The Nepal Wildlife Safari and Everest Mountain Flight covers the three corners of Nepal’s most popular travel circuit in eleven days: the heritage cities of Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and its Annapurna lakeside, and the wildlife-rich jungles of Chitwan National Park. It ends with something no other mountainkick tour includes: a one-hour mountain flight that takes you to within 20 miles of Mount Everest.
In Kathmandu you visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a single guided day, including Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati and the great dome of Boudhanath Stupa. An evening drive to Nagarkot gives you the Himalayan sunrise the following morning. Two full days in Pokhara take you through the city’s caves, waterfalls, temples, and the hilltop World Peace Pagoda, with Phewa Lake and the Annapurna range as a constant backdrop. Sarangkot sunrise, one of the best in Nepal, opens the morning before you drive south to Chitwan.
Chitwan fills a day and a half with jeep safari through the tall grass floodplains, canoeing on the Rapti River, guided jungle walks with a naturalist, and an evening with the Tharu community. Back in Kathmandu you spend a day at Patan Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, and the UNESCO sites the first visit left out. Then on Day 10, the mountain flight. The views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and the surrounding peaks from a cruising altitude of around 23,000 feet are genuinely hard to describe.
Tour Highlights
our trip begins at Tribhuvan International Airport. A mountainkick team member will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of the day is free to settle in, adjust to the time zone, and take an optional walk through the streets of Thamel. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead.
Duration: Arrival day | Activity: Airport transfer and orientation
Points of Interest:
A full guided day through three of Kathmandu’s most significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Start at Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, where the cremation ghats along the Bagmati River create a scene unlike anything else in Nepal. Continue to Boudhanath Stupa, the great white dome and one of the largest Buddhist stupas in Asia, its butter lamps and prayer wheels always busy with pilgrims. The day closes at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a former royal courtyard of exceptionally well-preserved Newari architecture where traditional woodcarving and metalwork are still practiced by local artisans. By evening, drive up to Nagarkot Hill Station for the sunrise the following morning.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Cultural sightseeing and transfer
Points of Interest:
Wake before dawn to watch the sunrise from Nagarkot. On a clear morning the view runs from the Annapurna massif in the west to the Everest group in the east, a panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. After breakfast, the seven-hour drive west to Pokhara follows winding mountain roads through hill villages and river valleys. By late afternoon you reach the lakeside area, with Phewa Lake directly ahead and the Annapurna range filling the horizon.
Duration: Sunrise plus 7-hour drive | Activity: Sunrise viewing and scenic drive
Points of Interest:
A guided day through Pokhara’s main cultural and natural sites. Visit Bindabashani Temple, a hilltop Hindu shrine with good valley views, then walk through Old Pokhara City where the traditional architecture contrasts with the newer lakeside developments. The Seti River Gorge runs through the city at surprising depth and narrowness. The afternoon takes you to the Gorkha Museum, a boat ride on Phewa Lake to the island temple of Barahi, and the lakeside area for a slow evening.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Cultural sightseeing and exploration
Points of Interest:
Start with the World Peace Pagoda, a striking Buddhist monument on a hilltop with a 360-degree view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city, and Phewa Lake below. Head to the Tibetan Refugee Camp to see traditional crafts and learn about the community’s history. Then visit Gupteshwor Cave, where impressive limestone stalactite formations surround a sacred shrine, and Davis Falls, where the Pardi Khola stream drops into an underground channel before disappearing beneath the city. The lakeside area for lunch and a relaxed afternoon rounds out two full days in Pokhara.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Natural and cultural exploration
Points of Interest:
An early drive to Sarangkot for one of Nepal’s most celebrated sunrises. Standing above Pokhara at around 5,400 feet, Sarangkot faces the full Annapurna range directly: Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Manaslu all catch the first light while Pokhara city and Phewa Lake are visible below. After breakfast, a five-to-seven-hour drive south brings you through changing landscapes from subtropical hills down into the Terai plains, arriving at your jungle resort inside Chitwan National Park by evening.
