Kathmandu, Pikey Peak Trek & Chitwan National Park - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, Explore Nepal's Capital

Welcome to Nepal! On your approach into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu's narrow, winding streets to your hotel.

Once you've settled in, head out and start exploring Nepal's capital at your own pace. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start, surrounded by 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 vantage point to watch a sunset over the valley. In the evening, head to the tourist hub of Thamel to grab your first meal, where you'll find a variety of restaurants offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.

Day 2: Free Day in Kathmandu, Optional Jeep Tour

Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours, when the city is slowly coming to life. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares. After breakfast, there are a number of ways you can spend your time. Use this as a free day to rest and prepare for tomorrow's day of travel and trekking, or arrange for a local English-speaking guide who knows the city well and can explain the history and significance of the sights (along with a private Jeep to take you around).

In the evening, head out for dinner at one of the city's great eateries, or your specialist can arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

Day 3: Transfer to Dhap, Trek to Sigane or Jhapre (9,580 ft/ 2,920 m)

Depart Kathmandu in the early morning for the long drive to Dhap. It starts on a Japanese-built road through the mountains to the Sun Kosi River. Then, you'll follow the river until you cross over and climb up to Okhaldhunga. From here, it's about a three-hour drive to the trailhead at Dhap. The road from Okhaldhunga is a good blacktop road that climbs to 9,186 feet (2,800 m) at Dhap, where your trek begins. As you near Sigane, you'll see mountains coming into view: these are the peaks of the Numbur Himal section of the Himalaya.

Day 4: Trek to Pikey Base Camp (11,762 ft/ 3,585 m)

Today, you'll get an early morning start with views of Numbur Chuli, Everest, and the eastern Himalaya range. The trail starts on a dirt road for a while and then quickly turns into a slow uphill climb through pine and rhododendron forests until you reach Bhulbule. You can take a break at the local tea shop there, and then continue on a gentle uphill climb, arriving in Lhamuje for lunch.

The trail this afternoon begins a series of gentle ups and downs along the ridge, which eventually arrives at a pasture where you can see grazing yaks. In the spring, you'll experience different species of rhododendron flowers during the walk, along with spectacular views of the Himalaya. You'll pass a mani (prayer stone) wall and then climb a steep uphill zigzag trail to Pikey Peak Base Camp, where you can reward yourself with a visit to the local yak cheese factory. 

Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Day 5: Trek to Chaulakharka (4,790 ft/ 1,460 m) via Pikey Peak

The trail to the top of Pikey Peak starts from behind your lodge and follows a gradual slope to the summit, which is strewn with colorful prayer flags. You'll start your ascent before dawn and be rewarded with a breathtaking sunrise from the mountaintop. If the weather is clear, you'll have truly spectacular views as far as Annapurna and Kanchenjunga. It's a quick descent back to the lodge for a fast breakfast, after which you'll hit the trail for your next exciting leg. 

As you leave Pikey base camp, you'll pass a mani wall, then continue along a beautiful high contour through trees, accompanied by a backdrop of stunning mountain views. You'll bend around the valley, descending through a gorgeous forest, until you eventually pass a cheese factory, which marks the beginning of Ngaur. This village features a picturesque cluster of houses on an outcrop. Although Ngaur endured extensive seismic damage, you can visit a small new prayer wheel building beside the remains of the village's temple, or gompa. 

The trail will descend steeply through a forest to Kosinasa (referred to locally as Lamane), which stands at 9,432 feet (2,872 m). If time permits, wander through the village and stop in an eatery for a bowl of dal bhat, a Nepalese lentil curry. Your trail will continue to follow the hillside to Gumba, climbing slightly up to 9,777 feet (2,980 m). This tiny village is home to about a dozen houses on the hillside and a relatively new gompa. After you pass through town, the trail drops steeply through the forest, down to Namkheli, then continues to Chaulakharka, where you'll rest for the night.  

Trekking time: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 6: Trek to Shivalaya (5,807 ft/ 1,770 m)

This morning, you'll tackle a fairly steep 2,460-foot (750 m) ascent—some portions following a new tractor track—to Bhandar. After your climb, reward yourself with a cup of tea at the village's best lodge before you journey on to Deurali. Your second big ascent of the day is up to the Deurali Pass (12,139 ft/ 3,700 m). On the east side of the pass, take in sweeping views over the valley and river back toward Pikey Peak. On the west side sits the village of Deurali, where tea houses nestle together around mani walls with Langtang visible beyond. Spend some time soaking up the village's charm, and stop for lunch. 

When you hit the trail in the afternoon, you'll find your route drops steeply at first, then levels out all the way down to Shivalaya (a bustling village on the river), where you can spend the night. If you're eager to press on, continue to Those or Jiri, where you can catch the bus tomorrow morning.

