Buddist Pilgrimage Tour

Upon arriving at Kathmandu airport, a team member will greet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to explore at your leisure. In the evening, join us for a delightful dinner at one of the city's renowned restaurants, where you'll have the opportunity to meet fellow travelers and discuss the exciting eco-tour adventures ahead.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world and a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site. The stupa's unique octagonal Mandala design features hundreds of prayer wheels and 108 Buddha images set into niches around its massive structure. The Boudhanath area is renowned for its over 50 Tibetan Gompas or monasteries, often referred to as 'Little Tibet'.

Next, we will head to the Kopan Monastery on Kopan Hill, located a few kilometers north of Boudhanath. Known as the Nepal Buddhist Mahayana Centre, Kopan Monastery follows the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Nearby is the Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, home to about 400 nuns. We will return to Kathmandu for an overnight stay.

After a delightful breakfast, you'll head out on a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, offering breathtaking views of lush hills, terraced fields, and the majestic Himalayas. This picturesque journey sets the stage for an enriching eco-tour, combining adventure and learning. Pokhara is a vibrant hub for adventure and nature photography, serving as a gateway for treks such as the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Mardi Himal Trek. The city is rich with temples and gumbas, providing unique cultural photo opportunities. The main attraction, Phewa Lake, is surrounded by scenic spots that beautifully capture the serene beauty of the region. With its majestic mountain views and the spiritual ambiance of its temples, Pokhara offers an ideal setting to learn and explore.

Today, we visit some Buddhist landmarks in Pokhara and also enjoy the majesty of nature. The massive Buddhist stupa of World Peace Pagoda was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myohji organization on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Tal. Besides being a cultural monument, the site is also famous for the panoramic view it offers of the Pokhara Valley. We cross Phewa Lake on a boat and then hike to the Stupa. Then we will visit the Malepatan Gumba or monastery at Malepatan. Next, we make another hike to Hyangja, the site of a Tibetan refugee camp established after the Cultural Revolution in China. You may try Tibetan foods, bargain for curios, and acquaint yourself with Tibetan culture. There is also the Tashi Palkhiel monastery in the Karma Kagyu tradition.

We drive to Lumbini today, approximately 290 kilometers southwest of Pokhara, a journey of about 6-7 hours. We bid goodbye to the Himalayas in Pokhara and head toward the flatter lands of Nepal’s Terai. Generally, the weather gets hot and humid in the plains except in winter. Lumbini is perhaps the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site as it is the birthplace of Buddha. If we reach Lumbini around sunset, we can stroll through the local market to get a glimpse into the local lifestyle.

Lumbini is one of the world's major religious, architectural, and historical places. We devote today’s time to visiting as many places and sites in Lumbini as possible. The area is vast, with monuments, temples, and ancient sites making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, we visit the Mayadevi Temple, built on the exact spot where Buddha was born. We spend some time wandering around the gardens, visiting the museum and the peace pagoda. Some important landmarks and monuments in Lumbini include Ashoka’s Pillar, erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha’s birth, which also has the oldest inscription in Nepal. There are many Buddhist temples founded by devotees from different countries, including Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Burmese, and Korean.

After breakfast, we will depart Lumbini and return to Kathmandu. After driving to the Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa, you will board a local aircraft to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu's domestic airport, you will be driven directly to visit Swayambhunath, one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world with more than 2,000 years of history and a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. According to legend, the civilization of Kathmandu Valley itself begins with Swoyambhu, which literally means “the self-existent.” It is said that Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake while traveling and saw a lotus with thousand golden petals, diamond pistils, ruby anthers, and a lapis lazuli stalk. Legend also says that the lotus seed was planted on a full moon night by Bipaswi Buddha himself. In the course of time, Santikarcarya, a king who turned into a monk, raised the first stupa on the holy site. After visiting Swoyambhunath, your pilgrimage tour concludes.

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we start our drive to Dhulikhel, which is about 30 kilometers from Kathmandu. Dhulikhel offers stunning views of the Himalayas and is a beautiful town known for its traditional Newari culture and architecture. From Dhulikhel, we continue on a dirt road for 7-8 kilometers to reach Namobuddha (1750M). Located at the top of a hill, the magnificent Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery immediately catches the eye. This Tibetan Buddhist temple and sprawling monastic complex was officially opened to tourists in 2008. Namobuddha is one of the three most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, along with Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. The monastery is not only a place of religious significance but also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. After exploring the serene and spiritual ambiance of Namobuddha, we will drive back to Kathmandu, where our pilgrimage tour concludes.

This is your final day in Nepal. With hearts filled with cherished memories and a deeper understanding of Nepal's rich culture and landscapes, it's time to say goodbye. Our dedicated representative will ensure your departure is smooth and comfortable, driving you to the international airport. As you board your flight, reflect on the enriching experiences and the knowledge gained during your eco-tour. We hope to see you again for more adventures with the Himalayan Dream Team. Safe travels and all the best for your future endeavors!