Orchids of Nepal: A Fall Tour on the Orchid Trail
This thoughtfully curated nine-day journey offers an immersive exploration of Nepal’s extraordinary orchid diversity, set against a backdrop of dramatic landscapes, rich biodiversity, and living cultural heritage. Traversing from the mid-hills around Kathmandu through the forests of Makwanpur, the lowlands of Chitwan and Lumbini, and onward to the scenic hills of Tansen, Pokhara, and Panchase, the tour blends botanical discovery with birdwatching, wildlife encounters, and cultural experiences. Designed especially for orchid enthusiasts and nature lovers, the itinerary highlights epiphytic, terrestrial, and lithophytic orchids across varied habitats, while also providing opportunities to engage with traditional villages, sacred sites, protected areas, and panoramic Himalayan viewpoints. The journey concludes seamlessly in Kathmandu, allowing participants to continue on to the V International Orchid Symposium with firsthand field experience from one of the world’s richest orchid regions.
Dates & Prices
Date: November 9-17, 2026
Deposit: August 1, 2026
Final Payments Due: September 1, 2026
Prices: $2150 pp, double occupancy. Single: $2650
Price includes: Hotels, meals, ground transportation, driver, guides, entrances to parks, historic sites and reserves, one way economy airfare from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
What is not included: International airfare, alcoholic beverages, tips, items of a personal nature.
Group size: The tour will take place when a minimum of 8 persons have registered. The maximum number of participants is limited to 14, not including the tour leaders and driver.
Physical requirements for the trip: Participants should be healthy and able to walk short distances (2-4 km) without difficulty. Walks may involve uneven ground, some uphill and downhill trails, and steps. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots required, and a trekking pole to help with balance is strongly recommended
Health Precautions: Participants are suggested to contact their health provider for the most up to date recommendations for travel to Nepal. Travel medical insurance is mandatory for all participants. Check with your physician for vaccination recommendations.
Tour Leaders: Bhatka Bahadur Raskoti, Durlav Roy Chowdhury
OCA Representative: Mary Gerritsen
Notes: This tour was developed as a pre-tour to the V International Orchid Symposium (https://www.annapurnaresearch.org/internationalorchidsymposium) held in Kathmandu, Nepal Nov 18-20. Conference participants are highly encouraged to participate, although the tour is open to all those interested. All participants on the tour will receive a complimentary copy of the book “Orchids of Nepal” written by Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti, our orchid guide for the trip.
International flights: Participants should arrange their own flights to Kathmandu, Nepal. Participants should plan to arrive on or before November 8. The tour will begin at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur, Nepal (https://www.hotelhimalaya.com/ )on November 9 at 8 am. The tour will end at the conference hotel, The Park Village Resort, Budhanikantha, Kathmandu, Nepal (https://parkvillageresort.com/). Participants should make their own hotel arrangements at Hotel Himalaya, and/or Park Village Resort, if needed.
Other information: Most foreign nationals require a visa for Nepal, which is easily obtained as a visa on arrival at the airport. Key requirements include a passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages, plus a photo, with costs varying by duration, and options for 15,30 or 90 day stays. Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria must get a visa before travel from a Nepal embassy. Indian citizens (with ID) do not need a visa.
Day 1 – Kathmandu to Simbhanjyang (via Chitlang & Daman)
Overnight: Daman
Morning
- Drive from Kathmandu to Chitlang Deurali via Thankot (approx. 30 minutes)
- Observe orchids along the roadside.
- Walk to Muithanbache via the Paragliding Site (approx. 1 hour)
- Observe orchids and forest birds.
- Drive to Chitlang Village (approx. 30 minutes)
- Enjoy orchids on roadside trees.
- Visit Ashoka Chaitya (ancient Buddhist stupa).
- Experience the traditional village of Kunchhal.
- Explore Tistung Botanical Garden to see medicinal herbs and cultivated wild orchids.
Afternoon
- Drive to Simbhanjyang
- Spot orchids and forest birds along the roadside.
- Visit the Mountain Botanical Garden.
- Explore the Simbhanjyang area
- Walk along the Simbhanjyang ridge, discovering orchids, birds, medicinal herbs, and tranquil landscapes.
Day 2 – Simbhanjyang to Hetauda (via Aghor & Mahabhir Pass)
Overnight: Chitwan
Morning
- Visit Daman View Tower for panoramic Himalayan views, including Mt. Everest.
- Scenic drive toward Hetauda, with multiple orchid-rich stops:
- After crossing Simbhanjyang Pass, observe orchids while descending to Aghor Village.
- Explore epiphytic, terrestrial, and rock-dwelling orchids along the Aghor–Mahabhir trail.
- Spot lithophytic orchids between Lamidanda and Chuniya.
- Drive from Chuniya to Hetauda via Kalitar and Bhaise
- Explore orchids in broad-leaved forests (including Bulbophyllum and Dendrobium species).
- Explore orchids in riverine forests and roadside rocks between Bhaise and Hetauda.
Day 3 – Chitwan National Park: Wildlife & Orchids
Overnight: Chitwan
Full Day
- Explore epiphytic orchids within the park.
- Observe diverse wildlife, including rhinoceros, with possible sightings of tiger and other iconic species.
