NEPAL DURING FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - TIHAR
We first immerse ourselves in the Kathmandu Valley:
First, we visit Kathmandu Valley; the fascinating visits to the stupas of Swayambhunath and Bodnath, the oldest in the valley, then to Pashupatinath, a Hindu site dedicated to Shiva dating from the 12th century, illustrate the two religions which very often become one in Nepalese syncretism. Festive emotions again in Kathmandu: the medieval city decorated with garlands of flowers and flashing lights and oil lamps. Tihar is one of the major Hindu festivals and is observed for five days, with people lighting butter lamps and worshiping Yama, the god of death. It announces the start of Tihar, also called the festival of lights held in November.
- The first day of the "Kag pooja" festival is dedicated to the crow, who is the messenger of death.
-The second day of the festival is dedicated to the dog and is known as Kukur Tihar.
- The third, the cow and Lakshmi "goddess of prosperity" is worshiped
- The fourth day is known as Govardhan pooja. The Newar community observes the New Year on this day.
- The fifth and last day of the festival is devoted to the relationship between brother and sister. This festival is known as Bhai Tika.
Then on the way to Pokhara two days of excursion among the villages sheltered by the Macchapuchare!
- The UNESCO sites of the Kathmandu Valley.
- Country walks to discover immutable Nepal.
- The views of the Himalayas possible from Luwang and Pokhara
- The national festival of Tihar
- Homestay in Panauti and Luwang
Gallery
Itinerary
For your next trek with us in the Himalayas, travel light and aware: Base Camp offers you a biodegradable soap made in Nepal, to leave no trace ...
Accommodation: Thamel house on BB basis
Self meal
- Accommodation: Homestay on full board basis
A day of enchantment as you walk through the corridors of time, admiring the architectural gems that take you back centuries into Kathmandu’s past. The first stop is at the great stupa of Boudha, a famous pilgrimage site surrounded by numerous Buddhist monasteries. Not far from here we visit Pashupatinath, one of Hinduism’s holiest Shiva shrines dating back to the 12th century. This is where Hindu cremations take place and pilgrims flock to bathe in the holy Bagmati River.
- Accommodation: Same as the previous day
- Walking time: 3h30, + 600m, - 400m.
- Accommodation: Lodge
(Jeep Ghandruk – Nayapul Private vehicle for Pokhara 35 km 3h)
After breakfast, we take a privatized local jeep to reach Birethanti located on the banks of the Madi River then we meet our private vehicle to go to Pokhara.
- Accommodation: Batika Hotel on BB basis.
- Self Lunch & Dinner
Road to Kathmandu for 7 hours and transfer to Bhaktapur for the sumptuous pedestrian city Bhaktapur, 15 km from Kathmandu, the most beautiful of the three imperial cities of the valley. Overnight in Bhaktapur to stay when all visitors are gone!!!
Accommodation: night Shiva Guest House on half board.
Self Lunch
- Accommodation: Shiva Guest House on half board
- Self Lunch
- Accommodation: Namobodha resort on half board
- Self Lunch
Day of hiking to Panauti: through a rural setting, pine forests, suspension bridges, and terraced crops, we reach the beautiful village of Balthali located at a height where we will have lunch.
Short walk to Khopasi and 15 min transfer to the Newar town of Panauti, built at the confluence of two rivers and the site of an important Mela - a pilgrimage taking place every 12 years!
Cooking workshop activity and dinner with the local family.
- Accommodation: Homestay
- Self Lunch
Pharping: located 19 km south of Kathmandu, remains a prosperous traditional Newar town. The city is famous for its pilgrimage sites whose Hindu origins have been largely recovered by the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, which are now predominant.
- Accommodation: Thamel House on BB basis
- Self meal
Visit Pashupatinath: Hindu site dating from the 12th century, a place of cremation dedicated to Shiva where pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred Bagmati river, then midday visit to Patan, one of the three former imperial cities of the valley, mainly Buddhist, known for its craftsmen founding statues. Then transfer to the great Buddhist stupa of Bodhnath surrounded by many monasteries of Tibetans in exile.
- Accommodation: Thamel House on BB basis
- Free meal
Free time and transfer to airport for international flight back.
NOTES
- In Kathmandu, we use hotels of good category *** well located in the center of Kathmandu.- The stay in Kathmandu is always done in B&B to give you a large choice of restaurants that offer you traditional and continental cuisine according to your choices.
- During the trek, you will be in full board and accommodation according to the itinerary.
What's included
- 3 nights at Thamel House in BB in Kathmandu
- 2 nights at Shiva guest house with half board in Bhaktapur
- 1 night half board at Koushi in Bandipur
- 1 night in BB in Pokhara Batika in Pokhara
- one night in Namobodha resort with half board in Namobodha
- one night with a local in Panauti with a full board
- 3 days of trek in full board
- ACAP + TIMS trekking permit
- A French-speaking cultural guide for the whole stay
- visit the sites in Kathmandu according to the itinerary and its entrances to the sites
- Trekking team: 1 porter for 3 and 1 assistant guide for 4 trekkers
- Carrying luggage up to 8 Kg per person during the trek
What's not included
- Unplanned meals and visit and activities/visits in Pokhara
- Flights
- Nepal visa (30 USD for 15 days)
- Compulsory repatriation insurance
- tip, sleeping bag, hot shower during the trek, drink including water, hot and cold drinks, etc.
Suppliments
*the invoice in euros on request will be established according to the dollar-euro exchange rate on the day of invoicing.
