Kathmandu to Muktinath and Pokhara Tour: Authentic Delight

Arrival in Kathmandu, Transfer to Hotel.

Arriving in Kathmandu by flight is an unforgettable experience due to the stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range. Your flight will land at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), which is located at an altitude of 1350m. Upon arrival, you can obtain your Nepal entry visa either in advance or upon arrival at TIA, and it may take up to 45 minutes to process the visa depending on the queue. For more information about obtaining the Nepal entry visa, please refer to the official website of the Department of Immigration Nepal.

Once you exit the airport gate, you will be greeted by a representative of our company who will be holding a placard with our company's name and logo. Our representative will offer you a holy Tibetan scarf as a welcoming gesture and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The journey from TIA to Thamel, where the hotel is located, takes approximately 30 minutes. Along the way, you will see the city's sights, such as the Pashupatinath Hindu temple, bustling with various vehicles and people, which will make your journey more enjoyable and fascinating.
Upon reaching the hotel, you can rest and freshen up. Thamel is a lively area with plenty of restaurants, shopping centers, and good accommodations. Later on, we will provide a trip briefing and invite you to a welcome dinner. You will spend the night at the hotel.

Kathmandu Guided City Tour.

Kathmandu guided city tour includes four major UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley, major civilizational attractions. These four sites give you wonderful insights to various aspects of different religious/spiritual/historical segments of Nepalese society in both past and present. Swoyambhunath tells you the story of how present day Kathmandu valley, then Nag Daha (Snake Lake), was converted in to wonderful place of human settlement from Himalayan Buddhist’s perspective. Patan Durbar square is a reflection of magnificent arts and architecture that existed in and around the valley in the recent and distant past. Pashupatinath temple narrates you the tale of Sanatan dharma (understood as present day Hinduism) in Kathmandu valley as to how it originated and evolved throughout various time periods. It also illustrates how this site is profoundly linked to all Hindus worldwide. Bouddha Stupa represents another facet of Himalayan Buddhism and its evolution throughout the history and also gives you a clear picture of how Tibet and Nepal are deeply connected through this site.

Swoyambhunath

holiest Buddhist stupas in Nepal

- World Heritage Sites
- Literally meaning "self- created"
- Praised and meditated by many Buddhas: Shikhi, krakuchhand, kanakmuni, Shakyamuni, Manjushri
- Excellent view of the Kathmandu valley

The distance is about 3.9km from Thamel takes around 15min in private vehicles. Swayambhu has been listed in the World Heritage Sites. The entire valley was an enormous lake, nagdah, out of which grew a lotus with five colored flame (self-arisen). Lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the stupa. It is still believed that the self-arisen flame is covered with dome of Stupa. The place is known as Swayambhu, meaning "Self-Created" over which a stupa was later built. Swayambhu is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal known as 'monkey temple' because of the large tribe of roaming monkeys. Located at one of the highest elevations in Kathmandu Valley gives panoramic views of the city. The place is praised by Buddha and meditated by several Buddha's as a pure holy site. We'll see three enormous shining golden statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, a four-armed Chenresig and Guru Rinpoche, built-in 2003. The site has two access points: a long staircase contains 365 steps leading directly to the main platform of the temple and vehicle road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the enormous Vajra.

The first earthly element facing the stupa on left is a small building contains one of the five elements placed in cardinal points around Swayambhunath. There are many small shrines with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, prayer wheels for the Tibetan Buddhists. The stupa represents Buddha’s mind. It offers peace, freedom, and joy and ultimately helps to obtain perfect enlightenment. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries, as well as the largest Buddha statue in the country. The stupa consists of a dome at the base; above the dome, there is a cubic structure with the eyes of Buddha looking out over the valley. The stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site. Visitors walk around the stupa and recite mantras, make offerings, turn prayer-wheels and make wishes for the benefit of all beings. Near the stupa left at the corner is a small red brick building has Swayambhu Buddhist museum. There is a collection of Buddhist statues and items. Hariti Temple (Ajima Temple) is a two-tiered gilded Newari style temple. Harati is the Buddhist goddess for the protection of children against infectious diseases, protectress deity of Swayambhu, and the deity of wealth.

