Nepal has been known primarily
for the ultimate in Himalaya climbing, trekking as well as
arts, crafts and ancient architecture of the Kathmandu
Valley. While most tourists have been coming to at least
catch a glimpse of the high mountain peaks Nepal has not
been known offering amenities for the affluent, at least not
out of the ordinary. For years many potential visitors gave
Nepal a miss on account of not wishing to trek and overnight
in a tent. They were after more refined luxuries, more
sophisticated amenities and furnishings. The amazing views
and vistas, panoramas and ambiance already there, just the
right lodges and resorts were missing. But those days are
history. Nepal now boasts enough unmarked boutique inns and
stylish mountain lodges to satisfy the most demanding
travelers.
Luxury
hotels in Kathmandu City and within the perimeter of the
Kathmandu Valley
Yak and Yeti is the
classical 5 star institution among the upscale hotels. But
not everyone is fond of large structures with as many as 270
rooms. Yak and Yeti is indeed the premier five-star deluxe
hotel in the heart of Kathmandu, and the 100-year-old palace
has been transformed into a newly designed structure. If you
prefer smaller place, Dwarika's Hotel is a great
option. Located in a vicinity of the holy Pashupatinath
Temple, Dwarika's Hotel is a much more personable choice,
with stylish 79 rooms, incorporating 16th century windows
and other antique architectural artifacts.
Although the level of
luxury goes down once you start out of the valley, if you
wish to get away from the heart of Kathmandu city, there is
Nagarkot, a mountain top village with grand views of
the High Himalayas. At 2175m above sea level the Fort
Resort or Club Himalaya in Nagarkot are great
places to escape to for at least couple nights.
Should you prefer secluded
outposts with fine views, there are two Summit Lodges that
fit the profile, the Haatiban Resort and Lakhuri
Bhanjyang, both on high ridges outside the Kathmandu
valley. And similarly remote, driving further out and away
then there is the Dwarika's Himalayan Shangri-La Village
Resort at Dulikhel.
Luxury hotels in
Chitwan and Pokhara
For complete Nepal
experience one has to sample the lowland jungle and
Chitwan National Park is the place to visit. Luxury in
Chitwan is synonymous with Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, but
there are other luxury lodges there.
In Pokhara, the
slice of luxury is to be had at the Shangri La Village
Hotel. When it comes to striking panoramas of the Annapurnas
and Machapuchare, the shores of Lake Phewa wet one's
appetite for wanting to proceed into the hills. There is a
great short trek north of Pokhara that includes deluxe
lodges in Birethanti, Majgaun Lumle, Ghandruk and Dhampus.
Luxury hotels in
Solukhumbu and Mt. Everest region
The best part in luxury is
however yet to come and it is found in the Everest region.
Here reign two properties with several lodges each.
First there are the Summit
Lodges, the first right at Lukla, the main airport
south of Mt. Everest National Park. As your head may
encounter the think air at 2745 meters above sea level, you
can start your acclimatization here. The next Summit lodge
is at scenic valley of Monjo, slightly higher than
the first. Needless to say the lodges that follow are each
in higher altitudes but the quality is superb, locations
splendid and views astonishing. The lodge at Mende is
at 3000 meters overlooking the Thamo and Thame
valleys. Next is at Tashinga, offering stunning views
of Ama Dablam, which you think are the best until you reach
the lodge at Pangboche.
The second string of luxury
lodges represent the chain of Yeti Mountain Homes, located
at Lukla,
Phakding, Namche Bazaar, the main Khumbu
Sherpa village, Thame and Kongde, all with
some of the finest views in the region.
Any lodge is a great base
for day hikes. From Tashinga you can hike to the famous Tengboche monastery.
From Pangboche you can make hikes to the base camp of the Ama Dablam
to the east and into the meadows of Taboche towering
straight above. From Kongde you can hike to Farak Ri at over
15,000 feet. And everywhere you'll see the stunning peaks of
the Everest region.
