Nepal Highlight Tour – 8 days

Trek Difficulty

The Nepal Highlight Tour is an easy and relaxed trip. It is appropriate for nearly all ages and normal fitness. You do not take a long walk through the mountains, and there is no rough walking.

Travelling is mostly done by a comfortable car or a short domestic flight. Sightseeing is achieved with the help of the walks of mild character in the cities, villages, and the jungle.

You will be okay provided you are able to walk slowly for a few hours slowly and stand during sightseeing. Even those families with children and senior travelers tend to enjoy this tour without any hassle.

We make frequent stops to have photos, take a rest, have tea or snacks, and we drive to most of the attractions.

The Nepal Highlight Tour is a very good choice if you want to see the beauty and culture of Nepal in comfort, without going to high altitude or doing long hikes.

Weather and Best Season

The weather is an important part of your Nepal Highlight Tour experience. The most appropriate season to visit is spring (March to May) and fall (September to November).

These months are very nice and clear with mild weather in Kathmandu and Pokhara and offer good scenery of the Himalaya and, in particular, the sunrise at Sarangkot. These seasons are also pleasant and good in Chitwan for jungle activities.

The summer monsoon between June and August is characterized by heavy rainfall, clouds, and potential delays. Much of the outdoor activity may be impacted, and roads may be muddy.

The months between December and February are rather dry and sunny during the day, but in the morning and in the evenings, it is cold, particularly in Kathmandu and Pokhara in particular. The tour can still be made enjoyable with the right clothing.

During spring, there are flowers and new vegetation, and during autumn crystal clear landscape and large festivals such as Dashain and Tihar. With proper clothes, you can do the Nepal Highlight Tour all year.

Food and Drink

During the Nepal Highlight Tour, you will enjoy a wide variety of food. Kathmandu and Pokhara have numerous restaurants that offer local and international cuisines.

You can have classic Nepali dal bhat, delicious momos, noodles, curries, as well as Indian Chinese and Western cuisines.

At the jungle lodge in Chitwan, they normally offer pre-set meals which are composed of the local taste as well as the simplest international dishes.

You can have breakfast at your hotel in the morning. You have mostly free choice regarding lunch and dinner; therefore, you can visit various cafes and restaurants. Your guide will be glad to recommend nice and popular restaurants.

We would like to recommend that you drink bottled or filtered water and not tap water. Hot drinks, coffee, and soft drinks are readily available. In case you want to taste street food, you should ask your guide which stalls to trust.

Vegetarians and other visitors with special diets can also feel at ease, since most Nepali cuisine can be made without meat, and restaurants are familiar with popular food specifications.

Altitude Sickness

You do not need to worry about altitude sickness on the Nepal Highlight Tour. This tour is relatively low to medium.

The altitude in Kathmandu is approximately 1,350 meters, Pokhara is lower at around 822 meters, Chitwan is about 415 meters, and the Sarangkot viewpoint is around 1,600 meters.

Altitude sickness normally occurs at an altitude of more than two thousand five hundred or three thousand meters. The risk is very minimal since this tour does not go to those heights. The majority of the visitors do not experience any issues with the altitude.

You can get a little tired on the first day, especially when you are extremely sensitive or at sea level, but you can be cured by simple rest, water, and sleep.

To be your best, drink lots of water, do not drink too much alcohol, and just rest when you get here. Even in the case of serious heart or lung problems, you can ask your doctor before travelling; however, in most cases, this tour is very safe in terms of height.

Preparation and Fitness

One of the nice things about the Nepal Highlight Tour is that it does not require special training. There is no requirement for trekking experience or great athletic abilities. Nevertheless, a little bit of planning will help you make your trip more comfortable.

We recommend that you do short daily walks for a few weeks before travelling to ensure that your legs are accustomed to light sightseeing. It is worth having comfortable walking shoes because some of those streets in old city areas are rough or paved with stones.

