Notes

Day 1: Kathmandu - Explore Downtown

Schedule (in advance) a driver for airport pickup and the stops for this day, and for the stops the following day (2 days) with your Hotel, Nepal Pavilion Inn (2 nights).
Go to the tourist ticket center to buy your ticket for Pashupatinath Temple for a small fee and request an English speaking guide. It is no cost for the guide, but tips are highly recommended. Experience a ritualistic cremation at the river, the guide will explain what is happening.
Have the driver take you to Boudhanath Stupa (religious Buddhist temple) and have lunch here at the Roadhouse Cafe with views of the stupa and the Himalayan mountains.
Have the driver drop you off at the top of Monkey Temple/Swayambhunath and ask for pick up at the bottom.
Stop at Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square & museum) you don’t need to hire a guide here even though they will try and get you to. Many of the items and buildings have explanations on the map.

Day 2: Mount Everest Flight-Seeing & Bhaktapur

In advance, book the daily 6:15am Mount Everest flight, Buddha Air "Everest Experience”. Everyone gets a window seat.
Drive to Bhaktapur Durbar Square for a tour (book day of) of the highlights (55 Window Palace, Taumadhi Temple, Nyatapola, Dattatreya Temple). Ask to see the paper shop, the art gallery/school, and healing bowl shop.
Return to Kathmandu for the evening; consider Irish Pub or Buddha Bar for a few drinks.

Days 3–5: Bardiya National Park (Rhino Lodge)

The night before, arrange a taxi to the airport (the hotel can help) for an early flight to Bardiya (book in advance)
Prebook 2 nights + transfer from and back to the airport with Rhino Lodge Bardiya. Why we chose Bardiya over the more widely known Chitwan: Chitwan is much busier, and honestly it isn’t as highly praised as Bardiya. If you want a real, wild, Nepalese jungle experience, with a better chance to see tigers, you will want to go to Bardiya. You’ll have the chance to see tigers, elephants, one horned rhino, deer, monkeys, leopards and more.
You’ll likely be offered a cultural show. We didn’t love this and wouldn’t recommend it. It is neat, but it is definitely a money grab. They want you to tip so they can pick up the tip while dancing. It was also awkward to just sit there and watch 20 people dance in front of you. You can watch or opt out.

Day 1 (Bardiya)

Jeep safari on arrival after checkin with wildlife viewing, packed lunch provided by lodge, dinner at the lodge.

Day 2 (Bardiya)

Breakfast at the lodge and then a full-day walking safari. Wear long pants to trek through the thicket and bring water. This day has the highest odds for tiger sightings, since you’re on foot. Guide instructions and safety briefing provided. Packed lunches in the park and dinner at the lodge. We walked about 11 miles this day, but if it’s your tour you can go at your pace. We did see a tiger at the very end of the day, and it was all worth it.

Day 3 (Bardiya)

Breakfast at the lodge and combination jeep and walking safari, more chance to see elephants and other wildlife. Note: some captive animals may be shown (working elephants in chains, tigers that were captured due to problems, etc.) research if you wish to avoid (we chose not to look, would rather spend the time seeing them in the wild and feel bad participating). Packed lunch in the park.
After safari, on way back to the airport, arrange to stop on the bridge with Gharials and Crocodiles.
Fly to Pokhara (book in advance).
In advance, arrange pickup from the hotel (2 nights) and check in for the night.

Day 6: Pokhara Arrival & City Sights

This morning, arrange a driver for the day, as well as the next, (2 days) for the stops around Pokhara from your hotel. You don’t need to get tickets in advance for anything this day.
Pumdikot Shiva Statue viewpoint. The second largest Shiva statue in Nepal with city views around you.
World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Devi's Falls (Davis Falls)
Return to the hotel and spend time in the pool with the amazing view of the whole city. Normally we wouldn’t prioritize time at the hotel but part of the experience is this view.

Day 7: Sarangkot & Fewa Lake

Arrange the driver to take you to Sarangkot for sunrise. Bring luggage as you are checking out of the hotel this day, you can leave in the vehicle.There are paragliding options available (e.g., Sunrise Paragliding). However, we backed out at the last minute after safety research.
Then, explore Fewa Lake with a boat tour to Tal Barahi Temple (book when you get there)
Enjoy lunch with Mountain View’s. Allow extra time for meal preparation in local restaurants as many will go buy the ingredients from the market after you order.
Have the driver take you to the airport for flight back to Kathmandu then home.

Nepal

Passports and PTO