Kathmandu & Lumbini World Heritage Tour
6 Nights / 7 Days

Daily Departures Throughout The Year:
Kathmandu Valley's Highlights:

Welcome to Nepal, the land of adventure! Kathmandu Valley, the capital of Nepal, is situated at 4,423 ft. above sea level. The valley is surrounded by semi-green hills, terraced fields and towering snow-capped peaks in the backgrounds. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan are the major towns in the valley. All three are of great historic, cultural and artistic interests. The architectural history of the valley is said to have begun with the Lichhavi and the Malla kings. Today, the ancient monuments and temples are the center of attraction for visitors, particularly the seven World Heritage Sites, designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Please find brief descriptions of each site in the itinerary below.

Not only the ancient temples and monuments that make the valley interesting but also the diverse cultural groups that make their home here. It is the base camp for all visitors to Nepal and a perfect place to explore history and culture of this Himalayan Kingdom. Nepal being an undeveloped country, its shape and face is changing daily bringing environmental degradation, and is affecting the world heritage sites. The influence of modernization is engulfing the ancient treasures of Nepal. Therefore, we request the visitors to contribute their good ideas on how to save the world heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley by improving its environment.

We offer fine quality hotels in Kathmandu and its surrounding hills when you are on our tour programs. The valley rims, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are perfect places to escape the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. From these hilltops, you can enjoy striking mountain views, sunsets and sunrises over the high Himalayas, and breathe fresh air in the ambience of the tallest mountains in the world. We organize treks of various lengths in the surrounding hills to provide you opportunities to visit local villages to explore the local cultures.People who plan to spend more than couple days in the Kathmandu Valley should consider the Kathmandu Valley Tour & Treks.

Lumbini, Nepal - the Birth Place of Lord Buddha:
Lord Buddha was born in the southern Nepalese City of Lumbini twenty-five hundred years ago. Modern day Lumbini is a small town where the ruins of the old city can still be seen.

Since then Lumbini has been a holy ground for Buddhists all over the world. The restored garden and surroundings of Lumbini contain the remains of many of the ancient stupas and monasteries. A large stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 250 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha.

An important archeological site in Kapilvastu, near Lumbini, evokes the ancient palace where Lord Buddha spent his formative years.
Archeologists discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the eighth century BC, and scattered remains of the original palace can still be seen. Besides its religious and historical significance, Lumbini offers cultural insights into the rural life of southern Nepal.
The Kathmandu and Lumbini World Heritage Tour is done with overland drive through Pokhara and Tansen to expose you to the most extraordinary views of the Annapurna Himalayas in central west Nepal on the way to Lumbini while the return trip will be by flight from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu & Lumbini World Heritage Tour 6 Nights / 7 Days:

Day 1 Bangkok-Kathmandu Flight and Begin tour
Upon arrival in Kathmandu Airport, meet and transfer to hotel, check in, refresh and depart for tour to Swayambu Stupa.

Swayambu Stupa: It is said that the history of the Kathmandu Valley began with Swayambu, "selfcreating". According to legends, the Buddhist saint Manjushree came across a beautiful lake during his journey in the Valley. He discovered a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the center of the lake. So, he cut a gorge in the southeastern hill (known as Chobar gorge) and drained the water to worship the lotus. People settled in the dried up lake and called it Kathmandu, while the hilltop of the selfcreating Lord has become a holy place. The Valley being a lake bed is actually not only a fable, but a geologic reality. Clay mines and rich soil bear evidence of the valley's under water past. Swayambu is not only the major landmark of the Valley but also one of the best places to observe the religious harmony of Nepal. Ancient mini stupas and shrines of both Bhudhists and Hindus fill up the stupa complex. This stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshippers are diverse. A monastery adjecent to the stupa houses the largest image of Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal and many stone sculptures of different deities. There numerous monasteries in the vicinity of the stupa with huge prayer wheels, fine Bhuddhist paintings, and special butter lamps which can be lite after offering a monetary donation. Since we will not spare time to visit all the monasteries, we will visit the main monastery in the stupa complex. On a clear day, this hilltop stupa complex offers excellent views of the Kathmandu Valley and the towering snow-capped peaks in the background.
Evening-Nepali dinner and folk cultural show or at leisure. (D).

Day 2 Bouddha Stupa-Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Square Tour
06:30 AM pick up at the hotel and drive to Bouddha Stupa to experience the Buddhist stupa and monastic life styles. After the stupa tour, we drive to Patan Durbar Square to visit the ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples.

Bouddha Stupa:
Bouddha Stupa is located thirteen kilometers north of downtown Kathmandu or about four kilometers from Pashupati area, and is one of the largest stupas in Nepal. It is said that the stupa was built by the Lichhavi King Man Dev in the fifth century. Ever since then Tibetan merchants and Buddhist pilgrims have rested and offered prayers here.

Monks, nuns and lay people alike walk around the stupa with prayer wheels in their hands, whispering "OM MANE PADME HUN" meaning "hail to the jewel in the lotus" while extreme devotees undergo rituals of prostration to the Lord Buddha. The Bouddha area is a unique place with full of visual attractions. Vividly colored thankas (tantric Buddhist paintings), hand-woven carpets, jewelry, masks, khukri knives, ready made garments of different ethnic groups, and many other modern and antique crafts. The visitors and residents around the stupa are as varied as the physical objects one will encounter. The Tamangs were the orinal inhabitants. Then, refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s and many settled around Bouddhanath. Today, different ethnic groups, mostly followers of Buddhism, make their homes here.

