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Overview
With an altitude of 1, 370 metres, Kathmandu’s breathtaking views will amaze you as will the elaborate ornate palaces, temples, and squares. Nepal’s capital city is an extremely captivating, interesting place to visit. You will enjoy being able to stroll through the city of Kathmandu as it is ideal for exploring by foot. As you wander through the city squares you will come across many markets and craft shops where you can buy locally made goods. The people of Kathmandu are known to be some of the friendliest people in Asia and you will be captivated by their hospitality everywhere you go. Nepalese cuisine is also going to tempt your palate as you experience the tastes and flavours of the region. As you visit the Durbar Square with its highly detailed wooden temples and Swayambhunath, a 2,000 year old Buddhist stupa, you will begin to appreciate the history of this enchanting ancient city.

Tour Highlights
- Experience the life and style of this ancient kingdom as you visit Durbar Square.
- Learn ancient cuisine secrets as you have a cooking lesson with a local Nepalese family.
- Thrilling panoramic views greet you as you experience the top of the world in a once in a lifetime plane ride with views of Mt. Everest.
- Gain spiritual insight as you visit the ancient temples and holy monuments of this captivating land.
- Explore the unique streets of Thamel while enjoying the sights and sounds of this bustling area.
Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Kathmandu
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Upon arrival, an Explore India representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a drive to a local market followed by a rickshaw ride to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. Durbar Square is a generic term used to describe places opposite old royal palaces in Nepal. There are 3 Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley and all three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Later, we will attend a Nepalese cooking class at the home of local family.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerAccommodation: Shangri-La Hotel & ResortShangri-La Hotel & Resort
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Day 2:
Kathmandu
In the morning enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. We will visit Pashupatinath, Swoyambhunath Temple which is one of the most significant Hindu temples of the Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the river in the eastern Kathmandu. A glimmering spire crowning a cone shaped wooden hill, Swayambhunath Stupa is the most ancient and mysterious of all the holy shrines in the Kathmandu valley. We will also visit the Budhhhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerAccommodation: Shangri-La Hotel & ResortShangri-La Hotel & Resort
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Day 3:
Kathmandu
After breakfast we will embark on a sightseeing tour of Patan. Officially called Lalitpur, Patan is one of the major cities of Nepal located in the South central part of Kathmandu Valley. Later, we visit Bungamati village development committee in Lalitpur, a village dating back to the 6th century.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerAccommodation: Shangri-La Hotel & ResortShangri-La Hotel & Resort
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Day 4:
Kathmandu
In the morning (weather permitting) we will enjoy a luxury one hour flight around Mt. Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmatha. Mt. Everest is earth’s highest mountain and is located in the Mahalangu mountain range in Nepal and Tibet. These are the most breathtaking views you will ever see of this spectacular site, make sure your cameras are ready!
Later, we will visit Bhaktapur, the“City of Devotees”, located 8 miles east of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is one of 3 royal cities in the Kathmandu valley and is considered a cultural treasure. With the best preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, we will drive to visit the beautiful and historic temple, Chagu Narayan Temple – another UNESCO world heritage site and the oldest temple in Nepal. After lunch we will discover some interesting old Nepalese houses and interact with the very engaging local people.Meals: Breakfast, DinnerAccommodation: Shangri-La Hotel & ResortShangri-La Hotel & Resort
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Day 5:
Kathmandu – Delhi
After breakfast you will transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, an Explore India representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerAccommodation: Shangri-La Hotel & ResortShangri-La Hotel & Resort
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Day 6:
Delhi – Home
At the specified time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport where you will board your flight home.
Add this to your tour!
This is a tour extension. Add this on to a tour of your liking. Contact us on how you can extend your journey.What’s included
- First Class Accommodation
- Escorted Roundtrip Airport Transfers
- Daily Breakfast & Dinner
- All Sightseeing Tours with Chauffeur in an Air Conditioned ar
- Local Airfare
- Roundtrip Mount Everest airfare
- Entrance Fees to All the Monuments
- Local English Speaking Tour Guide
- All Activities & Exclusive Events Per Program
What’s excluded
- Personal expenses
- Services other than in our inclusion
- Nepal Tourist Visa Fees USD $25 per person.
