Best of Nepal Tour
80 reviews in Tripadvisor
Trip Duration
14 DaysDestination
NepalMax. Altitude
3,210 m.Trip Difficulty
EasyGroup Size
1-12Transportation
Private Vehicle/JeepAccommodation
HotelActivity
TourMeals
All InclusiveStart / End
KathmanduRegion
AnnapurnaBest Season
Spring & Autumn
Need Help? Talk to Expert
+977 9764792172Trip Overview
The thing about Nepal is that it pulls people in even before they have landed in this beautiful country. Mountain and valleys in Nepal look like they have been here for centuries and that’s the starting point of our Best of Nepal Tour.
Over the 14 days, you will experience everything that Nepal has to offer. One day you will travel through ancient temples of Bhaktapur and the next day, you are following the footprints of rhinos through the jungles of Chitwan.
It is not like the usual sightseeing tour; the Best of Nepal tour is a real Nepal Tour Itinerary meant for travelers who want more than just pictures on their camera. You will drive through the green hills, witness the stunning sunrise in Nagarkot, and visit the land where Buddha was born in Lumbini.
And then begins the actual adventure. The trekking section of this tour will take you to the Annapurna foothill through rhododendron forest and small stone-step villages that seem to stop by time. Believe me, the view of the sunrise from the top of Poonhill is more than enough for you to travel here.
If two weeks is too much for you, then this adventure can be customized according to your preference and time you have, and you still would get the cultural experience, wildllife, mountain and trek in one amazing Best of Nepal Tour 14 days.
Once you return to Kathmandu, everything changes, you feel the city getting smaller, you recognize people around you and realize that you are not a stranger here anymore. And it is exactly this transition from being a tourist to becoming a traveler that this tour is all about.
While Nepal reveals its charms to your camera, this mysterious country also does something that happens quietly and changes your perspective on life.
Route Overview of Best of Nepal Tour
The itinerary of Best of Nepal tour is quite diverse and goes through five pretty different regions. Each stop in this tour promises something different and fresh in term of culture, environment and landscapes.
You will begin your tour from Kathmandu, the cultural capital of Nepal. Then you will proceed to Bhaktapur and then to Nagarkot where you will witness a magnificent sunrise view of mountain at dawn.
The tour will lead to the south direction, and you will end up in Chitwan, where you will leave the hillside town and enter into the dense jungle with plenty of wildlife of Chitwan National Park. It will take a whole day there. Then, you will visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
After that you will climb towards Pokhara and pass through Palpa along the way. Pokhara will provide you with a view of the lake there. This is the point where the itinerary for Nepal Tour turns from travel via car to trekking on foot. You will be trekking from all the way to Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poonhill where you can witness some of the spectacular view of the Annapurna range.
The trail then continues to Tadapani and then moves down to Ghandruk, a small village but very charming Gurung Village. After you reach Kimche, the trek finally ends, then you will board a vehicle which will take you all the way back to Pokhara.
The final part of the journey will be by road from Pokhara to Kathmandu. It is a fairly seamless process from beginning to end, without having to backtrack. In other words, it all makes one story told in different cities, in jungles and in mountains.
Highlights of Best of Nepal Tour
- Early morning sunrise over Himalayan Mountains at Nagarkot & Poonhill
- Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu – Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Boudha
- Wildlife Safari and Jungle Walk in Chitwan National Park
- Explore Lumbini β the birthplace of Buddha
- Treks in beautiful Annapurna foothills by Ghorepani and Poonhill
- Take leisure around Phewa Lake and visit Sarangkot from Pokhara
Photo Gallery & Video Gallery
Best of Nepal Tour - Distance, Duration, and Altitude
| Trekking Route | Distance (Kilometers) | Duration (Hours) | Altitude (Meters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive to Birethanti and Trek to Ulleri | 10 KM | Drive and Trek (5 hours) | 1960 m. |
| Trek to Ghorepani | 10 KM | Trek (5 hours) | 2880 m. |
| Poonhill Sunrise and Trek to Tadapani | 9 KM | Trek (7 to 8 hours) | 2627 m. |
| Tadapani to Ghandruk | 6 KM | Trek (3 to 4 hours) | 1940 m. |
| Trek to Kimche and Drive to Pokhara | 4 KM | Drive back (1 to 2 hours) | 820 m. |
Itinerary of Best of Nepal Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Your Best of Nepal Tour begins as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport. One of Epic Trek Nepal representative will wait at the arrivals and transport you to the hotel.
