Buddhist Cultural and Historical Tour

After a long flight from respective countries, arrive at Kathmandu and Nepal’s International Airport. A representative from Vertex Holiday will receive you and drives you to your hotel in the center of Kathmandu city.
At the hotel, check in to your nice rooms and get refreshed before joining in at the lobby for a group meeting and briefing. Our guide and staff provide you with the necessary information and details about the tour around the places of interest.

In the evening group welcome dinner in a nice typical Nepali restaurant as an introduction to Nepalese foods, with live cultural programs of folk dance and music.

Tour begins after breakfast; our guide will pick you up at the hotel for a short drive to the old Buddhist monument at Swambhunath Stupa of more than 2,600 years old history. The place is an attractive spot facing views of Kathmandu city and the valley with snow peaks towards the north. Enjoy the tour of Swayambhunath, located on top of a hillock, surrounded by a green forest with many monkeys.

From Swayambhunath, drive east to Bouddhanath, another famous Stupa of more than 500 years old. A large dome with the mystical eyes of Lord Buddha on four cardinal sides, the area around Bouddhanath is also known as ‘Little Tibet.’

After an exciting and impressive tour, head towards the adjoining city of Patan or Lalitpur, the city of intricate arts and crafts. At Patan, visit the central Durbar Square Palace courtyard of the Malla Dynasty from the 9th to 17th Century. At Patan, a tour of the Mahaboudha temple dedicated to Lord Buddha, historically constructed in the 16th Century. A replica of the Shikara model similar to the one in Bodhgaya-India, the monument is also called a temple of thousand Buddhas.

The image of Buddha is engraved on every brick of the temple. From here, a drive to the southern outskirt of Kathmandu and Patan area to Pharping, a sacred site with a holy cave, where a great saint Padmasambhava of the 17th Century, meditated on his way to Tibet. Tranquil surroundings with an old village of Newar and Tamang tribes, visit the monastery and then drive back to the hotel.

The morning after breakfast, depart for Pokhara, an exciting drive on Nepal’s main highway, as the journey leads through several villages, towns, and farm areas.
Face occasional views of snow-capped peaks as the drive follows Trisuli River till our route diverts from Mugling Bazaar heading west.

A lovely scenic ride overlooking views of the Manaslu and Annapurna Himalaya range, as the drive ends on reaching Pokhara near the beautiful Phewa Lakeside. Where most nice hotels, shops, stores, and restaurants are located, on checking into your rooms.

The rest of the afternoon is free for leisure till dinner time and preparations for the early morning tour of Sarankot high hill.

Rising early before breakfast, a short drive uphill to a scenic high hill of Sarankot on top at 16,000 m. A vantage viewpoint for a stunning sunrise over an array of Himalayan peaks, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Lamjung Himal, and Manaslu Himalayas. Besides sunrise and mountains grand vista of Pokhara city and the valley with beautiful Phewa Lake. After an exciting morning back to the hotel for breakfast and then took a boat across the lake. Then an hour’s hike up to a scenic ridge, where Peace / Shanti Stupa is located. The Buddhist pagoda stupa towers.

High at 1,100 m, above Pokhara valley and the city, facing fabulous scenery of Annapurna and Manaslu Himalaya range with majestic Machhapuchare Himal, the Fish-Tail peak. The Peace Stupa foundation was started by a Japanese saint Michidatsu Fujii with relics of the Buddha idol in 1973. But the whole Beautiful complex was completed in the late 1990s.
From the top, head down across the lake for another exciting tour of Pokhara’s natural wonders of Davis waterfall, or Patale Chhago means Hell’s falls; Davis Waterfall is situated within a nice park, and witness the torrential cascading waterfalls. Close to Devis Falls, visit Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, a long cave walk on steps inside the cave to a shrine of the Hindu god Lord Shiva. From here, back hotel, with the rest of the afternoon free for leisure for individual activities

After an enjoyable time at scenic Pokhara, the morning drive heads down towards Nepal’s Far South-West around warmer climate.

An exciting overland journey past Waling, Syangja town, and Butwal town, as the drive continues on the flat-land of Terai as the temperature gets warmer sub-tropical, heading past the large town of Bhairawa then reaching our last destination at Lumbini for two overnights.

Start the morning after a good breakfast; our local guide takes you around the spot where Lord Buddha was born and visit the most important historical and religious sites of bygone days. Amazing to know that the beautiful palace of the Sakya Kingdom existed way back more than 3,000 years ago. Tour of Asoka pillar and the flame of peace with various interesting places of great interest.

After a great tour, head back to the hotel with time in the afternoon for leisure walks around the streets of Rupendehi, one of the main towns within Lumbini.

From Lumbini, a long exciting drive back to Kathmandu, on leaving the low land of Terai around Far Mid-West South Nepal. Drive follows through many towns, villages, and farmlands, as well as deeply forested areas that line the road in some sections of the main highway. As drive reaches the mid-hills with cooler air and then winds uphill, entering Kathmandu valley and the city. On reaching the city area, transfer to your respective hotels with your last leisurely evening after an exciting drive from Lumbini.

Getting ready for final departure from Kathmandu and Nepal, as per your
international flight time, transfer to the airport for homeward bound or to
respective countries, after an enjoyable, memorable time on Buddhist Historical and Religious Sites tour with Vertex Holidays.