Everest, Tigers, Monasteries & the Himalaya
Nepal Wildlife, Trek & Culture Expedition
Watch the sun rise over Mount Everest from the summit of Pikey Peak (4,065m)
Track Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and wild elephants
Stay inside living Buddhist monasteries at Namobuddha and Thupten Choling
Explore the UNESCO heritage of the Kathmandu Valley
Connect with local communities, from teaching at the Junbesi school to a Nepalese cooking class
From the Roof of the World to the Jungle
Few countries pack as much into a single journey as Nepal. In just over two weeks this expedition carries you from the temples and stupas of the Kathmandu Valley, up into the rhododendron forests and high ridges of the Solukhumbu for a sunrise over Everest, and down to the lowland jungle of Bardia National Park in search of wild tigers.
It is a trip of contrasts held together by people. You share quiet mornings with monks at hillside monasteries, teach a class at the Junbesi school, learn to cook a Nepalese meal, and walk with the guides whose work has helped Nepal more than double its wild tiger population. The trekking is moderate and unhurried, designed so you can take it in rather than race through it.
Conservation is at the heart of the Bardia days. Nepal’s recovery of tigers, rhinos, and elephants is one of the most hopeful wildlife stories in Asia, and you will see both the success and the real complexity of people and predators sharing the same land.
Comfortable lodges, monastery guesthouses, and warm Nepalese hospitality carry you through it all. Come and discover Nepal at its own pace.
“My mountain did not seem to me a lifeless thing of rock and ice, but warm and friendly and living. She was a mother hen, and the other mountains were chicks under her wings.”
Your guide in Nepal:
Guillaume de Remacle
This expedition can also be joined by a dedicated professional photographer for guests who would like hands-on guidance in the field. Ask us about the optional photography add-on.
Whether you are a keen photographer or simply want to be present in the moment, the trip is built to suit travellers of every kind.
Guillaume is the expedition leader and the designer of this trip. His passion for the places he travels is contagious, and his personal touch runs through every day of the journey. He is not just a guide; he is a fellow traveller, as eager to learn from the people and landscapes you meet as he is to share them with you.
He builds each expedition around genuine encounter: time with local communities, a deep respect for the natural world, and the belief that there is more than one path to a good life. In Nepal that means trekking at an unhurried pace, sharing quiet mornings in mountain monasteries, and standing still long enough to take in both a Himalayan sunrise and a wild tiger.
He chose to lead in Nepal for the same reasons he is drawn to all his destinations: warm and welcoming people, a deep and living culture, rich and varied wildlife, and landscapes that stay with you long after you return home.
Trip Dates for Nepal Wildlife, Trek, and Culture
| Date | Trip Length (Days) | Prices from (USD) | Booking | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 15-30, 2027 | 16 | $4,700 | Inquire Here | Spaces Available |
| April 5-20, 2027 | 16 | $4,270 | Inquire Here | Spaces Available |
the finer points
Wildlife, mountains & culture in Nepal
Nepal rewards both the walker and the watcher. The Pikey Peak trek is one of the finest low-altitude viewpoints in the whole Himalaya, and Bardia National Park is among the best places left in Asia to see a wild tiger. Between the two lies a living Buddhist culture. We are not simply observers here. We step inside and engage meaningfully with the communities and the practice of Nepal’s ancient culture.
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Bardia National Park is one of Asia’s great tiger success stories. Thanks to two decades of protection and anti-poaching work, Nepal has more than doubled its wild tiger population, and Bardia is now one of the best places left on the continent to see a tiger in the wild. Over three days of walking safaris and jeep drives you search for tigers along the Karnali and Babai rivers, and come to understand the real complexity of people and tigers sharing the same land. Included: three days of guided safaris in Bardia.
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Bardia’s grasslands and riverine forest shelter the greater one-horned rhino, wild Asian elephants, swamp and spotted deer, gharial crocodiles, and more than 500 species of birds. Mornings and late afternoons are the best times to find them, often quietly on foot or from the back of a jeep.
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The Pikey Peak trek climbs gently through blossoming rhododendron and camellia forest, well away from the crowds of the Everest Base Camp trail. A pre-dawn push to the 4,065m summit is rewarded with a sunrise panorama over Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and the high Himalaya. Included: a three-day guided trek with porters carrying the loads.
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This is a journey through living faith, not museums. You stay overnight inside the Namobuddha and Thupten Choling monasteries, join the monks and nuns for optional dawn and evening pujas, and have time to learn about monastic life. At Thupten Choling, a community of Tibetan Buddhist nuns, you may receive a blessing from the young Rinpoche in residence.
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Before the mountains, you explore the UNESCO-listed heart of the Kathmandu Valley with an English-speaking guide: the sacred riverside temples of Pashupatinath, the great Boudhanath Stupa with its watchful eyes, and the medieval city of Bhaktapur with its palace square and living crafts. We’ll also visit mountain communities like Junbesi, where we have an opportunity to connect with the locals, including the chance to practice English with children at the local school.
Trip Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal, a land that rises from steaming lowland jungle to the highest mountains on earth. This itinerary carries you through almost all of it, from the temples of Kathmandu to a sunrise over Everest and the tiger grass of Bardia, at a pace that lets each place land.