After reaching hotel, you can relax for the day or go for walk around Thamel area. This area is a full of activity, you will definitely enjoy it.
In the evening, your guide will hold a short briefing where you will get to learn about the entire Nepal Tour Itinerary and other thing for coming days.
Activity: Arrival and hotel check in
Max. Altitude: 1400m./4,593ft.
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 2: SIghtseeing in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur then drive to Nagarkot
The day will begin with touring the city of Kathmandu and the Bhaktapur Valley. There will be lots of ancient squares, temples and stone streets rich in history. In Bhaktapur you will feels like it is stuck in time with pottery squared and ancient palaces.
After having lunch, you will head toward Nagarkot, which is 2 kilometer away from there. The drive will take about one to two hours to reach Nagarkot which is famous for its breathtaking mountain views.
You will reach there by afternoon and you will feel the coolness in the evening air with views of Himalayan peaks.
Activity: Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Sightseeing and Drive (1 to 2 hours)
Max. Altitude: 2195m./7,201ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 3: Nagarkot to Chitwan
Today is going to be quite lengthy as you are going to take a drive from Nagarkot to Chitwan that will take around 7 to 8 hours.Β The journey takes you out of the hills and bring you into the lowland Terai region of Nepal.
The landscape start changing from hill terrain to flag agriculture fields and thick forest in Chitwan. At the afternoon, you will arrive at Chitwan, located only at an altitude of 415 meter.
Activity: Drive (7 to 8 hours)
Max. Altitude: 415m./1,362ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 4: Full day Jungle Activity in Chitwan
Today you will spend your whole day in Chitwan National Park dedicating to Jungle activities. This is one of the main highlights of the Best Nepal Tour 14 Days.
The activities may include jungle walk, canoe ride, and jeep safari in the national park. Keep your eye focused for one-horned rhinos, deer and even some Bengal Tiger sighting in the distance.
Another highlight of our stay will be visiting a Tharu village in the vicinity. We will see their traditional houses and dances, as well as many other customs which feel completely different than the city life of Kathmandu.
Activity: Full day sightseeing
Max. Altitude: 415m./1,362ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 5: Chitwan to Lumbini
Following the breakfast, you will proceed toward Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. It is a journey that takes about 165 km to be covered within four hours to open Terai terrain throughout the travel.
Lumbini presents you with a totally different kind of atmosphere than the wild jungle life of Chitwan. It’s a place for meditation, temple, gardens and sanctuaries set in an entire complex.
Once you reach the place, get checked in the hotel and have a relaxing break. Then, a small visit to the site of the Maya Devi Temple will offer you the glimpse of the world heritage site.
Activity: Drive (4 hours)
Max. Altitude: 415m./1,362ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6: Lumbini to Pokhara via Palpa
The journey today will be divided into two parts – the first leg to Palpa from Lumbini and then onward towards Pokhara. The total distance covered is around 150 km, taking 4 to 5 hours.
Palpa is a good point for a quick stop, where you get to enjoy some views of the hills and get some insight into the culture of the locals.
In the evening, you will reach Pokhara. Breath-taking mountain scenery, Phewa lake, and a relaxing atmosphere have made Pokhara one of the most beloved destinations of this Nepal tour itinerary.
Activity: Drive (4 to 5 hours)
Max. Altitude: 820m./2,690ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7: Pokhara sightseeing
One full day will be enough for a complete exploration of Pokhara. You will start with a boat ride in the Phewa Lake as the reflection of the Annapurna range can be clearly seen in the serene water.
Another place you will visit is Davis Falls, a spectacular waterfall where water falls straight into the underground cave. Not far away from it there is the Gupteshwar Cave with a temple.
In the afternoon, you will head up to Sarangkot which is famous for its valley and mountain views. Many people claim that Sarangkot is the most stunning viewpoint throughout the whole Best of Nepal Tour.
Activity: Full day sightseeing
Max. Altitude: 820m./2,690ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 8: Drive to Birethanti and Trek to Ulleri
Today is the day, your trekking journey begins. After having breakfast, you will take a short drive to Birethanti, which is the beginning of the journey through the Annapurna range.
After reaching there, you will begin your trek to Uller, a distance of around 9 to 10 km. The journey takes through river valley, steep walks and staircase climbing up to the village.
Ulleri is at an altitude of 1960 meters, and the trek challenges your legs from the start. On arrival there, you will have a break at one of the teahouses in the village.
Activity: Drive and Trek (5 hours)
Max. Altitude: 1960m./6,430ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 9: Trek to Ghorepani
The trek continues to ascend from Ulleri to Ghorepani covering 9 to 10 km. The path leads you through thick forests and rhododendron forest if you visit during spring.