- Taxes additional of $227 per person
- Gratuities
Recent Reviews
Hi Nazir, We really enjoyed our trip to India that you arranged. The site selections were fantastic (as our travel MD commented), the hotels were comfortable, the drivers were highly skilled, and our tour guide Harry was brilliant and so well informed. He adapted to our interests with ad hoc additions that added much to our experience. Rajeev kept in touch with us as well along the way. So thanks again for this memorable experience.
Arnie Funk and Sharie Edwards
Vancouver, Canada
Good afternoon Nazir, We want to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our recent trip to Northern India. Everyone who dealt with us on this journey, being yourself with planning and booking, Rajeev the head of operations in Delhi, Yajur our tour guide and mentor during the tours and everyone else involved, deserve rave reviews. All were knowledgeable, professional, passionate in what they did and more than willing to do that little bit extra to make our trip an exceptional experience. I cannot praise these people enough. Along with your staff, the tour program, the places we visited and the local people with whom we interacted have made us appreciate and be amazed of a country, people and culture which apparently we really knew so little about. Our minds and eyes have been opened to a wonderful place which now we hope to see more of. Oh, and going by our tour group the shopping was great also. We want to thank you and everyone involved for creating a wonderful experience for us. Best regards,
Murray and Pat E.
Edmonton, Canada
We want to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip with your tour company. Right from the onset our business class flights to our guides, bus drivers and wonderful food and accommodation we felt really well taken care of. We had a very congenial group of new friends on our bus tour to Delhi, Agra, Rathambore Park, Jaipur and we left them reluctantly to go to Darjeeling. Our trip to Varanasi was likewise a wonderful adventure. Again, our guide and driver treated us like their parents! Our trips down the Ganges will be ever remembered. Your agent in Delhi, Rajeev was always in touch to make sure we were happy and well taken care of. The only negatives were things out of anyone's control- the pollution, the lack of wine stores and the basic need for more jobs for the poor! But that is India! Thank you again for making our trip so memorable. Sincerely,
Ralph and Margaret Franksen
Delta, Canada
Hi, Nazir. Sorry, I haven't written sooner but I have had a bad cold since returning from our amazing India trip. Both Stuart and I had a wonderful experience as it was much more than either of us expected. As our guide Yajure explained to us, India has been "cleaning itself up". What a wonderful surprise. Delhi being a bustling mega city, was a joy to experience in the few days we were there. Our bus rides, while exciting due to the different "vehicles, animals and people on the roads, made our journeys very colorful. Yajure was a wonderful, generous and knowledgeable guide. He is a walking encyclopedia. He was extremely accommodating and adaptable at a moments notice. Seeing the Taj Mahal, Buddha's birthplace, the Red Fort, the Ganges in Varanasi and of course the city of Jaipur brought the trip to life. It was all mesmerizing. Your colleague Rajeev in Delhi was very helpful and kind and protective of us. Although he was mourning the loss of his dear father, he made himself available to us. So that's it Nazir. We certainly will not hesitate to recommend your company to any of our friends and family. Yours truly,
Shelley Rosen and Stuart McPherson
Aurora, Canada
Namaste, and thanks for the email Nazir. My husband and I are still under the powerful influence of India – having thoroughly enjoyed the 2 weeks we had there. It’s really difficult to synthesize our experience but I will try to give some feedback. Both of us felt that we learned so much and really broadened our understanding of cultural and political issues in addition to seeing, tasting, smelling, and tasting some of India’s diversity. I really appreciated the diverse environments: urban, heritage sites, forest reserve, streets/river exposure in Varanasi, the roadside rural life viewed as we traveled between major sites. I’m especially glad that we added on the Varanasi trip which broadened our experience considerably. We were ever so fortunate in the timing (just after the monsoon season) and got to see a relatively ‘green’ India. Several local guides commented that we were a ‘lucky’ group in terms of being in the right places at the right times for certain things – such as seeing tigers, getting to the Taj Mahal just prior to its ‘mudding’. The tour itinerary was well planned and varied – given that any group of 22 people will have different preferences. We found our tour guide to be excellent: knowledgeable, flexible, and always anticipating when/where changes might be needed either for our comfort or safety. Many thanks for that. And he was ever so patient in spite of challenging situations. I’m a cautious traveller (in contrast to my husband) but even I felt very safe. Our guide was extremely good at keeping us together while also allowing plenty of photo ops, cooling down periods, and preparing us for the next point of interest. The tour guide was very good with history and cultural information that made the bus travel time both informative and seem shorter. All contacts were very friendly, courteous, and helpful. One hardly mentioned an issue and it was addressed; To summarize, the trip was amazing! We are so very glad we went and still bask in India’s glow. Fond memories, great photos, and a great appreciation for the country and its peoples! Please convey our thanks to all who made the trip possible. Regards,
Cynthia Toman (on behalf of Earl as well)
Toronto, Canada
Hi Nazir, The India tour was excellent. The accommodations and meals was great , spicy but you get used to it after a couple of days, The hotel staff making every effort to accommodate and attending to any request from the tour participants. The tour bus was quite satisfactory with the driver and assistant quite helpful, keeping the bus clean. The Tour guide was excellent and quite knowledgeable about the history of the Indian civilization. Also handling the tickets to the various sites so the was little delay getting in and experiencing the splendor that is India Pick up and drop off from the airport went without any incidence. Overall, a great experience that will not be forgotten.
