Shanti Pagoda Cultural Tour

Itinerary

• 01Namaste, welcome to Nepal Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu, 1340 meters, meeting with our staff, assistance and transfer to your hotel. In the late afternoon, we will inform you about the details of the trip.
  
  Meals: ****
• 02Sightseeing of Kathmandu & food safari Culture and food are on the program today! Cuisine is culture; it is part of the customs, history and traditions of a people. You will alternate between visits to monuments, local markets and sampling the favorite snacks of local people.
  
  Today, a guide who will introduce you not only to the history of the monuments but also the city’s past will accompany you.
  
  Visit Pashupatinath Temple, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal consecrated to Lord Shiva. The original core dates back to the 6th century AD and is known for its architecture in the shape of a pagoda. This place, also known as Little Benares, is located along the Bagmati River; here every day funeral ceremonies take place with the corpses being burned on pyres before the scattering of the ashes on the Bagmati River.
  
  Afterwards visit the huge Boudhanath Stupa, the most important Buddhist cultural center in Kathmandu since numerous refugees from Tibet have stopped there, creating more than 50 Gompas (Tibetan monasteries). Since 1979, Boudhanath has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  
  In the afternoon, visit another important Buddhist center, the stupa of Swayambhunath, known as the monkey temple because of the high number of monkeys living inside. This ancient religious complex is located atop a hill to the west in the Kathmandu Valley, and from here there are beautiful views of the city and the valley that surrounds it.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
  
• 03Flight over Everest* - Bandipur The day promises to be incredible! You will start with a flight on Mount Everest, a breathtaking view of the highest peaks in the world. Back on land, transfer by private car to Bandipur, an ancient Newari city perched on the Himalayan hills. It's a mix of history, architecture, incredible vistas, caves and untouched landscapes. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the Annapurna Range to the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Langtang.
  
  * We try to limit domestic flights as much as possible; unfortunately travel timeis very long in Nepal. To offset the carbon footprint of your flights, we are committed to funding tree planting.
• 04Pokhara, the city of lakes The valley of Pokhara is one of the most picturesque places in Nepal, and its beauty is enhanced by the enchanting lakes that originate from Annapurna.
  
  Visit Devi’s fall, a waterfall about 150 meters long, but part flows in an underground tunnel. After forming the waterfall and passing through the tunnel, the water flows into an adjacent cave, the Gupteshwor Mahadev . The cave is accessed by walking down an impressive flight of steps that is decorated with statues of Hindu gods, particularly Lord Ganesh who is the God who brings good luck. You will meet many Hindu worshippers who visit the cave, as it houses a shrine with a rock shaped by water and time that represents Lord Shiva.
  
  At sunset, go for a walk on the shores of Lake Phewa, the lakeside atmosphere is able to inspire inner peace and serenity. The reflections and colors of the many wooden boats moored along Its shores produce a distinctive ambience.You can take a boat and visit the Vahar Mandir temple, which is located on an island in the middle of the lake. This temple is the most revered in the city.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
  
• 05Discover Pokhara Depart at dawn for Sarangkot to see the sunrise over the Himalayas.
  
  Pokhara’s proximity to the Tibetan Plateau has made the city a place of refuge for numerous Tibetans who have come from the neighboring province. A district, located not far from the center, was built to accommodate them under the best conditions. Most of these people make a living from handicrafts such as weaving sheep wool carpet or carving religious objects. Another point of interest will be to visit one of the monasteries dedicated to Buddhist monks.
  
  Visit the Mountain Museum, which tells the history of the climbing of the main Himalayan peaks, from Everest to K2.
  
  At sunset, visit the Shanti Pagoda ( Stupa of Peace).The white stupa, of considerable size, was built by Buddhist monks. The temple is situated on the top of the hill that offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range, the city of Pokhara and Lake Phewa. Return to Pokhara and the rest of the day will be free.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
  
• 06Flight to Kathmandu & drive to Namobuddha Flight to Kathmandu and then we go to another place of great importance, this time for Buddhists: Namobuddha.
  
  Namobuddha is a very important Buddhist pilgrimage site because it is linked to a legend about one of Buddha's lives. Legend has it that she offered her body to a hungry tigress so that she could feed her young ones. You will have the opportunity to attend prayer and interact with the monks.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
• 07Dhulikhel Alternatively, departure by car or on foot to your next destination: Dhulikhel, also called the "queen of hills". In the afternoon, visit the bazaar and excursion to admire the Himalayan sunset.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
• 08Bhaktapur - Patan - Kathmandu On the way back to Kathmandu, you will stop Bhaktapur, an ancient city of Newari located east of the Kathmandu Valley. It was founded in the 12th century by the Malla kingdom dynasty and, from the 16th century, it became an important caravan transit center on the road between India and Tibet. Today, the site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautiful is the square of Durbar Square where is the palace with 55 windows. The whole historical part is in the Newari style and is dotted with several pagoda temples.
  For film lovers, Bakhtapur was one of the main film locations for Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha with Keanu Reeves. If it is very fun to find the streets and temples seen in the film.
  
  Patan is also an ancient capital of Nepal. If today it has been more or less swallowed by its neighbor Kathmandu, it was, a few centuries ago, a royal city where Buddhist teaching was particularly important. From an architectural point of view, the city really keeps a special atmosphere, with many temples and statues quite impressive.
  
  Meals: Breakfast
• 09Goodbye Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule and end of our services