Flying back to Kathmandu does
not have to be from Lukla, requiring a long trek back down
to Solu, but from the STOL airstrip at Syangboche, only an
hour hike steeply up above Namche Bazaar.
Following are possible
itineraries combining the best of luxury lodges in Nepal.
|
 |
Luxury itineraries in
Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Solukhumbu
|
Kathmandu Valley
Delux
Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu, stay
at Yak and Yeti
Day 02 Kathmandu & Patan sightseeing
Day 03 Bhakapur sightseeing and continue to Nagarkot; stay at Fort
Resort or Club Himalaya
Day 04 Day hike to Changu Narayan temple
Day 05 Transfer to Haatiban Resort or Dwarika's Himalayan Shangri-La Village
Resort at Dulikhel
Day 06 Free at your own leisure
Day 07 Return to Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 08 Free at your own leisure in Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 09 Depart Nepal
Taste of Annapurna
& Everest
Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu, stay
at Yak and Yeti
Day 02 Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03 Fly to Pokhara; Overnight at Shangri La Village
Day 04 Trek to Birethanti; Sanctuary lodge
Day 05 Trek to Majgaon; Gurung lodge
Day 06 Trek to Dhampus; Basanta lodge
Day 07 Trek back to Pokhara; Overnight at Shangri La Village
Day 08 Fly back to Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 09 Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding; Overnight at Yeti
Mountain Home
Day 10 Trek to Monjo; Overnight at Yeti Mountain Home
Day 11 Trek to Namche Bazaar; Overnight at Yeti Mountain Home
Day 12 Day hike to Khumjung
Day 13 Fly Syangboche to Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 14 Free at your own leisure in Kathmandu; Overnight at
Dwarika's
Day 15 Depart Nepal
Grand
Panoramas of Khumbu
Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu, stay
at Yak and Yeti
Day 02 Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03 Fly to Lukla, trek to Pakhding; Overnight at Yeti
Mountain Home
Day 04 Trek to Monjo; Overnight at Yeti Mountain Home
Day 05 Trek to Namche Bazaar; Overnight at Yeti Mountain Home
Day 06 Day hike to Khumjung
Day 07 Trek to Thame; Overnight at
Yeti Mountain Home
Day 08 Free at your own leisure or
day hike to Sumdur Ridge (15,844ft)
Day 09 Trek to Kongde (13,950ft); Overnight at Yeti Mountain
Home
Day 10 Day hike to Farak Ri (15,250ft)
Day 11 Trek back to Lukla; Overnight at Yeti Mountain Home
Day 12 Fly to Kathmandu; Overnight
at Dwarika's
Day 13 Free at your own leisure in Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 15 Depart Nepal
Grand
Panoramas of Kathmandu, Chitwan and Khumbu
Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu, stay
at Yak and Yeti
Day 02 Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03 Himalayan Mountain Flight
to Everest; Patan & Bhakatapur sightseeing
Day 04 Fly to Chitwan National
Park; stay at Tiger Tops
Day 05 At Chitwan
Day 06 At Chitwan
Day 07 Return to Kathmandu;
Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 08 Fly to Lukla, trek to Monjo; Overnight at Summit Lodge
Day 09 Trek to Mende; Overnight at Summit Lodge
Day 10 Day hike to Thame Gompa
Day 11 Trek to Tashinga; Overnight
at Summit Lodge
Day 12 Day hike to Tangboche
Day 13 Trek to Pangboche; Overnight at Summit Lodge
Day 14 Day hike to Ama Dablam Base Camp or to viewpoints on Taboche
Day 15 Trek to Syangboche; Hotel
Everest View
Day 16 Fly Syangboche to Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 17 Free at your own leisure in Kathmandu; Overnight at Dwarika's
Day 18 Depart Nepal
Click
to Print This Page
Book Now
Connect to other tours and treks:
Kala Pattar & Everest Base Camp Trek;
Renjo La, Cho La, Kongma La Trek;
Pikey Peak & Solu Trek;
Buddhism, Meditation and Solu Khumbu Trek.
|
