the day.

Overnight · Kathmandu

A centrally located 3-star hotel, within easy reach of Thamel and the old city.

The cultural heart of Kathmandu
Heritage walks
02Swayambhunath · Kathmandu Durbar Square

The cultural heart of Kathmandu

After a leisurely breakfast, begin at Swayambhunath, the ancient hilltop sanctuary known as the Monkey Temple. Its whitewashed stupa is circled by pilgrims and hung with fluttering prayer flags, the whole valley spread out below. Your vehicle can take you close to the upper entrance if you would rather skip the long stairway.

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Continue into historic Kathmandu for an unhurried walk through Durbar Square with your private guide, where carved temples, courtyards and Newari architecture reveal the ceremonial heart of the old kingdom. Lunch is at a carefully chosen local restaurant.

Overnight · Kathmandu

Your Kathmandu hotel.

Patan · Lalitpur

Patan · Lalitpur

In Patan the old craft traditions never left. Metalworkers, woodcarvers and painters still work in the courtyards behind the temples.

Patan, Boudhanath and living traditions
Heritage walks
03Patan · Boudhanath

Patan, Boudhanath and living traditions

Begin at Patan Durbar Square, one of the finest concentrations of Newari architecture in Nepal, wandering courtyards and lanes where artisans can often be seen at work in metal, wood and religious painting.

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After lunch, continue to Boudhanath, whose vast white dome and painted eyes are among the most memorable sights in the Kathmandu Valley. Join the pilgrims circling clockwise, watch monks in maroon robes pass by, and pause for tea at a rooftop café overlooking the stupa as the light softens.

Overnight · Kathmandu

Your final night in Kathmandu before the lakes.

Phewa Lake and the Annapurna foothills
Short flight · boat ride
04Fly to Pokhara · Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake and the Annapurna foothills

Pokhara approx. 820 m · Machhapuchhre 6,993 m

After breakfast, fly west to Pokhara, a short hop that saves time and energy for the days ahead. The mood changes noticeably here, trading temples and busy lanes for a quieter Nepal of lakes and green hills.

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In the late afternoon, take a private boat ride on Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre (the Fishtail Mountain) rising behind on a clear day. Afterwards, stroll the lakeside promenade and have dinner overlooking the water.

Overnight · Pokhara

A 3-star hotel close to the lakeside.

Sunrise over the Annapurnas
Easy village walk
05Sarangkot · Village walk

Sunrise over the Annapurnas

Sarangkot approx. 1,600 m

Weather permitting, rise early for the drive up to a viewpoint around Sarangkot to watch first light reach the Himalayan skyline, the Annapurna massif stretching across the horizon. Return to the hotel for a leisurely breakfast.

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Later, turn towards Pokhara's countryside on a short, gentle village and nature walk through terraced farmland. No strenuous trekking required. The afternoon is yours: a market, a massage, the lake, or simply your hotel and the mountains.

Overnight · Pokhara

A second night by the lake.

A leisurely morning, a last evening in Kathmandu
Short flight
06Pokhara · Return to Kathmandu

A leisurely morning, a last evening in Kathmandu

No early start today. Spend the morning on whatever you enjoyed most the day before, then fly back to Kathmandu after an early lunch.

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For your final evening in Nepal, the stay is upgraded to five stars. No more sightseeing, just rest, the spa, or a long, comfortable dinner.

Overnight · Kathmandu

A comfortable 3-star hotel for your final night in Nepal (upgrades on request).

Across the Himalayas into Bhutan
Scenic flight
07Kathmandu to Paro

Across the Himalayas into Bhutan

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Paro. Today the journey itself is part of the experience: weather permitting, the route offers extraordinary views along the Himalayan chain, vast snow-covered peaks rising above the clouds. Ask for a window seat where you can.

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As the aircraft nears Bhutan, the high mountains give way to forested valleys before the descent into Paro, a view that could be mistaken for a film set, except that everything outside the window is real. When you touch down, your Nepal journey ends and your Bhutan story begins.

