Nepal Short Trek with Bhutan Tour - 15 Days

With the scenic flight over the mountains, you will arrive at Kathmandu and at Tribhuvan International Airport our company representative will be there to greet and escort towards to the hotel. After completing all the check-in formalities, you can rest and relax in your hotel room. We will have a short briefing session regarding the trip after you freshen up. 
If your arrival makes early or before noon, we will head towards some of the most prominent sites in the country such as Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. 

We will first drive to Boudhanath Stupa which is the biggest stupa in Nepal and one of the biggest in the world. Built-in pagoda style, the giant white dome tower in the center of the mandala provides the visitors with a peaceful environment. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors can be seen every day making a kora (circumambulation) of the stupa while spinning the prayer wheels.  

After a peaceful time in Boudha, we will drive for 15 minutes and reach Pashupatinath Temple. It is one of the four most important Hindu sites in the world which is devoted to Lord Shiva. The whole site represents the architectural and cultural richness. The main highlight of today’s visit will be the evening aarti ceremony along with temple exploration. You might also get to witness an open cremation ceremony at the bank of the holy Bagmati River. 

Then we return to Kathmandu and stroll around the streets of Thamel, the commercial tourist capital of Nepal. 

Note: These places are subject to be covered only if your arrival is early. In case of time does not permit us to explore these places, we will walk around the Thamel market and Thaity area where small monuments can be seen within a short distance.

After having a delicious morning breakfast, we will begin our Kathmandu city tour. The city of Temple has a lot in store to show and offer to visitors. The first destination is Kathmandu Durbar Square- the Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square is located in the heart of the Kathmandu valley and is home to some of Nepal's most significant monuments. Some of the beautiful buildings in Kathmandu Durbar Square are the Kasthamandap, the edifice from which Kathmandu got its name, the Kumari Ghar, the House of a Living Goddess Kumari, the Taleju temple, and the Hanuman Dhoka, which is now a museum. The surrounding area will be filled with people and restaurants. 

From there we move towards the Swoyambhunath Stupa- The Swoyambhunath stupa, often known as the "Monkey Temple," is one of Kathmandu's seven UNESCO world heritage sites. This stupa, which is located on a hilltop, is one of Kathmandu's oldest monuments and belongs to the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism. With a pair of eyes in each direction, this location serves as a spiritual focus for both locals and visitors. A panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley and the Himalayas is also available from the top.

Next, we will head to Khokana and Bungmati- the Nepalese government has recommended these two Newar villages as interim UNESCO historic sites. They are located on the outskirts of the Patan district. Khokana is home to the Rudryaini Temple and is known for its mustard oil manufacturing. Bungmati is a 20-minute walk through rice fields from Khokana and is rich in antique Newari dwellings and architecture. These twin villages are one of the best places to see Nepal's ancient heritage and see people's daily lives.

After the tour, we will return back to the hotel to rest for some time, and if you want then explore the Thamel area in the evening. Have a delicious dinner and enjoy the night vibe of Thamel.

Note: Budhanilkantha Temple, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the alternatives of Khokana and Bungmati.

Our Nepal short trek to Ghorepani begins today as we leave Kathmandu and travel towards Pokhara, the gateway to our trekking region. Soon after breakfast, our drive starts along the highway with the companion of the gushing Trishuli River and spectacular landscape views. We will pass by many small settlements and terraced farms and wonderful terrain. 

After reaching in “City of Lake” Pokhara, we check in and rest. Later, we will have a short introduction to Pokhara city with boating in Phewa Lake. We will also visit the Tal Barahi Temple, in the middle of the lake, and admire the splendid sunset and the mountainous view. 

Then, we will take a relaxing walk around the lakeside and enjoy the night in Pokhara. 

Note: Instead of driving for 7 hours, you can opt. to have a 25-minute direct flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara at additional cost. The drive is scenic, but so is the flight. The flight option provides an aerial perspective of the valleys, as well as a close look at the blue sky, clouds, and Himalayan peaks, as well as avoiding traffic and a long drive.

After the early morning breakfast, we start our journey with a drive towards Tikhedhunga from Pokhara. It will take 2-3 hours and from there will begin the 2 hours trek to Ulleri village. 

The drive from Pokhara to Tikhehunga is scenic as we drive past wonderful natural settling and beautiful villages such as Nayapul, Birethanti, and Sudami. Our drive also goes along the Modi Khola, past rice, maize, and millet fields, and comes across a few small and beautiful waterfalls. We will eat our lunch in Tikhedhunga and start the ‘trekking’ from here. 

Our trekking is mostly on the 3500 stone steps leading to the Ulleri, our today’s destination. Once in the village, we check in and rest. The remainder of the day can be spent exploring the village and its surroundings. The views of the hills, Himalayas, and the red forest with rhododendron blooms are lovely. 

Note: The classic trekking trail actually starts from Nayapul. But due to the road construction, vehicles now travel up to Tikhedhunga. So, if you want to experience the classic trekking trail, we can start the trek from Nayapul. 

