Two Weeks Nepal Bhutan Tour - 14 Days

Upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, you will be received and transferred to your hotel by a representative from Himalayan Trekkers. You will check-in at the hotel and relax. The rest of the day is at leisure. Take a walk around the streets of the Thamel in the evening and get familiar with the area. 

If you arrive early, we begin your guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley by visiting the famous Boudhanath Stupa, the country’s largest Buddhist pilgrim site. As we enter the main gate of the site, the giant white dome with big Buddha eyes greet us and offer us peacefulness. 

Then, you will be transferred to the Pashupatinath temple on the Bagmati River's bank to observe the evening aarti ceremony. The temple is one of the most famous and important temples in the world, serving as the seat of a deity named Shiva. Open cremations of Hindus are done on the banks of the Bagmati River here. 

The day begins with a hearty breakfast at the hotel and a visit to Swoyambhunath Stupa, popular as ‘Monkey Temple’ because of the many resident monkeys who scamper around its little shrines. Equally significant for both the Hindu and Buddhist devotees, the temple is nestled on a crest of the hill overlooking the Kathmandu valley. 

Following our visit to Swoyambhunath, we will drive to the Bouddhanath Stupa, one of Asia's largest stupas and a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. Around this stupa, there are antique shops where you can purchase items related to Tibetan culture and lifestyles. Boudhanath is one of the country's largest mandala stupas and one of the world's largest temples. Kassapa Buddha, one of the 28 Buddhas in the world system, is believed to have been entombed here.

The last sight of the day will be Kathmandu Durbar Square, which features Nepal's great historical beauty, a museum, and a palace. The statues of Kala Bhairav, the house of Living Goddess ‘Kumari,' the historic Royal residential quarter, Mahadev Parvati Temple, and the local markets of Ason and New Road are the prime highlights. 
You will be driven back to your hotel after the sightseeing tour. 

After a warm breakfast at the hotel, we start the scenic drive to Pokhara. We will stop for photos a couple of times along the way. Following the Trishuli River, one of the best rivers for amateur rafting, until Mugling, we then turn around and follow the Marshayngdi River in the opposite direction for a bit. 

Besides the small and simple villages, the Prithvi Highway also offers a nice view of mountains, most notably from Khairini and onwards. If the weather is clear, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu, and Annapurna can be seen as soon as we start going down from Kathmandu. If time allows, take a stroll along the lakeshore in the evening or embark on a boating trip on Phewa Lake. 

After an early morning call before dawn, we will start our short hike to the best viewpoint, Sarangkot ( 1600 meters) nearby the city. This is one of the most popular hikes, with spectacular views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manasalu Ranges, during sunrise and sunset along with the stunning views of Phewa Lake and Pokhara Valley. You can either climb both ways or drive one way if you wish. You can relax with a cup of tea while admiring the scenery. On your route to the hotel, stop by Bindhyabasini Temple for a blessing.

After your breakfast back at the hotel, the city tour begins with a visit to the Tal Barahi Temple in the middle of the Phewa Lake taking a relaxing boat ride. When we reach the far side of the lake, we begin climbing through the forest to the World Peace Pagoda's stairs. This Buddhist stupa is one of several Peace Pagodas created across the world to promote world peace. There are four Buddha sculptures, each from a different country - Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Japan.

We take lunch and continue our sightseeing from Devis’ Falls, a magnificent waterfall marking the point where the Pardi Khola stream disappears underground, which will be visited later. Right next to the waterfall is the Guptsehwor Cave with bats in the cave’s ceiling. We will arrive at the Tibetan Refugee Camp after a 5-minute walk from the cave, where you will get a taste of Tibetan culture and lifestyle. End your day with a drink or two at one of the bars or the eateries there

You can either drive or take a flight back to the capital, Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or continue your exploration of the vibrant city depending upon your arrival. Explore the Thamel area, go for a food tour of Nepalese cuisine, go to a bar, or spa, or even buy souvenirs for you to take back home or take a guided cultural tour of the city’s historic landmarks. 
Note: If you choose to fly, it may cost you extra. which is not included in the package price.

You will be transferred to the airport early in the morning for one of the most interesting flights in the world, i.e. the Paro flight. Mount Everest and several other Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Jomolhari, would be seen from the plane. As your plane flies above Paro city, you will notice the alpine forests, small dzongs, temples, farmhouses, and the verdant valley of Paro. Your friendly local guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest and lunch, your guided afternoon sightseeing of the Paro tour begins. 

You will be guided to the national museum of Bhutan namely Ta Dzong. Then, we will take a short walk to Rinpung Dzong which offers a spectacular view of the Paro Valley. It was built in 1646 and presently houses the district Monastic Body and the Paro Dzongkhag government administrative buildings.

We will then explore Kichu Lakhang, one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the country built in the 7th century. It is also of the Himalayan region's oldest temples with significant religious significance. The temple and its grounds are perfectly kept, in addition to their charm and grandeur. Furthermore, the temple contains an orange tree that, astonishingly, bears fruit throughout the year.
Visiting Drugyal Dzong follows then which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan's defeat over Tibetan invaders in the 1600s.

