Silver Triangle Nepal

A Swotah representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you through Kathmandu to your hotel. Kathmandu sits at 1,350 m in a broad valley ringed by hills, and the city's mix of medieval temples, honking traffic and Himalayan backdrop makes a strong first impression. After you check in and freshen up, your guide runs a welcome briefing covering the tour route, activity options and any personal preferences. The evening is free for a walk along Thamel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

A full day devoted to the four UNESCO-listed monuments of Kathmandu Valley. The tour begins at Boudhanath Stupa — one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and the spiritual heart of the Tibetan community in Nepal. Its giant mandala base and all-seeing eyes of the Buddha draw thousands of pilgrims who circumambulate the stupa at dawn and dusk, spinning prayer wheels along the route. From Boudhanath, the group moves to Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River — the holiest Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal. Non-Hindus may not enter the inner sanctum, but the cremation ghats, Sadhu sadhanas and evening Aarti ceremony visible from the eastern bank offer a profoundly moving window into Hindu life and death. After lunch, the tour visits Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka), the royal courtyard of the old Malla kings, where intricately carved temples, the Kumari Ghar (home of the Living Goddess), and the Taleju Temple rise from a single medieval plaza. The day closes at Swayambhunath Stupa — the Monkey Temple — perched on a hill west of the city, where the stupa's golden spire and painted eyes look out over the entire Kathmandu Valley. Note: heritage site entry fees are payable on the day and are not included in the base tour price.

The morning begins with the cable car ascent to Chandragiri Hill (2,551 m) on the southern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. On a clear day, the summit viewing platform reveals a breathtaking panorama stretching from Ganesh Himal and the Langtang range in the north, across the Manaslu and Annapurna massifs to the west, with Kathmandu Valley spread far below. A Bhaleshwar Mahadev temple at the summit is an active pilgrimage site popular with local devotees. Note: the cable car is an additional cost payable on site and is not included in the tour price. After descending, the group drives to Kirtipur, one of Nepal's oldest Newar towns, perched on a double-ridged hill southwest of Kathmandu. Kirtipur resisted the armies of Prithvi Narayan Shah longer than any other valley city, and its narrow flagstone lanes, the Uma Maheshwar Temple with its carved struts, the ancient Chilancho Stupa, and the Bagh Bhairav Temple with its collection of historic weapons all repay a leisurely afternoon. The pace is entirely different from Kathmandu's tourist quarters, and the valley views are outstanding. Return to Kathmandu for the night.

After breakfast the tour leaves Kathmandu by private vehicle on the Prithvi Highway, following the Trishuli River west through green gorge country before rising into broader valley farmland. The drive takes roughly six to seven hours, and there is a midway stop for tea and snacks at a roadside town. Pokhara sits at 850 m on the northern shore of Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna range rising directly behind the city to peaks over 8,000 m. On arrival the afternoon is free to settle in, walk the lakeside promenade and watch the mountains turn amber at dusk. Overnight in Pokhara.

A full day of Pokhara's main sights: a boat ride across Phewa Lake to the island Tal Barahi Temple, a stop at the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) on the ridge south of town for a panoramic view of the lake and the Annapurna massif, and an afternoon visit to Begnas Lake or Davis Falls and the Gupteshwor Cave. The Davis Falls channel disappears underground into a wide limestone cavern directly across the road, and Gupteshwor enshrines a natural Shiva lingam inside the cave. Lunch is at a lakeside cafe. The evening is free for Pokhara's restaurants and lakeside bars. Overnight in Pokhara.

The day starts before dawn with a drive up to the Sarangkot viewpoint (1,592 m) on the ridge above the northern edge of Pokhara. On a clear morning the sunrise turns Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8,091 m), Hiunchuli and the perfect pyramid of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) from grey to rose to blazing gold — one of the finest mountain panoramas in Nepal. After sunrise and breakfast back in Pokhara, the afternoon is open for optional adventure activities: tandem paragliding from Sarangkot gives a 30-minute soaring flight above Phewa Lake with the Himalaya as backdrop, while the zip-line above the Pokhara valley is one of the longest in Asia. A half-day white-water rafting trip on the Seti or Kali Gandaki river is also available. All activities are optional and at additional cost; your guide handles bookings and transfers.