Patan Durbar Square

City of fine arts.Golden Temple, Mahabuddha

It is one of the three medieval cities in Kathmandu and a destination of fine arts has hundreds of fascinating Hindu and Buddhist monuments scattered in and around. Patan City is an enchanting mixture of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, and former palace complex. Most of the monuments are back to the medieval Malla period 15th to 17th century as the golden period of Nepalese art and architecture. Krishna Mandir- a stone temple of Lord Krishna with its 21 spires and bas-relief art depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. In addition to this, the main highlights are the Golden temple, Rudravarna Mahabihar and Patan mahabuddha, an exemplary Buddhist monumental sites in Patan. The background, story and history of these sites will amaze you while witnessing a living history. The stories behind the development of different segment in Buddhism, Bajrayan, which is a typical Newari Buddhist practice in Kathmandu valley. Patan is also the center of wooden and metal artifacts.

Pashupatinath Temple

- Most sacred Hindu temple
- Famous for the shrine of lord shiva
- Two-storied pagoda temple

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal located at the banks of holy Bagmati River. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism. The place for different festival like Maha Shivaratri and Teej where thousands of devotees celebrate. The temple is the ultimate pilgrimage for Hindus throughout the world. The area is swarmed in by the Hindus from different part of the country. The two-storied pagoda temple of Pashupathinath houses the five-faced statue of Lord Shiva. Apart from the main shrine, there are numerous temples dedicated to different god and goddess in and around the Pashupatinath temple area. This temple is an important destination for art historians. It displays a variety of temple design some of which are Dome style, Pagoda style, Shikhara style and so on. Additionally, there are varieties of statues and sculptures around the complex. There are statues made of stone, metal, and wood. The door and pillars around the temple area are carved in beautiful shapes of God and griffins. The temple is built in the pagoda style of architecture, with cubic constructions and carved wooden rafters on which they rest, and two-level roofs made of copper and gold. After we continue to Boudhanath Stupa which is 2.3km from here takes around 15min to reach.

Boudha Stupa
The largest stupa in the world

- Most sacred Tibetan Buddhist site
- The ancient trade route from Tibet
- The woman built the stupa and was completed by her four sons
- Stupa contains a relic of Kashyap Buddha

Experience the serene ambiance of the rooftop restaurant while sipping a cup of coffee, soaking in the tranquil vibes of Boudha Stupa, the largest and most sacred Tibetan Buddhist site outside Tibet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Boudha Stupa serves as a spiritual and cultural hub for Tibetans and Himalayan communities in Nepal. Steeped in history, the stupa lies on the ancient trade route from Tibet and is believed to house the relic of Kasyapa Buddha, the third Buddha of the Bhadrakalpa. Legend has it that the stupa was initiated by Jyajhima, a poor poultry woman, and completed by her four sons, symbolizing devotion and unity. The stupa’s iconic white dome, adorned with the all-seeing eyes, represents a Buddhist mandala, symbolizing the path to enlightenment and the mythical Mount Meru. With its intricate design, including 108 Dhyani Buddha images, prayer wheels, and fluttering prayer flags, Boudha Stupa radiates healing energy through the sounds of singing bowls, chants, and the scent of incense. A visit here offers a deep dive into Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and the lives of monks and nuns, making it a must-visit destination for spiritual seekers and culture enthusiasts alike.

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, 200km, 6/7 hours

Following breakfast, our driver will pick you up from your hotel and then you will head towards Pokhara, which is often referred to as "The Lake City" due to its numerous lakes. As soon as you depart from Kathmandu, the environment and topography will begin to transform. Along the route, we will have an accompaniment of moderately elevated hills, small settlements and terraced farming. Once we reach the magnificent city of Pokhara, we will be greeted by an inspiring spectacular views of towering peaks including Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,156m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), the five peaks of Annapurna, and other majestic peaks. After checking in at the hotel, you can take some rest and leisurely stroll through the streets around Fewa Lake to appreciate the city's magnificence.