Ghorepani is 2,880 meter above and much cooler than places where you have been until now. As you make your way upward, the glimpse of the mountain becomes more frequent.
This day will end with your arrival in Ghorepani and it acts as the base camp for the famous viewpoint of the Annapurna range, which is known as Poonhill.
Activity: Trek (5 hours)
Max. Altitude: 2880m./9,449ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 10: Poonhill Sunrise and Trek to Tadapani
Today, you will wake up early in the morning because the climb to Poonhill is not long one and the view at this location is considered to be amazing view of Nepal with the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range in the distant.
Once you have witnessed the sunrise, you will return to Ghorepani for breakfast before moving towards Tadapani which takes around 9 km of walk for 7 to 8 hours through varied vegetation.
Activity: Trek (7 to 8 hours)
Max. Altitude: 2627m./8,619ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 11: Tadapani to Ghandruk
Today’s trek is short and easy compared to the previous days. The path from Tadaani to Ghadruk is merely 5 to 6 km long, which only take 3 to 4 hours.
Ghandruk is one of the most picturesque Gurung villages in the entire area. It has stone paths, terraces and Gurung style houses.
Activity: Trek (3 to 4 hours)
Max. Altitude: 1940m./6,365ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tea house
Day 12: Trek to Kimche and Drive to Pokhara
This is the last day of your trekking which you will trek down to Kimche which takes about 1 to 2 hours.
A private vehicle will wait for you in Kimche to take you back to Pokhara. After being out on the trekking trails for some days, feeling fresh in the hotel with warm water shower comes as really well deserved.
Activity: Drive back (1 to 2 hours)
Max. Altitude: 820m./2,690ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13: Pokhara to Kathmandu
The day is for the return journey back to Kathmandu, which is about 204 km and takes about 6 to 7 hours. The route will once again include the old roads that go through the hills, providing the final opportunity to see the landscape of Nepal’s mid hill region.
You will reach Kathmandu by the evening. You will still have some time, you can go shopping at Thamel, or simply wind.
Activity: Drive Back (6 to 7 hours)
Max. Altitude: 1400m./4,593ft.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Day 14: Departure
This is the end of your Nepal Tour Itinerary. You will be transferred to the airport for your departure from Nepal, thus ending your wonderful adventure.
Activity: Departure
Meal: Breakfast
If you are traveling in a private group, we can arrange a fully customized trip based on your preferences, group size, and travel dates, available any day you choose.
Includes/Excludes
What is included?
- Pick up drop up: Airport pick up and drop up from private transport.
- Accommodation: 2 nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu, 1 night accommodation in Nagarkot, 3 nights’ accommodation in Pokhara, 2 nights in Chitwan and teahouse during the trek.
- Meals: Breakfast only in Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Lumbini, Pokhara and Full board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in Chitwan and throughout the trek.
- Private transport: Private transport between Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Chitwa, Limbuni and Pokhara from car, van, Jeep, or coaster based on the number of persons.
- Permit: All necessary permit like Annapurna Conservation Area Permi (ACAP) are included.
- Guide: Guide accompanying you in English all through the trip.
- Farewell dinner in the traditional Nepali restaurant.
- Tax: Government tax, VAT, and Tourist Service charge fees.
What is not included?
- International Airfare: The airfare from and to Nepal via international flights is not included.
- Travel Insurance: Travel insurance covering emergency evacuation and rescue is not included.
- Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as extra meals, beverages, snacks, electricity, hot water shower, WiFi, and any other personal expenses are not included.
- Entry Visa to Nepal: Entry visa fee to Nepal.
- Extra Expenses: Any expenses incurred on extended tours in Nepal after completion of the tour itinerary are not included.
- Porter service: Porter is not available in package, but it can be arranged on request at an extra cost, where one porter carries up to 25 kg (shared between two trekkers) to reduce your load and make the trek more comfortable.
- Entrance fees: Temple and monastery entry permit fees
Trip Information
Places you will Visit on the Best of Nepal Tour
The Kathmandu Durbar Square is in the center of the ancient city surrounded by centuries old palaces and wooden temple and this might be one of the best ways to begin your Nepal tour itinerary.
Swyambhunath is a temple located above Kathmandu known as Monkey temple. The prayer flags wave around the stupa surrounded by many monkeys that roam the temple. The breathtaking valleys views definitely worth the climb.
The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world where the Buddhist monks and locals walk clockwise spinning the prayer wheels. There is something special about this place, even with all the crowd around.
