Highlights
- Get beautiful views of the Himalaya in a short amount of time
- Stay in the stunning ridge-top village of Astam in the Annapurna foothills
- Have the option of staying in luxury lodges for a unique experience
- Explore the peaceful lakeside city of Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Kathmandu! | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Drive to Astam | Astam |
| Day 3 | Drive from Astam to Pokhara | Pokhara |
| Day 4 | Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 5 | Depart Kathmandu |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!
As you fly into Kathmandu, you'll have beautiful views over the city, the Himalaya, and of the terraced fields below. After going through customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you and guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to get you settled into your hotel.
Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.
In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Drive to Astam
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Pokhara. This is a stunning half-hour flight along the Himalayan Range, seeing four of the world’s fourteen giant mountains over 8000m: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu, and Shishapangma, before landing in Pokhara.
After landing, you'll be picked up and driven out of town (1-2 hours) taking a scenic route to the village of Astam, entering a completely different world from that of Kathmandu. Along the way, you can see the magnificent views of the Annapurna Range and Machapuchare.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Drive from Astam to Pokhara
You'll awake to a spectacular view of the Annapurna section of the Himalayan Range (weather permitting) and a hearty breakfast to get you ready for the drive (1-2 hours) back to Pokhara. Astam is village is beautiful in itself, and take the time after breakfast to explore the village and the surrounding trails.
Day 4: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu
After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of the Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.
In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu.
Day 5: Depart Kathmandu
It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.