Early in the morning, we start our exciting hike towards the famous Taktsang Monastery also known as Tigers' Nest Monastery located at an altitude of 3120 Meters., one of the most treasured spiritual sites in Bhutan. We will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the monastery situated perilously and wonderfully on the 900-meter high cliff's edge after an hour and a half hike to the viewpoint. After another hour of climbing, we arrive at the monastery's gate, which offers amazing views of the Paro valley and neighboring hills. After exploring the monastery, we head downwards and stop halfway at the cafeteria for lunch. Our journey continues after lunch. When we get to our hotel, we pack our belongings, check out, and drive to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital.

Check-in at the hotel and relax. In the evening, you can stroll around the streets of the capital and get a glance at the Thimphu lifestyle. 

Our Thimphu sightseeing starts after a warm and delicious breakfast served at the hotel. Today, we will go on a guided tour of the city's cultural sights, monuments, and temples. You might participate in a craft session and visit the Textiles Museum. We will also visit the National Stadium's archery site to try Bhutan's national sport, and the Takin Preserve (Motithang Mini Zoo) to witness the Bhutan Takin (National Animal here), a strange-looking mammal related to the goat and the antelope.

Also, we visit the Late King's Memorial Chorten, which is known for its beautiful paintings and intricate structure. Following that, we discover the National Library, which has the world's greatest collection of Buddhist literature. We'll also visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which houses a broad array of farm equipment, tools, and household artifacts that depict Bhutanese culture. We might visit the Bhutan Postal Museum where the portrait or picture is put on a Bhutanese stamp. It might be a great souvenir for you and your family. In the evening, we will visit the radio tower on a hilltop that offers a panoramic view of Thimpu city. 

Leaving Thimpu behind, we will head towards the former capital of Bhutan, Punakha valley. Our drive along the National Highway and over Dochu La Pass offers a dramatic 360-degree panoramic view of the mountain ranges. On our way, we will make a brief visit to Chimi Lakhang/Monastery, a well-known temple in the country also called the fertility temple. 

Once arriving at the Punakha Valley, we will check-in, take lunch, and relax. In the evening, we visit the grand Punakha Dzong, located at the confluence of two major rivers in Bhutan, the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mo Chu (Female River). It's an excellent example of Bhutan's rich artistic and architectural heritage.

Morning visit to the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. This is the administrative headquarters of the Punakha region. If you visit in mid-February, you should not miss the Punakha celebration. Later, we start our drive towards Gangtey Valley also known as Phobjikha Village ( 2890m). Our short drive with breathtaking valley view, flowing streams, and steep inclines take us to Gangtey, a glacial valley. We will visit an old typical Bhutanese architecture, Gangtey Gompa/Monastery in the valley. By the evening, we will get back to Punakha and spend another beautiful night here. 

Leaving behind Punakha, our journey continues back to Paro via the same road through the Dochula Pass. We resume our drive by the pass for some scenic photographs and refreshments. We will be eating our lunch at one of the restaurants in Thimphu city. From here, we further continue our drive to Paro via the scenic countryside, stopping in a few villages along the route to sample local delicacies and shop handicrafts.

On arriving in Paro, we will check in and relax. You can explore the local farms and markets in your leisure or in the evening.
After we arrive in Paro, you will check in at the hotel and rest. If you have some leisure time, you can visit the local farms and markets and purchase some items as a gift for your friends and families. 

After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the airport for the flight back to Kathmandu. Your guide will bid farewell and you will leave the country of Thunder Dragon and enter the city of temples, Kathmandu. 

On arriving at the arrival terminal at the Tribhuwan Airport, our guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel in Thamel. After check-in formalities, you are on your own. If you want to spend the remainder of the day exploring the heritage sites in Kathmandu, you can inform us and we can manage it for you. Alternatively, you can spend the day resting and visiting the markets, keeping the sightseeing tour for tomorrow. 

If you sign in for sightseeing, you will be introduced to the remaining UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley such as Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square which are the other two royal premises situated in Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts respectively. Bhaktapur is admired for its traditional arts and architecture, pottery, weaving, and stone, wood, and metal craftworks. Juju Dhau meaning King of Yogurt in Nepal Bhasa (Newari Language) is a must to taste here. Patan is also another huge traditional Newari city famous for its durbar square (former royal complex) and excellent metal works. You can sample some of the authentic Newari dishes here. 
(Newari people are the indigenous people of Kathmandu and half the population in the city is filled with them.) 

This is an optional day for the interested who want to stay more in Kathmandu and explore its culture and history. You can visit some of the nearby villages today if you want a glance at the rural lifestyle of Nepal. We will take you to the villages of Bungmati and Khokana known for their significant history and rich culture. 

Bungmati is a typically medieval Newari village located 7 kilometers south of Patan, home to the Rato Machhindranath, the God of Rain and Compassion, who is one of the most prominent gods in the Kathmandu valley. Khokana is another wonderful ancient Newari town known for its mustard oil, which is still made in the traditional method and is quite popular in the Kathmandu valley.

Another option is also available. If you are interested in hiking and want to experience hiking in Nepal, on informing, it can be customized. Many hills in the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley are perfect for day hikes. 
In the evening, we will each of our experiences in these two beautiful Himalayan Kingdoms as we gather at an authentic restaurant for the farewell dinner scheduled for you where you can enjoy a cultural program. 

This two weeks journey ends here and we hope you had a great vacation with us. As per your scheduled flight to your onward destination, you will be transferred to the airport 3 hours prior.  Airport Drop Off in a Private Vehicle.