Places you will visit
Kathmandu
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located directly in the middle of the Kathmandu city surrounded by craved palaces and temple which add to its charm. In the past, it was a royal palace of the Malla Kings and somehow it still feels alive.
The Swyambhunath Temple, also known as The Monkey Temple, is located on the top of a hill which offers the view of entire valley below. Though the ascent is not difficult, the stunning view from the top of the hill together with the monkeys will make sure that you don’t forget the place.
Boudhanath Stupa is among the biggest stupas in the world. There is a definite here – Tibetan lamas and followers walk around the stupa every day in clockwise direction.
Pashupatinath Temple also another popular temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it attracts numerous Hindu pilgrims during.
Pokhara
Pokhara is truly spectacular place with the Annapurna range that gives excellent views for photos and memories. Even something as simple as taking a rowing boat at sunset can leave an unforgettable impression.
The perfect place for the early morning sun viewing is Sarangkot viewpoint, which is located right outside the lakeside area and can be easily reached by car. In reality, many tourists claim that this is the best sightseeing activity in the entire Pokhara.
Both Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave are quite close to each other, making them two places to visit on the same day. The cave leads straight into the falls, which flow under the ground and then reappear inside the cave.
Peace Pagoda is another attraction located in the mountains above Phewa Lake. Though the hike up there is not very long, it does require some physical effort. But the view is truly breathtaking.
Chitwan
Chitwan National Park is known as the home of some of the most diverse wildlife in Nepal, including the rhino, the tiger and more than hundreds of birds. There is also a river by its name, the Rapti River, which provides the perfect site for canoeing. All trips include a visit to the Elephant Breeding Centre and a local Tharu village.
Best Time for Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour
The timing can make or break your entire experience. The weather in Nepal does vary widely according to seasons, so it would be beneficial to know what to expect before you plan anything.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is the best time of the year for the mild temperature and clear views of mountains from all the three places. Rhododendron flowers blooms during this season making the hills more beautiful. If you are going for outdoor adventure in your Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour, then spring offers all this to you.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is another perfect season for visiting Nepal. The skies will be clear, there will be low humidity, and the mountains will be visible at their very best during this time. It is a special experience to witness the sunrise from Sarangkot in these months.
Add to that the fact that there are several festivals, such as Dashain and Tihar, which generally occur during this season, and you will see how the city tour of Kathmandu has this added flavor to it. And the fact that trails are dry and safaris easy to navigate makes the trip all the better.
Winter (December to February)
Winter will be very cold especially in the evenings or mornings. Kathmandu and Pokhara are tolerable during the day while mornings in Sarangkot can be too cold for your liking, so bring layers if you plan to visit for sunrise. On the other hand, Chitwan is very nice throughout winter and thus a good choice if you want to focus on wildlife.
Monsoon (June to August)
Monsoon is the least recommended due to unpredictable rainfall. A beautiful sunny morning can quickly change into rainy weather which can ruin the Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan tour. Monsoon can affect the visibility of mountain views and leave some routes a bit messy, but still, a lot of visitors travel to Chitwan in monsoon since the jungle seems to come alive because of rain.
Cultural Festivals on the Tour
The cultural festivals add an entire new experience on any Nepal Tour Package and this tour often line up with some of the major cultural festivals. With proper planning and timing, tourists will definitely enjoy the experience even more.
Indra Jatra is a festival held at Kathmandu Durbar Squared every September. In this festival, Mask dancing, chariot procession and other rituals are performed as a part of festival. The main highlight is when living goddess Kumari comes down and interact with the public during Indra Jatra.
In September or October, the largest festival of Nepal is celebrated called Dashain. During the Dashain, you can see lots of kits floating in the sky, families celebrating and elders blessing the younger members of the families. The next is Tihar which is dedicated to the celebration of animals: crow, dog and cow day by day. At night the city lits up with the lights and oil lamps and marigold flowers.
In Pokhara, a small lakeside events occur during big Hindus festivals with music and street food making for fun times at night during your walk.
