Red Panda Tour in Nepal - 10 Days

Touch down at Tribhuvan International Airport where your guide will be waiting to greet you. Transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. Depending on your arrival time, take the evening to wander the narrow streets of Thamel or relax at the hotel. Your guide will brief you on the trip itinerary and answer any questions over a welcome meeting.

Spend the day exploring Kathmandu's rich cultural heritage. Visit the ancient temple complex at Pashupatinath, the towering stupa of Boudhanath, and the hilltop shrine of Swayambhunath — often called the Monkey Temple for the troops of macaques that call it home. In the afternoon, stroll through Kathmandu Durbar Square and its surrounding old-town alleys. Your guide will use the evening to go over the gear checklist and wildlife tracking tips for the days ahead.

Catch an early morning flight east to Bhadrapur — on a clear day, the flight offers jaw-dropping views of the Himalayan range stretching across the horizon. After landing, your driver will be waiting to take you on a 3-4 hour scenic drive up into the hills to Ilam, Nepal's famous tea-growing region. Arrive by the afternoon and settle into your lodge. If time allows, take a short stroll through the nearby tea estates as the sun begins to set.

After breakfast, board a 4WD jeep for the roughly 2-3 hour drive deeper into the hills to Dobate village in the Taplejung District. The road winds through terraced farmland and thick forests, gradually climbing into the altitude where red pandas are known to roam. Arrive at your homestay by midday and spend the rest of the afternoon getting to know your host family and acclimatizing to the surroundings. Your guide will scout the nearby forest trails to plan the tracking routes for the coming days.

Rise early — red pandas are most active around dawn. Head out with your guide into the rhododendron and oak forests surrounding Dobate, following trails that wind through dense bamboo undergrowth and moss-covered canopy. Your guide, familiar with the local panda population and their habits, will look for tell-tale signs — scratch marks on bark, droppings, and the subtle rustle of movement in the branches above. Even without a sighting, the forest itself is a reward, alive with birdsong and filtered light.

A second full day in the forest, this time exploring a different set of trails at varying elevations. Your guide will adjust the route based on the previous day's observations and any fresh signs. Mid-morning, take a break at a forest clearing for tea and snacks while scanning the treetops with binoculars. The afternoon may include a visit to a community-managed conservation area where local villagers share their knowledge of red panda behavior and the ongoing efforts to protect their habitat.

Your final tracking day, and perhaps the most rewarding. For those feeling energetic, an optional early-morning hike to the summit of Sandakphu at 3,636 meters offers a sunrise that few places on earth can match — Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu all glowing in the first light. After descending, continue your red panda search through the remaining forest sections. Spend your last evening in Dobate sharing a meal with your host family and reflecting on the week's encounters.

Say goodbye to your hosts in Dobate and begin the drive back to Ilam. Enjoy the changing landscape as you descend through the forested hills into the tea-growing lowlands. After arriving in Ilam, take the afternoon to explore the local bazaar — pick up some of the region's celebrated orthodox tea, browse handicraft shops, and soak in the laid-back atmosphere of this charming hill town.

Drive back to Bhadrapur in the morning and catch your return flight to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is yours — explore any Kathmandu attractions you may have missed, do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs in the Thamel district, or simply relax at the hotel. Your guide can arrange an optional farewell dinner at a local restaurant if you'd like to cap off the trip with one final taste of Nepali cuisine.