Depart London Heathrow, flying Jet Airways via Delhi (8 hours 30 minutes) to Kathmandu (1 hour 30 minutes).

Arriving this afternoon into Kathmandu, Nepal’s fascinating capital city, your Tour Manager will meet you and transfer you to the Shangri-La Hotel for 2 nights (standard room).

Morning option of an early morning flight to view Mount Everest (weather permitting) a real highlight for anyone - see below for further details. Considered the cradle of Nepalese culture, the Kathmandu Valley contains a wealth of art, culture and tradition that transcends the ages. This morning visit the beguiling hill-top temple of Swayanbhunath, the fabulous ‘Monkey Temple’ that occupies a lofty hillside overlooking the city below, before taking a walk through Kathmandu’s ancient heart. This afternoon is free to perhaps explore the nearby ancient Buddhist city of Patan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose central square is filled with a dazzling array of temples that is considered one of the finest collections of Newari architecture in Nepal. Another alternative is to spend the afternoon amongst the bustling bazaars of Kathmandu’s vibrant and labyrinthine streets.

Morning flight to Pokhara (30 minutes) located in the Himalayan foothills close to the Annapurna Massif, a region blessed with breathtaking landscapes. Staying at the Shangri-La Village (standard room) there will be a late afternoon boat trip on the tranquil waters of Lake Phewa, the second largest in Nepal.

Weather permitting this morning offers the chance for an unforgettable image of one of the region’s most breathtaking sights, sunrise over the Annapurna Ranges. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy these remarkable landscapes at your leisure. Alternatively you may like to take a stroll into the surrounding foothills, to visit some of the Gurung and Chettri villages that nestle amongst these idyllic landscapes. Pokhara translates as the ‘Valley of the Lakes’ and this superb setting boasts no fewer than 8 lakes, all spectacularly set before the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the central Himalayas, including the iconic majesty of Machhapuchare, the famous Fishtail.

Departing Pokhara this morning we drive east, heading towards the fertile Marsyangdi River Valley and the charming hilltop settlement of Bandipur (70km/approximately 2 hours 30 minutes). Steeped in the traditions of the past and still preserving something of its Newari heritage, Bandipur offers a delightful setting to break our journey with an overnight stay at the Gaun Ghar Resort (standard room).

With its excellent views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks and its atmospheric old Newari town, Bandipur provides an ideal setting for a morning’s guided tour around the area. With streets and houses that seem to cling desperately to the surrounding rock, it offers an engaging insight into what was once an important stop along the India-Tibet trading routes. Later this morning continue by road to the Royal Chitwan National Park, situated amongst the subtropical lowlands of the Terai in the southern central regions of Nepal (120km/approximately 3 hours). Staying at the eco friendly Machan Wildlife Resort (standard room), we enjoy a unique elephant-back safari later today to explore something of the jungle around our lodge.

The oldest park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chitwan became a sanctuary for the rare one-horned rhino back in the early 1960s. From its early days as a hunting reserve for the Rana elite, Chitwan today it is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna and a full day in the park provides us with the opportunity to enjoy game viewing activities by jeep and boat, searching out some of the wildlife that Chitwan is famed for. Covered in Sal forests and grassland, the park is home to some 50 species of mammals and 55 different varieties of reptiles, and although the tiger and rhino for which the park is best known may remain fairly elusive, we may spot buffalo, sloths, leopards, marsh mugger crocodiles or some of the park’s 500 species of birds, including kingfisher, peacock, Indian roller and eagles.

There is a bird watching safari before breakfast, after which we depart to Bharatpur airport and the flight to Kathmandu (approximately 50 minutes). Arriving at Kathmandu airport, we head out into the Kathmandu Valley to Dhulikhel (50 km/approximately 2 hours) and the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort (standard room). Situated in the mountains on the eastern edge of the Himalaya Range, this charming mountain resort presents us with the perfect retreat to relax and enjoy an afternoon of leisure or there is the option of taking a walk in the beautiful surrounds.

Heading back to Kathmandu, we visit some of the valley’s important sites en route. A visit to the spectacular Hindu temple of Pasupatinath on the sacred Bagmati River takes in one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu shrines in the country. These holy waters are the setting for not only the ablutions of the devotees of Shiva, but are also the setting for one of Kathmandu’s most important cremation sites. From here continue to the medieval city of Bhaktapur, a stunning collection of temples and palaces that evoke the very essence of the ancient Newari traditions of the Kathmandu Valley, before stopping at the imposing stupa at Bodnath. This 40 metre high structure is one of the largest on the planet, a spectacular edifice of white stone, festooned with prayer flags and decorated with the omniscient eye of Buddha. Two nights at Shangri-La Hotel with the option to upgrade to Dwarika’s Hotel.

Free day for personal exploration, with a number of optional excursions available, including a further opportunity to take the early morning flight to view Mount Everest (weather permitting) a real highlight for anyone - see below for further details. The flight takes approximately one hour and every passenger has a guaranteed window seat, affording spectacular views of Everest and the Himalaya range. This flight is an experience of a lifetime and should not be missed. This evening we enjoy a sumptuous farewell dinner at one of Kathmandu’s best restaurants.

Morning departure on Jet Airways via Delhi (1 hour 45 minutes) back to London (9 hours 15 minutes), arriving this evening.