Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m/4,264 ft)
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath
Day 03: Fly to Jhapa then Drive to Ilam: 45 minutes flight, 3 hours drive
Day 04: Ilam and Kanyam Tea Gardens tour
Day 05: Drive to Bhadrapur then fly back to Kathmandu
Day 06: Sightseeing in Patan and Bhaktapur and Sunrise or Sunset views from Nagarkot
Day 07: Final departure
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m/4,264 ft)
Upon our arrival in Kathmandu, Snow Leopard Trek will arrange to pick you up from the airport. You will then be transferred to hotel.Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath
After breakfast, we begin our sightseeing tour by visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites within Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square showcases Nepalese art and architecture at its best. The architecture is typical of the Malla dynasty who ruled over Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century. Swayambhunath Temple is popular among the foreigners as the Monkey Temple owing to the large monkey population residing in the area. Pashupatinath Temple is situated on the banks of river Bagmati and is one of the principal temples of Lord Shiva. The Bauddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in South Asia which is built on the ancient trade route to Tibet.
Day 03: Fly to Jhapa then Drive to Ilam: 45 minutes flight, 3 hours drive
We fly to the Bhadrapur Airport in Jhapa in the morning. From there, we drive to Ilam, a beautiful hill town famous for its tea gardens. Owing to its temperate climate, low green hills and fertile lands, Ilam is also known as the queen of hills in Nepal. Overnight in Ilam.
Day 04: Ilam and Kanyam Tea Gardens tour
We begin the day by watching the sunrise over the eastern Himalayas. Then, we visit the Kanyam Estates which has been used for tea production for over hundred years. The Kanyam Estates produces a dark, smoky-flavored black tea similar to the Darjeeling variety in India. The area is also a great place to picnic, sightsee and sample fine teas. Today, we also enjoy strolling in the streets of Ilam Bazaar and Maipokhari. Overnight in Ilam.
Day 05: Drive to Bhadrapur then fly back to Kathmandu
We retrace our route back to Bhadrapur, Jhapa then fly back to Kathmandu. After reaching Kathmandu, we can spend the rest of the day resting or souvenir shopping in Thamel, a popular tourist hub in Kathmandu. Snow Leopard Trek also likes to mention that if you wish to extend your trip to Darjeeling from Bhadrapur then the trip can be arranged.
Nepal’s border with India lies about 15 kilometers east of Bhadrapur and Bhadrapur is only one and a half hour drive from the Bagdogra airport and Siliguri in India. Siliguri is also the gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim, and the north-eastern Indian states. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 06: Sightseeing in Patan and Bhaktapur and Sunrise or Sunset views from Nagarkot
Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Patan Durbar Square is rich in ancient arts and architecture. We also visit Bhakatpur, an irresistible city with an authentic local lifestyle preserved over centuries of isolation from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. While in the city square, we get to admire the Nyata-Pola Temple, the Golden Gate, water spouts and the 55 Window Palace which merge together to provide an ambience of a magical outdoor theater to its visitors. We also immerse ourselves in the authentic delicacy of the locals in Bhaktapur.
Today we also visit Nagarkot, a village in Bhaktapur which sits at 7,200 ft and boasts stunning Himalayan vistas. It is also renowned for its sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas. Depending on your choice, we will visit Nagarkot either for sunrise or for sunset.
Day 07: Final departure
Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A representative from Snow Leopard Trek will take you to the airport approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight.