Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

Day 1: Arrival to Kathmandu
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu airport our representative from Leisure Holiday will welcome you and then take you to the Hotel, where you stay your first day in Nepal.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing (Swyambhunath, Buddhanath stupa, Patan durbar square and Kapan Monastery)
There are many Buddhist site to visit inside Kathmandu valley. Some of them are world heritage site declare by UNESCO. Swyambhunath, Bouddhanath, Kapan monastery and some temple inside Patan durbar square.

Swyambhunath is one of the world’s most glorious Buddhist Stupa, it is said to be 2000 years old. Visitors often call it "Monkey Temple", the main structure brick and clay which supports a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. There are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha on the four sides of spire. Being situated seventy meter above the level of valley, the hill of Swayambhunath is a mosaic of small stupa and pagoda temples. Being located in the top level of valley, this place is famous for visitors for sightseeing.

Bouddhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. After 1959, many Tibetans arrived and settled in Bouddhanath area. The stupa, a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site, is included in World Heritage Cultural site list by UNESCO.

Kapan Monastery is situated east side of Kathmandu valley. This monastery is a Tibetan bouddhist monastery situates on the hill behind the Bouddhanath stupa.this monasyery is home of more than 300 Tibetan Buddhist monk. As this monastery is on the top of the hill, beautiful panoramic view of Himalaya can be seen.

Patan has many Buddhist sides including Uka Bahal, Golden temple, the mahabodhi temple, Machhendranath and Ashoka stupa. The Uka Bahal is one of the most famous Buddhist monastery in Patan. It is known that king Shivadeva was build it around 1650 B S. Mahabodhi temple is another attraction on Patan, is a small replica of Mahabodhi temple in Boudhgaya and is made of bricks and stones. Machhendranath temple is most famous temple in Patan where Buddhist and Hindu both equally visit to worship. Ashoka stupa was built by the Indian Buddhist king Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.

Day 3: Drive to Dhulikhel and hike to Namo Buddha
After breakfast in Hotel you will drive for Dhulikhel. You will start hiking from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha where you can see beautiful mountain scenario and village on the hillock area. When you arrive to Namo Buddha you will have lunch and then you start explore to Namo Buddha. Namo Buddha is one of the most importance sites for Tibetan Buddhist. Walking up the hill from the stupa, one can reach a place where the scene of the Buddha giving his body to the tigress is engraved in stone. According to the oral tradition, this is the actual place where the Buddha gave his body.

Following the ridge to a second summit on the same hill, there is also a small stupa which is said to mark the den of the tigress. There, pilgrims lie down on the ground as if giving their bodies, and hair and pieces of cloth are hung to the branches of the tree for protection. On the eastern side of the hill resides the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery monastic complex built by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. After the sightseeing you will drive back to Kathmandu for overnight stay.

Day 4: Drive from Kathmandu to Lumbini
Breakfast at Hotel, Fly (45 minutes) or Drive (7 hrs drive) from Kathmandu to Lumbini, birth place of lord Buddha, Arrive Lumbini. This pilgrimage site in southwest Nepal attracts devout Buddhists from around the world, who arrive to pay homage at the Sacred Garden where the ‘Enlightened One’ was born. A famous landmark is the Ashoka Pillar raised by the great Emperor who converted to Buddhism. Overnight at Hotel in Lumbini.

Day 5: Explore to Lumbini
Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha is the latest of the Nepal's World Heritage Sites. It is also an important architectural and historical site of the world civilization. Reaching Lumbini, we explore some of the major landmarks and monuments in Lumbini such as: Mayadevi Temple the exact site where Buddha was born, Ashoka's Pillar, erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC), and various other temples & monasteries. You will stay overnight at Lumbini for that day.

Day 6: Drive to Pokhara
After breakfast at Hotel you will drive to Pokhara from Lumbini. The journey takes about 7-8 hour. You will pass through beautiful forest and plain area. You drive through the bank of trishuli and Marshangdi river before you arrived to Pokhara.

Day 7: Pokhara sightseeing
Pokhara is beautiful city with its nature. Peace Pogoda is one of the main attraction of lumbini. To reach to peace pagoda you need to take boat ride across the beautiful Phewa Lake and hike up to the hill where the peace pagoda is situated. We visit the International Mountain Museum where we can see the records of documents that contains developments of mountaineering activities in the Himalayas. We also do the tour of Tibetian refugee camp and observe woolen carpet and handicraft made by them.

Day 8: Drive to Kathmandu
After breakfast we will leave beautiful city Pokhara. We drive through the banks of Marshyandi and Trishuli River with wonderful view of hills and rural lifestyle. After 5-6 hour journey you will arrive to Kathmandu. We will organize farewell dinner for you in traditional Nepali restaurant with cultural dance.

Day 9: Final Departure
This is the last day of your Nepal visit. You have option of doing Mountain flight, which takes you one hour around the eight highest mountains over 8000 miter. It is the alternate chance to see the great Himalayan range from a close distance that will leave a lasting memory of the world’s highest peaks on Earth. After you done with your final preparation, we will drop you to the International airport for your final departure.