Kathmandu and Pokhara are towns where there is always a
stopover for travellers into Nepal. Most of the activity in these cities are
restricted to regular run of the mill city tours. Over the last few years,
socialtours has worked extensively on our GO LOCAL series of extensions, meant
to give a better insight into the cultural melting pots that are our cities.
The list below gives a gist of what we have developed. Do check back with us
constantly – we keep developing new products in this series.
All trips are guided and are reasonably priced, run with low
minimums and never exceed 10 persons.
Tours around Kathmandu
Cook like a local | 3-4
hours
Discover
the art of Nepali cooking in a perfect extension to any trip to Nepal. As part
of the Go Local series, socialtours gives you an opportunity to learn how to
cook like a Nepali. Each class starts with a tour of the bazaar to source ingredients,
continues on to the actual cooking and ends in lunch. Learn to cook the
Nepalese staple food, Dhal Bhat (lentil soup and curried vegetables or meat
with rice), one of the most popular fast food dishes, momos (dumplings) or aloo
paratha (potato stuffed flatbread). All classes are a maximum of six
participants only.
Newari Village Tour | 4
hours
The
tour gives you an insider's view of Nepal. The Newars are the original
inhabitants of Kathmandu. Due to the fertility of Kathmandu Valley, they have a
very rich cultural heritage, with highly developed art, architecture and
cuisine. This is best experienced visiting the ancient Newar villages just
outside Kathmandu. The tour is guided by well-trained local experts.
Throw your own souvenir
| day tour
The
craftsmen in the small township
of Thimi just east of Kathmandu are reknown for their pottery, which is
exported worldwide. You will spend a morning with these artisans learning about
their skill. You will then try your hand at creating your own souvenir to take
back home. For a relaxed afternoon we move on to an organic countryside farm
for lunch.
Hidden Trails of
Kathmandu | Cycling | day tour
The Kathmandu Valley is built for mountain biking and has more trails
than one can count, catering for bikers of all experience and expertise levels,
ranging from gently cultural trails to downhill and extreme uphills. Fully
customizable, we will carefully select the best route based on your interests
and expertise. You ride with one or more of our team of expert bikers. This
trip will give you an insight into the valley and its back roads plus an
excellent workout! You will visit the hidden places only regular mountain
bikers discover, giving you a unique perspective into this wonderful valley.
Dawn at Bhaktapur | overnight trip
The ancient city of Bhaktapur, located east of
Kathmandu, is commonly known as the culture capital of Nepal. One of the UNESCO
world heritage sites, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is an open museum itself with
palaces, pagodas, temples and monasteries. This trip will let you experience a
city waking up, something rare in more common tours of this ancient city. The
whole trip will take place before breakfast. Your experience does not get more
local than this.
Kumari Trail Walk | 3 hours
In Kathmandu, the Living
Goddess Kumari, a young unmarried girl, comes out of her temple at Kathmandu
Durbar Square only three times a year on specific routes. We follow one of
these routes on an informative city walk, learning more about this tradition
and discovering parts of old Kathmandu to get a true sense of history of the
place with its courtyards and communities.
Bhote Koshi River
Rafting/Canyoning | 2 days
Just three hours away
from Kathmandu, the Bhote Koshi River is without a doubt the most exciting
thing you can do in Nepal and one of the best two-day rafting trips offered
anywhere in the world. The Bhote Koshi is a very steep, continuous mountain
stream, a unique combination of exceptionally fun and challenging rapids
without it ever getting past the point of recreation, surrounded by mountains, forests
and waterfalls. Challenging and action-packed, the Bhote Kosi offers you
nothing less than the ride of a lifetime.
The Chitwan Jungle
Safari | 3 days
One of Nepal's best attractions is a safari in the tropical jungles of
Terai, the southern plains of Nepal, which still preserves some of the best
wildlife habitat in the subcontinent. The Chitwan National Park offers
protection to 56 species of mammals including one-horned rhinos. Highlights of
the trip include elephant back safari, jungle walks, bird watching tours and
canoeing.
Chepang Hill Trail Hike | 3 days
This
hike leads you through the off-beaten trail and beautiful hillsides of Chitwan
to the homeland of Chepangs and their traditional villages. Chepangs are the
small ethnic group living a nomadic life with rich cultural traditions. The
trek was developed to promote their culture and livelihood.
