Kathmandu and Lumbini Tour

Activities:: Depth Cultural Tours

Duration: 5 days

Destination: Nepal

Trip Grade

Easy
Group Size

Min. 2 Person.
Best Time

All Year Around

Trip Overview

The Kathmandu and Lumbini Luxury Tours is a journey that presents the best of both ancient cities of Nepal. Kathmandu- the epicenter of the country’s arts, architecture and crafts in woodcarving and stone sculptures and masonry, has one of the densest concentrations of World Heritage Sites in the world. In the city alone, there are about four major heritage sites within reasonable distance from each other. Lumbini on the other hand, is one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. It is the birthplace of Lord Buddha- the founder of Buddhism and also referred to as “the Light of Asia”. Archeologically important as well, Lumbini has had many excavations where the remains of the palaces and temples since the time of Lord Buddha have been unearthed and preserved. Today, Lumbini is one of the most visited Buddhist pilgrimage site among the people of the Buddhist sect and there are many monasteries that have been built there, each showcasing amazing Tibetan and Buddhist art in forms of Thankas, wall paintings, stone sculptures and idols of legendary mythical animals. Touring the heritage sites of both ancient cities of Nepal presents amazing insight into the religious and historical aspects of the country, and the Kathmandu and Lumbini luxury Tour lets you experience the cultural riches in the most comfortable of manners with pleasant hotel stays..

Start the tour first in the Kathmandu city where visits to heritage sites like the holy Pashupatinath temple, the Bouddhanath stupa, the Swayambhunath temple and the Kathmandu Durbar Square is done. Each of the sites holds their own importance in the context of Nepal’s religious and historical divisions. The Pashupatinath temple is held as one of the most important temples of the Hindu people and every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the temple during the festival and celebration of Shivaratri. It is located at the bank of the Bagmati River and sometimes, the cremation ceremony of the Hindu people can also be seen being performed at the temple by the riverside. The Bouddhanath is one of the largest Buddhist Mandalas in the world and has a dominating roof that towers above the area it is built at. The serene atmosphere of Bouddhanath makes visiting this Buddhist stupa one of the most relaxing and tranquil experiences. The Swayambhunath is another important temple located atop a hill in the city which is held sacred by both the Hindu and the Buddhist people. The Swayambhunath is also called the “Monkey Temple” because of all the monkeys that reside there. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is perhaps one of the most amazing showcases of Nepali architecture and art in its finest form. The Durbar Square of the city contains a complex that hold the old palace of the Malla and Shah kings who ruled over the city in medieval time along with many temples and statues that present one of the most spectacular wood carving and stone sculpture displays. Architecturally intricate and beautiful, the heritage sites each hold principal myths and tales that reflect Nepal’s past glories and dexterity that has been changed over the centuries. The Kathmandu and Lumbini Luxury Tour lets you explore these riches in the most comfortable and hassle-free event.

Then visit Lumbini and revel in the old sacred place’s many virtues like the Asoka Pillar that contains Nepal’s oldest inscriptions, the holy Mayadevi temple, the sacred Bodhi tree and the holy Puskarini pond along with many monasteries that are built in the most splendid architectural fashion. Circumbulate along the monasteries and immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere Lumbini presents. The well-preserved artifacts there present the opportunity to imagine what life was like here thousands of years ago, before Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and was just a mere prince who did not know about life’s struggles. The fact that the sacred place and temple here have managed to survive up till now is a miraculous feat in itself but their significance in the Buddhist culture enhances their attraction. The Kathmandu and Lumbini Luxury Tour perfectly captures the beauty of the sites and presents you with an experience that is rich and brimming with Nepal’s religious treasures in the most comfortable and relaxed forms.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu

Day 02: Full Kathmandu City Sightseeing Tour

Today, at early in the morning, the Kathmandu valley Sightseeing tour will start, with a first visit to the holy Pashupatinath temple. It lies on the banks of the Bagmati River and is one of the most revered holy sites of the Hindu people. The Pashupatinath is built in the pagoda style architecture and contains many smaller shrines outside the main temple as well. It is also the cremation site of many Hindu people and sometimes, the ceremony being performed can be experienced as well.

Then, the nest site on the tour is the holy Bouddhanath stupa. It is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and is located about 11 km from the center and northeastern outskirts of the city. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Gompas (Tibetan convent) around Bouddhanath. The Stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner. Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries.

The next site in the tour is the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is known as the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the royal palace. The Durbar at the Durbar square was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and was where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, took place. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum. Time and again the temples and the palaces in the square have gone through reconstruction after being damaged by natural causes or neglect. Presently there are less than ten quadrangles in the square. On 25 April 2015, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 hit the region and severely damaged the Square, reducing several buildings to rubble. The oldest temples in the square are those built by King Mahendra Malla (1560–1574). They are the temples of Jaggannath, Kotilingeswara Mahadev, Mahendreswara and the Taleju Temple. More and more temples and statues were added to the Square under different ruling kings over time. It is one of the most architecturally intricate showcases of Nepali art and the unique Newa architecture.

