Nepal Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour – 8 Days
(ETNNP017)  Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini

Overview

8 Days Nepal Buddhist Pilgrimage tour takes you to the Buddhist pilgrimage sites inside Kathmandu & Lumbini, Nepal. Kora at Boudhanath Stupa, meditation at Kopan Monastery, visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, hike the Peace Stupa at Pokhara and visit to birth place of Lord Buddha-Lumbini are the highlights.

Nepal is the prime destination for the Buddhist pilgrims being the birth place of lord Buddha. Several other places are mecca for the Buddhist, meditation, Pooja and ritual performance.

Walk the path of lord Buddha. Find the peace of mind and soul with our Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (TIA) you will be greeted by a representative from our office. After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our representative with a placard at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to Hotel. After check in, you can take a rest or visit our office. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by our office at local restaurant. For dinner, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the Nepalese food culture. Overnight at Kathmandu

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 2: Visit Boudhanath, Some Monasteries at Boudha & Kapan Monastery

Today we pay our visit to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world and an important Buddhist pilgrimage. The unique octagonal Mandala design with hundreds of prayer wheels and the 108 images of the Buddha set into the niches around the huge structure.  The area of Boudhnath is also famous for over 50 Tibetan Gompas or monasteries, the also being known as the ‘Little Tibet’.  The Kapan Monastery at Kapan Hill, a few kilometers higher north from Boudhanath is also known as Nepal Bouddhist Mahayan Centre.  Kapan Monastery follows Gelug tradition of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. There is also a nunnery nearby the main monastery, known as the Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, home to about 400 nuns. Overnight at Kathmandu.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Visit Swoyambhunath & Drive back to Pokhara

We drive to Swoyambhu Stupa in the morning, which is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world with more than 2000 years of history and also a major Buddhist pilgrimmage. According to legend, the civilization of Kathmandu Vallley 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, diamonds pistils, ruby anthers, and lapis lazuli stalk. The legend also says that the lotus seed was planted on a full moon night by Bipaswi Buddha himself.  In the course of time, Santikarcarya, the king who turned into a Bhikchu or a monk, raised the first stupa on the holy site. After visiting Swayambhunath, we make a 6-hour drive to Pokhara in the afternoon to pay our visit to some Buddhist sites there. Overnight at Pokhara

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Pokhara: World Peace Pagoda, Malepatan Gumba, Hyagja Tibetan Refugee Camp

Today we visit some Buddhist landmarks in Pokhara and also enjoy the nature’s majesty. The massive Buddhist stupa of World Peace Pagoda was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myohji organisation 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 the Phewa Lake on a boat and then hike to the Stupa. Then we will visit the Malepatan Gomba or monastery at Malepatan. Then we make another hike to Hyangja, the site for Tibetan refugee camp who fled Tibet after the Cultural Revolution in China. You may try the Tibetan variety of foods, bargain for curios, and at the same time acquaint yourself with the Tibetan culture. There is the Tashi Palkhiel monastery in the tradition of Karma Kagyu tradition. Overnight at Pokhara

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Drive to Lumbini

We drive to Lumbini today – about 290 kilometers south-west from Pokhara which takes for about 6-7 hours. We bid goodbye to the Himalayas in Pokhara, and head toward a more flat lands of Nepal’s Terai. Generally, the weather gets hot and humid in the plains except in the winter. Perhaps, Lumbini is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site – the place where Buddha was born. In case we reach Lumbini around the sunset time, we can stroll in the local market to have a glimpse into the local lifestyle.  Overnight at Lumbini

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Full day explore Lumbini

Lumbini is one of world’s major religious, architectural, and historical places. We devote today’s time in visiting as many places and sites in Lumbini as possible. The place is really a big area with monuments, temples, and ancients sites making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First we visit the Mayadevi temple which is built on the exact place where Buddha was born. We spend some time wandering around the gardens. We also visit the museum and peace pagoda. Some of the 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 the devotees from different countries:  Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese and Burmese, Korean, etc. Overnight at Lumbini

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Drive back to Kathmandu

We are nearing the end of our Buddhist Cultural Tour. We head back toward Kathmandu today – about 300 kilometers journey into the winding mountain road. The journey would take for about 6-7 hours. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner at The Ship Restaurant Bar & Lounge where we can pick our meal from their carefully crafted menu that offer a wide range of choices. Overnight at Kathmandu

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Fly home: Farewell Friend

Your Buddhist Cultural Tour in Nepal concludes today.  We hope you enjoyed the tour with us, and are sure you will be back in your trip somewhere in the Himalaya again. Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight a representative from our office will transfer you to the airport. On your way home you’ll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.

Included meals: Breakfast

Tour Cost & Schedule in 2023 & 2024

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Value Added

We are ready to welcome you with all the necessary safety measures (Post -19 Pandemic Halt). Hence we assure you of safety and security by following the optimal precautions.

Safety Assurance from Us (Tour/Trekking Operator)

• Vehicles fully cleaned and disinfected
• Foot bath mat available at entrance
• Extra masks available (if required)
• Safe distancing
• We carry limited number of passengers
• Our crew wear full PPE while disinfecting the vehicle
• Temperature screening available
• Our crew tested fit to travel
• Sanitizers available
• We carry additional deep wipe down cleaning of high touched areas
• Hygiene kit available for sale
• Our crew wear face mask and face shield

Safety Rules for Travelers (You)

• Namaste over handshake
• Do not travel if unwell
• Wear face mask all the time
• Maintain safe distancing
• Use foot mat while boarding
• Undertake temperature screening
• Ventilators over air conditioning
• Avoid unnecessary surface touching
• Wash/Sanitize hands regularly
• Follow sneeze etiquette
• Follow safety instructions (from local authority)
• Carry your personal hygiene all the time

Customer Reviews (17)