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Arrive in Kathmandu, where our Arctic Tern Expeditions team meets you and transfers you to the Kathmandu Garden Home. A welcome drink, time to settle in, and dinner at the hotel or out in town. [Overnight at Kathmandu Garden Home]
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A full day exploring the Kathmandu Valley with an English-speaking local guide: morning at the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, lunch on a rooftop beside the great Boudhanath Stupa, and an afternoon walking its kora. In the evening, a Tibetan singing-bowl ceremony, then dinner. [Overnight at Kathmandu Garden Home]
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Drive to the medieval city of Bhaktapur and explore its temples and squares before lunch. Continue to Kavre Bhanjyang and walk about three hours to Namobuddha Monastery (a direct drive is available for anyone who prefers not to walk). Time with a monk, an optional evening prayer, and dinner. [Overnight at Namobuddha Monastery]
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An optional dawn puja, then a long, scenic 4×4 drive to Dhap, the trailhead for the days ahead. Dinner and your first night in a mountain lodge. [Overnight at Dhap lodge]
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An easy first day on the trail through low hills and blossoming rhododendron and camellia, reaching the village of Japhre in the early afternoon to rest and explore. About 4.5 hours walking (+300m / -400m). [Overnight at tea house, Japhre]
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A little more climbing today toward Pikey Peak Base Camp (3,600m), taken at an unhurried pace as the high Himalaya opens up around you. About 5.5 hours walking (+700m / -100m). [Overnight at tea house, Pikey Peak Base Camp]
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An early ascent to the summit of Pikey Peak (4,065m) for sunrise over Everest and a sweep of the high Himalaya, then a long, beautiful descent toward Junbesi. About 6 hours walking in total. [Overnight at Ang Chokpa’s Inn, Junbesi]
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A morning at the Junbesi village school, where you can teach an English class or talk one-to-one with the children, followed by lunch with them or at the local monastery. A free afternoon to explore, then an evening Nepalese cooking class at Ang Chokpa’s Inn. [Overnight at Ang Chokpa’s Inn, Junbesi]
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A morning walk (about an hour) to Thupten Choling, a living monastery and community of Tibetan Buddhist nuns. Receive a blessing from the young Rinpoche reincarnation if he is in residence, with an optional evening prayer and dinner. [Overnight at Thupten Choling Monastery]
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An optional early puja and breakfast, then travel to Phaplu and on to Kathmandu, by road (about 9 hours) or by a short local flight, which is faster though mountain schedules can shift. [Overnight at Kathmandu Garden Home]
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A morning flight to Nepalgunj and transfer to Babai Resort in Bardia National Park, arriving mid-afternoon. Relax by the pool, visit nearby villages, and watch the sun set over the grasslands. [Overnight at Babai Resort]
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A full day in Bardia searching for Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and wild elephants, with a mix of walking safaris and jeep drives led by expert local guides. [Overnight at Babai Resort]
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Another full day on safari, going deeper into the park and along its rivers, and learning about Nepal’s remarkable tiger recovery and the real complexity of people and tigers sharing the same land. [Overnight at Babai Resort]
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A final day in Bardia, balancing wildlife with a visit to local Tharu villages to understand life on the edge of a national park. [Overnight at Babai Resort]
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Transfer to Bardia airport and fly back to Kathmandu, where we gather for a farewell dinner in the city. [Overnight at Kathmandu Garden Home]
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Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home, or fly on to Bhutan for the optional extension.
From the temples of Kathmandu to a sunrise over Everest and the tiger grass of Bardia, this journey crosses almost every landscape Nepal has to offer, at a pace that lets each one land. You stay in mountain teahouses and monastery guesthouses, share meals with the communities who host you, and see first-hand the conservation work that has brought Nepal’s tigers, rhinos, and elephants back from the brink.
What is included:
Expedition guide, pre-departure online consultation
Ground transport per private 4WD safari vehicle (Minibus)
Airport transfer to/from Kathmandu Airport
Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, based on a shared double/twin room - Meals as described in the itinerary
Entrance fees and ranger fees for all itinerary inclusions, including national parks, temples, and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Activities and excursions mentioned in the program
Not Included:
International flights to/from Kathmandu, Nepal
Visas
Optional activities that may be offered on your trip
Meals and drinks not mentioned above
Gratuities for your drivers, hotel staff, and guides
Nepal FAQ
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A: We have a 4 guest minimum and a maximum of 6. This keeps the group small and the experience personal throughout our time in Nepal.
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A: The Pikey Peak trek is moderate, not technical: about 4.5 to 5.5 hours of walking a day over three main days, on good trails, with porters carrying the loads. A reasonable level of fitness and some hiking experience are recommended.
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A: Yes, and this can be done electronically (very easy process). As of this writing, the cost starts at 30 USD, and is based on length of stay.
Please go to this Nepal Immigration Portal to find out more.
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A: No special vaccinations are required for Nepal; just check routine travel jabs with your clinic. Malaria risk is low and limited to the Bardia lowlands, where simple precautions are sensible. The main consideration is altitude, as the trek reaches 4,065m at Pikey Peak. We ascend gradually and your guide keeps an eye on everyone.