After eating the morning breakfast we will walk towards Ghorepani. The Annapurna South, disguised by a ridge smiling at you, can be seen from the path leading to the rhododendron forests. To go to Ghorepani, we'll walk through the forest, passing via the settlements of Banthanti and Nangathanti. Ghorepani is a Poon Magar town with the nation's biggest rhododendron collection. This town is very pretty and you can find a small mart as well. 

Today we will wake up early in the morning and hike towards Poonhill (3210m) for the magical view of Sunrise over the Manaslu range, after spending some time over there, walk back to Hotel and have a morning breakfast. We will leave Ghorepani after breakfast and go through the rhododendron forest, taking in the lovely natural scenery. We'll trek for an hour along stone-paved trails to reach Sikha, a Magar town perched on a ridge.

We'll keep descending till we reach Ghar Khola, then climb for a while before crossing the Kali Gandaki River on a massive suspension bridge. We'll walk for half an hour after crossing the bridge to get to Tadapani, where we'll spend the night. The trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani will take about 6-7 hours.

When we get to Ghandruk from Tadapani today, it will be a short walk of about 4 hours. We'll trek through an oak, bamboo, and rhododendron forest to get to Ghandruk. The trail provides a spectacular view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, particularly the Annapurna south summit. 
Ghandruk is mostly inhabitant by Gurung people who have a highly rich culture and customs. Visitors can see the unique delicacy, traditional dress, language, and culture of the Gurung community. Here you can meet some ex-British Gorkha who served for the British government during WWII.
Overnight stay in a guest house and enjoy the hospitality of locals. 

We shall start the day with a beautiful sunrise with its golden rays striking the White Mountains. We will enjoy our last breakfast in this beautiful region and proceed to get back to Pokhara. 

We will be riding a jeep from Ghandruk. The scenery is as always spectacular. After we reach Pokhara city, we will check-in and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and unwinding. You may take a peaceful walk around the lakeside or rent a bicycle and ride along the lane of lakeside.

After having breakfast in Hotel, we will get ready to return back towards to Kathmandu. We drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu via the same route we traveled through from Kathmandu to Pokhara. With tea breaks, picture breaks, and lunch breaks, we reach the capital by the afternoon. 

After reaching Kathmandu, you can rest and relax in Hotel. In the evening, you can again stroll around the traditional market areas such as Ason, Newroad, and Indrachowk. 

We will take a flight to Bhutan from Kathmandu International Airport. Upon your arrival at the Paro International Airport, our company representative of Bhutan will be there to welcome and greet you. He will transfer you to the hotel, where you can relax and rest for a while.

After taking some rest and having lunch, we will explore the surrounding area, firstly we will head towards Ta Dzong, where you can learn about Bhutan's rich history and discover the diverse natural life as well as the wonderful local culture and arts. The National Museum of Bhutan looks like a round watchtower. From there we will take a short walk to the Rinpung Dzong, a castle built in the 17th century to safeguard Paro Valley, which is located in the suburbs of Paro City and offers stunning views and a sense of inner serenity. It is also known as the fort with heaps of gems. 

In the late afternoon to the Drugyal Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in the mid-seventeenth century to commemorate the Bhutanese victory over Tibetan invaders.

After having the early morning breakfast, we'll hike up the 4200 stairs to the Tiger's Nest, also known as the Taktsang Monastery. Because of its religious significance as well as its geographic location, this monastery has long served as a symbol of Bhutan. Mahayana Buddhism says that the first Dalai Lama, Padmasambhava, flew to her for meditation on the back of a tigress and meditated for three months in the Cliffside caves. A panoramic view of Paro Valley can be seen from here. We'll stop for lunch halfway down the hill before continuing on to Paro.

After exploring the surrounding area, we will drive towards Thimphu (The capital city of Bhutan).

Thimpu, Bhutan's capital, is devoid of clichéd skyscrapers and heavy traffic. Instead, Thimpu is recognized for its scenic Bhutan Dzong, fresh air, and friendly locals, all of which are surrounded by undulating mountains.

Today's tour begins with a visit to the Late King's Memorial Chorten, followed by visits to the National Library, Folk Heritage Museum, and Hand-made Paper Factory, as well as the School of Arts and Crafts, where you will get a panoramic view of Bhutan history and learn more about traditional textile and handicraft making.

The centerpiece, of course, is a tour of the Tashichho Dzong (Thimpu Dzong), Bhutan's most beautiful Dzong, and the headquarters of the Bhutan government.

After breakfast, we will set out on our journey to Paro. The first couple of hours of the journey is spent on a meandering route that passes through beautiful green woodland and small settlements.

Lunch will be served in Paro. Spend some time in the evening at the local market and enjoy the last day in Bhutan.

After having morning breakfast, you will be transported to the airport, where you will bid your Bhutanese guide and driver farewell. After that, you'll fly to Kathmandu, where you'll have another chance to observe the high Himalayan peaks, including Everest and Kanchenjunga (if conditions are clear). 

Once in Kathmandu, you can spend the day visiting the sites we missed before. You can also go shopping and buy souvenirs for friends and families. 
In the evening, we will be dining at an authentic Nepalese restaurant to enjoy the traditional meal and cultural program.

You will be transported to the airport for your flight back to your hometown after breakfast. We wish you a safe journey and forward to seeing you on another adventure tour soon.