Feb 15 - Feb 22, 2025
Starting at
1,699
Nepal
Extension: The Splendor of Nepal
Program No. 22521RJ
Continue your learning adventure with a 6-day extension into Nepal. Explore grand temples, discover ancient palaces, and learn about Hinduism and Buddhism from local experts.
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We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
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800-454-5768
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Mar 1 - Mar 8, 2025
Starting at
1,699Mar 22 - Mar 29, 2025
Starting at
1,699Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025
Starting at
1,699Nov 1 - Nov 8, 2025
Starting at
1,699DATES
& starting prices
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Feb 15 - Feb 22, 2025
Starting at
2,129Mar 1 - Mar 8, 2025
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Mar 22 - Mar 29, 2025
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Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2025
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Nov 1 - Nov 8, 2025
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8 days
7 nights
15 meals
6B 4L 5D
1
Overnight in Delhi
Delhi
3
Morning Hike, School Visit
Dhulikhel
6
Patan Square, Patan Museum, Free Time
Kathmandu
7
Free Time, Program Concludes
In Flight
8
In Transit From Program
In Flight
At a Glance
Extend your learning adventure with an in-depth excursion to Nepal, a mystical land of monolithic temples and holy shrines. Meet locals and learn about traditional Nepalese culture, and survey the grand temples and ancient palaces that define this Himalayan country. Learn the intricacies of Hinduism from a temple expert and delve into the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.
Program Extension
To take this extension, enroll in this main program first.
Highlights of India: Discover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi
Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, experience the Ganges River and its spiritual meaning and much more on this immersion into the history and culture of India.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to one hour over varied terrain. Elevations up to 4,000 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore the iconic architecture of Swayambhunath, a 2,500-year-old temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Discover the wonders of Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa — or place of meditation — in the world.
- Meet children and teachers at a local school, and learn about the Nepalese educational system.
General Notes
This program is an extension only to "Highlights of India: Discover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi" (#22519).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Temple Tiger
Temple Tiger / Venture Travel is Road Scholar's Site Coordinator in Nepal. For emergencies, once in Nepal, please contact our local partner Rita Pradhan on the numbers shown.
If dialing from a local number or with a SIM card, dial as below:
(0) 1 980 236 0042
(0) 1 532 1585
(0) 1 985 113 9310
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Temple Tiger
View biography
Temple Tiger / Venture Travel is Road Scholar's Site Coordinator in Nepal. For emergencies, once in Nepal, please contact our local partner Rita Pradhan on the numbers shown.
If dialing from a local number or with a SIM card, dial as below:
(0) 1 980 236 0042
(0) 1 532 1585
(0) 1 985 113 9310
Suggested Reading List
(18 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Extension: The Splendor of Nepal
Program Number: 22521
Shangri-la: A Practical Guide to the Himalayan Dream
With marvelous chapters on the many meanings and myths surrounding Shangri-La, Buckley's practical guide covers the contenders for this mythical Himalayan paradise in Southwest China, Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. With many maps and color photographs.
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India and Nepal
A slim pocket guide to 252 of the most conspicuous birds of India and Nepal.
Kathmandu
Drawing on his years of experience in the Himalayan fortress, Bell introduces readers to Kathmandu’s layered history, touching on gods and goddesses and the caste system as well as the present-day push toward modernization and the recent, devastating earthquake.
Arresting God in Kathmandu
This collection of stories explores the nature of desire and spirituality in modern Nepali society.
Himalaya, Personal Stories of Grandeur, Challenge and Hope on the Roof of the World
This beautifully photographed overview of the geology, history and people of the Himalayas includes contributions by several National Geographic photographers, introductions by Jimmy Carter and the Dalai Lama, and an afterward by Sir Edmund Hillary.
In the Land of the Blue Poppies
Expert Tom Christopher presents excerpts from intrepid Kingdon-Ward's fascinating accounts of plant-hunting adventures in Tibet, Burma and the Himalayas in the early 20th century.
Lonely Planet Nepal
A comprehensive, practical guide to Nepal.
The Snow Leopard
The most perceptive, acutely observed and personal of all his books, Matthiessen's account of a five-week journey through Nepal with naturalist George Schaller combines their quest for the elusive cat with a moving introduction to Buddhism and the people and culture of the Himalayas.
Fortress Monasteries of the Himalayas
This slim book recreates the dramatic and colorful fortifications of Tibet, Ladakh, Nepal and Bhutan, recounting their history through foreign incursions, religious conflicts and civil wars to the Tibetan uprising and flight of the Dalai Lama from Potala Palace in 1959.
Nepal Adventure Map
A waterproof, tear-resistant map of Nepal at a scale of 1:625,000. Includes detailed elevations and the locations of natural attractions.
Escape from Kathmandu
The four interconnected stories in this laugh-out-loud novel include the (mis)adventures of two young Americans with a Yeti, international espionage, mountain climbing of the highest sort and a quest for Shangri-La.