Chitwan follows a cultural calendar of its own that is linked with the Tharus. Maghi, their new year, occurs in mid-January where the feast, singing and dancing are part of the festivals, and tourist will end up being a part of this celebration.
Any festival you manage to experience during your Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour will make your trip memorable.
How difficult is Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour
This tour is quite easy compared to other Nepal tour considering the hikes at high altitude that tourist usually praise. Every day consist of sightseeing and short walks from city to city which doesn’t requires any special knowledge or training.
Walking through Kathmandu temples will definitely be sightseeing days. However, there might be some walking on cobblestones and steps at such sites like Swayambhunath. There will be no problem with doing such things for tourists because just basic fitness is required for that.
Pokhara increases activity level by little if you go up to Sarangkot and Peace Pagoda. Both walking trips will not last more than 2 hours and paths there will be quite easy to follow.
Walking in Chitwan is much less difficult than climbing. Riding in elephant back or in a jeep takes almost no effort at all while walking parts are physically demanding, yet not too much.
As for altitude sickness, it’s not an issue anywhere along this route since all three cities on the route are not located very high above sea level. Therefore, this Nepal Tour Package will be comfortable even for families, senior citizens or those who don’t have any experience of mountain trekking.
In general, this Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour will suit almost any type of travelers. You will get some culture, some wildlife and even a bit of adventure with zero physical strain involved. No matter how little hiking experience you have, you will easily complete this trip.
Preparation for Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour
Preparation for this tour requires very little preparation, only a couple of practical steps. The first step will definitely require buying comfortable shoes to walk in since you will have to spend some time walking on your feet in all three destinations. Regular sneakers or even light hiking shoes will do well for you during your journey.
Layering your clothes bases on season is very useful. The temperature also changes a lot from one destination to another and from morning to the evening in Nepal. In general, morning is cold while in the afternoon, it gets hot especially when reaching Chitwan.
Arrange you visa in advance. Fortunately, most of the travelers get their visas at the airport entrance point. Just bring some photos and money to pay for the visa and speed up the procedure.
Carry insect repellent and sunscreen in your backpack because the jungles attract bugs and mosquitoes. A mini first aid kit will not be bad as it helps to treat small cuts and rashes.
Communication and language on the Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour
Nepali is the official language, but English is well spoken in almost all tourist destination. Guides, staff in hotels and some locals speak English for this entire tour. Communication will not be an issue.
In Kathmandu, English street signs and English-speaking guide make it easy to get around. Shopkeepers in Thamel are good in English and some are capable of speaking several languages like German, French and even Spanish. This is why Kathmandu Sightseeing tour become quite comfortable than other.
Even in Pokhara, the lakeside district is relatively easy to explore because cafe, hotels, and trekking shops staff deals with tourist on a daily basis. All the menus, price tags and street signs along the main tourist area streets are written in English. Locals there also have learned how to communicate efficiently.
But Chitwan is slightly more remote. English become a little rare after you leave the hotel and the safari office. Your guide is here for this purpose, translating when you walk through villages and interacting with locals.
In conclusion, communication does not become an obstacle at all on this tour of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. Guides take care of the language aspect while English remains consistent throughout.
Health and Safety
Nepal is relatively safe country to visit and there is not much health threat on this Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan tour. Still, certain precaution measure should be taken to enjoy to the fullest.
Drink bottled or filtered water all the way from Kathmandu through Pokhara to Chitwan Tap water should not be used at any point of the route. Hotels and guesthouses normally offer safe drinking water as part of the service during the stay.
The air in Kathmandu may sometimes be quite polluted, especially when it’s dry outside. If this bothers you, then a simple mask will be useful while wandering around the crowded part of the city. This applies only to Kathmandu itself – the air in Pokhara and Chitwan is notably cleaner.
Mosquitoes are definitely more of an issue in Chitwan, because of its tropical climate. Use Insect repellent, wear long sleeves and covered footwear during the evening will reduce the chance of getting bitten significantly.
The road condition between the cities is not great, but Epic Trek Nepal’s drivers who operate this tour around Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan know every bump and turn of those roads very well.
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