Nepal Bhutan Tour - 11 Days

A representative from Himalayan Trekkers will greet you and transport you to your hotel once you arrive at the airport. After completing all the check-in formalities, you can take a rest and get refreshed from the long flight. Later, that day, we will gather for the pre-discussion regarding the trip. In the evening, you can take a walk around the streets of the Thamel area and get a glimpse of the night lifestyle of 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. 

We will depart from Kathmandu after a hearty breakfast and begin our journey to Pokhara, Nepal's second-largest city and also known as the "Lake Paradise of Nepal." If the weather is favorable, you can see many peaks along the way, including Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu, and Annapurna. Our ride along the Prithivi Highway and the gushing Trishuli River also offers us amazing vistas of the small villages, towns, terraced fields, and the locals engaging in the daily routine. 

After a 6-7 hours long drive, we reach our destination and check-in at the hotel. You can go explore the lakeshore or go boating on Phewa Lake after a short break at the hotel. Also, you can get a glimpse of the night lifestyle of Pokhrelis (Local of Pokhara). 

You will spend the entire day in Pokhara today. After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for the guided Pokhara city tour. Today’s sightseeing covers some of the most famous landmarks of the city. The first spot to explore is the famous Davis Waterfall which is locally known as Patale Chhango which translates to the underground waterfall. We then visit the Mahendra Cave which is very close to Davis Falls. This dark cave houses different interesting sculptures which will amaze us. The cave is also a bat habitat, with a huge population of bats living in the cave's gloomy ceilings. 

We also pay our visits to the Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) which offers a stunning panoramic Himalayan view along with the whole valley. We might also discover the International Mountain Museum which showcases the cultural custom of Nepali mountaineering and lifestyle. 

Other than these places, we will make our visits to the Hindu sites like Bindabasini Temple and Tal Barahi Temple. If you did miss the chance to boating on the Phewa Lake the other day, today is the chance to admire the reflection of the mighty Annapurna on the water and have the boating experience. 
Full-day of city touring and you will be driven to your hotel. If you are bored and want more activity, you can rent a bicycle and ride around the lakefront in the evening.

After a morning call, we get ready and head towards the most famous and greatest hill station in Pokhara called Sarangkot. We will either drive or climb to Sarangkot for magnificent sunset and sunrise views over the snowy Himalayan peaks. The panoramic vistas of the surrounding Himalayas and the golden rays hitting those snow-capped peaks will surely mesmerize us. After spending an ample amount of time there for photographs and videos of the sunrise view we will return to our hotel for a hearty breakfast. 

After that, we will have a lovely journey back to Kathmandu via the same route we came here. Once we reach the city, you are on your own. Kathmandu has some of the best massage centers and spas to relax the tired body and mind. You can hit some of those or take a stroll around the Thamel area like Shree: Gha, and Thahiti. 

In the morning, you will be driven to the airport for a picturesque journey to Paro. The flight to Paro is considered one of the most beautiful flights in the world as it provides the most amazing bird’s eye view of the snow-capped peaks including Everest and the diverse landscapes. 

Our Bhutanese representative will meet and greet you at the Paro International Airport arrival terminal and take you to your hotel. Then, we will proceed for the Paro city sightseeing. We will visit the National Museum of Bhutan known as Ta Dzong, after a quick rest at the hotel. The museum features an amazing array of Thangkas, both old and modern, that portray Bhutan's most important saints and gurus, as well as frightening celebration masks.

Our next stop will be at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest, quietest, and most beautiful temples. It is also known as Lho Kyerchu or Kyerchu and is known to be Bhutan's sacred jewel. 
We end today’s sightseeing at Rinpung Dzong. Rinchen Pung (Rinpung) Dzong means "Fortress on a Heap of Jewels" in the Dzongkha (local) language. Rinpung Dzong, which overlooks Paro town and boasts an attractive and harmonious structure, has become a must-see tourist attraction in Bhutan.
In the evening, you can wander down to the markets and streets to get a feel for the city.

