Nepal Walking Tour

Hiking / walking holiday in Nepal for age 50 + (elders)

Comfort and age is not barrier for your Himalayan dreams. We are specialized in customizing active holidays in the Himalayas with comfort lodges / resorts. We offer gentle walking trips in the foothills of the Himalayas with luxury lodges / resorts to rejuvenate at the end of the day. Combine your walking trips with selected jungle safari activities based on one of the finest safari resorts in Chitwan National park.

Duration: 11 Days 
Difficulty: Moderate with 4 – 5 hrs of gentle walking. 
Season: September – April | This walking could be done throughout the winter as it is in the foothills of the Himalayas. Winter days are sunny and have clear view of the Himalayas.
Highlights: Heritage tour of Kathmandu, nature walking, boating, sunset / sunrise from Phewa and Begnas lake of Pokhara, Bandipur and Namobuddha walking from Dhulikhel.

Itinerary

DAY 01: KATHMANDU ARRIVAL | PICK UP and TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Our represent will be waiting at the airport with your nameplate. After formal meeting drive to the hotel we have booked as per your consent. We will give you choice of exquisite hotels within your budget while booking the Nepal walking tour.

DAY 02: KATHMANDU OLD MARKET WALKING
Kathmandu, the bustling capital city of Nepal at present is melting pot of several culture. Amid modern malls and eateries, groups of temples, pavilions, monasteries and stupas are still venerated with great zeal. After breakfast we will set out on a walk with a local guide. We will walk through the alleyways of old Kathmandu discovering some of the hidden stupas and temples less visited by tourist. Follow the ancient trade route from the farmers market of ‘Ason’ to the palace square of Kathmandu (Kathmandu Durbar Square). Kathmandu Durbar Square is the complex of medieval buildings with beautiful carvings and marvelous architecture.
Later walk to the southwestern end of the ancient trade route and drive to Swoyambhunath Mahachhayte on the hillock 70 m above Kathmandu.

DAY 03: DRIVE TO BANDIPUR | EVENING WALK
We will drive 135 km / 4 hrs on Kathmandu – Pokhara highway to the highway town of Dumre. As we snake along the mountainside, snow peaks appears atop lush valley dotted with farming terraces and charming villages. We will drive down to the valley basin and cruise along until Dumre. From Dumre we will climb 7 km up the ridge to Bandipur. Bandipur is reminiscence of medieval hill town on the trans-Himalayan trade route. The main town of Bandipur is concentrated along the cobblestone street with Newari style (ethnic group aboriginal from Kathmandu) brick and wood shop houses.
Looking north, the far reaching Marshynagdi valley is walled with soaring snow peaks of Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal ranges. Walking around, one can observe terraces teaming with seasonal crops, self sufficient village houses with cornstalk, livestock, haystack and garden with supply of seasonal vegetables, fruits and spices. We can visit the silk farm and climb to the hillock for sunset view over the Himalayas.

DAY 04: DRIVE TO BEGNAS LAKE | VILLAGE WALK & VISIT COFFEE FARM
After breakfast we will drive down to the highway and head north towards Pokhara. Begnas lake is about 87 km from Bandipur and 35 km southeast from Phewa lakeside, Pokhara. The lake is visited by fewer tourists and has more intact natural ambiance. Begnas lake is the second biggest lake in Pokhara valley with the area of 3 sq km. The hillock between Begnas and Rupa lake has thick woods with over 250 bird species. In the late afternoon we will walk along the ridge to the coffee farm and collection center. Across Begnas Lake one can see panoramic view of snow peaks with lush subordinate hills.

DAY 05: BEGNASKOT HIKING
Begnaskot is a 1,200 m hill north of Begnas Lake. The Begnaskot walking will take about 5 hrs and we will gain the altitude of 500 m. We will follow a dirt road along the terraced paddies climbing gradually for the first half of the walk. Then an hour’s climb on stone steeps takes us to the hilltop fort (now temple of goddess). You either follow the ridge and walk around the lake or climb down to the lake and take a boat across.

DAY 06: PUMDI – WORLDPEACE STUPA walking | OVERNIGHT in POKHARA
Check out the hotel in Begnas lake and drive for about 1 hrs to Pumdi village in the southern ridge of Pokhara. We will follow the dirt road passing through charming villages with thatch and slate roof houses. Viewpoints along the ridge uncover magnificent view of Phewa lake and snow peaks towards north. After four hrs of easy walk, we will arrive to World Peace pagoda. After having picnic lunch, walk down to the Phewa lake and take a boat across to the hotel.

Day 07: Naudanda – Sarangkot walking | Overnight in Pokhara
Drive for about 40 mints to the western valley rim of Naudanda. Naudanda is also a Himalayan view point. We will walk on the dirt road for about 4 hrs to Sarangkot. Sarangkot is famous sunrise view point. The ridge is overlooking at Pokhara valley with northern wall of snow peaks. You can either walk down to the Phewa lake of drive back to Phewa lake from Sarangkot. Walking down to the lake will take about 1 and half hrs down the stone steps.

Day 08: Fly back to Kathmandu | Bhaktapur walking tour and overnight in Dhulikhel
We will fly back to Kathmandu after spending another beautiful morning in Pokhara. The 25 mints flight is one of the best Himalayan sightseeing flight as we swift along Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal ranges. At Kathmandu airport you will meet our guide with whom you will drive 12 km east to Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is the most exquisite of three cities in Kathmandu valley. We will walk through the backstreets of Bhaktapur known as living museum as it still retains its practices and lifestyles intertwined with medieval architecture. This Tantric Hindu city has four major squares with beautiful pagodas, palaces and other monuments. After lunch drive 18 km north to Dhulikhel. Dhulikhel is a famous hill station overlooking at the eastern Himalayan ranges.

Day 09: Namobuddha Hiking (5 hrs / 1,750 m) | Overnight in Dhulikhel
We will drive for about 20 mints to Kavre Bhangyang and then start walking through pine forest. The trail climbs for about 120 m to the ridge with a village temple of goddess and then gradually passer through village for about 1 and half hours. We will finally meet the dirt road with occasional motorbikes and cars plying on. It will take about 1 more hrs to get to Namo Buddha. Namobuddha is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. This is where one of the Bodhishattva (Buddha to be) sacrificed himself to feed nourishing tigress. A stupa has been built with his relic. From the 1,750 m hill top, one can see long stretch of the central Himalayas. Walk back to the pickup point after lunch.

Day 10: Drive back to Kathmandu

Day 11: Drive to the airport for final departure