It is better to pack layers of clothes, as in the mornings and evenings it can be colder than during the daytime. A light jacket or sweater would come in handy in Kathmandu and Pokhara, whereas Chitwan may get warmer.

Bring your own medicines and any simple things you prefer. You do not even require heavy boots or trekking poles.

All one needs is simple, easy-to-wear clothes. In case you are in good health and can walk around a town, you are fit to do this tour. The speed of walking will never be higher than your comfort.

Visa and Permits

For the Nepal Highlight Tour, you will need a tourist visa to enter Nepal. This visa is easy to obtain for many nationalities at Kathmandu airport. The process is simple.

A visa fee is paid, and a visa stamp is placed in your passport after filling out a form. The popular visa alternatives are fifteen and thirty days. Ensure your passport does not expire within a period of six months.

Concerning permits, we will take care of them. The cost of all entry fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara, as well as the entry permit in Chitwan National Park, are included in the package, and we will do the advance arrangements. You do not even have to stand in a queue or to worry about local tickets.

Please remember to keep your passport with you on the trip, as you will require it with you on your domestic flight to Pokhara and also at the check in of the hotel.

Other permits might be necessary to stay longer and enjoy the trekking activities; however, in this case, this tour will not need any additional costs other than the simple visa and site entry permits.

Health & Safety

Your health and safety are very important to us on the Nepal Highlight Tour. Nepal is usually a welcoming and secure nation for tourists.

Our skilled guides will accompany you throughout the key activities, and they will be of assistance to you in any case.

To be healthy, it is necessary to drink only bottled or filtered water and wash or sanitize your hands prior to meals. Wear a hat and sunscreen to keep the sun out, particularly during midday. In Chitwan, wear insect repellent in order to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

We recommend that you ensure that you continue with your regular vaccination and discuss with your doctor prior to traveling, in case you have any health issues. There are clinics and hospitals in the bigger cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Your guide has a first aid kit for minor issues. In case of more severe problems, we will help you reach the clinic or hospital.

There is a low rate of crime against tourists, though we would advise keeping valuables locked, avoiding massive money display, and being cautious in market areas when there are huge crowds. In case you are not sure, consult your guide and he/she will help you.

Transportation

During the Nepal Highlight Tour, we use a mix of domestic flights and road travel to give you comfort and save time. The flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara is a short flight and also provides beautiful scenery of the mountains on clear days.

In the case of roads, between Pokhara and Chitwan, and Chitwan and Kathmandu, we do it by private tourist standard cars, jeeps, or comfortable coaches according to the size of the group.

In the hills, roads can be very tight and twisty, and hence we travel slowly and with frequent rest halts either to take a tea break or to go to the toilet.

We get to see the sights of the city using our own cars within the city and to and fro the hotel. There are no additional charges on airport pickups and drop-offs, and thus you need not be concerned about taxis and public buses.

In case you are easily sick of motion, you can sit closer to the front of the car and carry medicine in case of need. We do all the arrangements of transport planning so that you just have to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Travel Insurance

We warmly recommend that you buy travel insurance before joining the Nepal Highlight Tour. Although we plan the trip beforehand and are concerned about safety, we still can encounter some unpleasant situations while traveling.

The insurance plan should be good enough to pay for your medical treatment in case you become sick or injured, including hospital treatment.

It is also supposed to include cancellation of trips, lost baggage, or delays that may occur either because of weather or otherwise. Please ensure your travel policy covers your travel in Nepal as well as domestic flights within the country.

We are not able to provide insurance in your home country, and you have to buy it. Always have a copy of your policy and contact numbers with you when on a tour.

You will hopefully never have to call your insurance, but with it you will also feel better to have, and it will be easier to cope with any emergency.

Alternative Routes

If you want to adjust the Nepal Highlight Tour, we can offer many options. Others have less time and want a shorter version, with Kathmandu and Pokhara, or Kathmandu and Chitwan only. Others can find more time and include more nights or destinations.

