The Kathmandu Valley, courtyard by courtyard
Explore Patan’s metalworking lanes and Bhaktapur’s squares with a guide who can explain the Newar traditions behind the architecture. Start early, before traffic and larger tour groups build.
Nepal.
Kathmandu’s living courtyards, the Annapurna foothills and Chitwan’s river plains, connected at a pace that allows you to notice the differences.
Ideal length
10–12 nights
Gateway
Direct to Kathmandu: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Delhi or 2 hours 45 minutes from Mumbai; schedules vary.
Best months
Mar · Apr · Oct · Nov
From, per person
₹3.3L
Why Nepal
What it feels like
when it's planned well.
Best for
Who it suits
SoloCoupleFamilyMulti-generationalFriendsBalanced pace
Nepal rewards a journey that looks beyond the mountain skyline. In the Kathmandu Valley, Newar courtyards and brick temples remain part of daily life; around Pokhara, paths climb through terraced farms beneath the Annapurna range. Further south, Chitwan offers sal forest, river grasslands and the possibility of seeing one-horned rhinoceros. These are distinct landscapes, best given their own time rather than collected as hurried day trips.
We plan Nepal around your appetite for walking, your tolerance for road journeys and the season’s likely visibility. A private guide in the valley, a comfortable foothill base and a few well-paced days in Chitwan make a balanced first visit, with internal flights used where they genuinely help. The caveat is practical: mountain views are never guaranteed, and weather can delay flights, so we keep a buffer before your journey home.
Highlights
Three things you'd remember.
Walking above Pokhara
Use the Dhampus or Australian Camp area for a manageable introduction to the Annapurna foothills. Expect stone steps and sustained climbs; even short walks need sensible footwear.
Chitwan with a naturalist
Spend several outings exploring river edges and sal forest, with rhinoceros, deer and birdlife the main focus. Tigers occur here, but a sighting should never be the premise of the stay.
A shape to start from
The itinerary, before we change it for you.
Every trip we send is rewritten at least once. Treat this as a rhythm rather than a route — then tell your specialist what to cut, slow down or add.
- Days 1–3
Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur
Arrive in Kathmandu and settle in without a full sightseeing programme. Divide the next two days between Patan’s courtyards and museum, Bhaktapur’s pottery lanes and Boudhanath, allowing time for lunches and unstructured walking.
- Days 4–6
Bharatpur and Chitwan
Fly to Bharatpur, weather permitting, and transfer to a lodge outside Chitwan National Park. Over three nights, combine authorised jeep outings with birdwatching and a canoe excursion where conditions permit. We avoid elephant rides.
- Days 7–9
Pokhara and the Annapurna foothills
Travel by private vehicle to Pokhara, allowing much of the day for variable road conditions. Spend the following days between Phewa Lake and a guided foothill walk near Dhampus, tailored to fitness and weather.
- Day 10
Return to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu and keep the afternoon lightly planned. This final night provides a useful margin before your international departure, although prolonged disruption can still require changes.
- Day 11
Depart Nepal
Transfer to Kathmandu airport for your flight home, allowing generous time for city traffic and departure formalities.
Where you'd stay
Houses we hold, not listings.
Illustrative private heritage housePatan, Kathmandu Valley
Patan Courtyard House
A planning example, not a named bookable property: exclusive use of a small restored house with a courtyard. Indicative INR per night; older buildings may have steep stairs and limited sound insulation.
From₹65,000 / night
Illustrative private hill villaHills above Pokhara
Annapurna Terrace Villa
A planning example for an exclusive-use villa with staffed meals and open mountain-facing terraces. Indicative INR per night; views depend on cloud cover and access may involve uneven roads.
From₹85,000 / night
Illustrative private lodge suiteChitwan buffer zone
Rapti River Lodge
A planning example for a spacious lodge suite outside the national park. Indicative INR per night; meals, naturalist activities and park fees must be checked against the final proposal.
From₹45,000 / night
Access & experiences
What we can open for you.
A Newar table in Patan
Arrange a hosted meal exploring dishes such as bara, seasonal greens and beaten rice. Tell us about vegetarian preferences in advance: traditional menus can include buffalo meat, and preparation practices vary.
A morning on a foothill trail
Walk with a local guide through farms and villages near Dhampus. An early departure gives the best chance of clear peaks, with a shorter route or a vehicle-supported alternative for mixed-ability families.
Birdwatching along the Rapti
Head out with a naturalist to look for kingfishers, herons and seasonal visitors. Quiet time on the river margins often offers more than a relentless search for large mammals.
Space for yoga near Pokhara
Set aside unhurried mornings for private yoga and gentle walks rather than adding another transfer. We distinguish a restorative stay from a medical or therapeutic programme.
When to go
The months that work.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Prime Shoulder — quieter, better value
Good to know
- Visa
- Indian citizens do not require a visa. For air travel, adults should carry a valid Indian passport or an original Election Commission voter ID card. Aadhaar and PAN cards are not substitutes. Documentation rules for children differ; confirm these with the airline before booking.
- Getting around
- Domestic flights reduce travel time but remain weather-dependent. Roads can be slow because of construction, traffic and landslides, particularly during the monsoon. Keep at least one Kathmandu night before an international departure.
- Pace
- Allow three nights each for the Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and Pokhara, plus a final Kathmandu night. Serious trekking needs additional days rather than being squeezed into this circuit.
- Health
- Kathmandu is approximately 1,400 metres above sea level; Pokhara and Chitwan are lower. Higher trekking routes require acclimatisation and insurance covering the intended altitude and emergency evacuation. Seek individual medical advice, use treated drinking water and take mosquito precautions in the lowlands.
- Currency
- The Nepalese rupee, NPR, is pegged at NPR 1.60 to INR 1. Carry NPR for everyday spending rather than relying on Indian notes: denomination and import rules apply. Cards are useful in larger hotels, but smaller businesses and rural stops often require cash.
“Give Nepal fewer stops and more time at each. The mountains set the conditions; a good itinerary leaves room to respond.”
Dev Travels planning note
Nepal, in frames
Nepal questions
Asked often.
Allow from INR 325,000 per person for a tailored journey of roughly 10 nights, based on two sharing. Accommodation, private guiding, transport and activity choices determine the final price. International flights, insurance, permits where applicable and inclusions are itemised in the proposal; this is an indicative starting point, not a fixed package.
October and November usually offer the most reliable post-monsoon visibility. March and April bring warmer walking conditions and rhododendron flowering at suitable elevations, though haze can build. December can be crisp and clear at lower elevations but cold at night. May is hotter, while September can still be wet, particularly early in the month.
No. This journey works with cultural visits, wildlife outings and optional short walks. Tell us about mobility limitations early: temple precincts, heritage houses and village paths often involve steps, uneven paving and limited vehicle access.
Yes, but a trek in the Everest region is a separate undertaking requiring time, acclimatisation and appropriate insurance. Scenic flights from Kathmandu are a lighter alternative, subject to visibility and cancellations. Neither an aircraft window seat nor a helicopter excursion replaces the experience of walking.
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Bhutan
Monastery mornings, empty trails and a country that limits its own visitors. Go now, go slowly.
Botswana
Follow Botswana’s waterways from the Okavango Delta to the Chobe River, with time to watch rather than chase wildlife.
Ready when you are
Let's plan
something real.
Once-in-a-lifetime, or a long quiet weekend. Tell us what you're picturing — the first conversation is on us.