Nepal: Temple Cities and Tibetan Kingdoms

Begin in Kathmandu, where Buddhist and Hindu traditions remain woven into daily life across the Kathmandu Valley. Boudhanath, Patan, Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, artisan neighborhoods, and the historic palace squares establish Nepal’s religious and artistic traditions before the journey turns toward the mountains.

Fly west to Pokhara beneath the Annapurna range, then continue to Jomsom and the high valleys of Mustang. Five nights at Shinta Mani Mustang allow this remote region to become a destination in its own right rather than a brief excursion. Walk to Thini Village, cross the Kali Gandaki Valley, continue through Marpha, Jharkot, Jhong, Kagbeni, and Lubra, and spend time in monasteries, traditional homes, and landscapes shaped by centuries of Himalayan trade and pilgrimage.

The experience in Mustang is intentionally varied. Days may include moderate trekking, mountain biking, village walks, monastery visits, a meal prepared by a respected Thakali chef, and consultation with an eleventh-generation Amchi practitioner whose family has preserved Tibetan medical traditions for generations. Shinta Mani’s spa and wellness program provides time to recover between excursions while remaining closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

Return to Pokhara for one night above the valley at Sarangkot, where the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges dominate the horizon. From there, fly south to Chitwan National Park for two nights at Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari. River and jeep safaris introduce the subtropical forests of the Terai, with opportunities to see greater one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles, deer, birdlife, and, with luck, Bengal tiger.

The journey concludes with a final night in Kathmandu before departure.