Anirud and Hafeeza
Toronto, Canada
Hi Nazir, Greg and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to India. We were impressed with the excellent service from all Explore India personnel. Your choice of hotels, points of interest and breakfasts were excellent. Our driver and bus helper were especially good. Thank you for a wonderful trip. Ram, ram
Elaine and Greg
Burnaby, Canada
The trip to India was much more than I expected. Often the expression....Go to India and change your Life....that is what I experienced! From weather, hotels, food, transportation to our guides...top grade!!!! Thanks you for putting this wonderful vacation together for us!!! It holds memories for a Lifetime!!! When I get some photos edited I will send you a link! Great Job!
Linda Swanson
Nelson, Canada
Just returned home and trying to get over the jet-lag. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip – would hardly recommend your tour company. (first time with your company). The itinerary was well planned, transportation and accommodations were excellent and so was our tour guide. Had planned on staying in China for an additional 10 days but did not realize it was a Chinese holiday and we were not able to book any additional trips. Had I known this, I probably would have booked an additional tour with your company.
Polly Gretchin
Hope, Canada
Apologies for the delay in regard to this reply. It has been 3 weeks since we got back but the first one was an adjustment to time and travel. There are just not enough good words to describe the trip but it was definitely spectacular and above expectations. Exceptionally well organized and highly professional personnel were involved in the tour. India is just so remarkable as there is so much history. We crammed and read 3 books about the country in advance but there is so very much more to learn. To be able to travel there and have professional tour guides with that depth of knowledge was fortunate indeed. Can’t say enough about the calibre of Sandeep Singh regarding his professionalism, knowledge, organizational skills and overall ability! Hilal Lone did a good job for us during the Kashmir part of it! Besides the 2 guides, there were a lot of people to acknowledge in regard to the success of the trip. Unfortunately we won’t be able to name everyone. However, we will start with yourself Nazir. Being patient, personable, and responsive in terms of direction up front made for easier planning. Those who headed up organization at the other end, such as Rajeev Sharma, went beyond the call of duty to get their part of the operation right. If only for our jetlag the day after we arrived, he would have got us to a cricket game! Rafiq Mohamed did his part as well for the Kashmir leg of the trip. Last but not least, people such as the driver, Dalit Singh Walia, and his assistant Anand Mishra, made the journey what it was. The wondrous architecture we saw was at times almost surreal. They were so advanced in this regard so very long ago! Because some were so spectacular and precise, pictures do not quite do it justice, one has to simply see it! Also so impressed with the people of India. Massive population but they have found a way to make it work. Seemingly caring to each other and respectful and friendly towards tourists. Maybe the “hawkers” not so much. To a certain extent, one even adjusts to the heat. After time spent at the sites the air-conditioned vehicles helped in this regard. Small detail maybe, but cold bottled water always being available was quite important. The tour offered a good mix and variation of experiences. The trip into the forest was definitely special. Viewing the wildlife, especially the Bengal tiger, will always be a memorable lifetime experience. The quality of accommodation was very high. The variety and selection for meals offered up something that I expect everyone could be satisfied with, as we were. Never knew anything about Explore India before the trip. Now that we do and experienced it, we would certainly highly recommend your company and the tour! Cheers,
Marilyn & Emil
Saskatoon, Canada
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You can read hundreds of online reviews of destinations and hotels, but with our up-to-date first-hand knowledge, we will be able to compare and contrast different options and ensure we find something that is just right for you.

You will travel to India like a member of our own family. Our deep love and passion for India and its people, we are a family owned and operated luxury travel company.

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