Classic Nepal
Nine days across Nepal's classic triangle — medieval capitals, a lake town under Annapurna, and jungle with one-horned rhinos.
- Duration
- 9 d
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max altitude
- 1500 m
- Starts in
- Kathmandu
- Group size
- 3–21
- From
- $900
About this route
Nepal fits into a strip 800 by 200 kilometres between India and Tibet, but inside that strip the altitude ranges from 60 to 8848 metres. The south is subtropical jungle with tigers and rhinos. The centre is the Kathmandu Valley with three medieval city-kingdoms. The north is a wall of eight-thousanders. This route covers the lower and middle altitude zones, showing the country in its base mode — no mountaineering.
Nine days are split across four stops: Kathmandu (1400 m) — Pokhara (820 m) — Chitwan (150 m) — Nagarkot (2175 m). No multi-day treks, no nights above 2200 metres, no physical effort beyond "a walk with a camera". This is the format for people who want to see Nepal without committing to Everest Base Camp. For families with children over 8, for travellers recovering from heavier loads, for a first introduction to the country.
The content is specific places: Durbar Square in Kathmandu (UNESCO, partially damaged by the 2015 earthquake and under restoration), the Pashupatinath cremation ghats on the Bagmati river, the 36-metre-diameter Boudhanath stupa, sunrise from Sarangkot over Phewa Lake with Annapurna and Machhapuchhre on the horizon, jeep and canoe safari in Chitwan National Park (UNESCO, 953 sq km, with Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinos), medieval Bhaktapur (Durbar Square, the Nyatapola temple of 1702), and the hill town of Nagarkot with a panorama from Dhaulagiri to Everest on a clear day.
This is not a spiritual transformation or an endurance test. It is nine days of a country that resembles nothing else within a thousand-kilometre radius.
Day by day
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
1,400 m8 h on trail200 km
- Day 4
- Day 5
5 h on trail135 km
- Day 6
- Day 7
1 h on trail20 km
- Day 8
2 h on trail32 km
- Day 9
Gallery
Safety and health
What you need to know before the route
Physical requirements
The route is rated difficulty 3 out of 10. This is not a trek. The maximum physical exertion is 2–4 hours of walking per day through the city or parks, with minimal elevation gain.
What you need to be able to do
Walk 2–4 hours a day on urban or parkland terrain with a day bag or camera
Climb narrow staircases in medieval temples (Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath) — some steps are high and uneven
Endure long drives (Day 3 — up to 8 hours to Pokhara; Day 7 — up to 6–7 hours)
Sit in a canoe for 1.5–2 hours in Chitwan
Rise at 4:30 for two dawn departures (Sarangkot, Nagarkot)
Altitude sickness
The route does not exceed 2,175 metres (Nagarkot). At this altitude, symptoms of altitude sickness are almost never encountered. No special acclimatisation is required.
Who this route suits
Families with children aged 8+
No upper age limit, provided basic mobility is present
First-time visitors to Nepal without a mountaineering background
Recovery after exertion, post-trekking decompression
Who this route does not suit
Those who cannot tolerate long car journeys (consider the option with domestic flights)
Those who handle heat and high humidity poorly (Chitwan in April–June can reach +38 °C at 80% humidity)
What we recommend
Basic fitness — able to walk for 1 hour on uneven ground without difficulty
Vaccinations 4–6 weeks before departure: hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus (to be agreed with an infectious disease specialist)
Chitwan has officially been malaria-free since 2007, but repellents are mandatory (mosquitoes and ticks in the grass)
Equipment
This is not a trek. Little gear is needed.
Essential
Comfortable footwear for city walks — trainers or light trekking shoes. Shoes are often removed at temples, so choose footwear that is easy to slip off.
Light fleece jacket — mornings in Nagarkot and Pokhara are cool (even in summer, +10 °C at dawn)
Rain jacket or shell jacket — mandatory during the monsoon season (June–September); in other months as a precaution
Sun hat or wide-brim cap, UV-protective sunglasses
Sunscreen SPF 30+ (UV intensity at Sarangkot/Nagarkot is higher than in the city)
Repellent for Chitwan (DEET 25%+ or picaridin)
Light clothing for the Chitwan jungle — long sleeves and trousers to protect against insects, neutral colours (avoid bright red/yellow — attracts insects; avoid white — gets dirty)
Personal first-aid kit — anti-diarrhoea medication (loperamide), oral rehydration salts, antihistamine, your regular medications with a reserve supply, plasters
Recommended
Light binoculars for Chitwan
Camera with a good zoom for safari (300+ mm)
Closed shoes for the canoe (waterproof, not flip-flops)
Plug adapter for Indian/Nepali sockets (type C, D, M)
Power bank — power cuts in Pokhara and Chitwan do occur
Thin scarf or shawl for women — useful in temples
Not needed
Sleeping bag
Trekking poles
Heavy down jacket (rated for sub-zero temperatures)
Crampons, harness, rope — this is not a trek
Altitude regime
The route stays below 1500 m — under the altitude-sickness threshold (2500 m). No special acclimatization required.
