Picked up from airport and transferred to the hotel. Unless otherwise preferred, we will choose local boutique hotels in Patan, where old houses are now being refurbished into tourism hotels - that helps it retain its architecture. Time permitting, a sunset walk to Soyambhunath to understand how this almost 2000 years old heritage coped post earthquake and relating its history to that. Part of our Rise of the Artisan Series. After that, a traditional welcome dinner at Bhojan Griha, at a renovated heritage building.

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  D
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  hotel swotha
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Todays day is dedicated to understand the deep rooted philosophies that guide Nepal - Hinduism and Buddhism. We do that while touring two world heritage sites of Pashupatinath (one of the top hindu temples worldwide) and Boudhanath (again a top Buddhist stupa). After we finish with this experience, we shall sit down for a detailed trip briefing, and a reflection of our day!

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  hotel swotha
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This experience was developed post earthquake as we quickly realised how important the artisans were in Nepal. Structures that were close to 2000 years old crumbled and the artisans were in standby - with the techniques and skills ready to rebuild - improving on the technology every so slowly with each rebuild - approximately every 80 years as an earthquake strikes - allowing for the structures to be still beautiful and technically perfect while not allowing modernisation to completely take it over. We will conduct this tour in Bhaktapur - the ancient city that was retrofitted to a big degree in the 70's and the architecture maintained.

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  hotel swotha
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Having lived with adversity (natural, economic and political) all their lives for centuries, Nepal's communties are resilient and strong. We try to understand this by going and living in a community for a couple of days, and mingling right in. We do this in custom tailored for each trip, as we cannot just impose on communities and also make it a perverse "look at a community tour". We shall determine where to go depending on the interests of the group and also its ability to give back - not in money but in skills and the needs of the community.

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  B | L | D
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  homestay
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We continue on our ethnologic study of communities and at the same time making it a two way process for the communities too.

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  B | L | D
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  homestay
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Today as we come back into Kathmandu, we shall reflect on what we learnt over this time. Supported by experts, we shall do a small workshop in Kathmandu for about two to three hours in the evening, to understand the perceptions and give it more depth. We end this section with a dinner.

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  B | L | D
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  hotel swotha
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Today starts our R&R after the trip, as we fly to Pokhara for a well well earned rest. The day is free to wander around this wonderful lake town, and soak in the sights and sounds of the the tourist hub

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  B
• air | car

Typically a blue day is a day where no one knows what happens, or everything is optional. Depending on how adventurous the group is, we can keep it either ways, surprising the group with an activity, or giving choices! The reward? Dinner in Pokhara.

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  B | L | D
• car

Today we fly back to Kathmandu, for a final reflective session in the afternoon. This is the end of the trip and we shall conduct a farewell dinner with all that participated in the trip - guides, experts etc.

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  B | D
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  hotel swotha
• air | car

Day free till departure!

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• car