The warm heart of old Nepal

Outline Itinerary:

Detail Itinerary:

Day 1: arrive Kathmandu, transfer to Patan Inn (B&B)

Patan is the most rewarding of the old cities of Kathmandu with the best preserved Durbar Square, small streets rich in traditional architecture, a marvelous museum and the very best of the beautifully restored Newari inns for us to stay in. If your international flight is an afternoon arrival it is well worth adding an extra night at the wonderful Patan Inn to really make the most of it. This fabulous converted Newari town house has delightful rooms centred around a richly carved traditional courtyard with an excellent restaurant, one of many that are highly recommended in Patan. O/N Hotel in Patan.

Day 2: Drive to Nuwakot, Famous Farmhouse

We drive out of the Kathmandu valley and up the Trishuli River, with the last section on a jeep-trail to reach the historical town of Nuwakot, the original capital of unified Nepal under the Gorkhali king Prithivi Narayan Shah, on the trade route from Tibet to India. Just beyond the town is our delightful hotel, a beautifully converted traditional farmhouse, stone walls and intricately carved woodwork, looking out over the lush green valley below. This is Old Nepal at it’s very best, a place just to enjoy existence, sitting out on our balconies or the terrace draped in bougainvillea and orange trumpet vine. And did we mention that the food here is simply fantastic. O/N in Nuwakot Farm House.

Day 3: Visit historic Nuwakot, drive Brigand’s Bend.

After a gorgeous breakfast we stroll down to the old town and visit the fabulous 7-storey Nuwakot Durbar and its surrounding Malla style architecture. From here we are picked up to drive the short distance to our fantastic relaxing lodge back on the Trishuli River. We leave the vehicle and cross the river by a pedestrian bridge for a short walk to the hotel through paddy fields and banana plantations. We might take a dip in the pool, and after a delicious lunch, our guide can take us on an afternoon walk around the traditional farmland near the lodge. The benign Nepali climate allows multiple annual crops in these lush valleys, so there is always likely to be traditional ploughing, sowing or harvesting of one of the many crops to see. The villagers, with so little invasive tourism here, are ever so welcoming to any visitor who takes an interest in their lives and work. O/N in Brigand`s Bend in Kurintar.

Day 4: Drive up the Seti Khola River, walk to Ker & Downey Three Mountain Lodge

A short drive, ending on a jeep-track alongside the beautiful Seti Khola River, gets us to the start of today’s 4 hour walk through farmland and forest. As we gradually gain height the views of the mountains ahead open out until, approaching our lodge, we can see the full range of three spectacular 8000 metre peaks: Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. It is called Three Mountain Lodge for good reason. It is wonderfully

located to maximise this incredible view, with all the comfortable bedroom windows all focused on the peaks. O/N in Three Mountain Lodge.

Day 5: Walk to Bandipur Old Inn

We are usually in for a fantastic sunrise, and a hearty breakfast sets us up for our simple ridge walk on toward the peaks. A leisurely 4 hours brings us to the most delightful and best preserved village in Nepal, Bandipur. Though accessed by a good road from Pokhara, the success of this important Newari trading village now lies in the forethought of blocking traffic from its fantastic stone paved streets. The result is something of a rural idyll, the ebb and flow of village life; every town-house, every intricately carved temple adding to the perfect Old Nepal destination. Our hotel, the Old Inn distills this experience, cleverly converted to retain all the features of this important Newari merchant’s house. This means low doorways, intricate stairs, and cunningly converted bathrooms tucked into unexpected niches - very much part of the charm. Again the food is fantastic. O/N in Bandipur.

Day 6: Rest day in Bandipur Old Inn

Our recommendation for this rest day? Rest. There really is no better place for it. Wander round the village. Just be here - it’s fabulous. You won’t even miss the fantastic mountain views we have had in coming here - you can still see them pretty well just drinking coffee on the back terrace of the hotel. If you need to stretch your legs, maybe wander over to the wide ‘Tundikel’ park area with it’s fabulous Bodhi fig trees, especially if the sunset promises to tinge the whole range in pink. O/N in Bandipur.

Day 7: Drive to Pokhara, Fishtail Lodge (B&B)

The short drive to Pokhara brings us even nearer to the stunning peaks of the Annapurna range, particularly the perfect pyramid of sacred Machapuchare, the fishtail mountain. Along the shore of beautiful Phewa Tal Lake, Pokhara has a laid-back atmosphere and an abundance of very good restaurants. However, the famous Fishtail Lodge was the original lakeside hotel, so is genuinely Old Nepal, with it’s design-classic roundhouse rooms. This hotel established the town as the relaxed centre for Annapurna trekking. Now excellently restored, it’s unique location just across the lake, accessed by its own raftsmen, sets it apart as a haven of lakeside tranquility. Sunset sitting out on the terrace with the

backdrop of the mountains will be a lasting memory - mine’s a Campari Soda, thank you.

Day 8: Pokhara rest or activity day, Fishtail Lodge (B&B)

Today there are many things that we could do if we want to - hiking, biking or driving to local viewpoints. Leisurely paddling around the beautiful lake in the traditional Pokhara-style boats has to be high up the list, the lush forested shores full of mysterious wildlife, cranes, monkeys and buffalo coming down to drink. Or we could equally do little but enjoy the lakeside town itself, garden bars and terraced restaurants, maybe some light shopping for souvenirs? Pokhara has it all. O/N in Pokhara.

Day 9: Fly Ktm, Gokarna Forest Resort

The morning flight to Kathmandu and a short drive brings us to one last fabulous destination, the protected 470 acre Gokarna Forest, a haven of peace and beauty nestled in the Kathmandu valley. The hotel is comfortable and luxurious, with indoor pool, spas, golf course and fantastic restaurants, but the highlight will always be the forest itself. Huge mature fig trees dominate the site, and fallow deer and myriad other wildlife roam these former private hunting grounds of Nepal’s rulers. Departure day: early forest walk, drive to airport and depart Kathmandu

The dawn walk in the forest, the best time to see wildlife, makes one last fantastic memory of this unforgettable Old Nepal itinerary. O/N Hotel in Gorkarna.

Day 10: Final Departure

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight towards your final destination