Classic Nepal Escape: 7 Days Luxury Kathmandu, Pokhara & Nagarkot Tour

Our representative meets you outside Tribhuvan International Airport with a flower garland and a warm welcome, right at the arrivals gate so you don't need to search for anyone in the crowd. Your driver helps carry and load your luggage and takes you into Kathmandu in your private, air-conditioned luxury car, a drive of about 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic and the time of day.

Check in at Dwarika's with a welcome drink handed to you as you step into the courtyard, and take a little time to settle into your room, unpack and freshen up. The hotel's quiet Newari courtyards make a gentle first impression of Nepal before the sightseeing begins.

Drive with your guide to Pashupatinath Temple, only about 10 minutes from the hotel, and spend time exploring the sprawling temple complex and the cremation ghats along the Bagmati River. This is Nepal's holiest Hindu site, alive with sadhus, pilgrims and daily rituals. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple itself but get a full, clear view of it from the far bank of the river, and your guide will explain the customs and beliefs behind what you see.

Continue to Boudhanath Stupa and walk slowly around its base as the sun goes down, one of the most atmospheric hours anywhere in the valley. This is one of the largest stupas in the world, and at this time of day it fills with monks in maroon robes, pilgrims turning prayer wheels, and thousands of butter lamps being lit around the dome. A cup of tea at a rooftop cafe overlooking the stupa is a lovely way to linger a little longer (own cost).

Return to your hotel for a relaxed first evening in Nepal. Dinner is at leisure and at your own cost, and our team is happy to reserve a table for you at one of Dwarika's restaurants or elsewhere in the city if you'd prefer to explore.

Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Dwarika's, then meet your guide in the lobby and set off for a full day of heritage sightseeing across three of the valley's historic centres.

Drive up to Swayambhunath, widely known as the Monkey Temple, and climb to the hilltop stupa with its painted all-seeing Buddha eyes watching over the city. Spin the long lines of prayer wheels as you go and take in sweeping views over the entire Kathmandu Valley from the top, along with the resident troops of monkeys that give the site its nickname.

Drive on to Patan and spend time in Patan Durbar Square, once the seat of the Malla kings, along with the Patan Museum and the ornate Golden Temple nearby. Wander the quiet lanes just off the square, where metalworkers still cast statues and ritual objects by hand using techniques passed down for generations.

Stop for lunch at a heritage courtyard restaurant in Patan, a peaceful spot to rest and eat surrounded by traditional Newari architecture (own cost). Your guide can suggest a few classic Nepali dishes worth trying if you'd like to sample local flavours.

Drive to Bhaktapur, the best-preserved of the valley's medieval cities, and explore Durbar Square, the towering five-storey Nyatapola Temple and the potters working by hand in Pottery Square, shaping clay much as they always have. Try Bhaktapur's famous king curd, a thick, sweet yoghurt the town is known for (own cost).

Return to your hotel after a rich and full day of sightseeing. The evening is free for a quiet dinner of your choosing (own cost) and a good rest before your flight day tomorrow.

Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Dwarika's before your flight day begins, with time to finish packing at an easy pace. Your driver will handle all of your luggage from the room to the vehicle.

Check out and drive to the domestic airport for your short 25-minute flight to Pokhara. Ask for a window seat if you can, as the route often gives fine views of the Himalayan range below the wing. The exact flight time depends on the airline's daily schedule and is confirmed closer to your trip.

Your driver meets you at Pokhara Airport with your name held up and takes you straight to Temple Tree Resort & Spa in Lakeside. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, and if your room is ready you can check in early and start relaxing right away.

Land in Pokhara, where your driver meets you and takes you to Temple Tree Resort & Spa (about 10 minutes). Welcome drink and, if your room is ready, an early check-in. If not, relax by the pool while it is prepared. Standard check-in is from 2:00 PM.

Lunch at leisure at a restaurant of your choosing (own cost). Your guide can point you toward a good lakeside spot within easy walking distance of the resort.

With your guide, visit Davis Fall, a dramatic waterfall where the stream suddenly disappears into a deep underground channel, and the sacred Gupteshwor Cave just across the road, home to a shrine and impressive limestone formations.