Evacuation
The guide carries a link to Nepali rescue services and the insurance assistance line. The guide decides on evacuation at the first signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS) or injury. Each participant must hold insurance covering high-altitude evacuation up to 1500 m.
Before the trip
- Insurance covering high-altitude evacuation
- Medical clearance from a physician
- At least 4 weeks of cardio preparation
- Personal first-aid kit (we'll discuss the contents)
From
What's included
| Position | Currency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Base tour price (from, double occupancy) | USD | $900 |
Base tour price (from, double occupancy)
USD
$900
Optional extras
| Position | Currency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Domestic flight Kathmandu — Pokhara | USD | $120 | Optional |
Domestic flight Bharatpur — Kathmandu | USD | $100 | Optional |
Nepal visa (30 days, on arrival) | USD | $50 | Optional |
Single occupancy supplement | USD | $200 | Optional |
Tips for guides and drivers (recommended) | USD | $50 | Optional |
Lunches and dinners outside Chitwan (12–14 meals) | USD | $150 | Optional |
Domestic flight Kathmandu — Pokhara
USD
$120
OptionalDomestic flight Bharatpur — Kathmandu
USD
$100
OptionalNepal visa (30 days, on arrival)
USD
$50
OptionalSingle occupancy supplement
USD
$200
OptionalTips for guides and drivers (recommended)
USD
$50
OptionalLunches and dinners outside Chitwan (12–14 meals)
USD
$150
Optional
The total shown is per participant. The exact price depends on the chosen date and group size.
Upcoming dates
Departure calendar
FAQ
Yes, this is one of our most inclusive itineraries. The optimum age for children is 8+; younger children may tire from the long drives. There is no upper age limit: if you can walk on uneven ground for 2–3 hours and manage car journeys of 5–8 hours reasonably well, the tour is accessible. The early-morning departures for Sarangkot and Nagarkot are optional — the guide can arrange an alternative breakfast at the hotel instead.
It happens. By season: October–March, clear mornings occur on 70–80% of days; April–June, 40%; monsoon, 10–20%. If Sarangkot is overcast, we remain at the hotel and the day's programme shifts by one hour. There is no refund for 'an obstructed view' — this is weather, not our liability. The same principle applies at Nagarkot.
A passport valid for at least 6 months with one blank page. A Nepal visa is issued on arrival at Tribhuvan: 15 days — $30, 30 days — $50, 90 days — $125. Payment in cash USD only (ATMs in the arrivals hall are available but queues form). Prepare two passport-sized photos (3×4 cm). The application form is completed on the spot; your guide meets you after passport control.
Yes. The domestic flight takes 25 minutes instead of 7–8 hours, with a supplement of approximately $120 per participant. The same applies to the return from Chitwan: the Bharatpur–Kathmandu flight is 25 minutes, $90–110. We recommend flights for participants who do not travel well over long distances and for families with young children. Nepal's domestic airlines have their own incident history — the final decision rests with you.
Vegetarian cooking is the foundation of the Nepali diet. Dal bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables and pickles) is served at least once a day in any restaurant and does not become tiresome through repetition. A vegan diet is possible, but the lodges in Chitwan have a limited menu — please advise us in advance. Alcohol is freely available (Gorkha and Everest are local beer brands; Khukri is a local rum); it is prohibited in Chitwan lodges and on temple grounds.
$300–500 in small-denomination US dollars per participant. ATMs in Thamel and Lakeside dispense rupees (limit 35,000 NPR, approximately $260; fee 500 NPR). Visa/Mastercard is accepted at larger restaurants and shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but cash is simpler everywhere. In Chitwan there is an ATM, but it operates unreliably. Exchange rate approximately 133 NPR per $1 (2026).
WiFi is available in most hotels, with speeds of 5–20 Mbps (sufficient for messaging, insufficient for HD video calls). Local SIM cards from Ncell and Nepal Telecom are sold at the airport for $5–10 for 10 GB over 28 days; a passport is required. 4G coverage exists in Chitwan and Nagarkot, and is stable in Pokhara. WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal work without a VPN — this is not Tibet.
A tiger — unlikely (5–10% per safari day, under ideal conditions). What you will almost certainly see: the one-horned rhinoceros (population approximately 750 in the park; on average 2–4 sightings per safari day), spotted deer, monkeys (macaques, langurs), a wide variety of birds, crocodiles and gharials in the river. What is possible: wild elephant, sloth bear, wild boar. What is rare: tiger, leopard, Ganges river dolphin. A safari in Chitwan is 'fortune for birds and mammals', not a guaranteed tiger sighting.
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