Two good trekking options are offered for this day. The Poon Hill route heads from Nayapul (about 1,070 m) by vehicle and then on foot through terraced farmland to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m) and up the steep stone staircase to Ulleri (1,960 m), a Magar village with open views. The walk to Ulleri takes three to four hours of moderate uphill effort. The alternative is the Mardi Himal day hike from a trailhead near Phedi, an out-and-back through rhododendron and oak forest to the lower Mardi Himal viewpoints (around 2,500 m), returning to Pokhara the same evening. Your guide will recommend based on weather and group preference. Overnight at Ulleri teahouse (Poon Hill option) or Pokhara (Mardi option).

A second free day in Pokhara, included because the Pokhara region rewards extra time and the middle section of the tour can run longer depending on which trekking or activity options you chose. Use the morning for any optional activity you did not yet do: a sunrise paraglide, a kayak lesson on Phewa Lake, or a walk up to the Peace Pagoda without the previous group. The afternoon offers shopping for Tibetan crafts, singing bowls and Pashmina on Lakeside Road, or a final long lunch facing the mountains before the tour moves on. Overnight in Pokhara.

An early morning departure from Pokhara heads south on the Siddhartha Highway, dropping from the Pokhara valley (850 m) through increasingly tropical foliage to the Terai lowlands. The drive to Sauraha takes roughly four to five hours, arriving in time for lunch at the jungle lodge. Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important wildlife reserves in Asia, protecting one of the last viable populations of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. In the afternoon the group walks to the river bank to watch elephants bathing in the Rapti River, a seasonal activity that gives a close encounter with the park's resident elephant herd. Overnight in Chitwan (full board at lodge).

A full day of wildlife activities in Chitwan National Park, starting with an early morning jeep safari into the park's grasslands and riverine forest, the best hours for spotting one-horned rhino, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, mugger crocodile basking on sand bars and the rare Gangetic dolphin in the Narayani River. A dugout canoe crossing of the Rapti River adds a quieter wildlife perspective. After lunch at the lodge the group visits the Elephant Breeding Centre near Sauraha, where young elephants and their mothers are managed under the national park authority. The afternoon ends with a Tharu village walk and a Tharu cultural dance programme, one of the clearest windows into the indigenous culture of the Terai. Overnight in Chitwan (full board).

An early departure from Chitwan heads north and east back toward the Kathmandu Valley, a drive of roughly five to six hours. On arrival in the valley the group turns east rather than into Kathmandu city, climbing to Nagarkot (2,175 m) on the eastern rim of the valley. Nagarkot is a small ridge village known almost entirely for its Himalayan panorama: on a clear afternoon or dawn the view runs from Ganesh Himal and Langtang in the north west, through Dorje Lakpa and the Jugal range, to Gauri Shankar and Melungtse in the east. On the clearest mornings Mount Everest (8,849 m) is visible as a dark pyramid between nearer ridges. Check in and watch the last light on the mountains. Overnight in Nagarkot.

The day starts at dawn for the Himalayan sunrise from Nagarkot, with the snow peaks catching the first orange light before the valley below emerges from haze. After breakfast the group descends to Bhaktapur, 30 minutes by road, the best-preserved of the three medieval city kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur Durbar Square holds the 55-Window Palace, the Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka), and the Vatsala Durga Temple; the pottery square and the Dattatreya Square add quieter corners. After lunch the tour continues to Patan Durbar Square, where the Krishnamandir (a stone pagoda to Krishna), the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (the Golden Temple) and a row of the valley's finest bronze and stone craftsmanship make for an afternoon of genuine depth. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a leisurely free day in Kathmandu dedicated to shopping and exploring at your own pace. Visit the vibrant streets of Thamel, the city's most popular shopping district, where you can browse a wide variety of local handicrafts, pashmina shawls, singing bowls, prayer flags, handmade jewelry, Lokta paper products, Nepali tea, coffee, and trekking gear. You may also explore the traditional markets of Asan Bazaar or the shopping streets of New Road and Durbar Marg for additional souvenirs and local products. Take a break for lunch at one of the many cafés or restaurants in the area before continuing your shopping or simply relaxing at a café. In the evening, return to the hotel to pack your purchases, reflecting on the memorable experiences of your journey through Nepal. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

A free morning for last-minute shopping in Thamel or a final walk through the city. Kathmandu's Thamel district has the widest range of trekking gear, pashmina, thanka paintings, Tibetan jewellery, and fixed-price souvenir shops in Nepal. A Swotah representative will meet you at the hotel and drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. If you would like to extend the tour to Lumbini, the Annapurna trek, or Everest Base Camp, ask your guide about adding days.