Then finally, the last site of the tour is the Swayambhunath Stupa- an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. For the Buddhist Newari people, in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of the Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Bouddha. After visiting each site, we will head back to the Hotel.

Overnight stay at a 5-star hotel in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 03: Fly to Bhairahawa, transfer to Lumbini Hotel and Sightseeing Tour, Duration: 30-45 minutes

An early morning transfer to Bhairahawa will be done today. The flight from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa takes about 30 to 40 minute. Upon your arrival at Bhairahawa, you will be transferred to a 5-star hotel in Lumbini. After checking in at the hotel, we will begin our sightseeing tour of Lumbini.

Lumbini is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Lumbini is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha. It has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi Temple and several others. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum- the Lumbini International Research Institute, are also within the holy site. Also there is the “Puskarini”, or the Holy Pond, where the Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms. It is 4.8 km in length and 1.6 km in width and is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone- the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. The holy site of Lumbini also has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree and the Ashoka pillar. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims can be seen from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site. Nipponzan Myohoji decided to build a Peace Pagoda in the park in 2001, which is visited by many different cultures and religions every day. Because some Hindus regard the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, thousands of Hindus also come here on pilgrimage during the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship Queen Mayadevi as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini. After spending time exploring and looking around at Lumbini and its many monasteries, we will return back to the hotel.

Overnight stay at a 5-star hotel in Lumbini. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 04: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Kathmandu

Day 05: Farewell

Cost Includes

All ground transportation by private vehicle including airport transfers.
Three nights’ accommodation with breakfast at 5- star hotel in Kathmandu.
Round trip airfare Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and Bhairahawa to Kathmandu including tour guide.
A night accommodation with breakfast at a 4-star hotel in Lumbini.
All guided sightseeing tours & activities including entry fees
Farewell dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant in Kathmandu
All government taxes and office service charge.

Cost Excludes

Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the itinerary'
International airfare
Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
Tips for tour guide and Driver

Cost & Dates

Group tours are unavailable for this trip, however, you can opt for the private trip. The private trips are available on any date of your choice at any time of the year. Let us know about your preferred travel dates and we shall organize it as per your convenience. Get in touch with your query now.

Reviews

Jonathan, USA The team NHT provided the best possible service. They were attentive in every aspect in the months leading up to the trek through emails and were responsive and thorough in addressing my questions and concerns. During our tour, Bheg (our guide) and our porter were there to take care of our (myself and one other trekker) needs and always smile and graciously. I have used other more expensive and well-known trekking teams in the Himalayas in the past and would rank NHT on an equal or higher plain. Bheg has many years of experience, as did our porter, and was very competent in their roles and Bheg in his knowledge of the area and the trek. Though our porter did not speak very much, Bheg was kind enough to translate when asked, and our porter was equally attentive in assisting Bheg and us to ensure a successful trek. Very competitive price and an excellent team and experience. I highly recommend them.

Marcello, Brazil Nepal is one of the places in the world everybody MUST go. I've been to Nepal 3 times in just five years. Living in Brazil, so far away from Nepal, I wouldn't travel so much to the country had I not enjoyed the place very much. It's the best place in the world for trekking, and the people are amazing, the food is delicious, and the views of the Himalayas are gorgeous. I book my tours with Nepal Hiking Team, which is a reliable company. The first time I visited Nepal, I booked my trek to Annapurna Base Camp and an overland tour to Tibet. Everything was previously arranged. Nothing to worry about. They applied for the permits, put me in a group (we are requested to join a group to enter Tibet), and booked a perfect hotel in Kathmandu. One month ago, I traveled to Nepal to trek the Annapurna Circuit and the Nar-Phu trek. For the second time, I booked my tour with Nepal Hiking Team. I went trekking in a very remote area with scenic spots and charming villages. In the middle of the trek, I began to feel a little uncomfortable by the cold weather, and my left foot was in pain, so I had to finish my hike earlier than expected. I told my guide I was not feeling good, and then Nepal Hiking Team gave me all support I needed on my way back to Kathmandu. NHT care of everything, so you can enjoy your trek with no worries. From the moment you are picked up at the airport to the moment you leave the country, you are in good hands. Their representatives will greet you at the airport, and you'll soon be briefed on everything about the trek you are going to enjoy. Guides from the Nepal Hiking Team are helpful and speak excellent English. I especially recommend Raj, a friendly guide, and Lalman if you want to request a Porter. Both do an outstanding job. So, if you're going to have a great time in Nepal, be sure to choose Nepal Hiking Team as your local travel agency from beginning to end. It's a reliable company, and I recommend it.