Take an easy, unhurried sunset walk along the shore of Phewa Lake, just a few minutes on foot from your resort, watching the light change over the water and the hills beyond. Dinner is at leisure afterwards (own cost).

Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Temple Tree with no early start required today, giving you a slow, relaxed morning to enjoy the resort's gardens or pool before heading out.

Board your own private boat on Phewa Lake and row or motor across to the island temple of Tal Barahi, one of Pokhara's most sacred and photographed sites. The short crossing is a highlight in itself, with the calm water often mirroring the surrounding hills and, on clear days, the Annapurna range.

Your luxury car meets you on the far shore and drives you up the hillside to the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa), a striking white monument built by Japanese Buddhist monks. From the top you get one of the best panoramas in Pokhara, taking in Phewa Lake, the city and the Annapurna range together.

Lunch at a lakeside cafe with views over the water, a relaxed way to spend the middle of the day (own cost).

Free time to swim, rest or enjoy a spa treatment (own cost). If you would like to see more, your guide can take you to Bindhyabasini Temple, the Old Bazaar or the International Mountain Museum.

Evening at leisure. Enjoy the sunset from the lakeside, then dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Our team can reserve a table (own cost).

Enjoy a final relaxed Luxury Breakfast at Temple Tree before checking out and heading up into the hills for a change of scenery.

Check out and drive up the winding road to Sarangkot Mountain Lodge, a scenic climb of about 40 minutes with the Pokhara valley opening up below you. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and meet your guide, who will talk you through the route ahead of your hike.

Set off on your guided hike from the lodge to Kaskikot Durbar, about 3 hours in total. The walk out takes roughly an hour through village paths and terraced fields, with the Annapurna range visible along the way on clear days. At Kaskikot, spend time exploring the old palace grounds and the Kalika temple, learning about the site's historical importance from your guide, before retracing the same route back to the lodge, another hour on foot.

Return to the lodge, check in to your mountain-view room, and take a well-earned break. Lunch is at leisure afterwards (own cost).

Free time in the afternoon to rest after the hike, take a dip, or book a spa treatment at the lodge (own cost).

Watch the sun set over the Pokhara valley and Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna range glowing pink and gold behind you from the lodge terrace. Dinner is at leisure (own cost).

Wake early and step onto your own private balcony to watch the sunrise light up Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) in turn, one of the signature moments of the whole trip. In winter the sun rises a little later, so we adjust your wake-up call accordingly.

Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at the lodge with one last unhurried look at the mountains before you head back down to Pokhara.

Check out and drive back down to Pokhara Airport for your 25-minute return flight to Kathmandu, again with fine Himalayan views from the window if the weather cooperates. As before, the exact flight time depends on the airline's schedule and is confirmed ahead of your trip.

Your driver meets you on arrival in Kathmandu and drives you up into the hills toward Nagarkot, a journey of roughly 1.5 to 2 hours through terraced fields and small roadside villages. There's a stop for lunch along the way at your own cost.

Check in at Mystic Mountain Resort with a welcome drink and a chance to rest and settle in after the day's travel. The rest of the afternoon is left free and unstructured

Watch the sun set over the Himalayan range, either from the resort grounds or from the nearby Nagarkot View Tower, a short drive away and one of the best vantage points in the area. Dinner is at leisure afterwards (own cost).

Wake for your second Himalayan sunrise of the trip, this time looking out over the Langtang range and, on clear days, Mount Everest itself in the distance. Hot tea or coffee is on hand while you watch the peaks slowly turn gold; the exact timing shifts a little depending on the season.

Enjoy a final Luxury Breakfast at Mystic Mountain Resort, taking in the mountains one last time before your journey back to Kathmandu

Check out and drive around 45 minutes to Changu Narayan Temple, one of the oldest temples in the entire Kathmandu Valley and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right. Take your time exploring the finely carved stone and wood details of the temple and strolling through the peaceful hilltop village that surrounds it.

Drive on to Kathmandu airport, about an hour, in time for your onward international journey. We recommend booking your international flight for 3:00 PM or later so there's a comfortable buffer after the drive down from Nagarkot.