Trekking time: 7-8 hours 
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 7: Transfer to Charikot, Afternoon Visit to Dolakha

Today, you'll bid farewell to the mountains and start the journey back toward Kathmandu. The first part of the drive follows a scenic route on a Swiss-built mountain road, descending all the way to the Tama Kosi before climbing to Charikot, a little hill town at 6,562 feet (2,000 m). You'll spend the night relaxing here in a comfortable, family-run retreat with mountain views, hot showers, and, surprisingly, the best Thai curry in Nepal!

In the afternoon, you can visit the ancient trading town of Dolakha, with its old Hindu and Buddhist temples. Learn more about the Shamanism of the original Thami inhabitants and the mingling of these three major religions. After that, return to your accommodation in time for a drink as you enjoy the sunset over the mountains.

Day 8: Transfer to Namobuddha, Dine with Buddhist Monks

Enjoy the view at breakfast this morning before getting back on the road and transferring through Mudu, after which it's all downhill to the Bhote Koshi River. From there you'll follow the Arniko highway from Tibet, climbing to Namobuddha, a beautiful location sacred to Buddhists, especially those in the local Tamang population.

Be sure to visit the lovely little stupa commemorating the selfless act of Siddartha Gautama offering his body to a hungry tigress—an act said to have contributed to his ultimate achievement of enlightenment and "Buddhahood." Tonight, you'll be staying on the monastery grounds at the guest house; see what life is like for the religious community here as you eat with the resident monks.  

Day 9: Transfer to Bhaktapur, Explore the Ancient City

After breakfast overlooking the mountains, you'll transfer to the village of Panauti to explore how Tamang Buddhist culture contrasts with that of Tibetan Buddhism. Then, head back down into the Kathmandu Valley to Bhaktapur, one of the three ancient cities within the Kathmandu Valley.

Filled with medieval art and architecture, this is also the center of traditional Nepalese wood carving in the valley. Compared to Patan and Kathmandu (the other two ancient cities), Bhaktapur is the most historic and authentic, a living museum where farmers dry their harvest, potters turn their wheel, and people go about their daily life as they have done for centuries. Upon arrival, check into a charming traditional-style guest house, then join your guide to explore this fascinating ancient city at dusk.

Day 10: Transfer to Kathmandu, Fly to Chitwan

This morning, you'll get up early for your flight to the famous Terai region of Nepal, home of Chitwan National Park. You'll find that the landscape and culture here are totally different from those of Kathmandu or the Himalaya. The name "Terai" refers to the extensive plains in the southern part of Nepal—this area is the northernmost extension of the great Gangetic plains of India, land that was won and lost in decades of struggle, and it shares both Indian and Nepali characteristics and culture.

Upon arrival at the airport in Chitwan, you'll be picked up by a representative from your lodge. Arrive at your accommodations in time for lunch (unless you choose an afternoon flight) and a briefing about the activities available during your stay. 

Day 11: Explore Chitwan: Safaris, Wildlife & Relaxation

Today, choose from a variety of activities or take the day to relax and explore on your own. You can embark on a full day of jungle safari activities, spend time with Nepal's elephants, search the dense jungle in search of wildlife, or take a river safari in traditional carved-out wooden canoes to spot animals and birds along the riverbanks.

The national park's subtropical climate, vast grasslands, and dense forests are home to diverse wildlife, including the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer, and barking deer, as well as a wide variety of birdlife. With luck, you might even glimpse a leopard, sloth bear, or Bengal tiger (although it's very rare to spot a tiger these days, recent spottings have occurred!). 

Day 12: Fly to Kathmandu, Free Afternoon

After breakfast in Chitwan, you're on the move again as you transfer to Bharatpur airport for the quick 30-minute flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in the capital, you'll be transferred to your hotel, and you'll have the rest of the day free to spend as you please. Explore the city's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

Day 13: Scenic Everest Mountain Flight, Optional Kathmandu Valley Jeep Tour

Set your alarm this morning and take to the skies for a scenic, early-morning flight east along the Himalaya to Mount Everest and back. In just an hour, you'll be picked up from your hotel, shuttled to the domestic airport, and back at your hotel in time for breakfast. During the flight, look out the lefthand side of the plane to see famous peaks such as Shisha Pangma (26,289 ft/ 8,013 m), Cho-Oyu (26,906 ft/ 8,201 m), Nuptse (25,771 ft/ 7,855 m), and finally Everest (29,029 ft/ 8,848 m), known as Sagarmatha by the Nepali and Chomolungma by Tibetans.

After breakfast, you'll have some free time to explore on your own. You can relax at the hotel or head out for a short walk. If you need some inspiration, your specialists can recommend some great routes. In the afternoon, you'll have the option of taking a guided tour (via private Jeep) to some of the famous cultural sites of the Kathmandu Valley.

Day 14: Depart Kathmandu

It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure. Safe travels!

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