Nepal: An Epic Journey Through the Eastern Himalayas

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu

Welcome to Nepal!

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu Airport, you will be greeted by a representative and escorted to your hotel. Take some time to get settled in before your tour later today.

This afternoon, visit Boudha Stupa, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a spiritual home to the Tibetan refugee community in Nepal. The stupa is considered one of the world’s largest, located on the original trade route leading to Lhasa. The area around the stupa is also worth visiting for its vibrancy and a wide array of Tibetan antiques and jewelry.

Next, you'll visit the Shechen Monastery for evening prayers. This monastery, founded by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, is famous for its architecture. During the evening prayers, the lamas (high-ranking Tibetan Buddhist monks) and novices gather to chant Buddhist texts, normally accompanied by a cacophony of crashing cymbals, thumping drums, and booming Tibetan horns.

The Dwarika’s Kathmandu is a heritage hotel inspired by the architectural grandeur of Newari royal palaces. The hotel houses an extensive collection of artifacts from the 13th century onwards and preserves the aesthetic sensibility of a unique civilization. The courtyards, buildings, and rooms contain Nepali craftsmanship, capturing the beauty and spirit of an ancient city. The hotel features four dining options: a slow-dining Nepali option, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, and a fusion bar. At the fusion bar, you can enjoy a cocktail in one of the courtyards overlooking the pool. There is also an on-site spa that draws on Ayurveda, Buddhist medicine, and traditional rituals and treatments.

Overnight Dwarika’s Hotel

Nepal: A vibrant, ornate Buddhist temple with red walls and colorful, intricately decorated doors, windows, and roof details, set against a cloudy sky. The building features traditional Tibetan architectural elements.

Nepal: Outdoor courtyard with potted plants, a small Buddha statue, traditional Nepali decor, and tables with chairs under large trees beside a brick building.

Nepal: A large white stupa with golden spire and painted eyes, draped with colorful prayer flags, stands against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Day 2

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum of medieval art, culture, and architecture. Walking through its narrow, cobblestone streets, you'll encounter intricately carved wooden temples, traditional brick buildings, and open courtyards that echo the history of the Malla dynasty.

Meander past ancient homes and courtyards and revel in the sight of Hindu and Buddhist deities at every turn. Then, visit Pottery Square to witness local artisans at work. Enjoy lunch on your own before trying your hand at the traditional local pottery!

In the afternoon, your guide will drive you to Kathmandu Durbar Square, considered the epicenter of historic Kathmandu. Visit the ancient temples, palace squares, and narrow alleyways with your guide. Walk through the spice market and ancient trading hub at Ason.

Later, visit Patan and stroll through Patan Durbar Square and Patan Museum, set within the restored royal palaces of the Malla Era. The area boasts a collection of carved temples, palace courtyards, water spouts, public baths, and traditional neighborhoods. In the late afternoon, you'll see Pashupatinath, Nepal's oldest and most holy Hindu temple. This sacred Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, sits on the banks of the Bagmati River. Many sacred rituals surround this river, which flows into the Ganges. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple and its courtyard, but you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the temple from the eastern side of the river.

Here, you'll witness Arati, an elaborate Hindu lighting ritual performed every evening by a Hindu priest. The priests perform the Aarati by moving oil lamps in a circular motion while dedicating the act to the Divine. After, return to your hotel for an evening of leisure and dinner.

Overnight Dwarika’s Hotel

Red brick Hindu temples with domed rooftops, stone statues, and trees casting shadows fill an outdoor courtyard in Nepal under a clear blue sky.

Nepal: A close-up of a colorful stone statue of the Hindu deity Bhairab, adorned with marigold garlands, a crown, jewelry, and expressive features in bold colors, set against a blue and red background.

Nepal: Traditional Newari-style temple with ornate wooden carvings and a tiered roof adorned with red fabric, set against a clear blue sky in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nepal.

Day 3

Depart Kathmandu for Phalplu

After breakfast this morning, transfer to Kathmandu Airport for your flight via private helicopter. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and checked in to Happy House to relax.

Phaplu, a hidden gem in Nepal's Solukhumbu District, is a destination that blends natural beauty, cultural depth, and Himalayan tranquility. Often overshadowed by the bustling gateway of Lukla, Phaplu offers a quieter experience for those seeking to experience the Everest region. Its lush hills, panoramic mountain vistas, and vibrant Sherpa culture make it a unique starting point for trekking enthusiasts. Phaplu embodies the essence of sustainable tourism, offering an off-the-beaten-path charm.

