Best Times to Go:

• April 12th to 22nd (April 12-13 Bisket Jatra - Newari New Year)
• October 12th to 22nd (Dashain Festival in Bhaktapur)

This program can be tailored to group size and duration (of 9 or 11 days). It takes in a remarkable range of Nepal's highlights in a surprisingly short span of time (The shorter 9-day program does not include Chitwan National Park). All of our scheduled departures are timed to take in a major festival in Bhaktapur.

Our adventure begins upon arrival in Kathmandu where we are greeted and welcomed to the Kingdom of Nepal by our Newari and Tibetan staff. A short (40 min.) drive by mini bus to Bhaktapur will suddenly transport us back in time. Bhaktapur has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for it is not only the best preserved of the three great kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, but is actually a living museum of ancient Nepal.

We stay in a delightful guest house overlooking Toumadhi Square - surrounded by thousand year old pagodas and sacred shrines. A Newari welcome ceremony and a fabulous dinner help us feel at home right from the start. One special feature that sets our program apart from others is being invited to the homes of our Newari guides for a ceremony that welcomes you as part of the family.

Each day in Bhaktapur dawns with the sound of temple bells ringing as the inhabitants in this "City of Devotees" make their prayer pilgrimages through the ancient cobblestone streets. After a delightful morning soaking in the cultural richness of this scene, we travel by mini bus to the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley - Changu Narayan-- then enjoy lunch and fun-filled mountain bike ride along the valley ridge through charming settlements and a beautiful forest reserve, and back to Bhaktapur.

Our journey west out of the Kathmandu Valley on day 3 takes us past a 2,500 year old stupa, and then on to the Trisuli River for a rafting adventure with Grade 3+ stretches of rapids. Moving on to the lovely setting of Pokhara - a town set beside a lake reflecting the snow-covered peaks of the Annapurna Range - we approach the ancient trade routes through the Himalayas which connected India with Tibet and China.

There are treks here to suit all skill levels, but most anyone can enjoy the 3-4 hour hike we do up to Ghandruk in the heart of the Annapurna Conservation Area. Weather permitting; we will have our most stunning views of the high Himalayas from this lofty vantage point.

A few days at 2,070 meters then it's time to descend all the way down to the plains bordering India. We travel by mini bus (3 hrs.) to world-famous Royal Chitwan National Park to view Royal Bengal tiger, One-horned rhinoceros, Sloth bear, and several species of deer, crocodile, and a staggering 522 species of birds. Wildlife viewing safaris are conducted here on foot, by boat, and atop elephant back.

Island Jungle Resort is our lodge for two nights of great wildlife adventures before we return by mini bus (5 hrs.), through the mountains, back to Kathmandu Valley. There will be ample time to sightsee and shop in the thriving metropolis of Kathmandu before our final night's dinner and celebration. Live Newari music and awards presentations will highlight this festive final night.

Our last night is spent in Nagarkot at a lovely lodge (2,015 meters up) where we enjoy a dramatic Newari dance with masks and colorful costumes, all backed by the drama of the high Himalayas. On a clear day it is possible to see the entire range from Mt. Everest in the east to Annapurna in the west from this location.

Hand-woven silk scarves and flower garlands are traditionally given as departure gifts by Tibetan and Nepalese people at the airport. This simple ceremony reminds us that they will carry us always in their hearts.