Duration: Sunrise plus 5-7 hour drive | Activity: Sunrise viewing and transfer to jungle
Points of Interest:
A full day inside Chitwan with a mix of activities. The morning jeep safari goes deep into the park’s grasslands and forested river floodplains, where one-horned rhinos are frequently spotted and tiger sightings, while never guaranteed, are always possible. A guided jungle walk with a naturalist follows, covering animal tracks, plant identification, and the park’s ecology at walking pace. The afternoon canoe ride on the Rapti River is the best way to spot gharial crocodiles and river birds. The evening ends at a Tharu cultural village with a traditional dance performance: the Tharu have lived in harmony with this jungle for generations and their presence is part of what makes Chitwan distinctive.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Wildlife safari, guided walk, canoeing, and cultural visit
Points of Interest:
One last morning in the park before the five-to-six-hour drive back to Kathmandu. Use the early hours for an additional nature walk, further wildlife viewing, or simply a quiet breakfast listening to the jungle. The drive north takes you back through the Terai plains and into the Kathmandu Valley by evening.
Duration: Morning activities plus 5-6 hour drive | Activity: Final wildlife time and return transfer
Points of Interest:
The first Kathmandu day covered the east valley. Today covers the rest. Start at Patan Durbar Square, directly across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, one of the finest collections of Newari temple architecture in Nepal and the former royal courtyard of the Malla kings. The octagonal Krishna Mandir and the intricate woodwork of the surrounding palaces are particularly well-preserved. Continue to Swayambhunath Stupa — the Monkey Temple — on its hilltop west of the city, one of the oldest religious sites in the Kathmandu Valley, where the painted eyes of the stupa look out over the entire valley and the surrounding mountains. The afternoon is free in Thamel for shopping, a final café stop, or revisiting any sites.
Duration: Full day | Activity: Heritage sightseeing
Points of Interest:
The flight takes off early, before the morning haze builds. For approximately one hour, the aircraft follows the Himalayan arc east from Kathmandu, passing within about 20 miles of Mount Everest. Every passenger gets a window seat. The views take in Everest (29,032 feet), Lhotse (27,940 feet), Makalu (27,838 feet), Cho Oyu (26,864 feet), and at least seven other peaks above 23,000 feet. On a clear morning this is simply one of the most remarkable things you can do without leaving the ground. The flight is included in the tour price.
In the evening, mountainkick hosts a farewell dinner: traditional Nepali food and a cultural show to close out eleven days well spent.
Duration: Morning flight plus evening dinner | Activity: Everest mountain flight and farewell dinner
Points of Interest:
After breakfast, mountainkick transfers you to the airport. Eleven days: two UNESCO city circuits, two Himalayan sunrises, a wildlife park, and a mountain flight over the top of the world.
Duration: Half day | Activity: Departure transfer
Points of Interest:
In Kathmandu:
Three-star hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
Daily breakfast included
Modern amenities including WiFi, electricity, and hot showers
Upgrade options available to 4-star or 5-star luxury hotels
In Nagarkot:
Three-star hill station hotel
Daily breakfast included
Strategic location for sunrise and Himalayan views
Upgrade options to luxury mountain resorts available
In Pokhara:
Three-star lakeside hotel accommodation
Daily breakfast included
Prime location near Phewa Lake with mountain views
Upgrade options to 4-star and 5-star lakeside resorts
In Chitwan:
Jungle resort accommodation inside the national park
Lodge-style rooms with natural environment setting
All meals included during your stay
Modern facilities with electricity and hot water
General Notes:
All accommodations feature twin-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms
Single room supplements available upon request
Hotel upgrades to 4-star and 5-star properties can be arranged for enhanced comfort and luxury
All properties include electricity, WiFi, and hot shower facilities
The Everest mountain flight on Day 10 is the defining feature of this tour and is not included in any other mountainkick tour. Every other aspect of the trip the cultural circuit, wildlife safari, and Pokhara lakeside is strong on its own, but the flight is what makes the itinerary unique. For travellers who want to see Everest up close without trekking to the Khumbu, this is the most direct route.
Easy. All travel is by private vehicle or aircraft and the walking at sightseeing sites is gentle. The Chitwan activities (jeep safari, canoe ride, jungle walk) are all comfortable for people of any fitness level. The main requirement is a willingness to make early morning starts on three days for the sunrise viewpoints and the mountain flight.
