Kathmandu Valley discovered

Begin your day with a walk around Durbar Square, which is a fascinating mixture of temples, palaces, and inscriptions. Continue with a visit to the oldest stupa in Nepal, a few kilometers outside the city, at Swayambhunath, before returning to Kathmandu to see Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath. You may like to visit Boudhanath Stupa at the end of the day to catch some of the evening chanting as local people and monks circle the stupa spinning their prayer wheels as they go.

A visit to Nepal is all about the mountains and often conversations revolve around the peaks of Annapurna and Everest. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet a Sherpa who has summited them many times. He would be happy to share his first-hand experience, thus making these conversations extremely rewarding. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Enjoy an early morning walk through the hidden alleyways of Kathmandu City, which usually will not be visited on a classic tour of the city. The inhabitants from various cultural and ethnic groups converge in the streets of the old town, some to buy and sell in the lively markets that buzz with vendors selling vegetables, dried spices, local breads, and textiles, while others haste toward temples and monasteries to offer and pay homage before starting their days. This afternoon, leave Kathmandu and head south to the small village of Patan.

After breakfast, your guide will help you explore Patan beyond Durbar Square to discover markets and local artisans at work. The walk will pass the residence of Patan's Living Goddess. To enjoy some traditional food and a well-deserved break, you will visit a local home where the hosts will guide you through the process of making the famous Nepalese snack of momos. Thangka is an ancient Tibetan art form that still holds a great deal of significance in the Buddhist tradition and Himalayan culture. This afternoon you will visit a workshop and be guided through the process of making a basic Thangka. The painting is yours to take home at the end of your class.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Nagarkot, nestled on the northern fringe of the valley. On a clear day, Nagarkot offers some of the best panoramic mountain scenery, with spectacular views during sunrise and sunset.

This morning you will be woken early to witness the sunrise over the eastern Himalaya. The highlight of this experience is when the sun has just risen, and the tops of the mountains look as if they are bathed in fire. Later in the morning, you will go on a wonderful half-day guided walk among pine trees, terraced farmland and Himalayan villages that offer mountain views on a cloudless day.

Today you will transfer to the sacred pilgrimage site of Namobuddha. From here, you can explore the surroundings of your hotel and enjoy a day at leisure to relax.

Trek to the village of Balthali today. En route, you'll visit the monastery at Namobuddha before continuing down the valley through terraced rice fields and thatched farmhouses to the rural settlement of Balthali.

This morning, you will drive into culture-rich Bhaktapur, an enchanting settlement whose original architecture has been wonderfully maintained. The afternoon consists of a fairly easy walk to the village of Changu, where you will visit the ancient Hindu temple Changu Narayan, one of Kathmandu's most atmospheric temples.

Relax in your accommodation, or you may wish to explore the local area on your own terms.

You will be met for the last time and driven to the airport ready for your return flight home.