Investment

Seven days, what's included

From USD 1,925 per person, based on two travelling together

Private land journey7 days and 6 nights in Nepal, exclusively for your partyFrom 1,925 pp
AccommodationThree nights in Kathmandu, two in Pokhara and a final night in Kathmandu, in 3-star hotels with breakfast daily (4- and 5-star upgrades on request)Included
Private guidesProfessional English-speaking Nepali guides in Kathmandu and PokharaIncluded
Private transportAll airport transfers and ground transport by private vehicle with an experienced driverIncluded
Domestic flightsKathmandu to Pokhara and returnIncluded
Entrance feesMonuments, temples and heritage sites listed in the itineraryIncluded
ExperiencesWelcome dinner in Kathmandu and a private boat ride on Phewa LakeIncluded
TaxesGovernment taxes and service chargesIncluded

Not included

International flights (including Kathmandu to Paro), the Nepal visa fee, lunches and dinners other than the welcome dinner, travel insurance, personal expenses and gratuities.

Every element of this journey is private and can be adjusted to suit you.

Plan this journey

Terms

Good to know

Booking deposit+

To confirm your journey, transfer a deposit of 20% of the land cost; if you are continuing to Bhutan, we will also ask for the airfare early, as seats on the Kathmandu–Paro flight are limited. Bank details are included in your tour invoice.

Balance payment+

The balance is due 60 days before departure. The schedule may vary for customised and private journeys on a case-by-case basis. Most guests pay by Wise, which is quick and has low fees; an international bank (wire) transfer works too. We share our bank details once your journey is confirmed.

Passport & visa+

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your trip, with blank pages for visas and stamps. Most nationalities can obtain a Nepal visa on arrival; we will guide you through the requirements for your passport. If you continue to Bhutan, we arrange your Bhutan visa too.

Accommodation+

You stay in comfortable, centrally located 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, chosen for easy access to the old city and the lake. Upgrades to 4- or 5-star hotels are quoted on request.

Meals+

Breakfast is included daily, together with a welcome dinner in Kathmandu. Other lunches and dinners are at your leisure, and your guide will happily recommend local restaurants, from Newari kitchens to lakeside cafés.

Your guides+

You are accompanied by professional, English-speaking Nepali guides in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and driven by experienced local drivers. Guide and driver are always two different people.

Domestic flights+

Flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara are short but weather-dependent, and delays can happen, particularly in the monsoon. We plan with time to spare and will adjust the day if needed.

Travel protection+

Illness, accident, weather, flight cancellations, missed connections or lost baggage can interrupt travel. The trip cost does not cover these, so we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for the whole of your journey, including Bhutan if you continue.

Cancellation and refund

Notice of cancellation must be received in writing. Airfare cancellation follows airline policy.

Notice before departureCancellation fee
90 days or moreNo charge
60 to 89 daysUSD 150 administrative fee
45 to 59 days20% of land cost
30 to 44 days50% of land cost
20 to 29 days80% of land cost
Less than 20 days100% of land cost

We would far rather move your dates than lose your journey. If plans change, write to us early and we will do what we can.

Questions about this journey

Your questions, answered

Still wondering about something? Ask our Thimphu team directly. We're happy to help.

Ask us on WhatsApp

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport. We'll guide you through the requirements for your passport.

Yes. The journey is designed to fly from Kathmandu to Paro on day 7, straight into any of our Bhutan tours.

No. Walking is gentle, mostly on paved lanes and temple steps, with two short flights and free afternoons.

Breakfast daily plus a welcome dinner in Kathmandu; other meals are at your leisure.

Continue into Bhutan

Authentic Bhutan
Cultural

Authentic Bhutan

Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Phobjikha

$2,400pp

Luxury in the Himalayas
Luxury

Luxury in the Himalayas

Six Senses · Amankora · COMO Uma · more

On request

Bhutan by Land & Sky
Luxury

Bhutan by Land & Sky

Paro · Laya · Punakha

On request

Dhanyabad

Thank you, from the valleys of Nepal to the high Himalayas.

Tell us when you'd like to travel, and whether Bhutan comes next, and our Nepal & Bhutan specialists will shape this journey around you.

WhatsApp +975 77493458

Lucky Dragon Tours & Treks · Crafting journeys beyond the ordinary

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