About this experience
On a trip around Kathmandu, you will climb to the highest point of the valley - Pulchoki and get a view of the snow-capped Himalayas from beautiful angles. Stroll through the fairytale rhododendron forest and terraced fields. Visit the Tamang family and get to know their way of life. You will also visit the Newari town, an ancient temple, and the Panauti Ethnographic Museum.
What to expect
Mount Pulchoki, views of the Himalayas, and ancient forest
At around 8:00 am, I will pick you up from your hotel, and we will drive straight to Pulchoki by jeep. After 1.5-2 hours, we will reach the summit of the mountain (2700 m), which translates as 'the place of flowers.' You will see a small ancient shrine and get a view of the Himalayas from a beautiful perspective. From there, we will start descending on foot through an ancient beautiful deciduous forest. Following an old stone path, you will once again admire the snow-capped peaks and witness the rhododendrons blooming in spring.
Visiting the Tamang family
After about 1.5-2 hours, we will arrive at the house of the Tamang people, located atop the ridge. Here, you will rest, socialize, and have lunch in a warm company. You will be treated to the main dish of the local cuisine - dal bhat. This is rice, lentil soup, stewed and fresh vegetables, and a bit of spicy pickle (all separate). The dish will be prepared by the hostess of the family traditionally on the hearth. Not because of tourists, but because that's how they live and treat their guests.
Tamang villages and terraced fields
After the meal and rest, we will continue descending on a dirt road to the very bottom of the valley. Through rice, wheat, mustard fields - depending on the season. We will reach the bottom in 1-1.5 hours and take a little break. You will see how ordinary rural life is bustling around: children coming home from school, chickens and goats grazing, housewives hanging out laundry, men having afternoon tea and discussing something. From this point, you can walk to the town of Panauti on foot or take local transport.
Ancient Newari town
By 3-4 pm, we will be in Panauti and stroll through the ancient Newari-style streets. You will explore houses built of red bricks and richly decorated with carvings. Discover an atmospheric place where the Shiva and Vishnu temple complex is hidden. Visit the ancient temple dedicated to the god Indra, and at the confluence of two rivers, see the cremation grounds. From here, we will head to the Ethnographic Museum, where you will get a closer look at the unique traditions of the Nepalese, their architecture, and religion. After that, we will get back in the jeep and return to Kathmandu. You will be back at the hotel around 6 pm.
Insider's perspective
All this time, you will have the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the life of Nepal and Nepalese people. Their lifestyles, histories, cultures, beliefs, traditions, habits, politics, and the peculiarities of modern living from someone who has been living here for many years and loving this country wholeheartedly.
Organizational details
Jeep rental for the entire excursion (100$), entrance tickets to the national park and museum in Panauti (5$/person), lunch with the Tamang family (5$/person), drinks on the way are not included in the excursion price.
Nepal is open for tourism! Only a vaccination certificate (dates do not matter) or a negative PCR test is required for entry.
