International airfare

Nepali visa

Temple donations

Additional meals, excursions and activities not listed

Tips to your local guide, drivers, etc.

Alcohol, unless specified

Required travel insurance

Welcome to the land of the Himalayas! Upon arrival at the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), your driver will transfer you to your boutique hotel in the vibrant Thamel district. Settle in & rest up or explore this pedestrian-friendly area before our Nepalese Welcome Dinner of fantastic Newari cuisine.

Meals: D

After breakfast, we will explore the top cultural and historical sites in the Kathmandu Valley. We’ll first visit Boudhanath, the biggest Buddhist stupa in Nepal situated in a colorful village replete with shops, huge prayer wheels and multitudes of chanting devotees. Next, we’ll visit the Pashupatinath Hindu temple, one of the most important Shiva shrines and the most important Hindu pilgrimage temple in Kathmandu. We’ll also watch cremation ceremonies, an important tradition in Nepali culture, along the holy Bagmati River.

We’ll then visit Patan, the royal palace square that consists of 16th century pagodas and temples that are undergoing meticulous restoration after the devastating 2015 earthquake. You’ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch before our afternoon stop at the Swayambhunath Stupa - also known as the Monkey Temple - with 360 degrees of view of the Kathmandu Valley. The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa along with several shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period.

The evening is yours to rest, explore and enjoy many cuisine options in Thamel, including Nepali, Indian, Thai and much more.

Meals: B

After breakfast we’ll take a quick 45-min domestic flight followed by a short drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. We’ll head to the temple complex and explore more than a dozen temples in the complex made by different countries with different monks. Each monastery has a unique architectural design and surrounding gardens.

We’ll then visit the palace grounds where Siddharta Buddha was born and the Maya Devi Temple, built in the 2nd century and dedicated to Buddha’s mother. We’ll also see the Ashoka Pillar, built in 259 BC by King Ashok. When he constructed this pillar, the King exempted the villagers from paying tax and gave out 100 golden coins to the people. There are 10 different Buddhist stupas in this area.

After a traditional thali Nepali lunch set, we’ll enjoy a super special session with a local monk to learn more about Buddhism before a delicious meal on-site at our local hotel.

Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast we’ll drive back to the airport and take a quick domestic flight to Pokhara, a vibrant, lakeside town at the base of the Annapurna mountain range. Take time to walk around the lake, or consider a massage at our boutique hotel spa or go shopping for Nepali mementos such as singing bowls, incense or scarves.

For dinner, choose from the many different world cuisines in town and take a lakeside stroll where locals gather after work.

Meals: B

Today we’ll explore the many sites Pokhara has to offer. We’ll start with a boatride on Fewa Lake to see the Barahi Temple. Then we’ll visit Devi’s Falls, the Gupteshwor Mahadev Gupha sacred cave, Bindabashini Temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, the Old Bazaar and the Mountain Museum, devoted to the mountains of Nepal and the mountaineers who climbed them. Inside you can see original gear from many of the first Himalayan ascents, as well as displays on the history, culture, geology and flora and fauna of the Himalayas.

Tonight, get packed up for our 2-night trek. You’ll just bring the gear you need, and the rest you’ll be able to leave at your hotel in Pokhara.

Meals: B

After breakfast we’ll transfer to Nayapul where our adventure in Annapurna foothills starts! The first two hours of walking are uphill along the riverside with villages and farming lands to Syauli Bazaar where the trail takes you up stone stairs through the terraces, farming areas, local villages and natural surroundings. After a final steep uphill leg we’ll arrive at Ghandruk, one of the biggest local villages of this area with spectacular sunset views. Enjoy the sunset before a home cooked meal and early evening.

Hiking: 5-6 hours, 6500 feet elevation, Approx. 7 miles hiking

Meals: B, L, D

Optional non-trekkers option: If you prefer not to join our intermediate trek on days 6-8 you can choose to stay in our 3-star Pokhara hotel or at our 5-star ecolodge. Breakfast is included daily, and you’ll have a menu of excursions to choose from, including light hikes, picnic lunches, cooking classes, spa and massage, and more!

Awake to impressive sunrise views of Annapurna South (23,661 feet), Hiunchuli (21,132 feet) & Fishtail (22,943 feet). From Ghandruk, we trek straight down to the Modi River valley, across the river then up stone stairways through terraced land to Landruk. We’ll make our way through the “Nepali flats” of mixed terrain local villages, forested hills and Himalayan terraces to Tolkha for lunch. From here, the trail heads up to a forested hill, known as Deurali, before we reach Potana. After a tea break, we’ll have a last, short leg to our camp atop a hill with open spaces for great views of the Annapurna range as well as the Dhawalagiri Himalayan ranges on clear days. Enjoy dinner & Nepali tea under the stars before a good night’s rest.