Fly to Jomsom, drive to Muktinath. Overnight stay at Jomsom

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on a flight over the Himalayas, passing through the stunning Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain ranges, with the deep Kaligandaki Gorge visible below. The Mustang district, including Muktinath and Jomsom, is known as the place beyond the Himalayas. Muktinath, located in the Annapurna conservation area of Mustang district, Nepal, is a highly revered Hindu pilgrimage site. Sitting at an altitude of 3,710 meters, approximately 22 km northeast of Jomsom, the temple is commonly referred to as 'Mukti Dham' for Hindus and 'Chumig Gyatsa' for Buddhists. Hindus consider it a 'Mukti Kshetra', where people attain liberation or Moksha, while Buddhists view it as one of the 'Bodhisattvas'. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhav and the founder of Himalayan Buddhism, meditated here on his way to Tibet.

Muktinath is unique in the sense that it is the only place on earth where one can find all five elements - fire, water, sky, earth, and air - in their original forms, near the Jwalamai Devi Temple. This spot is known as Sri Murthy Mahatmyam. The name 'Muktinath' is derived from two Sanskrit words - 'Mukti' meaning salvation or nirvana and 'Nath' meaning god or master. The name holds great significance for spiritual individuals in the South Asian sub-continent, and for devout Hindus, it carries religious and emotional significance.

Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara. Pokhara Guided city tour

After having breakfast, you will get ready to fly back to Pokhara. Upon arrival at the Pokhara airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. After checking in process completes, we will start our day tour of Pokhara valley.
Pokhara is widely recognized as a tourist's paradise in every sense, as it is located in a truly Himalayan country. Every year, tourists from all over the world visit this incredibly beautiful place. It is also recognized as the gateway to Annapurna circuit, which is a famous trekking trail in the Himalayas. Today, we wake up early in the morning in this stunning city and head towards Sarangkot, a well-known hill station that offers breathtaking views of the mountain range to the north and an incredible sunrise view. After enjoying the sunrise view, we return to the hotel for breakfast. Following breakfast, our tour continues as we set out to visit and explore the most popular tourist destinations in Pokhara.

Major tourist attractions in Pokhara includes:

Bindhabasini Temple
Lies in the center of the religious old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park grounds offer a fine picnic and relaxing area.
Davis falls
Locally known as Patale Chango and in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley is where the stream flowing from Fewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes.
Gupteshwor Cave
The revered Gupteshwor Cave is situated 2 km from Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Devi’s fall and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all four.
Phewa Lake and Barahi Temple
Situated at an altitude of 800m above sea level, it is the second-largest lake in the kingdom. With the Barahi Island Temple in the middle of the lake, it is the most important religious monument in Pokhara.
Seti River Gorges
Carved by Seti-Gandaki is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool & Prithivi Highway Bridge near bus park, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water.

Besides, Pokhara is also a hub for adventurous activities like: paragliding, bunji jumping, ultra-light, zip flyer etc. If you would like to indulge in any of the adventurous activities, you might think of extra stay in Pokhara.

Early visit to Sarangkot and Drive to Kathmandu

Early morning we will visit Sarangkot, a popular hill station for a beautiful sunrise view. Following breakfast, we will travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu, enjoying beautiful views of hills and rural Nepalese life along the river banks. You also have an option to fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu (30 minutes), with an extra charge.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you can rest or browse for souvenirs. To commemorate the successful completion of your journey, we will have a farewell dinner for you in the evening.
You will spend the night in Kathmandu.

Final Departure

One of our office representatives will accompany you to the airport for your departure. It's time to bid farewell, and we look forward to the possibility of seeing you again in the future.