Fourteen nights that cover most of what Nepal does best without altitude. Three nights in Kathmandu, a Himalayan sunrise at Dhulikhel, a night in car-free Bandipur, three in Pokhara, three on safari in Chitwan, a night in Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha, and two more in Kathmandu to finish with Patan.
This is the journey we suggest to anyone with two weeks and one visit in mind. It begins in the Kathmandu Valley, whose seven monument zones make up a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, then climbs to Dhulikhel for sunrise on the Himalaya and travels west by road through Bandipur, an old Newar trading town on the India–Tibet route with no cars in its bazaar. Pokhara follows, with three nights at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge on a ridge facing Machapuchare and the Annapurnas. The drives are real, up to 6 hours on the longest day, but each one ends somewhere worth the road.
The second week drops to the Terai. Three nights at Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari, give time for jeep safaris, canoe trips and a Tharu village in Chitwan National Park. Then Lumbini, birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, for the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar and the monasteries built by Buddhist nations. Lumbini has no luxury hotel; we book the best available and say so plainly. A 35-minute flight from Bhairahawa returns you to Kathmandu for two final nights at Dwarika's Hotel, with Patan saved for the last full day.
Highlights
Why this route works
The Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO monument zones with a private guide
Sunrise on the Himalaya from Dwarika's Resort Dhulikhel
A night in car-free Bandipur on the old India–Tibet trade route
Three nights of jeep and canoe safaris from Meghauli Serai in Chitwan
Early morning at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha
Day by day
The journey
Day01
Arrive in Kathmandu
Overnight: Kathmandu≈ 3 km · 15 minMeals: Dinner
We meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drive about 15 minutes to Dwarika's Hotel in Battisputali, where carved Newari windows and doors salvaged from old valley houses frame brick courtyards and a pool. The afternoon is free. In the early evening we walk with you to Pashupatinath, close to the hotel, to watch the aarti on the Bagmati from the eastern bank, opposite the cremation ghats; non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple. Over dinner your guide goes through the two weeks ahead.
Day02
Durbar Square and Swayambhunath
Overnight: KathmanduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
A full day in Kathmandu with a private guide. The morning begins at Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa reached by a long stone stairway, then moves to Kathmandu Durbar Square: Hanuman Dhoka, the old royal palace, and the Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess. Lunch is near the Garden of Dreams. The afternoon is in the old market streets of Asan and Indra Chowk, where spice sellers, brass merchants and bead traders work from shopfronts a few metres wide. Dinner is at Krishnarpan, Dwarika's Nepali tasting menu.
Day03
Kopan Monastery and Boudhanath
Overnight: KathmanduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
A gentler day in the Buddhist north-east of the valley. In the morning we drive up to Kopan Monastery on its hill, where monks and nuns study and the gardens look out over the valley; many foreign visitors come here for short meditation courses. In the afternoon we come down to Boudhanath, the great white stupa of the Tibetan quarter, for a long kora with pilgrims, a visit to a thangka painting studio and butter tea on a rooftop as the lamps are lit. The evening is free.
Day04
Bhaktapur and up to Dhulikhel
Overnight: Dhulikhel≈ 30 km · 1.5 hMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
We leave Kathmandu by way of Bhaktapur, 13 km east, and spend the morning there: Durbar Square with the 55-Window Palace and Golden Gate, Taumadhi Square with the five-tiered Nyatapola temple of 1702, Pottery Square and a clay bowl of juju dhau. Bhaktapur charges foreign visitors a municipal entry fee; check current status before you travel. After lunch we continue to Dwarika's Resort Dhulikhel at about 1,550 m, a wellness resort with yoga, meditation, a spa and an organic farm, in time for sunset on the Langtang and Gaurishankar ranges.
Day05
Dhulikhel to Bandipur
Overnight: Bandipur≈ 175 km · 6 hMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
Rise for sunrise yoga or simply the view; on clear mornings the Himalaya runs along the northern horizon. After breakfast comes the longest drive of the trip: back through the Kathmandu Valley, down to the Prithvi Highway and along the Trishuli river to Dumre, then up the side road to Bandipur at about 1,030 m, roughly 6 hours with lunch. Bandipur's bazaar of three-storey Newar houses is closed to cars. We stay at The Old Inn, a restored townhouse; it is the best simple heritage guesthouse here rather than a luxury hotel.
Day06
Bandipur to Pokhara
Overnight: Pokhara≈ 75 km · 2.5 hMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
An early walk up to Thani Mai temple on the hilltop above town for sunrise on Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Manaslu, then breakfast on the bazaar. Your guide can take you down the old stone trail to Siddha Gufa, a large cave about 1.5 hours below the town, with the car waiting at the bottom. Then about 2–2.5 hours west on the Prithvi Highway to Pokhara and up to Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, stone cottages on a ridge above the valley with a pool and a long view of the Annapurnas.