The Pashupatinath Temple is located along the Bagmati River and is the most sacred Hindu shrine in Nepal. Daily cremations take place here allowing tourists to witness local customs.
The Phewa lake will become the main attraction of the Best Nepal Tour in Pokhara. Boats sail slowly across the smooth water, and reflection of the Annapurna mountain range can be seen on its surface.
The Davis Falls always surprises people that visit first time. The water simply vanishes underground in narrow gorge, providing and unusual impression. Just beside it, there is the holy Guptshwor Mahadev Cave a sacred Shiva Shrine located inside limestone walls.
If you visit Sarangkot early in the morning, you can see an amazing orange and golden glow of mountains before the sun gets out of the horizon. This attraction becomes an unforgettable experience for many tourists.
With Chitwan National Park, the tour will become entirely different. With rhinos, elephants and birds, the forest becomes alive, full of wild nature.
Tharu Villages nearby provide tourists with an interesting cultural aspect of Chitwan. Local dances, food and way of life provide an impression of life outside the main cities.
And the complete list of attractions mentioned above proves the reason of such success of the Best of Nepal Tour 14 Days itinerary.
Best time for the Best of Nepal Tour
It is important to know the season when you plan your Best of Nepal Tour. The climate in Nepal changes from season to season and each of them is unique from each other.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is the most popular season to go for touring in Nepal. Forest is covered with bright color rhododendron, skies become clear and the visibility increases, which is amazing to see. The weather in Nepal is quite mild in both highland and plains. Spring is an excellent option for those who are going to combine touring and trekking in Nepal. Even Chitwan is quite suitable in these months.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is also the best season due to clear skies after the monsoon rain and remain clear for weeks. During this time sunrise view from Poon hill offers maximum beauty. It also a time of main festival such as Dashain and Tihar. The streets become livelier and places such as Kathmandu Durbar Square feel more active.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is very chill in the morning in places like Ghorepani. There will be clear skies all day long but the number of tourists on the trekking routes is reduced considerably.
Monsoon (June to August)
During Monsoon, there is a lot of rainfall with wet and muddy terrain. It makes trekking very difficult since you cannot get views of the mountains due to the foggy weather. Most of the travelers avoid traveling to Nepal during this particular season.
Difficulty Level of the Best of Nepal Tour
Well then, just how difficult is the Best of Nepal Tour? This is a very good question, and the honest answer is moderate with some challenging days mixed in. You don’t have to be an athlete, but there are a couple of days which are relatively tough.
The cultural and wildlife part of this journey, which involves Kathmandu, Chitwan and Limbuni are very light. You will mostly walk around temple, travel in jeep canoes or even take a short jungle walk. There’s nothing extreme to feel pain on your legs.
However, things get tougher once trekking begins. The hardest part of the Best of Nepal tour starts from Birethangti to Uller where thousands of stone stairs await. After that, it becomes slightly easier, but there will be climbing and descending through Ghorepani, Poonhill, Tadapani and Ghandruk.
Altitude will not be much of a problem since the highest altitude of this tour is at Poon Hill which is about 3,200 m. This is sufficient to walk comfortable for a cold sunrise view but not enough to cause any altitude sickness.
Having descent level of fitness definitely be useful because some training in advance will make your travel much easier.
Meals on the Nepal Tour Itinerary
The meals on the tour generally depend on where you are in the itinerary. The days in the cities will be different than the trekking days, it is useful to know what will be included.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included in every single day during the Best of Nepal Tour 14 days, starting from Kathmandu all the way to the end of the tour. Hotels usually provide breakfast like eggs, toast, and tea while teahouse will serve porridge, pancakes, or Tibetan break on the trek.
Lunch and dinner
During the sightseeing days, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Limbuni and Pokhara, the lunches and dinner are not included in the itinerary, and it allows you to choose whatever restaurant you like and try different cuisine.
With the start of trekking days, starting from Birethanti to Ghorepani, Poonhill, Tadapani, and Ghandruk, then your lunch and dinner will be provided. Tea houses in the way will offer standard menu because food choices are limited at high altitude.
But it is quite natural to have this change because cities will offer you diversity in choices, while trekking days will require fixed meals that will help maintain your stamina while trekking.
Local Nepali Cuising
Whichever meals you choose on the way, you should know that the dal bhat will always remain the best choice for you. It consists of rice, lentils, vegetables, and some pickles that can be taken in as many servings as you wish. Especially useful during trekking days.