- Experience the traditional culture of the indigenous Tharu community.
Day 4 – Chitwan to Lumbini (World Heritage Site)
Distance: approx. 140 km
Overnight: Lumbini
Morning
- Drive to Lumbini
- Observe orchids along roadside forests.
Afternoon
- Explore Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Visit Jagadishpur Reservoir
- Located 15 km from Lumbini; a Ramsar site renowned for rare and endangered bird species.
Day 5 – Lumbini to Tansen (Special Orchid Day)
Overnight: Tansen
Morning
- Drive from Lumbini to Rajapani Community-Based Orchid Sanctuary
- Spot orchids and forest birds along the roadside.
- Explore orchids within the sanctuary.
Afternoon
- Drive from Rajapani to Panini
- Discover orchids, birds, and medicinal herbs.
- Enjoy expansive Himalayan panoramas, including views of three 8,000-meter peaks from a single location.
Day 6 – Tansen to Pokhara (or Optional Sirubari Visit)
Distance: approx. 123 km
Overnight: Pokhara Lakeside or Sirubari Homestay
Morning
- Explore historical sites in Tansen.
Afternoon
- Drive to Pokhara
- Observe epiphytic and rock-dwelling orchids along the roadside.
Optional Experience
- Visit Sirubari Village (17 km off the Pokhara highway), known for breathtaking Himalayan views and the warm hospitality of the local indigenous community.
Day 7 – Pokhara to Panchase (via Dhampus)
Overnight: Deurali
Morning
- Drive to Dhampus
- Explore orchids in the Dhampus area.
Afternoon
- Drive from Dhampus to Panchase
- Explore orchids along the roadside between Kade and Deurali.
Day 8 – Panchase Area Exploration
Overnight: Deurali
Full Day
- Enjoy an in-depth exploration of the vibrant orchid landscape of the Panchase region.
Day 9 – Panchase to Kathmandu (via Pokhara)
Overnight: Kathmandu
Morning
- Transfer from Panchase to Pokhara by vehicle.
Afternoon
- Domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
- Participants may proceed to the V International Orchid Symposium, starting 18 November.
Photo Gallery (photos in separate folder). Use names of the files as the ID for the photo.
Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti is a native of Pokharathok, Arghakhanchi Nepal. He has a PhD degree in Botany from Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu, Nepal), and has focused his research on plant biodiversity, conservation, and systematics, as well as ethnobotany. He is the author of many research papers and has described more than a dozen orchid species new to science. Bhakta is author of The Orchids of Nepal (2009) and co-author (with Rita Ale) of Himalayan Flowers of Nepal (2012). He also recently authored the trekking map: Orchid Trail. Makawanpur Mosaic: a Living Eco-Trail published by Map House, Kathmandu Nepal.
Durlav Roy Chowdhury is a landscape photographer and a photojournalist documenting the Himalayan region. His work focuses on remote mountain communities, pilgrimage routes, and fragile landscapes, blending natural light, environmental detail, and human stories. He collaborates with travel, research, and conservation projects, creating visual narratives that capture the changing cultural and ecological realities of the Himalayas
Mary Gerritsen is the president of the Orchid Conservation Alliance and the OCA representative for the tour .This will be her third botanic to Nepal. Mary lives in San Mateo, CA.
Porpax elwesii
Sarus crane (Antigone antigone)
tour map
Pleione praecox
Pleione praecox 1
Oberonia pachyrachis
Oberonia ensiformis
Liparis somae[1]
Himalayas
Gastrochilus acutifolius
Dendrobium longicornu
Dendrobium eriiflorum
Cymbidium iridioides
Cymbidium erythraeum
Cymbidium elegans
Coelogyne lancilabia
Coelogyne fuscescens
Coelogyne fimbriata
Coelogyne demissa
Cleisostoma simondii
Bulbophyllum roseopictum
Bulbophyllum refractum[1]
Bulbophyllum refractum
Bulbophyllum careyanum
Annapurna I
Species list:
This list is compilation of species that have been seen in bloom in the month in of November in the region(s) visited on the tour. It is not a guarantee we will see them all!
Acampe praemorsa
Bulbophyllum careyanum
Bulbophyllum cirrhatum
Bulbophyllum cylindraceum
Bulbophyllum griffithii
Bulbophyllum refractum
Bulbophyllum reptans
Bulbophyllum retusiusculum
Bulbophyllum roseopictum
Bulbophyllum striatum
Cleisostoma simondii
Coelogyne demissa
Coelogyne fimbriata
Coelogyne fuscescens
Coelogyne lancilabia
Coelogyne panchaseensis
Cymbidium elegans
Cymbidium erythraeum
Cymbidium gammieanum
Cymbidium iridioides
Dendrobium amplum
Dendrobium candidum
Dendrobium denudans
Dendrobium eriiflorum
Dendrobium longicornu
Eria coronaria
Gastrochilus acutifolius
Gastrochilus dasypogon
Goodyera procera
Herminium lanceum
Liparis elliptica
Liparis resupinata
Liparis somae
Oberonia acaulis
Oberonia ensiformis
Oberonia pachyrachis
Papilionanthe uniflora
Pelatantheria insectifera
Pleione praecox
Porpax elwesii
Satyrium nepalense
Vanda tessellata