1. Mount Everest Flight: 4 hours
The tour begins with an early morning pickup at 05:30 AM from your hotel in Kathmandu for a scenic mountain flight. The flight takes off from Kathmandu and usually lasts between 50 minutes up to an hour.
During the flight, you will catch a glimpse of 20 of the highest peaks to the East of Nepal starting from the Langtang Lirung peak which is the closest peak to Kathmandu, then move towards Mt. Everest in the East and finally fly to Chamlang peak. From there, the plane takes a turn and the passengers get a second look at the view while they make their way back to Kathmandu.
After the travelers are back in Kathmandu, they are taken back to their respective hotels for some rest and their morning breakfast.
2. Kathmandu Durbar Square: 1 hour
After breakfast, the travelers then board their private vehicle to move towards Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is one of the three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the valley that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although the construction of the square began in the third century, the major structures within it were added in later periods.
The outer complex consists of a number of 16th-century temples built during the reign of Malla kings. These buildings are adorned with meticulously carved facades characteristic to Newari architecture.
A three-story temple called Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal is located at the southern edge of the Durbar square. This Malla-era temple is used as the residence of the Kumari, a young girl worshiped as a living embodiment of the Hindu Goddess Durga.
3. Swaymbhunath Stupa: 1 hour
The tour then moves towards Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple that features a large Stupa known as the Mahachaitya. The Tibetan name for the site means Sublime Trees, for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. Swayambhu, meaning self-sprung.
For the Buddhist Newars, in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice Swayambhu occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudha. Swayambhu is the Hindu name. The hilltop also offers you a 360 degree view of the valley.
4. Pashupatinath Temple: 1 hour
You will then board the private vehicle to move towards Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus. The temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is located in Kathmandu, Nepal near the Bagmati River.
This temple was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. This “extensive Hindu temple precinct” is a “sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river”, and is one of seven monument groups in UNESCO’s designation of Kathmandu Valley.
The temple is built on an area of 246 hectares and includes 518 mini-temples and a main pagoda house. The exact date of the temple’s construction is uncertain, but the current form of the temple was constructed in 1692 CE. According to Gopalraj Aalok Bhatta, the temple was built by Prachanda Deva, a Licchavi king. However, the existence of the temple is recorded as early as 400 CE.
5. Boudhanath Stupa: 1 Hour
The final halt of the tour will be at Boudhanath, the Stupa with the largest mandala. The stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. It is located on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner and continues to the ancient and smaller stupa of Chabahil named Charumati Stupa (often called “Little Boudhanath”).
Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers at Boudha Stupa for many centuries. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a large number of the Tibetan refugees migrated to Nepal and settled down around Boudhanath. The influx of the Tibetan refugees has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (Budhhist monasteries) around Boudha. As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The travelers will then again board the private vehicle to be dropped back to their hotel.
