There is an optional Mount Everest flight (subject to weather conditions). Climbing Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, is an arduous journey that takes several months, and even longer to plan for. Yet if seeing Everest up close is on your bucket list, you will want to opt for a Mount Everest flight that will fly you near Everest. Indulge in the panorama and maybe, just maybe, you might realize what you have been missing, or find what you have been looking for, all this while. Replete with stunning views of the mountains as you fly over the range, the Mount Everest flight starts at 6 am early in the morning, Mount Everest is 20 miles from your window, and 50-minute flight is truly an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. After all, a holiday to Nepal might be incomplete without the Mount Everest flight which makes it beautiful.
Today, explore Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley, visiting the prominent holy sites Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupa. You’ll also visit Kathmandu Durbar Square. All these sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll be accompanied by a driver and an experienced English-speaking guide who can describe each site's history and cultural significance.
The Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kathmandu’s number one tourist attraction swarms with life. Though a few of the square’s 50-plus monuments date from the 12th century, most are from the time of the Malla Kings. Probably the most famous building here is the Kumari Bahal, a building richly decorated with beautiful woodcarvings, which is home to the Royal Kumari, the Living Goddess, and a manifestation of the great goddess Durga. Nearby the former Royal Palace is a Mall Dynasty dwelling, once considerably more extensive than today. Within, the courtyard Nassal Chowk, originally hosted dramatic dance performances, now it is the coronation site of the Shah kings and contains some of the finest wood carvings you will see anywhere in the kingdom. The 14th-century Jagannath Mandir is the oldest temple in the area, its steps carved with inscriptions in many languages, nearby Taleju Mandir is one of the largest and finest temples in the Valley. It is dedicated to the patron deity of the royal family, Taleju Bhawani, a wrathful form of Durga who once demanded human sacrifices.
Then, continue your visit to Swayambhunath, the most ancient and enigmatic of the Valley’s holy shrines the golden-spired stupa of Swayambhunath tops a wooded hillock. Records of its history date as far as the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be older. It is the Kathmandu Valley’s most sacred Buddhist shrine and whilst its worshippers include the Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, Newari Buddhists are the most fervent devotees. Later, continue to the Bouddhanath, where you will see one of the largest stupas in Nepal. A small Tibetan settlement has developed around this important religious sight. Many Tibetan Buddhist festivals take place here, and you can visit the Tibetan monastery close by.
Overnight at the hotel.
Rating: 5 / 5 Kate Sun, 9 Sep, 18
Classic Nepal
Fantastic value for money.
Planning of the tour was faultless and everyone we met was friendly and helpful.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the standard of the hotels. Every hotel provided kettles and tea/coffee in the rooms as well as excellent hot showers and wi-fi. There was a good cooked breakfast every day.
The trip was really varied. History, hustle-bustle and huge potholes in the road in Kathmandu; tourist shops, beautiful mountain views and great activities in Pokhara (we did para-gliding & white water rafting); and a fabulous dug-out canoe trip down the river at Chitwan, plus a jeep and a walking safari.
Loved it all!
Rating: 5 / 5 Dave Jordan Mon, 10 Feb, 20
Classic Nepal tour
Feb 10th 2020
Lumle’s ‘Classic Nepal’ tour was an eye opening experience with a trip that outdid our expectations. From the word go’ the company responded quickly to all queries and the booking process was simple and well managed. The whole tour ran like clockwork from an excellent choice of flights with minimum changeover time at Dubai, being met and escorted to our hotel in Kathmandu and picked up each day by our guide for the week Gita who looked after us and answered all our questions.
The hotels were well chosen in terms of their situation and of a higher standard than we had expected. The Nepalese are polite, helpful and always smiling, nothing is too much trouble, which in my case being garlic allergic meant that at the Chitwen National Park site included cooking me special portions so I did not lose out.
Travelling long distances at times between towns was well organised in that there were always enough loo breaks and food stops, every 2-3 hours at well chosen sites with ‘Western loos’ not just squats! Our chosen driver did a brilliant job negotiating both the busy highways and the more uneven surfaces of local roads.
Though the programme was packed full of tours with additional local guides it included ‘resting’ times so one never felt stretched to the limit and could enjoy times of rest and relaxation.
A memorable highlight will always be the site of the ‘Fishtail’ peak in the Annapurna range from our bedroom window at Pokhara.
With a myriad of places to eat nearby, food was never an issue and including beer never exceeded £10 a head.
This was a marvellous trip and thanks to Lumle’s organisation and itinerary a memorable one in which we made new friends from our small group of 12 co-tourists.
I look forward to booking my next trip with them and would not hesitate to recommend them – and compared to other companies their prices are non comparable – low on price but high on value. Can’t be beaten!
5 stars isn’t enough!