Popular extensions are a visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, following Chitwan, or a night in Bandipur, a beautiful hill town between Pokhara and Chitwan.

The other popular add-on is the early morning flight in the mountains between Kathmandu and view Mount Everest from the air.

In case you are interested in trying a little of the trekking, we can stay a little longer in Pokhara and organize a one or two-day hiking trip to such locations as the Peace Pagoda or the Australian Camp.

The itinerary for the Nepal Highlight Tour is flexible, and we are happy to adjust it to your wishes, budget, and time frame.

Your Extra Expenses

The Nepal Highlight Tour includes many services, but there are still some personal expenses you should plan for.

A majority of breakfast is covered, as well as a special welcome and farewell dinner. Normal lunches and dinners are, however, not so often included, and you will have to pay in restaurants.

Nepal has relatively cheap food. Basic local foods are around five to ten dollars per head, whereas western-style restaurants may cost slightly more.

You are also supposed to spend on drinks, including tea, coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol, in case you decide to take them.

Other miscellaneous expenses are snacks, bottled water, souvenirs, laundry, and tips. You will have to pay for your Nepal visa at the airport.

In Nepal, it is the norm to give tips to guides, drivers, and hotel employees to thank them for good service. We recommend that you carry a little extra cash to cover these personal expenses, and making the bigger purchases can usually be done by card in the urban stores.

Language & Communication

Language is not a big problem on the Nepal Highlight Tour. The primary language is Nepali, although English is widely spoken in tourist destinations such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan.

Your guide has a good command of the English language and can assist you in communicating with locals where necessary.

It is not hard to learn some simple Nepali phrases, and they can be appreciated. As an example, Namaste translates to hello, and Dhanyabad translates to thank you. If you are interested, your guide will be pleased to teach you a few more phrases.

Overall, language barriers are minimal on the Nepal Highlight Tour, and staying connected with home or with us is easy throughout the trip.

Communication in the tour is also easy since most of the hotels, restaurants, and service providers know basic English, thus interactions in daily life become easy and comfortable.

In case you want to keep in touch, we will help to buy a local SIM card with mobile data that is good in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan.

Simple translation apps are also popular among many travelers, and they can be used to get quick phrases, particularly when visiting small villages.

In general, the communication during the Nepal Highlight Tour is welcoming, supportive, and highly manageable among foreigners.

Don’ts on This Trip

During the Nepal Highlight Tour, please keep a few gentle reminders in mind. Do not wear shoes in temples, and dress decently at places of worship to be respectful.

There are certain Hindu temples where non-Hindus are not allowed to go into the main area; please stand outside. Ask permission before photographing people, particularly in villages or during rituals.

At Chitwan National Park, do not feed or disturb the animals, and ensure you do what your guide explains to be safe. Do not litter and attempt to limit the use of plastics as much as you can. Also, it is advisable not to offer money or sweets to children, as it promotes begging.

Last, and most obviously, do not do anything that is against the law, like using drugs or purchasing products of endangered animals. With these basic observations, you will have a pleasant, hassle-free, and respectful experience in Nepal.

Photography & Drone Rules

Photography is a big part of the Nepal Highlight Tour, and you will have many chances to take beautiful pictures. Generally, it is okay to capture photos of things that you see in most locations, the exterior of temples, and street life.

But other religious places do not permit photos in the main shrine. Your guide will constantly tell you when photography is prohibited.

Please do not take close photographs of people, without asking them, in villages or during religious occasions. Even a smile and a simple request can do a lot.

In Nepal, the utilization of drones is even more complex. In order to operate a drone, you typically require the permission of the civil aviation office and other governments.

In several urban locations and within national parks like Chitwan, drones are prohibited around airports, in most areas, and disturb wildlife and security issues.

To the majority of travelers, a camera or a phone will be more convenient and safer than a drone. In case you are a serious photographer who would like to carry a drone, you must contact us a long time before you go on a trip to inform you about the existing rules and the permission process.