We start our day with a short and exciting hike towards Taktsang Monastery which is also known as Tiger's Nest Monastery. It was built on the spot where the Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress and meditated for years. It is situated on a 900 meters high cliff offering stunning mountain views. After lunch at the cafeteria situated halfway down the hill, we will return to Paro and have a short drive to the capital of Bhutan, Thimpu.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby after breakfast for the full-day Thimphu sightseeing.  It takes 45 minutes to an hour to walk up the hillside from the parking lot to the Cheri Monastery. Spin the prayer wheels, explore the temple, and learn about Buddhism and the monastery from your tour guide.

After lunch, we a Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory and learn how paper is created by hand and colored with a variety of pigments. Then, we will visit one of Bhutan's most well-known religious structures, the National Memorial Chorten. Every day, a large number of Bhutanese people come to this Chorten to spin the prayer wheels and circumambulate it. It is famed for its whitewashed walls and golden tiered roofs, as well as being Bhutan's "most visible religious structure."
Tashichho Dzong, also known as Thimphu Dzong, is unquestionably one of the most fascinating destinations to see in Thimphu. The building offers a profound look into Bhutanese history and is known for its unique white-red-gold color scheme and tiered roofs.

Folk Heritage Museum is another important landmark here that showcases the traditional lifestyle of the Bhutanese people. The museum has a diverse collection of farm equipment, tools, household items, and antiques. Not only displaying these artifacts, but the museum also hosts frequent demonstrations of local people's rural traditions, talents, customs, and habits.
You can observe young males during archery (national sport of Bhutan) practice sessions if you are lucky with your time. They fire hunting bows at a target 145 meters away. 
In the evening, we will visit the radio tower on a hilltop that offers a panoramic view of Thimphu city

Following our delightful Bhutanese breakfast, we will drive towards the Dochu La Pass at 3100 meters. This beautiful pass lies on the path from Thimphu to Punakha providing a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range. During the clear days in winter, the view here is exceptionally beautiful, with snowcapped mountains providing a spectacular backdrop to the tranquility of the 108 Chortens. 

Then, we will set out on our adventure to Paro. En route, we make a short halt at Simtokha Dzong. It is the oldest fortress of Bhutan and is home to the bed chambers of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and Jigme Namgyel, two of the most powerful characters in Bhutanese history. The place's ultimate attraction, however, is the artwork and gold-black statues that adorn its hallways and courtyards. 

After that, we continue onwards to Paro and once we get there, we will check-in and relax. In the evening, you can explore the markets, enter some souvenir shops and purchase a few of the items for yourself, your family, and friends. 

Bid farewell to the Land of Thunder Dragon with uncountable memories today. Your Bhutanese guide will drop you at the Paro Airport for your flight back to Kathmandu Airport where the representative from the Nepal side will be waiting for you. 

After a brief rest at the hotel in Thamel, a guided half-day Kathmandu tour begins from Swoyambhunath Temple located on a hilltop offering an amazing view of the Kathmandu valley and surrounding mountains and lush hills. 
Then, we will drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square where the former Royal Palace of the Malla kings resides to explore the Kastamandap Temple, Hanuman Dhoka, and Kumari House. 

In the late afternoon, we walk into the local markets of Ason, and Indrachowk where uncountable shops and vendors are seen selling numerous items from food items to clothing items.
(Note: If not explored Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa on the first day of this trip due to late arrival, you will cover these landmarks today.)

Today is a free and rest day in Kathmandu. If you want to be occupied and experience some short hikes, we can arrange a day hike to surrounding hills or village settlements. Or, you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites inside the valley if you are interested in learning the history, and discover the art and architecture. Sightseeing in the valley includes culturally and historically significant landmarks such as Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square.

In the evening, we gather in a typical Nepali restaurant for farewell dinner. You can enjoy the cultural event today at the restaurant and exchange the experiences of this trip with each other. 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight back to your home or to your onward destination. We look forward to seeing you soon again.