Patan City and Durbar Square:
We drive to Patan, the ancient city, also known as "the city of Beauty", is situated on the southern bank of the Bagmati River about five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, a city of artists, craftsmen and metal workers. Full of Buddhist monuments, Hindu temples with fine bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Patan's Durbar Square has many famous sites and unique architecture. Krishna Mandir in the Square was built to honor an incarnation of Vishnu and is Nepal's best example of stone architecture. The best place to see fine metal sculpture is Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, the "Golden Temple", a Newar monastery, which contains wall paintings, fourteenth century statues, and scriptures. Its facades is mostly covered in bronze.

Kathmandu Durbar Square:
The numerous monuments in Kathmandu's Durbar Square are almost too much for the eye to take in. The fearsome Kal Bhairab, the Red Monkey god, the house of the living Goddess Kumari, not to mention hundreds of erotic carvings-only begin to catalog the square's cultural imagery!

The buildings here are the greatest achievements of the Mallla dynasty. They resulted from the great rivalry between the three realms of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. According to legend, the Valley was divided among the children of Yaksya Malla. His children and grandchildren began an artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in ever grander styles. As a result, the architectures of these cities look similar. But the wood carvings, statues-and architecture in particular-of Kathmandu's Durbar Square are exceptionally fine. Then, we visit the fine collections of the Royal Museum inside the old palace of Kasthamandap from which the name Kathmandu was derived. Then, our tour ends, and drive back to the hotel. (B&L).

Day 3 Kathmandu to Pokhara by Road
Early morning breakfast, drive to Pokhara, check into hotel, refresh and Go for a short boat trip on Phewa Lake. Kathmandu to Pokhara by road takes about 7 hours and is a scenic as well as a pleasant drive. (B&L).

Day 4 Pokhara to Lumbini by Road
Early morning breakfast, and drive Lumbini via Tansen and Palpa to Lumbini. On arrival, check in at Garden Hotel, afternoon tour of Lumbini. Overnight at hotel. (B&L).

Day 5 Lumbini Tour and flight to Kathmandu.
Breakfast at hotel, and depart for Lumbini tour in the morning. The tour consists of visits to Buddhist monasteries and ruins of the ancient kingdom where Sidhartha Gautama Buddha was born and spent his formative years. Lunch en-route tour and afternoon flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel, check in and at leisure. (B&L).

Day 6 Bhaktapur, the city of Devotees, and Nagarkot Hilltop.
Breakfast at hotel and depart to Bhaktapur. Here, we walk through the Palace square, visit the palace museum, monuments and the pottery kiln. The name Bhaktapur, means the "city of devotees", and was founded in 889 AD by King Anand Dev. It is the most enchanting of Kathmandu Valley's three ethnically Newar cities. Newar art and architecture of the Malla periods from about 12th to 18th century are among the best attractions here. The palace complex in the middle of the city portrays the prosperity of the Malla years and the detailed craftsmenship of the period. The Palace of fifty-five Windows stands in the square and was home to many of Bhaktapur's kings. The square's gate was erected by King Bhupatindra Malla (1696- 1722) and was among the biggest in the Valley. Among other monuments in Bhaktapur, the big bell, the Nyatapola, the golden Gate, the Bhairab Temple, the five-tiered temple, the Dattatreya Square with its wood-carving, and metalwork museum are the most interesting places.

Bhaktapur is not as modernized as Kathmandu and Patan and stands in sharp contrast. Therefore, visitors can still observe people making clay sculptures and utilities in the city alleys. Its elaborate ancient monuments and the surrounding valley with beautifuly terraced farmlands make Bhaktapur a unique destination to visitors.

Lunch break in Bhaktapur and drive to Nagarkot: At an elevation of 2,099 meters above sea level, this mountaintop, rural resort town is ideal for viewing spectacular sun rises and sun sets over the high Himalayas. On a clear day, Mt. Everest and many of the other world famous peaks can be seen from here; also beautiful layout of the Kathmandu Valley below. Overnight in Nagarkot or Kathmandu: (B&L).

Day 7 Departure from Kathmandu
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Kathmandu Airport for departure by Thai Airways to Bangkok. (B).

Thai Market Tour Cost: Validity: June 1, 2004:
Tour Cost Per Person In US Dollars:

SS=Single Room Supplement
Domestic airfare (Bairahawa-Kathmandu one-way airfare) US$79 per person,

Tour Cost Includes:
- Six nights accommodations in quality 2-3 star hotels based on twin sharing,
- Half-board meals plan (breakfast and lunch),
- One-way airfare from Bairahawa to Kathmandu,
- Domestic departure tax,
- English speaking tour guide service throughout the tour,
- Entrance fees to temple, monastery and monuments visited,
- all tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
- all ground transfers including airport pick up and drop off services,
- Nepalese staff insurance.

Tour Cost Excludes:
Visa fees, international airfares, international airport departure tax about US$14, all dinners from day 2 to 6, alcoholic beverages, personal clothing, personal insurance, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, and emergency costs.

Bangkok-Kathmandu-Bangkok Roundtrip Airfares:
By Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) 14,020 Baht / US$351 Departures from Bangkok on Mon., Tue., Fri., Sat. Departs Bangkok at 1410 & arrive Kathmandu at 1610 pm Departs Kathmandu at 0830 & arrive Bangkok at 1310 pm By Thai Airways (TG) 16,720 Baht / US$418 Departures from Bangkok daily Depart Bangkok at 1030 am & arrive Kathmandu at 1245 pm Departs Kathmandu at 1340 pm & arrive Bangkok at 1810 pm