A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of India, Including Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan
A handy field guide to 280 bird species common to the Indian subcontinent. In beautiful John Beaufoy style, the guide’s colorful and high-quality photographs are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, size distribution, preferred habitats and nomenclature.
Against a Peacock Sky, Two Years in the Life of a Nepalese Village
Connell tells about her experience in the Nepalese Himalayan village of Talphi where she lived for two years. The place was so remote, she writes, it was ten days’ walk from the nearest road.
Snake Lake
A touching memoir by journalist Greenwald who returns to his old haunts in Kathmandu during the Maoist uprising. He struggles to balance his journeying with obligations to his depressed brother back home in the United States.
Lonely Planet Nepali Phrasebook
A palm-sized guide to pronunciation, grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Sherpas, Reflections on Change in Himalayan Nepal
A detailed study of the change that mountaineering brought to Sherpa society.
Shopping for Buddhas
A funny tale of searching every last corner of Kathmandu for just the right statue of Buddha. In addition to his tourist's obsession with getting the ideal souvenir, Greenwald offers amusing and insightful meditations about Nepalese culture, politics and religion.
Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment
Bezruchka, a mountaineer and M.D., includes case studies, frequently asked questions and simple methods of diagnosis and treatment in this indispensable pocket guide.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
15 meals (
6B, 4L, 5D
)
2 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Overnight in Delhi
Location:
Delhi
Meals:
D
Stay:
Pullman New Delhi Aerocity
Activity Note
This program is an extension of program # 22519 (Highlights of India: Discover Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Varanasi). Program 22519 concludes at Delhi airport. Participants on the 22521 extension will then be transferred to their Delhi hotel for the night.
Afternoon:
We arrive at Delhi airport on our flight from Varanasi at the conclusion of program 22519. We will transfer to our hotel and check in. We have some time at leisure before dinner.
Dinner:
At accommodation.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
2
Fly to Kathmandu, Transfer to Dhulikhel, Dhulikhel Old Town
Location:
Dhulikhel
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Dhulikhel Mountain Resort
Activity Note
The flight from Delhi to Kathmandu is approximately 2 hours. Once in Kathmandu, the drive to Dhulikhel is approximately 1.5 hours. The walk around Dhulikhel is less than ½ mile on paved roads with occasional uphill and downhill sections. There 25 plus steps without railing from road to the hotel.
Breakfast:
At accommodation.
Morning:
After breakfast we transfer back to Delhi airport to check in for our late-morning flight to Nepal.Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), Kathmandu, Nepal.
Lunch:
At own arrangements, en route.
Afternoon:
After landing in Kathmandu, proceed through customs, claim your luggage and exit into the main arrivals area. Once in the main arrivals area, look for your Group Leader who will be holding a Road Scholar sign. Once everyone is gathered, we will board our motorcoach and set off for Dhulikhel, located to the west of Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Dhulikhel we check into our hotel. Our Group Leader will then conduct a program orientation to go through the itinerary, review safety guidelines and answer any questions. During this program extension, our field trips will be led by our Group Leader unless specified otherwise. Please be aware that program activities and schedules could change due to local circumstances such as weather, traffic conditions, etc. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We board our motorcoach and ride to the old town of Dhulikel, where we can lose ourselves in time exploring cobbled lanes, ancient houses with sagging wooden frameworks, intricate carvings, hidden temples and thriving market squares. Dhulikhel was once a major trading hub between Kathmandu, Tibet and India. Historically, Dhulikhel was a Newar settlement, one of the major ethnic tribes in the Kathmandu Valley. Newars are the oldest and the most traditional of Nepal's ethnic groups and have a culture strongly based on religion, celebrated with a calendar of festivals. After discovering the old town, we board our motorcoach and transfer back to the hotel.
Dinner:
Welcome Dinner with complimentary welcome drink. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Enjoy the sunset view over the Himalayas from our hilltop resort. Settle in and get a good night’s rest for our day ahead.
Day
3
Morning Hike, School Visit
Location:
Dhulikhel
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Dhulikhel Mountain Resort
Activity Note
Morning hike is approximately 2 miles/2 hours over mainly level dirt paths with some uneven terrain and a few small ascents and declines. Comfortable walking shoes required. If normally used when hiking, a walking stick would be helpful. Please note that the school visit availability is subject to change based on school holiday timing and exam schedules.
Breakfast:
We have an early morning start for those who wish to see sunrise over the Himalayas. At the hotel, we will have a buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold dishes. Coffee, tea and water included.
Morning:
We set out with our Group Leader and take a short hike around Dhulikhel to view traditional Brahmin and Tamang villages with a view of Panchkhal Valley and the surrounding landscape. The Tamang villagers still closely follow their traditional lifestyle and beliefs. We return to the hotel for a presentation on the religion and culture of Nepal, led by our Group Leader.