Also, in Chitwan, local dishes of Tharu villages will be offered to you. So, the combination of free meals makes the Best of Nepal Tour 14 Days very convenient.
Accommodation on the Nepal Tour Itinerary
Accommodation one the Best of Nepal Tour consist of a mix of comfortable hotels and basic teahouses based on the particular place of the journey you are on.
City and Sightseeing Days
During the tour in cities like Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara, you will stay in a hotel with facilities like private bathroom, hot shower and other basic facilities. Even Wi-Fi and charging facilities isn’t really problem.
They provide you with comfortable places to rest and relax aftern an exhausting day of traveling. Especially in Nagarkot and Pokhara, you will enjoy excellent views from your room or balcony.
Trekking Days
The accommodation during trekking days changes to teahouses after moving from Ulleri and then moving via Ghorepani, Poonhill, Tadapani, and Ghandruk. They are the simple mountain houses managed by locals for generations.
The rooms in teahouses remain relatively simple, providing twin beds in a room with shared washrooms outside. Hot showers require additional cost, so, do not forget some money with you. Blankets are provided, but a lot of trekkers prefer taking their lightweight sleeping bags additionally.
What to Expect
Although the teahouses are far from any luxury, the comfort of staying there comes mainly from warm welcome. Many teahouses provide communal dining spaces around the fireplace, and this is perfect for relaxing after a tiring walk in the mountain.
The combination of the comfort of the hotel and simplicity of teahouses suit perfectly into the Nepal Tour itinerary. Overall, accommodation in Best of Nepal Tour 14 Days tour combines hotel comforts with teahouse stays.
Cultural Festival During the Tour
The festivals of Nepal make up an entirely different adventure of your travel experience. If your planned tour coincides with one of the festivals, the Nepal tour itinerary will be very vibrant.
Dashain which is the main festival of Nepal where family unites, kites fly everywhere and the atmosphere of celebration is all over the cities. This makes the touring very unique and unforgettable.
The festival of lights called Tihar comes immediately after Dashain. Houses are lit up by oil lamps and electric light strings when the darkness of evening falls. Tihar is also a festival for animals: dogs, cows, and crows are honored on this day in the way you won’t see it anywhere else.
In Bhaktapur there are a lot of festivals which focus on chariots and processions along the streets. Watching these processions gives you an additional depth of a Nepal tour.
And even the Tharu communities from the Chitwan have their own festival season. Traditional dances and music allow tourists to get a taste of real Nepalese countryside life.
Choosing the autumn time for your Best of Nepal Tour 14 Days you are likely to meet such festival on your way. It is an easy way to discover Nepal not only by temples and mountains but by its real culture as well.
Health and Safety
Health and safety on Nepal Tour itinerary can be taken care of easily, but certain precautions will guarantee that everything will go smoothly throughout the whole journey.
Altitude will not be the problem because the maximum elevation this tour reaches are around 3,200 m when visiting the sunrise view from Poon hill. If you are careful enough you will be fine.
As far as drinking water goes, there are certain things you should consider. You are supposed to drink only bottled water through the whole trip and avoid tap water (even washing teeth with it). Luckily enough, all hotels and lodges will provide you with drinking water.
Food safety is another important thing you need to take into account as well. It is crucial to eat only freshly cooked meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best of Nepal tour is quite moderate. While sightseeing days are relatively easy, the trekking part requires consistent walk on stone cases and hill increasing the difficulty.
No. The best Nepal tour package is meant for those who have average fitness and are beginners. Some experience will be useful but it’s not necessary.
This is a classic version of 14 days which includes culture, wildlife and trekking. But there is also a possibility to arrange according to your preference and time.
The highest altitude during the trekking is when you reach Poon Hilll at 3210 m.
Altitude sickness does not become an issue here as altitude does not go beyond that much limit. Still, monitoring happens regularly with all.
Hotel are used for cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. While teahouses are used during trekking days in Annapurna Region.
Yes, for most families. Sightseeing days are ideal for all family members, while trekking days are better suited to older children who can actively trek.
The best seasons to go are autumn and spring because you will get the clearest sky for the best mountain view.
Internet/Wi-Fi will be available in some teahouses, but with extra charges. Just keep in mind that it might get worse the higher you go.
Definitely yes! There are rhinos, deers and different kinds of birds there. Tigers can also sometimes be seen
Yes, an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is needed, and it is already part of the Best of Nepal Tour 14 Days package.
Yes, it is entirely customizable depending on your preferred days, activities, and other factors.
Trip Reviews

Need Help? Talk to Expert
+977 9764792172
