Day 1 : Bagdogra - Gangtok (120 km / 5 hrs)
You will be met at IXB Airport by a representative from our local agency or by your English-speaking guide. Depart for Gangtok and check into your hotel. The evening is at your leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Gangtok
Visits to Tashi Viewpoint, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, the Flower Exhibition Centre, a cottage industry and handicrafts centre, the Institute of Tibetology, Dro-dul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, and Banjakhri Falls (6 hours).
Overnight in Gangtok.
Day 3 : Gangtok Tour
After breakfast, you will depart for Tsomgo Lake (12,400 feet), which is 55 km from Gangtok city. Overnight in Gangtok.
(In case of a landslide or any other reason that Tsomgo Lake is closed, we will provide alternative tours.)
Day 4 : Gangtok / Darjeeling (100 km / 4 hrs)
In the morning, depart for Darjeeling (6,950 feet). Upon arrival in Darjeeling, check into the hotel. In the late afternoon, visit the Happy Valley Tea Estate.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Darjeeling
Early morning (4:00 AM) departure for Tiger Hill (8,400 ft) to witness a spectacular sunrise over Mt. Khangchendzonga (28,208 ft, the world's third-highest peak); on the return journey, visit Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop. After breakfast, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, P.N. Zoological Park (closed Thursdays), Tenzing Rock, the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre (closed Sundays), the Ropeway, and the Japanese Temple. Excursion to Ghoom aboard the famous "Toy Train." Evening at leisure for shopping or relaxation.
Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 6 : Darjeeling / Bhadrapur / Kathmandu
After breakfast, depart for Bhadrapur for your flight to Kathmandu.
Arrival in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu is the largest city, the capital, and the heart of Nepal. Once thought to be the legendary and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu has become an increasingly popular tourist destination catering to all budgets. In the distant mists of prehistory—or so the legend goes—the Kathmandu Valley was a turquoise lake with a magnificent lotus flower resting upon it. Manjushree (Padmasambhava), a holy sage from China, sliced through the valley wall at Chobar with his flaming sword of wisdom, allowing the land to emerge. The Kathmandu Valley encompasses the three ancient royal cities of Patan, Bhaktapur, and Kathmandu—each featuring its own ornate palaces and listed as a World Heritage Site.
The area boasts cobblestone alleys and palace squares, forming a fascinating labyrinth of temples, shrines, and markets, all teeming with vibrant life.
Airport meet-and-greet and transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Note: Our Indian vehicle (Innova) will travel as far as Panitanki. The transfer from Panitanki to Bhadrapur Airport will be carried out using non-AC vehicles, subject to availability (e.g., Sumo, Maruti Van, or similar). Please note that the transfer is subject to the political situation in Nepal.
Day 7 : Kathmandu
After breakfast, visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square.
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of Kathmandu's old city. The foundation of the Durbar (royal palace) dates back to the Licchavi era. Through extensive renovations by Malla rulers and later the Ranas, the complex was built up gradually over several centuries. There are around 50 temples in the vicinity. Visit the 17th-century Durbar complex, Hanuman Dhoka, the Parvati Temple, the Great Drum and Bell, the Bhairav and Taleju temples, and the cluster of temples surrounding them. A short walk away lies the Temple of the Living Goddess, where visitors can catch a glimpse of the Kumari at one of the open windows overlooking the inner courtyard. Surrounding the splendor of these historic monuments is the bustling market square. You will find vegetable vendors, displays of flutes, hawkers selling souvenirs, street stalls offering imported goods, and—tucked into a quiet corner—shops glittering with beads for custom-made necklaces.
Atop a green hill west of Kathmandu stands the great Swayambhunath Stupa, a site over 2,500 years old that marks the spot where the legendary patriarch Manjushree discovered the lotus flower in the ancient lake that once filled the valley. Swayambhunath offers a bird's-eye view of Kathmandu city. This massive stupa is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, and its origins are linked to the founding of Kathmandu itself. Devotees circumambulate the stupa in a clockwise direction, spinning rows of prayer wheels and even performing full prostrations out of reverence.
Patan is also known as Lalitpur, or the "City of Fine Arts," and is the oldest city in the valley. This Buddhist city is said to have been founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Patan is the cradle of the valley's art and architecture, a major center for both Buddhism and Newari arts and crafts, boasting 136 *bahals* (courtyards) and 55 major traditional temples. Notable among these are the Krishna Mandir and Hiranya Varna Mahavihar.
Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 8 : Kathmandu
Half-day tour: Visit to Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa.
Pashupatinath Temple is considered one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple is renowned for its magnificent architecture, featuring multi-tiered roofs and doors plated in gold and silver. Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple complex itself; however, they can view the site—including the cremation ghats—from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. This stunning multi-tiered golden temple, with its four triple-silver doors, is a unique example of Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in South Asia, housing hundreds of Shiva lingas and shrines dedicated to various Hindu gods and goddesses.
Boudhanath is the largest stupa in Nepal; situated on level ground, it is surrounded by houses and monasteries where Rinpoches reside. Boudhanath is often called "Little Tibet" due to an atmosphere reminiscent of the old Barkhor market square in Lhasa. Many Tibetans visit the site for pilgrimage and trade. You can visit nearby monasteries, meditate briefly with the monks, and receive blessings.
Free afternoon. Optional activities such as sightseeing or shopping are available.
Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 9 : Kathmandu
In the morning, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Bhaktapur—also known as Bhadgaon—is home to medieval art and architecture and retains a rich medieval atmosphere. A city of farmers, Bhaktapur is also renowned for its pottery and weaving. It is the most charming and best-preserved of the three cities in the valley. Visit the ancient gate, Durbar Square (the royal residential quarter of Bhupatindra Malla), the Batsala Temple, Bhairavnath Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Pujari Math, and the Palace of 55 Windows. Walk to the famous Nyatapole Temple—a five-story pagoda-style structure and the country's tallest temple—guarded by a series of mythical animals and deities, overlooking the Bhairav Temple dedicated to the Tantric deity Bhairav.
Later, depart for Nagarkot Hill.
Situated at an altitude of 2,175 meters, Nagarkot is a popular hilltop destination in Nepal, famous for its mountain views. On a clear day, five of the world's ten highest mountains—Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Makalu (8,463m), and Manaslu (8,163m)—as well as numerous other peaks, are visible from this location. The area is surrounded by terraced hills and stunning scenery. Take a walk through the village of Nagarkot.
Check in at your hotel in Nagarkot.
Opportunity to view the sunset and mountains from the hotel (weather permitting).
Overnight stay at your hotel in Nagarkot.
Day 10 : Nagarkote
Early morning: opportunity to view the mountains or the sunrise from the hotel (weather permitting).
After breakfast, return to Kathmandu.
Transfer to the airport for your international flight.