Lunch:
At the hotel. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We board our motorcoach and set off to visit a local school. Here we learn about the Nepalese educational system. During our visit we will meet and interact with local students.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
To Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath Temple
Location:
Kathmandu
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Soaltee Kathmandu
Activity Note
Walking approximately 2 miles over paved surfaces, a few uneven surfaces and some stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. Buffet.
Morning:
We check out of our hotel and transfer to Kathmandu, arriving mid-morning. Once in Kathmandu we explore Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. During the annual Shivaratri pilgrimage, thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva come from Hindu communities around the world to pay homage here.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we explore Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated just beyond the Pashupatinath temple, it houses 108 Buddha images and 147 prayer wheel insets. The settlement of Boudhanath is home to a large community of Tibetans. We transfer to our Kathmandu hotel to check-in and relax. We come together in the early evening for a presentation on contemporary issues in Nepal, given by a local expert. Afterwards, we enjoy tea with university students to learn more about higher education in Nepal.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Swoyambhunath Stupa, Dhoka Durbar Square
Location:
Kathmandu
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
The Soaltee Kathmandu
Activity Note
Please note that in Durbar Square, some of the original shrines and monuments within the Square received significant damage during the earthquake of April 2015. Repairs are ongoing. Walking today for up to 2 miles on paved surfaces with a few uneven surfaces and some stairs at the sites.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. Buffet.
Morning:
This morning we explore one of the icons of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath, the oldest Buddhist stupa — a place of meditation — was established more than 2,500 years ago and is also known as the Monkey Temple. With our Group Leader, we explore the stupa and learn about Nepalese Buddhism. Perched high on a hilltop, Swayambhunath commands a superb view of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is also known as Sengu and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We transfer by motorcoach to Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square). Here we explore many temples and monuments. With its old temples and palaces, Durbar Square epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that the kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Among the sites we visit are Taleju Temple, built by King MahendraMalla in A.D. 1549; the Temple of KalBhairav, the God of Destruction; Nasal Chowk; the GaddiBaithak; the statue of King Pratap Mallal; and the Jagannath Temple.
Dinner:
At own arrangements. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on our own to enjoy what we like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Patan Square, Patan Museum, Free Time
Location:
Kathmandu
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Soaltee Kathmandu
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles, mostly on paved paths with some uneven surfaces. For those participants intending to organize their own Mount Everest scenic flight, before breakfast this morning is the time to take this flight. This flight is not included in our program. Please refer to the Free Time section in your first Information Packet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. Buffet.
Morning:
We transfer by motorcoach to Patan City, renowned for its marvelous monuments. Patan displays the sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. With our Group Leader, we explore Patan Square which is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. We view Krishna Mandir, the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and completely made of stone. We also visit Mahabouddha, a Buddhist temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha are engraved. We also visit the Patan Museum. Here we can view exhibits that cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history, as well as the rare objects and cultural treasures for which Patan is famous.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We return to Kathmandu on our motorcoach. Free Time. Take this opportunity for independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer other suggestions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Farewell Dinner with complimentary farewell drink. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional drinks available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. Say farewell to new Road Scholar friends. Pack and prepare for departure tomorrow.
Day
7
Free Time, Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00am. Refer to the program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. Buffet.
Morning:
Free Morning. Hotel check-out 11:00am. Program concludes. Those who have booked their airfare through Road Scholar transfer by motorcoach to the airport for flights home. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Day
8
In Transit From Program
Location:
In Flight
Morning:
Arrive in North America.
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
MEALS
15 Meals
6 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 01, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
- Feb 15, 2025 - Feb 22, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
- Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 08, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
- Mar 22, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
- Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
- Oct 25, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
- Nov 01, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025 (Delhi to Kathmandu)
Participant Reviews
Based on 4 Reviews
Sort By:
Our trip to Nepal was and add on to the Best of India trip. If you came to India, you should take advantage of this add on. Nepal is a short flight from Delhi. Nepal is beautiful and spiritual. The Monkey Temple is fun to explore but remember if you get pickpocketed by a monkey don't chase him otherwise his pals will come to his defense. The Mount Everest flight is a great way to see the part of the majestic Himalaya Mountain range. I highly recommend this trip if you want a chance to experience Hindu and Buddhist culture.
— Review left November 18, 2024
We learned and experienced so much in a short period of time. It was well worth taking this extension. It was interesting to see both similarities and differences from what we had experienced in India. Beautiful country, friendly people, great weather and delicious food. I especially enjoyed the city of Patan and seeing the Himalayan Mountains.
— Review left November 6, 2024
The program was excellent and offered deep and balanced insights into the culture and history of this profound and intriguing corner of the world.
— Review left April 19, 2024
Nepal is a wonderful country. Nepali are proud of their history, culture, religious traditions, architecture and cuisine. This short travel extension gives a good introduction to a unique country.
— Review left November 19, 2019
