The tour below is one of contrasts. You will have time to explore the temples, squares and palaces of Kathmandu and also walk through beautiful foothills covered in picturesque villages and terraced fields. You will climb to one of the most famous vantage points in the Himalaya to watch sunrise on some of the world's highest peaks before traveling to the jungle to go in search of the tiger. The trek is fully supported, allowing you to enjoy the hospitality of the villagers and absorb the wonderful scenery while traveling in the classic trekking manner first employed by the early climbing expeditions - good food, comfortable camps and walks through air so fresh that the great snow-clad peaks hang before you in sparkling clarity. Our private tours mean you can travel whenever you want, with whoever you want rather than be tied to group departures and itineraries. For groups of 4+, please contact us at skyline@enet.com.np for a reduced quote.

The Kingdom of Nepal, once known as the Forbidden Kingdom, is surrounded by Tibet and the Himalayas to the north and India and the jungle to the south. Although small in comparison to its neighbors it contains some of the most spectacular and beautiful scenery in the world, while offering one of the most colorful and diverse cultures in Asia.

The main valley of Kathmandu is itself surrounded by mountains and home to the 3 main cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. For centuries they vied for supremacy and eventually the war-like Kathmandu won. Today it is a vibrant modern city but still with its history and tradition permeating life. Rush hour congestion is as likely to be caused by a resting sacred cow as too much traffic and amid the neon signs, small shrines and temples are still daubed with sacred paint and stew with flowers.

Outside Kathmandu, Nepal is a land of contrasts, its scenery varying from the highest peaks on earth inhabited by the hardy Sherpa people, down to lowland swamp and jungles where only the malaria -resistant Tharu tribe can survive. Its religion is officially Hindu but many, including the Tibetan exiles, practice Buddhism and everybody celebrates everybody else's festivals. That they can worship 33 million gods, and also follow a religion that recognizes none, seems natural in a country of such diverse peoples.

The Kathmandu Valley and many places in Nepal are important to both religions, with important sources of the Ganges being places of pilgrimage to many Hindus, while many of the chapters in the Buddha's life having taken place in the Nepalese lowlands. Terraces climbing hillsides, villages perched on ridges, deep valleys with suspension bridges across raging rivers, Tigers and, who knows, the Yeti, Nepal has a lot to offer.