Rice Planting Tour | day
tour
Rice is one of the most important commodities in
Nepal. Every summer, as the rains set in the valley, it is time to celebrate
the showers by making a festival of the planting of rice. Spend a day planting
rice with the locals! This tour will allow you to mingle with the locals and
their traditions in Kathmandu Valley and serves as a wonderful peak into the
daily lives of Nepalis. Children are most welcome.
Walk with a Monk | day
tour
This tour focuses on
Buddhism, showcasing the different types of practice that exist in Nepal. The
walking tour takes you from Kopan Monastery to the famous Boudha Stupa led by a Buddhist Lama.
In Kopan Monastery you participate in a philosophy session about Buddhism
followed by a short meditation. After lunch and a visit around the monastery
you walk with the monk through agricultual fields and local villages to Boudha
with a chance to debate and learn more about Buddhism. The tour ends with a
prayer session and lighting candles in one of the many Tibetan Gompas around
Boudha.
Splice of Kathmandu | 2.5 hours
This is a 2.5 km guided walking tour of the inner streets
of Kathmandu and the bustling bazaars of Ason a stone's throw away from the
tourist district of Thamel. Within the seeming chaos of rikshas, motorbikes and
crowds, you will discover the true heart of Kathmandu and learn about
vegetables, salts, spices, herbs, utensils, traditional nepali clothing and the
wholesale of Tibetan items. You will get a chance to taste the spices and herbs
and also shop like a local. As an added value the guide gives an insight into
other important aspects of the Nepalese culture, religion and customs.
Heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley
| 1-2 days
The tour takes you through the seven heritage sites of
Kathmandu one by one, going from the holiest temples for hindus, Pashupatinath
to the oldest temple in the valley, Changu Narayan. You will then stay
overnight in the beautiful city of Bhaktapur - the Durbar Square of which is
one the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley highlighting the
ancient arts of Nepal. The second day of the tour takes you to Patan Durbar
Square, then on to Boudha, the holy Buddhist stupa and yet to another one,
Swayambhunath. Finally the tour takes you to the amazing Kathmandu Durbar
Square. Just walking through these sites watching the people go about their
daily lives is an incredible experience in itself.
Day tours around Pokhara
Coffee Trip | 1-2 days
Nepal is abound with hidden secrets
and the production of organic coffee is one of them. The unique climate and
terrain allows for a very high quality coffee to be grown in picturesque farms
in altitudes between 900–1800 meters. This trip takes you up close and personal
with this coffee with a very distinct taste, while the Himalayas create the
backdrop. You meet the farmers, help in the farm, visit production chain
processes and end up drinking the very coffee that was roasted in front of your
eyes.
World Peace Stupa Hike | 3 hours – day hike
This hike takes you to a beautiful World Peace Stupa
recently built by the Japanese up on a hill across the famous Fewa Lake. After
a short boat ride across the lake, it is a leisurely walk uphill through the
forest with the panoramic background of the Himalayas. From the Stupa you can
watch the sun set over Pokhara. The hike can be also done as a circuit.
Dawn at Sarangkot | 3-5
hours
Setting off before sunrise with a short drive to a point where you start your walk uphill to the ridge top, you will reach the top of Sarankot at 1610 meters before sunrise to see the breathtaking mountain range near Pokhara, including the sacred Fishtail that is off-llimits to climbing. The hike up to this closest viewpoint near Pokhara takes from 45 minutes to three hours depending on your starting point.
Setting off before sunrise with a short drive to a point where you start your walk uphill to the ridge top, you will reach the top of Sarankot at 1610 meters before sunrise to see the breathtaking mountain range near Pokhara, including the sacred Fishtail that is off-llimits to climbing. The hike up to this closest viewpoint near Pokhara takes from 45 minutes to three hours depending on your starting point.
Biking to Pame | day tour
The villages around Pokhara
present a wonderful insight into village life in the western side of Nepal.
What better way than to spend the day cycling to these wonderful idyllic
villages on our day tour. One could go in different directions but we are suggesting
that we go towards the north of the lake to Pame.