The flight takes approximately one hour and follows the Himalayan range east from Kathmandu. The aircraft flies at around 23,000 feet, bringing you to within roughly 20 miles of Everest's summit. Every passenger gets a window seat. The flight is weather-dependent and may be moved by one day if conditions are poor mountainkick coordinates this directly with the flight operator and the itinerary has a buffer day built in.
Chitwan National Park is one of the best places in Asia to see one-horned rhinos, and jeep safari sightings are very common. Bengal tigers are present and occasionally spotted, though sightings are not guaranteed. Sloth bears, leopards, gharial crocodiles, marsh muggers, and over 500 bird species also live in the park. The Rapti River canoe section is particularly good for crocodiles and waterfowl.
October to November and March to April are the peak seasons, offering clear skies, stable weather, and the best visibility for both the mountain flight and sunrise viewpoints. December to February is quieter and cooler. June to September is monsoon season — mountain flights are frequently affected by cloud and are not recommended.
City and town nights are at 3-star hotels on twin-sharing basis with daily breakfast. Chitwan nights are at a jungle lodge inside the national park with all meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). All properties have private bathrooms, WiFi, electricity, and hot water. Upgrades to 4-star and 5-star properties are available on request.
Daily breakfast is included at all city hotels. At the Chitwan jungle lodge, all meals are included. The farewell dinner on Day 10 (traditional Nepali food with a cultural show) is also included. Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara are at your own expense; budget approximately $15-25 per day for those meals.
Those two tours focus on outdoor activities and include trekking days in the hills. This tour is entirely cultural and wildlife-based with no trekking, and is the only tour in the portfolio that includes the Everest mountain flight. If you want challenging terrain and mountain views on foot, the Adventure tours are the better choice. If you want cultural sites, wildlife, and an aerial view of Everest without a trek, this is the right trip.
Yes. mountainkick offers private departure dates and itinerary adjustments. Common additions include extra nights in Pokhara, a Chitwan extension for more wildlife time, or hotel upgrades to 4-star and 5-star properties. Contact us with your preferences for a custom quote.
Budget $200-350 for the full trip, covering self-pay meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara, tips for guides and drivers (10-15% of trip price), and personal expenses. ATMs are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara; withdraw sufficient cash before arriving in Chitwan as ATM access there is limited.
Fitness: This is an easy-rated tour involving comfortable vehicle transportation and short walks at temples, viewpoints, and natural sites. No trekking or sustained physical activity is required. The wildlife activities in Chitwan (jeep safari, canoe, jungle walk) are gentle and suitable for all ages. Early morning starts on Days 3, 6, and 10 require getting up around 4-5am, but nothing physically demanding follows.
Mountain flight weather: The Everest mountain flight operates in good visibility conditions and may be rescheduled by one day if cloud or weather reduces visibility. mountainkick coordinates directly with the flight operator and will notify you if a delay is needed. The flight is almost always possible within the two-day window on Days 10-11.
Temple visits: Dress modestly for all temple and monastery visits. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Remove shoes before entering. Ask permission before photographing people or religious ceremonies.
Money: ATMs are widely available in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Limited access in Chitwan — withdraw cash before leaving Pokhara. Budget approximately $15-25 per day for self-pay meals in cities plus personal expenses. Tips for guides and drivers are customary at 10-15% of the trip price.
Permits: mountainkick handles all permit arrangements and entrance fees. You need to provide your passport details before travel.
Best time: October to November and March to April offer the clearest mountain views and best visibility for the Everest mountain flight. December to February is cooler and quieter. June to September is monsoon season with limited mountain visibility and possible flight delays; the tour is not recommended during this period.
Documents & Money
Passport (valid 6+ months) and photocopies
Travel insurance with medical coverage
Cash (Nepalese Rupees and USD for tips and meals)
Neck wallet for essentials
Visa photos (2 passport-size for visa on arrival)
We give you the power to choose the departure date that suits your group best. A private trip is a perfect solution if you can’t find a published departure date that you and your companions agree on. You can set up a private departure for most of the trips we offer.
| Travellers | PRICING FROM (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1730 |
| 2-3 | 1290 |
| 4-9 | 990 |
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary. You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
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