Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to Nepal, a country of spectacular geography & rich cultural diversity. After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, subsequent to customs & immigration, you will be met by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

For many people, stepping off a plane into Kathmandu is an exhilarating shock - the sights, sounds and smells can quickly lead to sensory overload. Whether it is buzzing around the crazy polluted traffic in a taxi, trundling down the narrow winding streets of the old town in a rickshaw, marvelling at Durbar Square or dodging the tiger balm sellers and trekking touts in Thamel, Kathmandu can be an intoxicating, amazing and exhausting place. As the largest (and pretty much the only) city in the country, Kathmandu also feels like another developing-world city rushing into a modern era of concrete and traffic pollution.

Take a walk in the backstreets, however, and the capital's amazing cultural and artistic heritage reveals itself in hidden temples overflowing with marigolds, courtyards full of drying chillis and rice, and tiny hobbit-sized workshops largely unchanged since the Middle Ages. Kathmandu has been a traveler’s mecca since the 1960s but these days you are less likely to see a tie-dyed hippy in search of enlightenment than a well-heeled Gore-Tex-clad tourist in search of a good espresso. As many as 30 different languages & dialects are spoken among the many ethnic groups.

Check-in at the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 07.00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour tour of the Kathmandu Valley.

First stop will be Nagarkot.

Nagarkot is a vista of villages & mountains & has a reputation as the top spot for enjoying Himalayan views from the comfort of your hotel balcony. Nagarkot on an outstanding hilltop, surrounded by thickly forested hills of pine trees, is famous for breathtaking mountain scenery & the most impressive Himalayan views of sunrise &sunset.

Visit Pashupatinath Temple dating back to between the 1^st & 3^rd centuries A.D, considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sights in the world. The temple, located the bank of the Bagmati River is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one can still see cremation ceremonies taking place here. Pashupatinath Temple is supposed to be second abode of Lord Shiva after Mt. Kailash and draws devotees and sadhus (wandering Hindu holy men) from all over India.

Shiva is the destroyer and creator of the Hindu pantheon and is best known in his 'terrible' forms, particularly in Nepal  as the cruel and destructive Bhairab, but he also has peaceful incarnations including those of Mahadev and Pashupati, the lord of the beasts. As the shepherd of both animals and humans, Pashupati shows Shiva's most pleasant and creative side. Pashupati is considered to have a special concern for Nepal and, accordingly, he features in all official messages from the king. Before commencing an important journey, the king will always pay a visit to Pashupatinath to seek the god's blessing. Many of the temple buildings are closed to non-Hindus.

Continue on to the village of Boudha, site of the Boudhanath Stupa built in the 5^th century by King Mandev and regarded as an important pilgrimage sites for the Vajrayana sect of Buddhism. This stupa is supposed to be the Physical Stupa (sanctifying the physical bone of Kasyap Budhha). This stupa, one of the world's largest, has influenced and is based on the octagonal mandala. It is the religious centre for Nepal’s considerable population of Tibetan exiles, and the side streets are full of maroon-robed Tibetan (and foreign) monks, gleaming monastery roofs and shopfronts full of Tibetan texts and yak butter. This is one of the few places in the world where Tibetan culture is accessible, vibrant and unfettered.

Boudhanath has always been linked to Tibetan Buddhism. Apart from the local Tibetans and Nepalis there's a sizeable community of foreign Buddhist students, which contributes to occasional bitchy factional tensions between the different schools (apparently the lessons on nonattachment aren't going so well…).  A major trade route coming from Lhasa went through Sankhu & Bodhnath and was the entry point for Tibetan traders. One can easily imagine the traders giving thanks for their successful journey across the Himalaya, or praying for a safe return. People (including mountaineers and Sherpas) still come here to pray here before undertaking a journey in the Himalaya.

Prayer services are held in the surrounding gompas and, as the sun sets, the community turns out to circumambulate the stupa - a ritual that combines religious observance with social event. It's a wonderful feeling to be swept around by the centrifugal force of faith - remember to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction.

Then we move on to Bhaktapur city, the cultural city of Nepal. Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon was once the capital of Nepal from the 9^th to the 14^th centuries. During your tour, you will see the 55 window palaces, Royal Bath, Taleju Temple, Datratra Square and Pottery Square.

Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon (pronounced bud-gown and meaning 'City of Rice') in Nepali, or Khwopa (City of Devotees) in Newari, is the third major town of the valley. Traffic free, the traditionally intact town is also in many ways the most timeless. The cobblestone streets link a string of temples, courtyards and monumental squares, and the side streets are peppered with shrines, wells and water tanks.

The lack of traffic makes walking through Bhaktapur a pleasure & certainly more enjoyable than walking in Kathmandu. The town's cultural life is also vibrant, with centuries-old traditions of craftsmanship and strong communities of potters, woodcarvers and weavers. Look for rice laid out to dry in the sun, people collecting water or washing under the communal taps, dyed yarns hung out to dry, children's games, fascinating shops and women pounding grain - there's plenty to see.

Perhaps most entrancing of all is Bhaktapur's effortless blending of the modern and medieval, thanks largely to the German-funded Bhaktapur Development Project, which restored buildings, paved dirt streets and established sewerage and wastewater management facilities in the 1970s.

