Kathmandu and Chitwan Jungle Nature Tour
6 Nights / 7 Days

Destinations: Kathmandu Cultural World Heritage Sites, Bird watching in Ranibon (Queen Forest), and Chitwan Nature World Heritage Site ecotour.

Tour Season: September-May, Best Time: September-December.
Trip Grade: Easy

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 and resorts 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, sun set and sun rise 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 these treks.

Chitwan Jungle Park-Adventure Safari:
Royal Chitwan National Park is a well planned and developed resort destination in southern Nepal. The variety of animals found in Chitwan Jungle includes the endangered Royal Bengal Tigers, one horned-rhinoceros, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, bison, Gangetic dolphin, gharial crocodile, reptiles, rhesus monkeys, and sloath bears. There are over four hundred different species of birds including marsh mugger peckers and other migrating birds that make their home here. The five to six feet tall Elephant grass provides an excellent habitat for wildlife to thrive here.

Highlights of the Chitwan Jungle Park activities are elephant rides to see the elusive Royal Bengal Tigers, one-horned rhinos and other animals; dugout canoe trips to see Gangetic dolphins, gharial crocodiles and the beautiful scenery; bird watching; a tour of the Tharu village to explore their culture and to see how they live. The Tharus also come to the resorts to present their traditional song and stick-dance performances, and lastly play and bath with elephants in the Narayani River.

Our Chitwan Jungle Park package tours are fully catered. Accommodations of various standards are available and are priced accordingly. The following program is a typical one that we offer out of Island Jungle Resort. The package prices are based on the standard of the resort accommodation and other services associated. Please let us know at the time of booking whether you are looking for a jungle adventure with basic comfort or high standard of accommodation with pools.

NOTE: Driving to Chitwan is very scenic and fun. One can also reach Chitwan Jungle Park by flight to cut the travel time or if driving is not desired. Return one way by air is US$60 per person.

Itinerary: Kathmandu Tour-Chitwan Jungle Safari 7 Days:

Day 1 Arrive in kathmandu, Nepal
Upon arrival, meet at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to hotel, check in, refresh and depart for Bouddha Stupa Tour.
Evening-Nepali dinner and folk cultural show.

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.

Day 2 Pashupati Temple, Swayambu, & Kathmandu Durbar Square Tour
Early morning breakfast at the hotel.
0700AM pick up at the hotel and drive to Pashupatinath Temple tour to catch some of the glimpse of the morning worshipers at the most sacred Hindu Temple in the world. Then, drive to Swayambu Stupa, the oldest Buddhist Stupa in the valley. After Swayambu Stupa tour, we drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square (the old Palace of Nepal).
Lunch break en-route tour:
Tour will end after Kathmandu Durbar Square tour and drive to hotel.
Evening at leisure.

Pashupati Temple:
This temple is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. The shrine of Lord Shiva has existed for at least fifteen hundred years in the Kathmandu Valley. A temple dedicated to Shiva existed at this site in 879 AD. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold-plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarvings of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction.

Rajrajeswari Temple built in 1407, Kailash with lingas more than 1,400 years old, Goraknath temple, the courtyard of Biswarup, rows of Shiva shrines and Hindu pilgrims from all over South Asia offering worship to Shiva, the Hindu cremation grounds known as Arya Ghat along the Bagmati River are some of the attractive sites that we visit on this tour. You may encounter cremation along the bank of the river. Please refrain from taking pictures of such scene as you might offend the mourning relatives.

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.

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.

Day 3 Rani Ban (Queen Forest) Bird Watching and Nagarjun Viewpoint
Early morning breakfast at the hotel.
0700am departure to Balaju, the entrance gate of the Rani Ban. We start bird watching in the morning in the Rani Ban. Then, drive to Nagarjun Viewpoint to have a spectacular views of the Himalayan Range. Then, trek downhill to Balaju and drive back to hotel.

Day 4 Kathmandu to Chitwan Jungle and Elephant Safari
Early morning Breakfast and drive to Chitwan Jungle Park.
Arrival Chitwan around noon, check in, refresh, and take lunch break. After lunch, start jungle safari in the afternoon.
Dinner at the resort.

Day 5 Jungle Safari
5:30 a.m: Wake up call followed by tea or coffee.
6:00 a.m: Bird Watching / Elephant Safari / Jungle Walk.
8:00 a.m: Breakfast.
9:30 am: Visit a local village to see and learn about the people of Chitwan and Return to camp.
1:00 p.m: Lunch.
3:30 p.m: Boat excursion to Amaltari Ghat and return by jeep.
8:00 p.m: Dinner.

Day 6 Jungle Safari
5:30 a.m: Wake up call followed by tea or coffee.
6:00 a.m: Bird watching / Elephant Safari /Jungle walk.
8:00 a.m: Breakfast.
9:30 a.m: Drive to Kathmandu.
Upon arrival, check in, refresh and depart for souvenir shopping.

Day 7 Departure from Kathmandu.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to airport for homeward bound flight.

NEPAL FOR LESS PROMOTION 2004-2005!
TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Tour Cost Includes:
Four nights accommodations in quality hotels in Kathmandu 2-3 star boutique hotel and quality resort in Nagarkot on twin sharing and breakfast,
Two nights resort accommodation in Chitwan Jungle,
Full-board meals when in Chitwan Jungle park,
all tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
all ground transportation including on arrival and departure,
tour guide service throughout the tour,
entrance fees to monuments and park visited,

Tour Cost Does Not Include :
Visa fees, international airfares, airport departure tax, personal expenses, meals not mentioned in the program, personal insurance, alcoholic and soft beverages, optional tours, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control caused by bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, accidents and emergency rescue fees. Individual arrivals, such as early arrival and late arrivals are not included in the tour cost and must be paid separately.

General Gear:
Two pairs of sunglasses with straps, toiletries, personal first aid kit and medications, flashlight and batteries, candle-lantern, suntan cream, lip-screen and lotion, water-bottle, iodine tablets or water-purifier, plastic bags, stuff-snacks, repair-kit (needle and thread).

What to bring for the jungle trip:
Chitwan Jungle Park is located in the sub-tropical lowlands of Nepal where days are generally warm. Thus, light clothing will be sufficient for any trip in the jungle. In winter months (November to February), mornings and evenings are cool. Therefore, we suggest you to bring woolen sweaters or warm jackets. Also, should bring sun hat and glasses, swim-wear, binoculars, flashlight, protective skin cream and insect repellent.
Walking shoes should be comfortable. Neutral colored clothing are highly recommended for all activities in the jungle. Also, bring in plenty of films.