Wild Himalayas Itinerary: With Eight-Day Phoksunod Lake Trek

Kathmandu Valley in Nepal

What to expect on this itinerary

Escape and explore a forgotten frontier, where rhinos thrive, and Tibetan monasteries glow beneath the mountains. Western Nepal is the land of the wild Himalayas, a place few people visit and even fewer understand. Proud and pristine, this land has only just become accessible to visitors, so bask in the uniqueness of a Lower Dolpo trek and a jungle safari. If you seek off the beaten track adventure, there’s nowhere quite like Nepal.

Countries Visited

Nepal

Places Visited

Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Juphal, Kalagaun, Dunai, Kagbeni, Shyanta, Chhepka, Phoksundo Lake, Ringmo, Bardiya National Park

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Kathmandu – Touch Down and Checking Out the City

Exotic scenes will fill your day once you touch down in Kathmandu. You will meet your guide at the airport before your private transfer takes you to the hotel. Then spend the day exploring as the itinerary will be flexible to your energy levels. Just walking around Thamel will bring hundreds of evocative impressions. Bicycle rickshaws cut down streets of mandala paintings and incense slips out from temple sanctuaries. Holy men don painted bodies and orange robes while cows lie in the road to rest. Monkeys swing beneath prayer flags at Swayambhunath pagoda, but this is only just the start. Tomorrow you’ll fly off to the far west of the country, where it’s just as exotic but far less crowded.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Nepalgunj – Relaxed Morning and Flying to Far Western Nepal

Day 3

Dunai – Himalayan Scenic Flight and the First Day of Trekking

Day 4

Chhepka – Into Shey Phoksundo National Park

Day 5

Chhepka – Through a Forest of Cedars and Past a 1,000-Foot Waterfall

Day 6

Ringmo – Lakeside Life in the Wild Himalayas

Day 7

Ringmo – Exploring Phoksundo Lake With its Glaciers and Monasteries

Day 8 - 9

Juphal – Descending Through Wild Valleys

Day 10

Bardiya National Park – Nepal’s Lesser-Known Jungle Safari

Day 11 - 12

Bardiya National Park – Relaxing With Rhinos and Elephants

Day 13

Kathmandu – Final Morning Safari and Back in the Capital

Day 14

Kathmandu – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Savor eight days on the trekking trail as you traverse rivers and forests in Shey Phoksundo National Park
  • Bask in the beauty of Phoksundo Lake, a pristine work of nature hidden away in the Himalayas
  • Come eye to eye with rhinos on a jungle safari in Bardiya National Park, Nepal’s lesser-known wildlife realm.
  • Fully celebrate the beauty of the wild as you follow trails that see hardly any other trekkers
  • Get invited to mountain monasteries, feel the warm welcome of rural villages, and connect with a proud Himalayan culture
  • Tailor your jungle experience with walks, drives and boat safaris bringing intimacy with nature’s giants
  • Marvel at the views on a 35-minute scenic flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal, the only way to access the Phoksunod trekking region
  • Experience a landscape and destination that remains entirely off tourists’ radar, known only to a handful in Nepal

Starting Price

$3,700 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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