Nepal 12-day tour: Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara wildlife safari

Three regions, one arc: temples, then jungle, then mountains at dawn

A 12-day cultural and nature tour of Nepal based in Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park and Pokhara, with private transportation, an English or German-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The itinerary moves through sacred sites in Kathmandu Durbar Square and Bhaktapur, wildlife safari in Chitwan, and Himalayan views from Phewa Lake. All fees and taxes are covered.

The experience

You arrive in Kathmandu and the guide meets you: no transport to arrange, no negotiation at the airport. The 12 days unfold as a round trip: Kathmandu first, where you walk Durbar Square and the older streets of Bhaktapur, then south into Chitwan National Park for wildlife safari, then west to Pokhara and Phewa Lake. Private transportation carries you between each region, so the rhythm is yours to set within the fixed stops.

Chitwan is the pivot. You trade temples for jungle here: rhinos, tigers and wild birds are what you watch for on safari, moving through grassland and forest on foot or by vehicle depending on the day. The park sits in the lowlands, so the air and the light shift completely from Kathmandu's high valley. This is where "nature" in the tour description becomes concrete.

Pokhara and Phewa Lake close the loop. The Himalayas rise on the far shore, and sunrise from the water is the moment many travelers remember longest. You have seen culture, then wildlife, then the mountains that frame the whole country. The guide speaks English or German throughout, and children from age one travel with you. The tour is built to move as a family or a small group without splitting the experience.

What’s included

• Private transportation for all 12 days.
• a live guide in English or German.
• hotel pickup at arrival.
• all entry fees and taxes to temples, parks and attractions.
• wildlife safari in Chitwan National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 13:15 and 15:15

AgesAdult (18 to 30 years) · Senior (60 to 86 years) · Youth (10 to 16 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (1 year): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Himalayan Circuit

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are traveling with a small group or family and want one guide and one vehicle for the full 12 days. The continuity means the guide learns what you want to linger on and what to move past, and the private transport lets you stop for a photo or a meal without waiting for others to board.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 16 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (1 year): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do you do on wildlife safari in Chitwan?

Chitwan National Park safari happens on foot or by vehicle depending on the day and the guide's choice. You watch for rhinos, tigers, crocodiles and birds in their habitat. The park is a working reserve, not a zoo, so sightings depend on timing and luck, but the landscape and the animals you do encounter are what make the stop distinct from the temple visits earlier in the tour.

Do you need your own vehicle, or is transport included?

Private transportation is included for the entire 12 days, so you do not arrange or pay separately for getting between regions or to attractions. The guide handles the route and the timing.

What is Kathmandu Durbar Square, and why does it matter?

Kathmandu Durbar Square is the historic heart of the city: a plaza ringed with temples, palaces and shrines that span centuries of Nepali architecture and worship. It is one of the first stops on the tour and sets the cultural tone before you move into nature.