Kathmandu, Chitwan & Pokhara, 6 Nights

Met at Tribhuvan airport and driven to the hotel, with the time depending on traffic. The day is left open for resting. If you arrive with energy to spare, take a short walk in Thamel for coffee and a look at the shops, or ask the hotel about a stroll in the old quarter. Dinner is on your own, and vegetarian dal bhat and momos are easy to find. Tomorrow is a full day of temples, so an early night helps.

A guided day across three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Pashupatinath comes first, on the Bagmati river, where non-Hindus cannot enter the main shrine but can watch the ghats from across the water. Then Boudhanath's great stupa, with monasteries around it. After lunch, Swayambhunath on its hill, and the old royal square at Hanuman Dhoka, with its tiered temples and carved palace courtyards. Entry fees for foreign visitors apply at the squares and are included.

The road drops out of the hills to the Terai along the Trishuli river; allow about 5 to 6 hours, longer if there are delays on the road. After lunch at the lodge, a canoe goes out on the Rapti river, where crocodiles and water birds are seen from a respectful distance. At dusk, a guided walk through a Tharu village and a look at its mud-and-thatch houses. The evening may include a Tharu cultural dance. No elephant rides are offered.

An early jeep drive into Chitwan National Park with a naturalist, when animals are most active: one-horned rhinoceros, deer and many birds are possible, and the tiger is rarely seen. We do not offer elephant rides or elephant bathing. After breakfast the road continues to Pokhara, taking about 4 to 5 hours. Check-in is late afternoon, followed by a walk along Phewa Lake's Lakeside at dusk.

A very early drive to Sarangkot for first light on the Annapurna range and Machapuchare, subject to the weather and season; clouds sometimes win. After breakfast, Davis Falls, where a stream drops into a gorge, followed by a rowing boat on Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple on its island. In the afternoon you can drive up to the World Peace Pagoda for the view across the lake, or rest. Paragliding is optional and booked separately.

Return to Kathmandu by the morning flight, which saves most of the day but may be delayed by weather, or by road, which takes about 7 hours. If you fly, the afternoon is for Patan, the old Newar city south of Kathmandu, where the Durbar Square has Hindu and Buddhist temples in brick and carved timber and the museum is worth an hour. If by road, Patan fits in only if you arrive by about 3 pm.

Breakfast and a private transfer to Tribhuvan airport, allowing extra time for traffic. We suggest being at the airport three hours ahead for an international flight. If your flight is in the afternoon, there is time for a last visit to the shops in Thamel or a quiet walk before checkout; speak to us at booking so the morning is shaped around your flight.