Quick Escape – Nepal

Once you have cleared the formalities of customs, immigration, you step into the receiving area where you will be met by our Nepalese Guide and escorted to the Yak & Yeti. “Namaste” is the greeting you will receive from the friendly Nepalese people, a traditional Hindu greeting, derived from Sanskrit, which means “I salute the soul (God?) within you.” While in Kathmandu, you will be staying at the iconic Yak & Yeti Hotel, in the heart of Kathmandu. The hotel is built around the All Durbar, the old palace of the Rana Dynasty. Through the years it has been the place to stay for royalty, heads of state, Hollywood celebrities and many mountaineering expeditions bound for Everest and the high Himalaya. With fine restaurants, shops and even a casino, the Yak & Yeti is the epitome of style in Kathmandu.

In the afternoon we will take a walking tour of “old Kathmandu.” It is an unforgettable experience to wander the mysterious bazaars of old Kathmandu, the Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka, the ancient palace of the Gorkha Kings and, of course, Kathmandu’s incomparable bazaars.

(Yak & Yeti Hotel; B)

The legendary locale of Kathmandu conjures images of the ultimate mysterious and exotic travel destination. Located in Central Nepal, the Kathmandu Valley is the center of Nepali cultural and political life. Indeed, the Kathmandu Valley has been a hub of civilization for over two millennia. Kathmandu is living history, where the modern and ancient continue to mingle.

The eyes of the Lord Buddha gaze serenely upon the Kathmandu Valley from atop the photogenic stupa at Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, for reasons that will become apparent when you visit. Swayambhunath is steeped in mythology, linked to the bodhissatva Manjushri, with historical links back to the 5th century. You can climb the stupa’s 365 steps with Buddhist pilgrims and join them in their ritual circumambulation. Views of the Kathmandu Valley from Swayambhunath are spectacular.

Kathmandu is also home to the great Hindu temple at Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. This is a major pilgrimage site for the followers of Shiva, drawing Hindu faithful from around the world. Although the temple is off-limits to non-Hindus, travelers can still visit the temple precincts and view the temple from the opposite bank of the Bagmati. From here, one can see the temple’s cremation ghats and witness firsthand the Hindu cycle of life.

(Yak & Yeti; B, L, D)

You rise early this morning for the dawn Mt. Everest-view flight with a Sherpa Climber as your guide. These turbo-prop pressurizedaircraft have been specially outfitted with large viewing windows (every passenger has a window seat) and follow a flight path that parallels the high Himalaya all the way to Everest and back (you will also be invited into the cockpit for a short duration).

Accompanying you on the flight will be one of the sherpas who has climbed Everest. Your Sherpa guide will keep you informed of all the names and climbing routes of the peaks as you fly by them. On return to your hotel, have breakfast with the Sherpa Guide and get all your questions on climbing Everest answered. Although Nepal is the world’s only Hindu kingdom, the Buddhist faith is prevalent throughout the country. Indeed, some of Kathmandu’s most renowned sites are Buddhist.

The large Buddhist stupa at Bodnath, a World Heritage Site, isequally renowned. The stupa is one of the world’s largest, dating back to the 6th century. Located on the old trade route from Nepal to Tibet, Bodnath is also home to a sizeable Tibetan community and is a wonderful place to witness traditional Buddhist ritual, as well as to shop for Tibetan arts and crafts.

(Yak & Yeti Hotel; B)

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pokhara.

On arrival in Pokhara, you will be transferred to the Fishtail Lodge. Nestled in the Pokhara Valley, the city of Pokhara is surrounded by the towering Himalaya, including several of the range’slegendary peaks – Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, the iconic fish-tail peak of Machhapucchare, and of course, the redoubtable Annapurnas.

You can spend the remainder of the day exploring Pokhara and walking around the bazaar.

(Fishtail Lodge; B)

You have two full days to revel in the glory of the mighty Himalaya as you visit sites and go on hikes around Pokhara; your guide candiscuss specific options with you. One evening, take a sunset boat ride on Lake Pehwa.

One morning, row across the lake and then hike up to the World Peace Pagoda giving you a bird’s eye-view of Pokhara City and the Valley. A short (1- to 1.5-hour) strenuous hike, almost all of it straight uphill. There are a hundred Peace Pagodas built around the world and this one in Nepal was actually the 71st Pagoda that was constructed. This project initiated soon after World War II by Nichidatsu Fujii, a Japanese monk, who was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, to inspire World Peace. There are three Pagodas built in the U.S. – San Francisco; Grafton, NY; and Leverett, MA. On the way back across the lake stop at the very active Parahi temple, built on a small island in the middle of the lake.

(Fishtail Lodge; B)

You will make the return flight to Kathmandu. Delve deeper into the history of the Kathmandu Valley, visiting the ancient temple city of Bhaktapur and nearby Patan, including the rug-weaving center of Refugee Tibetans, before heading to downtown Kathmandu to check in to your familiar hotel. The evening is at your leisure.

(Yak & Yeti Hotel; B)

We will be transferred to Kathmandu’s airport in time for your outbound flight.