Nepal for Seniors: Day Hikes, Culture, Landscapes and Luxury

Durbar Square overhead in Kathmandu, Nepal.

What to expect on this itinerary

From Himalayan sunsets, and mountain monasteries, to serene lakes and small villages, the Nepalese landscape will always impress you with its laid-back atmosphere and feel. Yet historic kingdoms, hiking trails, and scenic flights also provide easy adventure. Nepal is a place with a rhythm idyllically suited to senior travelers, alongside exotic culture and discovery that will make you feel alive. Including three day hikes and an Everest flight, these nine days of luxury will reveal a remarkable Himalayan kingdom. Begin planning your dream Nepal vacation by visiting the best Nepal itineraries page on Zicasso.

Countries Visited

Nepal

Places Visited

Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, Namo Buddha, Sagarmatha, Mt. Everest, Pokhara, Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Nagarkot – Sunset Views of Mt. Everest

Mt. Everest peeps above its neighbors and the highest slab of rock and snow forms a surreal panorama. You will feel as if you could spend forever watching this view of forests in the valley below, ochre-colored dirt paths twisting away, and the sun setting behind the world’s highest mountains. Nagarkot is famous for Himalayan views and its sunrise and sunset that will impress you as the landscape changes color at a delightfully slow pace. It’s a view that welcomes you to Nepal and provides the backdrop for the next four days.

Once you touch down at Tribhuvan International Airport, an experienced local guide will meet you. From here a private transfer will escort you into the mountain foothills and Nagarkot village. Far enough away to provide serenity, yet close enough to the Kathmandu Valley highlights, Nagarkot is a quiet village with a handful of lodges perched on the ridgeline. Small market stalls line the lanes, hiking trails twist out from all over the village, and when the sun starts to set all the locals also enjoy the view. Settle into the luxury lodge, and you’ll already feel Nepal pulling you into its rhythm.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Nagarkot – Village Life, Gentle Hiking and Himalayan Panoramas

Day 3

Nagarkot – Exploring Historic Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan Temple

Day 4

Nagarkot – Hiking to the Namo Buddha Pilgrimage Site

Day 5

Kathmandu – Mt. Everest Scenic Flight and Cultural Connections in Kathmandu

Day 6

Pokhara – Monks and Monasteries and Mountains

Day 7

Pokhara – Begnas Lake Luxury Tour

Day 8

Pokhara – Easy Himalayan Trekking Beneath the Annapurna Mountains

Day 9

]Kathmandu – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Cruise alongside the world’s highest mountains with a Mt. Everest scenic flight
  • Spend four nights in the cute village of Nagarkot, where a luxury lodge is perched on a ridgeline looking toward the Himalayas
  • Join the pilgrims on a half-day hike to Namo Buddha, a pre-eminent pilgrimage site that impresses Nepal’s spirituality
  • Savor the serenity of Begnas and Phewa lakes as you spend three days in Pokhara
  • Wander slowly along Himalayan trails with a day hike in the Annapurna region and a Himalayan village trek in the Everest region
  • Discover Nepal’s oldest temple and meet the monks of a quiet mountain monastery
  • Explore the architectural remains of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, two historic kingdoms as surreal as they are sublime

Detailed Description

Nepalese vacations always have an inherent paradox. Time moves slowly in this Himalayan kingdom and the locals prefer a leisurely, laid-back rhythm. Nothing is rushed when the Himalayas provide a constant backdrop and Buddhist teachings encourage every moment to be savored. This is a country where everyone moves at their own pace and the slower the better if you seek cultural and natural connections. At the same time, the land of the world’s highest mountains brings out the adventurist in everyone. On this vacation, you’ll bask in Himalayan hiking, scenic flights, local pilgrimages, and feeling alive in otherworldly landscapes. It will all be done at your own pace of course, but there are few countries like Nepal to provide such inimitable travel experiences.

Handcrafted for senior travelers, this nine-day tour will take you on a laid-back journey through a selection of Nepalese highlights. The country is famous for trekking and you’ll go on three short day hikes, which will give you a sense of different alpine regions and trails. Then, a Mt. Everest scenic flight takes you eye to eye with the 8848-meter giant and its neighbors, while a tour around Begnas Lake offers an entirely different Himalayan perspective. Culture is part of the everyday experience and by traveling slowly you’ll have the superb opportunity to meet and connect with the locals. Age is revered in Nepalese culture and it tends to be that the older you are, the more the local people entertain you in respectful discussion.

Specific sites and villages are the scene of evocative cultural encounters. Take a walk through historic Bhaktapur, spend some time at Nepal’s oldest temple, and join the pilgrims walking up to Namo Buddha. Each of these attractions will be enjoyed at the beginning of your trip. Then, you stay in Nagarkot, a charming little village outside of Kathmandu, where a luxury lodge is poised on the ridgeline and the views of Everest are legendary with few better places to be at sunrise and sunset. Away from the bustle of the city and the starting point for many short walks, Nagarkot will help you settle into the Nepalese rhythm.

Cruise over Mt. Everest on the morning of day five on a fixed-wing scenic flight that brings you eye to eye with a landscape that almost looks like the moon. Then spend the day in Kathmandu to meet the people and discover the heritage of the historic city. Fly to Pokhara on day six for three nights in a pristine Himalayan region, where lakes extend beneath a mountain backdrop. You’ll meet monks in a remote monastery, cruise across quiet waters, take a trek into the Annapurna region, and surround yourself with landscapes that seem surreal. From here it’ll be a short flight back to Kathmandu and your international departure.

Read some of our Nepal traveler reviews to discover new experiences to add to your own tour.

Starting Price

$2,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 92 reviews

Mary H.
India, Nepal Luxury Vacation Review: Local Culture, Cuisine, 10-Night Trip

"Our Zicasso agent did a wonderful job planning our trip and taking care of all the details. The hotels were superb and the guides were great."

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Lianna T.
Nepal, Bhutan Mother/Daughter Travel Review: Himalayas, Trekking, 2-Week Tour

"Thank you to our Zicasso travel agent and her team for creating a trip that we will never forget!"

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Randee P.
Luxury Nepal Trip Review: 8-Night Tour

I became ill on the trip and Zicasso’s tour company helped me get the medical attention I needed. The accommodations they arranged were also very nice.

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Mercedes E.
India, Nepal Luxury Vacation Review: Wildlife, Culture, Two Weeks

The trip was amazing. It was fully customized for us by Zicasso’s travel agent. The accommodations were beautiful and very comfortable. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and flexible. Our driver stayed with us through five cities and always made us feel safe and cared for. The support from the field teams was great. We never had to wait for a response and our questions were always promptly addressed. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

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John C.
India, Nepal Luxury Vacation Review: Taj Mahal, Wildlife, Mount Everest, Cave Temples, 20 Nights

Our Zicasso travel agent was fantastic. She was highly responsive to our needs and respected our wish for a certain kind of trip. Her team on the ground in India was exemplary and paired us up with exceptional guides. There wasn't a guide in India who had less than 20 years' experience. Our agent urged us to do a few things that weren't in the original plan and they turned out to be special. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

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David T.
India, Nepal, Bhutan Luxury Trip Review: Three-Week Tour

This trip went way beyond our expectations. We received the best service we have ever had. The hotels were palaces and the guides were expert, fun, and personable, so much so that you get attached to them. The service levels made us feel totally spoiled. It would be next to impossible to surpass this trip. I highly recommend Zicasso’s travel operator and will use them again and again. We even had a great many dinner reservations made for us, in addition to all the tours and other travel planning. We felt like royalty.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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