You will also have plenty time to check out the numerous little gift shops that line the mazelike streets.

Return to the hotel.

Early morning, you will be transferred to the Airport to board a 45 minute flight to Nepalgunj.

Nepalganj is a gritty border town with a hectic Indian flavour. You will hear more Hindi spoken than Nepali. Nepalganj has a very diverse culture & is home to Nepal’s largest Muslim community, as well as a sizeable expat community of foreign-aid workers. The birth place of Lord Buddha, Lumbini is a couple of hours drive from here to the Indian side.

If we have time, you will take a stroll through the old bazaar where you can find some attractive silver Tharu jewellery. There are half a dozen small temples strung out along the main road through the bazaar, with the garish Bageshwari Mandir, devoted to Kali, probably the most interesting.

You will be met on arrival by a Journeys Rep & immediately depart for Bardia National Park.

Untouched by the 2015 earthquake, Bardia National Park is the largest national park & wilderness area in the Terai and has excellent wildlife-watching opportunities. Bardia is often described as what Chitwan was like 30 years ago, before being overrun by tourism.

The park encompasses 968 sq km of sal forest & grassland, and together with the 550 sq km Banke National Park, it protects one of Asia’s largest stretches of tiger habitat. The tiger numbers are gradually increasing.

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As well as tigers, there are also healthy populations of wild elephants & one-horned rhinos among the 30 species of mammals living here. The rhinos were re-introduced from Chitwan starting in 1986 in a bid to extend their range to help conserve the species. Unfortunately, because of poaching, their numbers were decimated. Today the population is slowly recovering, with 31 being counted in 2014.

Bardia also has more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican & sarus crane. Many snakes, lizards & fish have been recorded in the park's forest, grassland & river habitats.Gharial & marsh mugger crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins are occasionally spotted on rafting & canoe trips along the Geruwa River, the eastern channel of the Karnali River.

Check-in on arrival.

No two days need to be the same at Bardia as you have so many opportunities to explore in and around the park. The relaxed settings of the lodge, and the wildlife you can see from the gardens & the dining hall balcony allows you to enjoy the tranquil settings. The park's elephants pass by the front of the lodge several times a day, great for photo opportunities.

Morning, meet the Ranger & embark on a fun 4 hour Elephant safari into the jungle looking for Rhino, Tiger - perhaps Leopard & a multitude of other animals, birds and diverse flora.

Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

Afternoon proceed for another game drive.

Come back to the lodge to relax & unwind with a cold drink in preparation for the evening meal.

Early morning, proceed for another game drive.

Return to the lodge in time for breakfast.

Afternoon, discover the local Tharu life & culture with a guided 2 hour walk from the lodge through neighbouring villages & farmland.

Come back to the lodge to relax & unwind with a cold drink in preparation for the evening meal.

Full day at leisure for independent exploration or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). Overnight.  B L D 

Early morning by 06.00 am, leave for Chitwan National Park following the Trishuli River.

Chitwan National Park has long been regarded as Nepal’s third biggest attraction after trekking & the Kathmandu Valley. This huge & beautiful nature reserve protects 932 sq km of sal forest, water marshes & rippling grassland. The park is one of the last refuges of the endangered one-horned Indian rhino & is home to a few Royal Bengal Tigers, sizeable populations of leopards & rare Gangetic dolphins.  It is the most famous park in Nepal offering over 450 species of birds & four species of deer, leopard, sloth bear, & wild boar along with many other species of wildlife.

Lately, the tourist numbers have reduced due to political problems. On one level, the wildlife has probably benefited from the reduced visitor numbers - it is a lot easier to sight when you don't have an elephant-load of tourists shouting & scaring off your prey.  However, poaching has increased significantly since the Nepali army stopped patrolling the park, and the rhino population has been hit particularly badly.

Careless development has undermined some of the safari atmosphere at the nearby town Sauraha where you will stay, but the setting is still impressive - perched beside a wide, slow-flowing river with a wall of dense jungle looming tantalisingly on the far bank. An incredible range of jungle activities can be arranged & the surrounding countryside is a peaceful patchwork of rice fields and Tharu villages.

Check-in on arrival by late afternoon.

Morning, around 08.00 am, meet the Ranger & embark on an afternoon game drive, perched on an elephant.

Return to the lodge & relax.

After lunch around 02.00 pm, meet the Ranger & embark on another game drive, perched on an elephant.

Return to the lodge.

The lodge will also arrange a cultural program one evening for you to attend & perhaps, join in the dancing (not compulsory!).

Full day at leisure for independent exploration or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). You may want to go for another elephant safari or a canoe ride along the river (not included).

Early morning, depart for Kathmandu, driving through beautiful scenery.

Arrive in Kathmandu and Check -in.

Full day at leisure.

Or, you may want to spend more time exploring Kathmandu & its surroundings; there are plenty of things to see & do, and great souvenir opportunities or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). A mountain flight up to view Mount Everest would be an appropriate finale.  

Finally, the experience comes to an end and it is time to say good-bye.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, you are allowed to use the hotel facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Teheran Imam Khomeini International Airport for the flight back home.  B

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