Day07
Sarangkot and Phewa Lake
Overnight: PokharaMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
An early drive to Sarangkot, about 1,600 m, for sunrise on Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m) and Machapuchare (6,993 m). Later, a wooden boat across Phewa Lake to the island temple of Tal Barahi and a walk of about 45 minutes up to the World Peace Pagoda at about 1,100 m for the view back over the lake. Lunch is at Lakeside; the afternoon is back at the lodge for the pool or one of its guided village walks. Tandem paragliding from Sarangkot is possible this morning or tomorrow.
Day08
A walk in the Annapurna foothills
Overnight: Pokhara≈ 25 km · 1 hMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A taste of the Annapurna foothills without a trek. We drive to Kande and walk about 1.5 hours up through forest to Australian Camp at 2,060 m, a grass terrace facing Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare, then down to Dhampus, a Gurung village at around 1,650 m, for lunch in a teahouse. The car meets us on the road below the village. Walking time is 4–5 hours in all, much of it on stone steps. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is needed and included; check current status before you travel.
Day09
Drive to Chitwan
Overnight: Chitwan≈ 165 km · 5 hMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
About 5 hours south: the Prithvi Highway to Mugling, then the Trishuli and Narayani rivers down to Narayangarh on the flat Terai, and west to Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari, on the Rapti River at the western side of Chitwan National Park. We stop for lunch on the way. The lodge's design draws on Tharu village architecture, and its pool faces the river and the park beyond. In the late afternoon a naturalist leads a short walk along the riverbank, where rhino often graze on the far side.
Day10
Jeep safari in Chitwan
Overnight: ChitwanMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A full day in Nepal's first national park, set up in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. We leave at first light by jeep into sal forest and tall grassland in search of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted and sambar deer, wild boar and, with luck, sloth bear or leopard. Tigers are present but rarely seen. A packed lunch lets us stay out through the middle of the day if the animals are moving. Park fees are about NPR 2,000 per day for foreigners; check current status before you travel.
Day11
Canoe and Tharu village
Overnight: ChitwanMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning by dugout canoe down the Rapti with a naturalist, for gharial and mugger crocodiles on the sandbanks and kingfishers, storks and herons along the banks. Then a guided walk back to the lodge. In the afternoon we visit a Tharu village near Meghauli to see mud-walled houses with painted granaries and learn about the people who farmed the Terai for centuries, long before malaria control in the 1950s opened it to settlers from the hills. The evening is for the river and the pool.
Day12
Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha
Overnight: Lumbini≈ 140 km · 4 hMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
About 4 hours west along the East-West Highway through Butwal to Lumbini at around 100 m. In the afternoon we visit the Sacred Garden: the Maya Devi Temple, built over the marker stone said to show the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama; the Ashoka Pillar, erected around 249 BCE; and the Puskarini pond, where his mother Maya Devi is said to have bathed. As the light drops, walk along the central canal to the eternal flame. Lumbini has no luxury hotel, so tonight is at the best available hotel near the Sacred Garden.
Day13
Monasteries and the flight back
Overnight: Kathmandu≈ 22 km · 40 minMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
An early start in the monastic zone, where Buddhist nations have built monasteries in their own styles, among them the German, Chinese, Thai, Myanmar and Korean temples, as well as the Lumbini World Peace Pagoda. Tilaurakot, the ruins of the Kapilavastu palace 27 km west, is an alternative for those interested in archaeology. Around midday we drive about 22 km to Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa for the 35-minute flight to Kathmandu, and are back at Dwarika's Hotel by late afternoon.
Day14
Patan and a last evening
Overnight: KathmanduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner
The last full day goes to Patan, 5 km south across the Bagmati: Durbar Square, the stone Krishna Mandir of 1637, the Patan Museum in Keshav Narayan Chowk, the Golden Temple and the Kumbheshwar temple. Patan's lanes are full of metalworkers, and we visit a lost-wax casting workshop to see bronze figures made by the same method used for centuries. Patan has no luxury hotel, which is why we return to Dwarika's for the night. The farewell dinner is at the hotel.
Day15
Depart Kathmandu
Overnight: Departure≈ 3 km · 15 minMeals: Breakfast
Breakfast and the 15-minute drive to Tribhuvan International Airport with your guide. If you fly late, there is time for one more site: Changu Narayan, one of the oldest temples in the valley, on a ridge about 6 km north of Bhaktapur, or a last kora at Boudhanath. We aim to reach the airport three hours before an international departure, and earlier during Dashain and Tihar in October and November, when the terminal is at its busiest.
