Himalayan Signature Nepal Collection

Your journey starts the instant you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The airport is around 5 km from the city center, and a private transfer to your hotel will take approximately 15-25 minutes depending on traffic. This short transfer from Kathmandu airport is smooth and hassle-free, with your driver waiting to greet you right after arrival. After you have checked into your 5-star hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in. Today you have no group activities planned, giving you a chance to settle in after your flight and get a first feel for the energy of Kathmandu. For those who arrive early, a short walk near the hotel is a lovely way to catch the local sights and sounds before the main Nepal luxury tour itinerary kicks off tomorrow.

Today, you enjoy a private guided heritage tour of Kathmandu to explore the heart and soul of the city. Your tour will start from Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is just 5 to 6 km away from most of the hotels and a short 20-minute drive in a private vehicle. From here the route continues to Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, on a hilltop about 5 km away with sweeping views of the valley. After that, you visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world. Then you visit Pashupatinath Temple, a sacred Hindu site situated about 5 km from the city center (about 15 to 20 minutes by car). Each stop takes around an hour, and your guide adjusts the evening pace based on how much time you want at each site. This is a full day of Kathmandu sightseeing, combining short drives with real walking time to properly take in the architecture, prayer wheels, and daily rituals happening around you. In the evening, return to your hotel after visiting the most iconic UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu in one smooth private itinerary.

Highlights of the Day

• Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Swayambhunath, Monkey Temple, overlooking the valley

• Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world.

• Pashupatinath Temple, an important Hindu pilgrimage site

• Private guide and car at disposal for the day

Today you will travel from the capital towards the wild west of Nepal. After breakfast you will be transferred to the domestic terminal in Kathmandu for your flight to Nepalgunj. The distance is about 370 km and flight time is about 50 minutes. Nepalgunj serves as the main gateway to Bardiya National Park, and from here you continue by private vehicle for a scenic drive of around 90 km, taking close to 3 hours. The route passes through the flat Terai plains, giving you a first look at rural Nepal far from the mountains. This overland leg is part of the charm since you get to see everyday village life, farmland, and changing scenery along the way. By the time you reach your Bardiya luxury lodge, you will have covered the full stretch from city to jungle in a single, comfortable travel day. Once you are settled in, you can relax before the wildlife activities start tomorrow.

Day Highlights

• Domestic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (approx 50 minutes)

• Scenic drive on Terai plains to Bardiya, Approx. 3 hrs

• First glimpse of country village life along the way

• Reach your private lodge in Bardiya and check-in.

Today is a full-day private wildlife conservation experience in Bardiya with local wildlife experts who know the park like the back of their hands. Spread across nearly 968 sq km, Bardiya National Park is one of the largest and least crowded wilderness areas in Nepal, home to Royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, wild elephants, and over 250 species of birds. Your day includes a jeep safari deep into the park, typically running three to four hours, giving you a strong chance of spotting tiger tracks, rhinos, or grazing deer along the Karnali and Babai riverbeds. Depending on your pace, the guide may also lead a short guided jungle walk, a quieter way to observe wildlife up close with an expert reading the signs around you. This hands-on approach reflects real conservation work happening in the park, not just a standard sightseeing drive. Between activities, you get a proper break for lunch inside the park before heading back to your lodge by late afternoon. It is a full day, but the kind that moves at nature's pace rather than a fixed schedule.

Highlights of Day 04

• Private jeep safari with expert wildlife guides, 3 to 4 hours

• Chance to spot Royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and wild elephants

• Optional guided jungle walk for a closer, quieter experience

• Birdwatching along the Karnali and Babai river belts

• Lunch inside the park with your private guide

Today shifts focus from the deep jungle to the river, with a visit to the iconic Karnali Suspension Bridge at Chisapani. This cable-stayed bridge stretches about 500 meters across the Karnali River, Nepal's longest river, and marks the boundary between the Bardiya and Kailali districts. The drive there from your lodge takes you along quiet rural roads, giving you more views of the Terai countryside before reaching the riverbank. Once there, you can walk across the bridge for sweeping views of the water below, then settle in for a session of Karnali River fishing, known for its native mahseer fish and, if you are lucky, glimpses of the rare Gangetic dolphin. This is a slower, more chilled day than yesterday's safari, designed around the rhythm of the river rather than a jam-packed schedule. It is also a wonderful opportunity to see a side of Bardiya outside the national park, where the local life still moves at the pace of the water. In the evening you are back at your lodge and relax after two full days of wildlife and river exploration.

Highlights of Day

• Karnali Suspension Bridge, a 500-meter cable-stayed crossing at Chisapani

• Views over Nepal's longest river, the Karnali

• Riverside fishing session with a chance to spot mahseer fish

• Possible sighting of the rare Gangetic dolphin

• Relaxed pace exploring rural Bardiya beyond the park

Today you leave the jungle behind for the mountains and lakes. A direct flight from Nepalgunj to Pokhara covers about 230 km and takes just under 40 minutes, making it a quick and scenic hop across the country. Landing in Pokhara puts you close to Phewa Lake, the city's main draw and one of the most photographed spots in Nepal. The Annapurna range sits roughly 28 km north of the lake in a straight line, so on a clear day you get postcard views of snow-capped peaks reflected on the water. After settling into your lakeside hotel, the rest of the day is open for leisure. Many couples enjoy a quiet boat ride to the Taal Barahi Temple on the lake's small island or simply relax at a lakeside cafe watching the mountains change color as the sun sets. Compared to the jungle pace of Bardiya, Pokhara feels calmer and more laid back, a welcome shift in tone before tomorrow's big highlight. This is your opportunity to relax, walk by the lake and enjoy one of the most beautiful places in Nepal.

Highlights of the day

• Short domestic flight from Nepalgunj to Pokhara less than 40 minutes

• Arrival at Phewa Lake with views of the Annapurna range

• Optional boat ride to Taal Barahi Temple.

• Free time to explore the Pokhara lakeside area

• Leisurely pace after two busy days in Bardiya.

Today brings one of the true highlights of the trip, a private helicopter breakfast at Annapurna Base Camp. Your early morning starts with pickup from your Pokhara hotel, followed by a helicopter flight that takes about 20 to 40 minutes to reach the base camp, sitting at an altitude of 4,130 meters. You'll fly over the lakes, terraced farmland and forested hills of Pokhara before the full panorama of the Annapurna massif is revealed.

When you land, you have about 20 to 30 minutes on the ground, just enough time at this altitude to enjoy a warm breakfast in the company of peaks like Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Himchuli. This Annapurna helicopter tour offers the complete high mountain experience without days of trekking and is a great choice for travelers with limited time.

After breakfast the helicopter returns you to Pokhara, where it leaves you off and you have the rest of the day free. After such a memorable morning, many couples spend the afternoon relaxing lakeside, browsing local shops, or simply enjoying the mountain views from ground level.

Highlights of Day

• Private helicopter flight to Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 metres altitude

• Aerial views over Pokhara, forests, and terraced villages

• Breakfast at base camp surrounded by the Annapurna range

• No trekking required, ideal for a short mountain experience

• Free afternoon back in Pokhara

Today is a mix of a short flight and a scenic drive in the mountains. From Pokhara, you fly to Kathmandu, a distance of about 150 km, taking about 25 to 30 minutes in the air. On arrival at Dhulikhel, you continue by your vehicle to this small hill town, about 30 km east of Kathmandu on the Araniko Highway. Depending on the traffic, it takes around 1 to 1.5 hours by car and passes terraced fields, forested hills and traditional villages. Dhulikhel is located at an altitude of around 1,550 meters, so it feels noticeably cooler and more serene than the capital. It is famed for clean mountain air and, on clear days, distant Himalayan views right from town. Once you reach the hotel and check in, the pace of the trip shifts again, from the energy of the city and the adventure of the mountains to a slower rhythm and lots of rest. This sets the stage nicely for the wellness experience that awaits you tomorrow.

Highlights of the day

• Domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (approx. 25-30 min.

• Drive to Dhulikhel via Araniko Highway (1 to 1.5 hrs approx.).