Sara, sweden We went on Everest Base Camp trek with Gokyo Lake back in March of 2019. When I first contact NHT, they were so nice enough to have an hour long chat on what’s app arranging a trip for us for late autumn of that year. However, due to personal reason, we decided to go on a trip earlier than the planned date. NHT had only few weeks to make all the preparations. But they managed everything smoothly. From our hotel reservation to flight tickets and guesthouse on the trek, everything was planned out carefully. We were thoroughly impressed with how they organized everything in a short notice. Ganga, was very polite and always accessible to have chat whenever we were on the trek. From the beginning to the end of our trek, Ganga made sure everything was Ok with us. Also, we cannot forget Bhim our guide on the trek. He made us laugh all through the journey. He is very skilled and has lots of knowledge about mountains and about the people and culture. Because of him and his good network of people, we were able to enjoy the local experience of the Everest region. Also, our porter, who spoke who very took good care of us. Whenever, we stopped on the trek, he always asking if our bag were heavy on us. Everything went well on the trek because of these two amazing people. If our friends or relatives ever decide to visit Nepal, we will strongly recommend them to go with NHT and to choose Bhim. I am forever grateful towards everyone involved in organizing our trek. We completely enjoyed our trek and had exceptionally wonderful time in the Himalayas. These people are professional and know what they are doing. So if anyone is looking for a reliable and a good travel agency in Nepal, they should not hesitate to go with Nepal Hiking Team. They really are the best!

Mark, USA My family of four went to Everest Base Camp just before the pandemic hit the world. It was a long-awaited family vacation. We go camping whenever we can. But my teen boys were worried about being in the remote mountains for two weeks. Nonetheless, they were still up for a challenge. We knew about Nepal Hiking Team through a family friend. They previously did one of their treks and had only lovely things to say about their services. And we, too, listening to their experience, contacted Nepal Hiking Team for our family vacation. They were cautious with our requests and requirements. They were quick in responding to our questionable amount of inquiries. They were always thorough and prompt. Likewise, our pill of happiness and motivation, our guide Bhim was always there to encourage us whenever we felt it wasn't easy to go forward. He assured us we could finish the journey, and we did too. He never forgot to remind us to stay hydrated and that also on an hourly basis. He routinely checked our pulses to check our oxygen level and was always asking if we needed anything. The trekking team took good care of us during the trek. As much as our safety was given a priority, they made sure we were enjoying our trek as well. He was a master of trekking and had every bit of information about the mountains. He knew the mountains' names and continued to amaze us with his knowledge of mountains and their people. Our family vacation was fantastic, and its praise goes to the company and our talented guide Bhim. Without him and our robust porters, we would not enjoy the mountains' beauty to the fullest. We are happy that we went with our friend's recommendation and choose NHT for our extraordinary journey. We plan to visit again when all the commotion caused by the virus subsides.

Jessica, Australia I am glad that I decided to undertake the Everest Base Camp Trek. My partner and I both are avid hikers. Before this, we had never opted for trekking. Nepal was on our list of places to go for a long time, but we never got a chance to dwell on it due to work. But last winter, everything worked for us. And we decided it is time to visit Nepal. We both wanted to do trekking, but since Nepal's mountains are not easy for beginners, I was more leaning towards doing easy and short treks in Nepal. But my partner was so keen on doing the Everest Base Camp trek, so we agreed to the EBC trek. Even though we had decided on the hike, I was still skeptical about doing it because of its high-altitude nature. And when we found Nepal Hiking Team, we stated our concern to them as well. They were so helpful and informed them, and the trek is doable by the first-time trekker. They advised we got on training mode immediately as we still had few months left before starting the walk. Since I was the most concerned one, I paid most attention to building physical stamina. After months of training and waiting, it was finally time for the trek, and when we arrived in Nepal, Kathmandu airport, NHT was warmly welcomed by the team. A day before the hike, Ganga briefed about the walk, and the next day we got on the flight to Lukla. It was frightening but worthy of an adventurous experience. Our guide Narayan, amazed us with his knowledge about the mountains. He always made sure we were comfortable on the trek and never rushed our journey. He instead obliged to approach the walk smoothly and slowly. As I was more conscious about getting altitude sickness, he shared many helpful tips to avoid altitude sickness. He was very patient and always answered whenever we had one too many questions to ask. And for that reason, we are thrilled we choose NHT and have Narayan for our trek. If it were not for NHT, I would not be able to experience the trek's beautiful features. I am so thankful to NHT for arranging this wonderful and unique. All the credits go to your fantastic team for our wonderful experience in the Himalayas. We will revisit Nepal and have your company plan our next trip!