Two of Nepal's finest medieval hill towns, neither on most tourist itineraries. Bandipur's perfectly preserved Newari streetscape sits above a green valley. Gorkha's palace fort looks out over the entire Himalayan range — and gave its name to the Gurkhas.
Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel. Evening briefing.
Morning drive to Bandipur (140km, 4 hrs). Walk the restored Newari high street — a pedestrian-only zone of 18th-century merchant houses. Sunset from Tundikhel viewpoint.
Full day: Siddha Cave (one of South Asia's largest caves), surrounding villages with a local guide, and the hilltop viewpoint at dawn.
Drive to Gorkha (2 hrs). Steep climb to Gorkha Durbar — the 16th-century palace fortress birthplace of Nepal's unification. 360° Himalayan panorama.
Village walk with a retired Gurkha guide. Visit the Gurkha Museum and the living community that sent soldiers to the British Army for two centuries.
Drive back to Kathmandu. Transfer to airport.