• Arrival in a cool hill town at 1,550 meters elevation

• Terraced fields and views of the village along the way

• Slower pace as the trip moves into wellness

No driving or moving today, just a full day to chill and relax! Dhulikhel: Start your day with a wellness session. A local practitioner will evaluate your lifestyle and health objectives and recommend a treatment specifically for you. Many wellness resorts in Dhulikhel follow the Ayurvedic and Himalayan healing traditions and combine in-depth consultation with therapies to bring the body and mind into balance. Following your consultation, you will be offered a bespoke treatment, which may include therapeutic massage or a body scrub using locally sourced natural ingredients. The setting itself makes the experience, with treatment rooms overlooking forested hills and, on clear days, distant Himalayan peaks such as the Langtang range. This is a genuine Dhulikhel wellness retreat day, built around slowing down rather than sightseeing. Beyond the treatment, guests often spend the rest of the day enjoying resort amenities like yoga sessions, quiet garden walks, or simply relaxing with mountain views from a private terrace. After eight days of travel, safaris, and helicopter rides, the ninth day is the day built purely for recovery.

Highlights of Day 09

• Personal wellness consultation with an in-house specialist

• Individualized treatment with natural, local ingredients

• Himalayan and Ayurvedic healing traditions

• Resort style, mountain views, forested hills

• Full day, no transfers, totally devoted to resting

Today is a free day to spend however you like, with no set schedule. Many guests choose an early start for sunrise at the Kali Temple viewpoint, a short 20 to 30 minute walk from the old town, offering a sweeping view of the Himalayan range as the peaks turn from grey to gold. If you feel like a bit more activity, the trail to Namobuddha, one of Nepal's most sacred Buddhist sites, is about 10 km away and takes roughly 5 to 6 hours round trip through pine forest and small villages, though a shorter version or a private drive can also be arranged. For a quieter pace, the old town of Dhulikhel itself is worth exploring on foot, with its preserved Newari brick architecture and a peaceful Peace Garden offering valley views without any real walking effort. Since your hotel likely faces the mountains, simply relaxing on a private terrace or by the pool with Himalayan views is just as valid a way to spend the day. Whatever you decide, today is all about flexibility instead of a rigid plan so you can enjoy Dhulikhel at your own pace.

Highlights of the Day

• Sunrise hike to the viewpoint of the Kali temple (optional)

• Option of a day trek to Namobuddha, a holy Buddhist place

• Self-guided walk around Dhulikhel's Newari old town

• Peace Garden with an unobstructed view of the Himalayas

• Day free, with no planned activities, for leisure time

Today you leave Dhulikhel behind and return to the capital for your last night in Nepal. The drive to Kathmandu is about 30 km along the Araniko Highway and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the traffic. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax at your hotel or explore the city one last time before the main event of the evening—a chef’s tasting dinner in Kathmandu. Krishnarpan at Dwarika's Hotel is a restaurant that is known for its multi-course tasting menus. These menus range from 6 to 22 courses and offer regional Nepali dishes served on handmade earthenware by staff in traditional clothing. Expect a slow, carefully paced meal of organic mountain greens, grilled meats, pickled vegetables and fresh yogurt, each course telling a different story from Nepal’s culinary regions. This farewell dinner is a fitting end to the trip, a modern Nepali cuisine that encapsulates all that you have experienced on the journey, from the Terai lowlands to the foothills of the Himalayas. An appropriate last evening. Flavor, culture, hospitality. All in one memorable sitting before the morrow’s departure.

Highlights of Day

• Scenic drive back to Kathmandu, about 1 to 1.5 hours

• Free time to rest or explore before dinner

• Chef's tasting dinner featuring modern Nepali cuisine

• Multi-course menu served in a traditional fine dining setting

• A fitting farewell evening before departure

Today is the last relaxed morning you have in Kathmandu and the end of your trip. Depending on the time of your flight, you can enjoy a leisurely last breakfast at your hotel, take a last look at the city or just pack at your own pace before checking out. You will be transferred privately to Tribhuvan International Airport, around 5 km from most hotels, and the journey will take approximately 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Your driver will arrange the pickup to match your international flight, giving you plenty of time for check-in and security.