Rise early this morning and transfer to the domestic airport for a thrilling flight over the majestic Himalaya Mountains. The flights last 1-hour and will take you close to Mount Everest, flying at 25,000 ft (7,600 m). Departures begin at dawn as the earlier flights usually provide the best views, with the snow peaks change colour as the sun rises and the cloud cover is still low. As the day warms ups the cloud cover rises.
The Himalayas are the youngest and highest mountain range in the world, extending for over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) across the top of the Indian sub-continent. The central section that runs through Nepal has 1,310 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,000 m). Eight of these peaks are over 26,000 ft (8,000 m) - Sagarmatha (popularly known as Mount Everest), Kangchanjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, ChoOyu, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.
After your flight we visit Boudhanath - a Tibetan 'stupa' (dome shaped shrine) that is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Built by King Man Deva on the advice of the goddess Mani Jogini, its octagonal base is inset with prayer wheels. The shrine is ringed by houses of Lamas (priests), with four pairs of eyes looking in the four cardinal directions - keeping watch for righteous behaviour and human prosperity. Here you can see Tibetan monks involved in their chanting rituals and daily life. This stupa is one of the seven Monument Zones and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We then drive 3-miles (5-km) south of Kathmandu to visit Patan Durbar Square. Patan (or Lalitpur) is one of the three great cities of the Kathmandu Valley, which is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal. It is famous for its amazing collection of fantastically carved temples, palace courtyards, water spouts, public baths and houses with their equally elaborate wood, stone and metal carvings under the patronages of the Kirat, Lichivi and Malla kings. Patan has more than a 1,000 temples and monuments dedicated to the uniquely Nepali mix of Buddhist and Hindu gods. Patan Durbar Square is another of the seven Monument Zones and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After lunch (own account) we travel to the Hindu pilgrimage town of Pashupatinath, another Monument Zone and World Heritage Site situated 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the Kathmandu Valley. Here you can view one of the holiest Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is built in a pagoda style, with a gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Behind the temple are the cremation grounds, and here you will see many Sadhus (holy men) with their matted hair and ash rubbed on their bodies. Visitors can view the temple from the eastern bank of the sacred Bagmati River, as non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple.
In the evening enjoy an included Nepali Cultural Show and dinner.