Hiking: 6-7 hours, 7,021 feet elevation, Approx. 9 miles hiking

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy sunrise views of Dhaulagiri (26,794 feet), Annapurna I (26,542 feet), Annapurna South (23,661 feet), Hiunchuli (21,132 feet) & Fishtail (22,943 feet). From camp, we will have a 3-ish mile downhill hike following stone steps to Kande through forested hills before driving back to Pokhara for lunch. We’ll then take a short drive out of the city for our final stay at a gorgeous ecolodge situated on an organic farm. We’ll learn how the lodge uses circular agriculture to grow the food and power the lodge as well as learn about their non-profit initiatives within the local community. Relax in the afternoon and enjoy the Himalayan salt pool or the onsite spa before our farm fresh 3-course dinner together.

Meals: B, D

After a leisurely breakfast, we will take an easy stroll through the paddies along the riverbed and get to our Community Partner, a hospitality vocational school. In this program, selected young people who have come from tough backgrounds such as street, trafficking, domestic slavery, poverty and hardship receive training in travel and tourism. After their training they are linked to jobs locally, nationally and internationally ensuring them safe, sustainable livelihoods. After a tour of the training center, we will do a cooking class with the students learning how to make traditional Nepali dal bhaat thali then enjoying it together for lunch. We’ll then make our way back to the eco-lodge for a restful afternoon!

In the evening we’ll have our official Farewell Dinner together with an amazing farm-to-table meal!

Meals: B, L, D

After a delicious fresh breakfast, we’ll take a short domestic flight back to Kathmandu. You’ll have the rest of the day free for any final excursions of your liking in Kathmandu. In some cases, you can also opt for your return flight back home tonight (after 7 p.m.), as many flights back west leave later in the evening.

Meals: B

Depart any time today from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Or, choose from one of our add-ons including a Mt. Everest scenic flight (morning excursion, requires at least one extra night) or our 5-day Wonders of Bhutan itinerary.

Meals: B

You'll be paired with a roommate of your same gender unless you request your own room.

$3295 per person - double occupancy

+$795 'My own room' option

+$165 –Extra night in Kathmandu (4-star boutique hotel), single or double occupancy

Minimum 2 people.

$3895 per person - double occupancy

+$795 'My own room' option or for odd numbers (3, 5, etc.)

+$165 –Extra night in Kathmandu (4-star boutique hotel), single or double occupancy

Mt. Everest Scenic Flight (click for details) - $300 per person, Requires an extra night before or after the trip

Wonders of Bhutan - 5-day excursion Can also be booked alone without the Nepal trip.

Everest Base Camp trek - 15-day EBC trek. Can also be booked alone without the Nepal trip.

Our itinerary includes a range of hotel experiences. The most basic 3-stars are clean, safe, and no-frills. Our boutique hotels excel in classic architecture, gorgeous art & decorations, handcrafted furniture and overall ambiance. The village tea houses along the trek are simple and very basic, with a bed, shower and sink. In Pokhara after the trek, you’ll stay two nights at our incredible eco-lodge on a sustainable farm. You’ll enjoy farm-to-table breakfast and dinner with first class service, onsite spa services, and myriad activities in the area.

You’ll fly in and out of Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu. Flights from the US typically arrive 2+ days from departure (e.g., leave Friday, arrive Sunday) and return +1 day. You can depart any time on departure day. If you’re doing the Bhutan add-on, we will be in touch about exact departure day and specifics.

A tourist visa is required for American, Canadian and EU citizens as well as others, and we recommend applying for the e-visa online as the on-arrival visa can take several hours. You’ll need to apply for the visa within 2 weeks of your trip start date as it’s only held in the system for 15 days. After you book we’ll send you detailed instructions. You’ll apply for a 15-day visa or if you’re doing the Everest Base Camp and/or Bhutan add-ons.

Nepal is in general a very friendly place for tourists. The main safety concerns are motorbikes and traffic, as driving is hectic and chaotic and there are lots of potholes in the roads. As a pedestrian, take great care where you step! Otherwise, we recommend following common-sense practices: Be aware of who is around you, don’t wander places alone when no one else is around, don’t be out alone late at night and early in the morning, leave your valuables locked up in your room.

Water is not potable in Nepal. You can use the hotel sink water for brushing your teeth, but otherwise drink filtered water. We encourage you to bring your reusable water bottle with you everywhere and you can ask restaurants or the hotel to refill with filtered water instead of ordering a bottle of water.

We highly recommend a GRAYL water filter. We’ve tested this across the world with 100% satisfaction and many plastic bottles saved!