In the West, Nepal is probably best known for Mt Everest, the world’s highest mountain—and Everest is worth seeing!  But there is far more to see and do in Nepal:  it is a fascinating country, with amazing natural and cultural diversity.  In the Himalayan north, there are 8 of the 10 tallest mountains in the world, while in the jungle south, there are vast national parks where you have a chance of seeing some of Asia’s most endangered animals:  one-horned rhinos, Asian elephants—and probably the best chance anywhere of seeing Bengal tiger.  But it also has 128 peoples and languages, some of the greatest holy sites of Hinduism and Buddhism (including the birthplace of the Buddha), many 1000 year old temples with elaborate carvings—the pagoda was invented here and adopted by the Chinese—and a plethora of wonderful local handicrafts, from mandalas to singing bowls to pashminas.  Also, like India, it has traditionally had three genders—and Nepal is in the forefront of Asian countries for guaranteeing the rights of sexuality and gender minorities.  Gay sex has been legal since 2007, and the first legal gay marriages in Nepal took place in 2023.  On our tour we will have the chance to meet with the local LGBTQ+ community and to hear about Nepal’s progress from the principal leader of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in Nepal, who will meet with us and give us our LGBTQ+ tour of Kathmandu!

• Amazing views of the Himalayas

• An optional helicopter trip to Everest base camp

• 1000 year old temples, Hindu and Buddhist

• traditional Nepali music and dance

• visit to a traditional painting school

• shopping for singing bowls and pashminas

• jungle and canoe safaris in Bardiya National Park, the best place in Asia for tiger sightings

• also rhinos, elephants, and many tropical birds

• LGBTQ+ tour of Kathmandu with Sunil Babu Pant, Asia's first openly gay parliamentarian

• traditional blessing ceremony with third-sex dancers

We will take today to rest after our international flights (or our India tour). In the evening we meet for a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali foods (e.g. curries and momos) and a show of traditional dances from all across Nepal.

Hotel for 3 nights: Dusit Princess, a supremely comfortable hotel blending tradtional design with modern comfort in a quiet location, only a short drive from all of Kathmandu's sights.

Kathmandu is home to some of the holiest temples of Hinduism and Buddhism. Today we will visit the three most important: Pashupatinath, where the head of Shiva rests (and where his lingam can fulfill all wishes!)—a 500+ temple complex where many devout Hindus come to die and be cremated, so as to be purified by the holy waters of the Bagmati river; the Boudhanath Stupa, a vast spherical stupa that is the mother of Tibetan Buddhism and considered the embodiment of the enlightened mind of all the Buddhas; and Swayambhunath, the so-called monkey temple, named for the flock of macaques that plague visitors on its steps—the 2nd holiest shrine of Tibetan Buddhism.

But Kathmandu consists of three historic cities. And today we will also visit Bhaktapur, the most well-preserved and traditional of the three, where we will be able to watch traditional artists and craftsmen at work: this will also be a great day for buying souvenirs, singing bowls, pashminas, and thanka paintings.

After our intense introduction to Kathmandu yesterday, this morning is yours to rest. But we have two optional possibilities for you. First, you can have a session of sound healing, done with singing bowls—an ancient Nepalese tradition mixing Buddhist and Shamanic practices. But we have another option, which could be the experience of a lifetime: an early morning helicopter trip over the Himalayas to the Everest Base Camp, for unparalleled views of Mt Everest. This trip will consist of several phases, each with amazing views, and we will make stops at several of the best viewpoints, and finally have a lovely breakfast at the amazing Everest View Hotel. Note that the final phases of this excursion will take place in 3-seater helicopters, so everyone will have a window view!

And at the Everest View, we can also toast George Mallory, the Bloomsbury nudist mountain climber who may have been the first person to reach the summit of Mt Everest (before he died there...) and may also have been the painter Duncan Grant's lover: he certainly inspired quite a series of homoerotic portraits..... Oh, and btw, he was the person who, when asked why he tried to climb Mt Everest, said, "Because it was there." Score one for the gay (or bi, questioning, whatever) guy!

Today we fly to the city of Nepalgunj, in the Terai, the plains adjacent to India, and then drive to our hotel by the entrance to Bardiya National Park—the best location in South Asia for spotting Bengal tiger. On arrival, we will have an introductory talk about Bardiya park and a walk through the village to learn about the lives of the Tharu people, an indigenous people of the terai. And we will go to bed early, so we can get an early start on our exploration of the park tomorrow!

Hotel for 3 nights: Babai Resort Bardia is a modern and comfortable motel-like hotel right across the river from Bardiya park in the village of Thakudwara. It has a lovely swimming pool, good food, and many modern conveniences, such as wifi, window and door screens (and mosquito nets), and 24 hour hot water. More importantly, you can sit on the terrace and watch the river, with crocodiles--and at night, possibly a leopard!

Over the next 2 days, we will explore the park and try to find its most famous animals: crocodiles, rhinos, elephants, and tigers. We will do jeep safaris, a canoe ride on the river, and possibly a Bardiya specialty, the walking safari—something that is only available here in South Asia and often gets the best animal viewing. Also, with Professor Lear leading the group, we will learn about some of South Asia's coolest birds, such as Great Hornbills and Emerald Doves.

Many tours only stay one day in Bardiya. But that puts a lot of pressure on the wildlife spotters!--so we are staying for 2 days. Fingers crossed--but chances are good....

Today we fly to Pokhara, Nepal's "tourism central," a charming city on beautiful Lake Phewa, which has stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range and has long served as the take-off point for Himalayan trekking. We arrive in time for a stroll by the cafés and yoga centers of Lakeside Road (about a 15 minute walk from our hotel).

Hotel for 3 nights: Bar Peepal Resort is a peaceful hotel set in an acre of beautiful gardens, but right near the attractions of downtown Pokhara.

We start today by driving up to Sarangkot Hill (5250 feet) for beautiful views of Pokhara, Lake Phewa, and the Annpurna range (with Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna, respectively the 7th, 8th, and 10th tallest mountains in the world). We then return to the hotel for breakfast before setting off to explore the sights in and around Pokhara: we take a boat ride on the lake out to the Tal Barahi temple, on a small island facing the city, then after lunch visit the Gupteshwor Cave shrine to Shiva, the spectacular Davi's waterfall, and the beautiful gorge of the Set River. In the late afternoon, we learn about the life of the large Tibetan refugee community at the Tibetan cultural center, where we can also watch Tibetan artisans at work and possibly buy their handicrafts, especially their famous carpets.

We spend our final evening in Nepal at a dinner with our own LGBTQ+ community, including a traditional hijra dance.

Today we fly back to Kathmandu. You can transfer directly to the international terminal for your flight out of Nepal, but please let us know if you want help with further travel arrangements, in Nepal or elsewhere!