Pokhara Honeymoon Tour – 4 Days

• Three Nights by Phewa Lake: A four-star lakeside hotel with a double room facing the water or the mountains.

• A Private Boat at Sunset: The two of you and a boatman, out to the island temple as the light goes.

• Sarangkot Sunrise: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre turning gold above the lake.

• Candle-lit Dinner for Two: A private table at the water's edge on your second evening.

• Flights Both Ways: Twenty-five minutes from Kathmandu each way, instead of a day on the road.

October to early December is the finest time of year: warm days, cool nights, clear mountain views from Pokhara and the festivals of Dashain and Tihar. February to April is the second season, warmer and greener, with rhododendron in flower on the hills and long evenings beside the lake.

December and January are clear and quiet but cold after dark, which suits couples who like a fire and an empty viewpoint. The monsoon from June to September brings afternoon rain and cloud over the mountains — hotel rates are at their lowest and the country is lush, but if the Himalayan sunrise matters to you, choose another month. Nepal's own wedding season fills the better hotels in late November, early December and February, so those weeks should be booked early.

Hotels are four-star properties chosen for position and quiet rather than size, with a double bed guaranteed — worth stating, because twin rooms are the default in Nepal — and a lake or mountain view in Pokhara wherever one is available. On your first night the room is dressed with flowers and there is a cake waiting.

One evening in Pokhara is a private candle-lit dinner for the two of you beside the lake, and the boat on Phewa Lake is yours alone, with a boatman to row it. Upgrades to five-star hotels and boutique resorts are available on every night of the tour and are quoted at booking, so the price you agree is the price you pay.

This is a private tour for the two of you. There are no other guests in the vehicle, at the table or in the boat, and nothing runs to a group timetable. Your guide is with you for the sightseeing — the monuments need explaining and the logistics need handling — and steps back the rest of the time, so evenings, meals and free afternoons are your own.

The pace is unhurried. There is one early start, for sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot, and it is worth it; otherwise days begin after a proper breakfast and finish in time for the afternoon to be yours. If you would rather skip a temple and stay by the lake, say so — the itinerary is a suggestion from people who know the country, not a contract.

Nepal is warm and welcoming toward couples and also conservative about public affection: holding hands is fine everywhere, while kissing in public draws stares, particularly around temples. Dress with shoulders and knees covered at religious sites, and bring shoes that slip off easily for temple thresholds.

Visas are issued on arrival at Kathmandu airport — bring US dollars in cash and a passport photograph each. ATMs are plentiful in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Tell us your wedding date, any dietary requirements and whether either of you would rather avoid heights, water or early mornings, and we will shape the days around it. Tipping guides and drivers is customary and entirely at your discretion.

• Pokhara During Dashain: Lakeside, Temples and Village Swings — Pokhara is where much of Nepal goes on holiday once the tika is done.