11-Nights Nepal & Tibet: From the Jungle to the Roof of the World -Luxury Small Group Journeys from $11,995

Abercrombie & Kent: Nepal & Tibet: From the Jungle to the Roof of the World

DAY 1 Kathmandu, Nepal

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you are met and transferred toyour hotel.

Ride by rickshaw to Durbar Square and Taleju Temple. See the House of the Living Goddess (Kumari), explore the bazaar and old city, and visit the 1,500-year-old stupa (Buddhist shrine) of Swayambhunath. Return to your hotel for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. This evening, hear a gripping firsthand account from a Mount Everest summiteer.

Early this morning, enjoy an awe-inspiring sightseeing tour past Mount Everest, or opt to take a helicopter (at an additional cost) for an up-close experience of the mountain. After breakfast, visit the highly revered Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and the towering Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath. Here, a local artisan reveals the religious significance of thangka artwork. Continue to Kopan Monastery and Nunnery for a blessing and private meditation session.

Fly to Bharatpur, where you are met and transferred to your lodge in Chitwan National Park. Settle in with time at leisure and an afternoon tea service. If time allows, set out on a thrilling Jeep safari in the park.

Rise early to track one-horned rhinos through the jungle with an expert naturalist, perhaps even stealing a rare glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger. After lunch, float down the Rapti River, taking in beautiful views of the Himalayan foothills and spotting exotic species along the way. Finish with a Scenic Sundowner on one of the river’s banks.

Take in one last morning among the wilds of the park. Then, travel to Bharatpur for your flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, continue to historic Patan, seeing Durbar Square, the Golden Temple, Krishna Mandir and the enlightening Patan Museum.

Fly to Lhasa this morning for a spectacular flight over MountEverest and other Himalayan peaks. Upon arrival in Lhasa,transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoonacclimatizing.

After a leisurely breakfast, proceed to Drepung Monastery. A major pillar of the former theocratic state, this massive enclave once housed over 7,700 monks. Continue to Sera Monastery and listen in as monks engage in a spirited theological debate, a skill finely honed over countless generations.

Today, venture inside the towering walls of Potala Palace,former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Next, experiencethe spiritual heart of Tibet at the sacred Jokhang, a 1,300-year-old temple. Finally, glimpse an enduring hub of everyday life atLhasa’s Barkhor Bazaar.

Fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, explore medieval Bhaktapur before continuing to your luxurious resort set in the foothills of Dhulikhel, a site famed as an ideal vantage point for viewing the Himalayan range.

After breakfast, enjoy resort activities such as birdwatching, hiking, yoga, meditation, painting and pottery. Later, gather for a Chef’s Table experience revealing the finer points of Nepalese cuisine. Finally, trade stories with your fellow guests at a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.

After breakfast, you are transferred to the Kathmanduairport for your departure.