Drawn by Tales of Luxury from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.
Included
14 nights: 5 at Dwarika's Hotel, 1 at Dwarika's Resort Dhulikhel, 1 at The Old Inn in Bandipur, 3 at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, 3 at Meghauli Serai, 1 at the best available hotel in Lumbini
Daily breakfast and dinner; full board at Meghauli Serai
Private car and driver throughout; private guide for touring
Jeep safari, canoe trip, guided walks and Tharu village visit in Chitwan, with park fees
ACAP permit for the Australian Camp walk
Flight Bhairahawa–Kathmandu
Monument and site entry fees on guided touring
Not included
International flights and Nepal visa fees
Paragliding and spa treatments
Drinks, and lunches outside Chitwan and the walking day
Four longer drives, of 2.5–6 hours, link the hills and the Terai; roads are slow, with roadworks on the Prithvi Highway.
Bandipur and Lumbini have no luxury hotels; the nights there are in the best simple places available.
Lumbini often passes 38 °C from April to June, and December and January mornings are often foggy.
Bhaktapur's entry fee and Chitwan's park fees change; check current status before you travel.
Indian nationals need no visa; most other nationalities buy a visa on arrival in Kathmandu (check current status before you travel).
We do not book elephant rides in Chitwan.
Dress modestly for temples and monasteries, remove shoes where asked and walk clockwise around stupas.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is two weeks enough to see Nepal?
Two weeks covers the main lowland and mid-hill sights well: the Kathmandu Valley, Dhulikhel, Bandipur, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini. It does not include the Everest region or Mustang, which each need 7–10 more days because of flights and altitude. If you want both, we suggest this route on a first visit and a mountain journey on a second.
Where do we stay in Lumbini?
At the best available hotel near the Sacred Garden, which is clean and comfortable but not luxury; Lumbini has no luxury hotel. We keep the stay to one night and plan sightseeing for the cooler early morning and late afternoon. If you would rather not stay, we can visit Lumbini as a long day from Chitwan, though that means about 8 hours on the road.
How much driving is there on this route?
Five road days: Kathmandu to Dhulikhel via Bhaktapur (about 1.5 hours at the wheel), Dhulikhel to Bandipur (about 6 hours), Bandipur to Pokhara (2–2.5 hours), Pokhara to Chitwan (about 5 hours) and Chitwan to Lumbini (about 4 hours). Hill roads are slow and winding. The only domestic flight is the 35-minute hop from Bhairahawa back to Kathmandu.
What is special about Bandipur?
Bandipur is an old Newar trading town at about 1,030 m on the former India–Tibet route, with a bazaar of brick and timber houses that is closed to cars. It sits on a ridge with views of Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Manaslu from Thani Mai temple on clear mornings. It breaks the long drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara and shows small-town hill life at walking pace.
What is the best time for this two-week journey?
October to March, with February, March, October and November best overall. Autumn is clearest for the mountains; February and March bring good Chitwan visibility after grass-cutting and comfortable days in Lumbini. December and January are cold in the hills and foggy on Terai mornings. From April Lumbini and Chitwan turn hot, and June to September is monsoon.
Can non-Buddhists visit Lumbini and Boudhanath?
Yes. Both welcome visitors of every faith. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove shoes inside monasteries and the Maya Devi Temple, and walk clockwise around stupas. Photography is not allowed inside the Maya Devi Temple and some shrines, and your guide will point these out. Boudhanath is at its most atmospheric at dusk, when the lamps are lit.
Is this itinerary suitable for older travellers?
Yes. Nothing on the route goes above about 2,060 m, and the one half-day walk, to Australian Camp, is optional. The main strain is the road time and the stone steps at Swayambhunath and the Peace Pagoda. Hotels help with bags, and the pace allows rest afternoons. Tell us about mobility needs in advance and we will adjust the plan.
Can we add Everest views to this journey?
Yes, easily. The Everest mountain flight leaves Kathmandu at dawn, flies along the range for about an hour without landing and returns in time for breakfast; we fit it into one of the Kathmandu mornings. A helicopter tour with a brief landing near Kala Patthar, weather permitting, takes 4–5 hours and adds a full day to the trip.
How much does a two-week luxury trip to Nepal cost?
This fourteen-night journey starts from about ₹6,20,000 per person, twin sharing, at Dwarika's in Kathmandu and Dhulikhel, Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge and Meghauli Serai, with the best available rooms in Bandipur and Lumbini. That covers breakfast and dinner, full board in Chitwan, a private car and guide, safaris, park fees and the flight back from Bhairahawa.
Nepal in Depth: Valley, Hills and Terai14 nights · from ₹6,20,000 per personCheck dates and price