Secluded by pine groves near the village of Phaplu, The Happy House has long been a salon for the mountain literati. Sir Edmund Hillary, who, alongside Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, became the first climber confirmed to reach the top of Mount Everest, called it home and considered the area to be his happy place. The house has recently been restored and made over with modern comforts and necessary upgrades. This ten-room hideaway overlooks the village of Phaplu. It features a pine-shaded garden, a yoga and meditation center, and a candle-lit massage room. It’s a house where every wall is painted by hand with ancient Buddhist Thangka paintings. With its roaring fire and candle-lit areas, it has a charm that makes you feel at home. Meals are customized and served in various private settings within and around the property.

Overnight The Happy House

Day 4

Monastery Visits

Begin the morning with a 60-minute rejuvenating yoga session, taking in the views of Mt. Numbur as the sun rises over the mountains.

After, enjoy breakfast with homemade bread, yogurt, wild honey, and fresh seasonal fruits for a delicious start to the day.

Embark on an acclimatization walk up to the Chiwong Monastery. As you hike, marvel at the surroundings of small farms and a rhododendron forest.

Enjoy a simple lunch with the esteemed monks of the monastery. Afterward, you can participate in a prayer session and guided meditation led by the monks. You can walk or ride a mountain bike to The Happy House. Alternatively, a vehicle transfer is also available.

Overnight Happy House

Nepal: Snow-capped mountain peaks glow with orange sunlight at sunrise or sunset, with dark hilly foreground and a few pink-tinged clouds in a clear sky.

Nepal: Three Buddhist monks in orange robes stand side by side, each holding a silver alms bowl partially covered by a cloth pouch. Only their torsos and hands are visible.

A colorful Buddhist temple gate and stupa stand on a hillside in Nepal with stone steps, set against dry mountains and a partly cloudy blue sky in the background.

Day 5

Thupten Choeling Monastery

Your morning begins with another 60-minute yoga session. Afterward, enjoy a nourishing breakfast amidst the serene garden of The Happy House.

The day continues with a scenic drive to Thupten Choeling Monastery, one of the most important monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet. It was the seat of the late Trulshik Rinpoche, the 31st reincarnated master of the oldest Buddhist school in Tibet. Thupten Choeling once served as the largest monastery in Nepal, housing approximately 900 monks and nuns.

Today, visitors can access the monastery's main prayer hall and participate in the daily prayers and meditation sessions. You can also spend time at the monastery school where more than 50 young monks study. After, visit Amchi, the Tibetan doctor of the monastery.

Lastly, visit Junbesi, the first Sherpa village in Nepal. In the 1600s, some Eastern Tibetans who escaped the Mongol invasion settled here, and it is now considered the cradle of Sherpa culture. Walk around the village and through little farm gardens that are traditionally kept per the Sherpa tradition. Enjoy lunch at a local family’s house. Then, you can drive or walk back to The Happy House.

Overnight Happy House

Day 6

Pikey Peak Hiking and Glamping Experience

After breakfast in the garden, you'll set out for a three-day hiking and glamping excursion to Pikey Peak, traveling along ancient paths once used by the nomadic traders of Tibet and Nepal and the early Western mountaineers venturing into the high Himalayas. The journey is dotted with ancient monasteries, mani walls, and prayer flags, offering spiritual and cultural enrichment along your trek. On a clear day, trekkers are rewarded with awe-inspiring vistas of the world’s tallest peaks, including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, and even the distant Annapurna range.

On today's 6-hour trek, you'll likely be one of the only travelers, which starkly contrasts the very popular and heavily traveled routes in Everest and the Annapurna regions. Your camp will be set up before your arrival. You can enjoy fully cooked meals throughout the trip with a moving kitchen. You'll also travel with a physiotherapist and a massage therapist.

The camps are carefully prepared to ensure your comfortable and hassle-free camping experience. Every detail has been considered to meet your needs, allowing you to focus entirely on the adventure and natural beauty around you.

You'll have a full camping and cooking staff and all the necessary gear, food, and fuel. The services of a physiotherapist and masseur are also available to ensure your relaxation. While the camps prioritize comfort, they maintain a practical, expedition-style aesthetic.

Porters can carry your bags, so you only need to bring what’s necessary for the trek. Any additional luggage can be safely stored at Happy House. Each morning and evening, you’ll receive hot towels and a basin of hot water for freshening up—providing a small touch of comfort even in the wilderness.

Overnight Private Glamping Experience

Snow-capped mountains rise in the distance under a clear Nepal sky, with rolling hills and scattered tents in the foreground surrounded by patches of trees and sunlight.

Two red camping chairs and a table set with food and drinks on a grassy hilltop in Nepal, overlooking distant snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.

A row of bright yellow tents is set up on a grassy hillside in Nepal, with snow-capped mountains and a clear blue sky in the background. The scene suggests a high-altitude, scenic campsite.

Day 7

Hiking and Glamping Experience Day 2

Today, you'll hike approximately 5 hours to Pikey Khop, the base camp for Pikey Peak. As you ascend, don't forget to look around you at the alpine panoramas! You'll wind past old yak houses, sacred stone walls, and rhododendrons, greeting locals along the way.

Pikey Khop, surrounded by tranquil alpine forests, serves as an ideal rest point or waypoint for trekkers before ascending further to Pikey Peak. While the altitude gain is insignificant, it’s important to pace yourself to adjust to the increasing elevation as you continue.

Overnight Private Glamping Experience

Day 8

Hiking and Glamping Experience Day 3

Pikey Peak is believed to be the only mountain that looks onto both the western and eastern Himalayas of Nepal. This means that 8 of the world's 14 highest peaks—known as the eight-thousanders because they rocket more than 8000 meters (or 26,247 feet) above sea level—can be seen from this spot on a clear day.

Wake up early to reach the summit in time for sunrise. As the sky fills with colors, marvel at the panorama from Annapurna to Kanchenjunga, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and Ama Dablam. Today's hike will be around 6-7 hours.

After summiting, hike down to Phaplu for your return to the comforts of The Happy House. Pass by viewpoints and friendly farming settlements. You'll have time to relax in the evening and enjoy a shower and sauna. Then, take part in your farewell dinner at The Happy House.

Overnight The Happy House

Colorful Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the wind on a rocky mountain ridge in Nepal, with snow-capped peaks and a clear blue sky in the background. The landscape below is dotted with forests and low clouds.

Snow-capped mountain peaks in Nepal rise above layers of rolling hills and valleys, with clouds and mist drifting among them under a clear blue sky at sunrise or sunset.

A small Nepal mountain village with scattered houses sits on a narrow ridge, surrounded by tall evergreen trees and overlooking distant blue mountains under a clear sky.

Day 9

Helicopter to Everest Base Camp

This morning, take a private helicopter ride to your next hotel. En route, stop to savor breakfast at Kongde Ri, a mountain in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. Take in the mountain views as you eat beneath Everest! Then, continue to Dhulikel.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted and checked in. Enjoy your evening at leisure.

Dwarika’s Resort is built on the philosophy of respecting nature and self. The Resort is inspired by ancient Hindu Vedic scriptures (Vedas), Buddhist medicine, and traditional Himalayan knowledge. The Resort has five hillside suites, which include indoor and outdoor living spaces, an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, art and cooking classes, three lounges, and two restaurants. Inspired by a blend of Vedic Philosophy and Buddhist Medicine, the Resort focuses on the complete wellbeing of an individual, drawing on the knowledge and holistic lifestyle of the Himalayan region. Each element of the Resort has been designed to enhance this journey by addressing the five senses. Various experiences have been created in the Resort to guide you through your journey, including spa and wellbeing treatments, hiking, yoga, and pottery.

Overnight Dwarika's Resort

Day 10

Choose Your Own Adventure

In the morning, relax and soak in the natural beauty of Dhulikhel and the Himalayas or participate in the various resort activities. Options include:

1. Use of Himalayan Salt Room
2. Use of Chakra Sound Therapy Chamber
3. Use of Meditation Maze
4. Group Yoga Session
5. Group Meditation Session
6. Group Pottery Session
7. Use of Swimming Pool and Fitness Center
8. Use of Garden of Nine Planets
9. Art & Painting Session
10. Crystal House
11. Visiting Organic Farms

In the afternoon, you can enjoy a cooking session with the Chef at the Resort. Learn the secrets to making a very popular delicacy, momo, which are traditional dumplings loved by locals and tourists alike. Alternatively, You could visit the organic farm, meet with an Ayurvedic doctor, or enjoy the afternoon leisurely.