• Suitable For Solo
• Suitable For Couples
• Suitable For Children
• Suitable For Groups
• Suitable For Students
• Suitable For Business
• Suitable For Wheelchairs

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel
We greet you on your arrival in Kathmandu airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the Thamel tourist district of the city. Our rep will help you settle in and familiarise you with the local area.
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu boutique hotel
EXTRAS: Extra day in Kathmandu – pre-tour, Single Room Supplement (NPSGKB)

Day 2: Walking tour to Durbar Square. Optional Everest viewing flight
This morning we start with a walking tour from our hotel in the tourist centre of Thamel, through Kathmandu’s busy winding streets passing numerous tiny shops, workships and street corner temples to Durbar Square with its splendid array of Hindu temples and the old Royal Palace. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore. An option is also available early this morning to take a spectacular flight up to view Everest. If the weather is clear you will also be able to see Everest and many other Himalayan peaks on your flight to Bhutan, but from much further away.
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu boutique hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: Everest Mountain Flight

Day 3: Fly to Paro, Paro Dzong, Thimphu weekend market
We pick you up from the hotel this morning and transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Bhutan (try and sit on the left side of the plane for the best views). While en route, complete immigration and custom form formalities for later declaration and keep your custom forms safe, as you will need to produce them again on departure. (Note – the Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights are not included in the tour price but may be purchased separately or added as an extra option. Please see the Options section and Tour Notes for more details).
Paro airport provides a first taste of Bhutanese architecture and is surely one of the world’s most beautiful. After an introductory chat with your Bhutanese guide, we will start our tours by visiting the Rinpung Dzong or the ‘fortress of the heap of jewels’ which is the seat of the district administration and the residence of the monastic school. The dzong is famous for its wall murals depicting Buddhist parables, symbols and the lives of prominent saints. Here you’ll learn how these spectacular buildings have combined the monastic and civic administration of Bhutan for centuries. Finally, you walk down to the cantilever bridge below the dzong where your car awaits to take you to your hotel in the capital Thimphu, around 1 hrs drive away. Note – your visit to Paro Dzong may be rearranged for later in the tour if you have a late flight arrival from Nepal. After arriving in Thimphu we’ll visit the huge weekend market, which attracts farmers and traders from all over Nepal and is quite a site to behold. There is also a handicrafts market next door.
OVERNIGHT: Thimphu 4-star hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
EXTRAS: Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights

Day 4: Thimphu tours, cross the Dochu La Pass to the Punakha Valley
We start early this morning exploring Thimphu with the assistance of your driver and guide. We’ll start at the Memorial Chorten – a stupa inspired by the third king to deter negative influences. It was later constructed in his memory by the present king and the queen mother and is a popular walking spot for the locals. We’ll also visit the National Takin Research Centre where you can view a collection of these unique animals while you stroll through an open pine forest with great views over Thimphu Valley. If time allows we’ll also see Buddha Point, home to the largest Buddha statue in Bhutan, which towers 51m high over the valley. We’ll then leave Thimphu and drive across the Dochu La Pass on sheer twisting roads through dense forests. You will be driven past multiple chortens at the top of the pass and be able to see the high Himalayan mountains in the distance if the weather is clear. After descending into the fertile Punakha Valley we’ll take a short walk to the Chimi Lhakhang Temple. It was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley or ‘The Divine Madman’ and is known locally for blessing women with fertility.
OVERNIGHT: Punakha 4-star hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Day 5: Valley walk, Punakha Dzong
Breakfast will be followed by a scenic walk in the north of the valley to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. This notable shrine was inspired by the Buddhist treasure teachings of Thragthung Dudjom Lingpa and is sacred religious haven that helps to ward off negative forces and promotes peace and stability. The structure also embodies the positive forces that transcend all the negative influences in the world. According to Lamas, this chorten is a quintessence of Buddhism and brings about health and happiness for the people. After exploring the temple, you can meander through the fields of chili, bean and wheat crops and reach the riverbank. Those who want to continue walking can do so along the river to Punakha. If you want to rest your feet, you can be picked up and driven. In Punakha, you will be shown the wonderful Punakha Dzong that sets at the confluence of the rivers of Phochu and Mochu. These waterways represent the co-existence of masculinity and femininity and their currents are different colours. In the afternoon we’ll drive back over the Dochu La Pass to Paro
OVERNIGHT: Paro 4-star hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Hike to Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery. Afternoon tours
We start today with a short drive to the foot of the Taktshang cliff. From here, you will set off on a 2-3 hour uphill hike to reach this spectacular monastery, resting on a sharp 800m-rock face. Taktshang is one of Bhutan’s most famous sites and translates to ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot on the back of tigress in the 8th century. It was believed that he meditated here, which makes this temple a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Lunch will be enjoyed at the Taktshang cafeteria located about two thirds of the way up. This trip takes 4-5 hours overall and you can also arrange to ride a pony for the uphill trek, or shorten the journey by finishing at the cafe, which has great views of the monastery. In the afternoon we’ll stop at one of the oldest landmarks in Bhutan – the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, which was one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by the King Songtsen Gembo. This enchanting sanctuary is regarded as one of the holiest shrines in Bhutan that embodies the arrival of Buddhism here. We’ll also visit Ta Dzong, originally the Watch Tower for the Rinpung Dzong in Paro. It was later converted into the National Museum of the Kingdom and though it was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2011, it is now restored and re-opened as the country’s best museum, boasting a wide range of antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and natural and historic artifacts. As night falls, you can amble through the streets of Paro or indulge in a hot stone bath at your hotel to ease your tired muscles.
OVERNIGHT:
Paro 4-star hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
EXTRAS: None

Day 7: Fly to Nepal, tour the ancient centre of Bhaktapur
This morning we fly back to Kathmandu (aim to sit on the right hand side of the plane for the best views) and transfer to the ancient centre of Bhaktapur. (Note – Again this flight is not included in the tour price but may be purchased separately or added as an extra option). Formerly a capital of the Kathmandu Valley, the pedestrianised centre of Bhaktapur a World Heritage Centre and is full of squares and temples with some stunning wooden architecture. Unfortunately, Bhaktapur was heavily damaged during the 2015 earthquake, though restoration efforts have been substantial. You have a guided tour here, as well as time to explore the narrow winding streets which bustle with life.
In the afternoon we make a short drive uphill to the village of Nagarkot, which sits on a ridge at the north-eastern edge of the Kathmandu Valley. Accepted as having probably the best of the valley’s mountain views, from the village lodges and hotels you can see all the way from Kanchenjunga in the east, past the tiny (from here!) peak of Mt. Everest, to Dhaulgiri in the west.
OVERNIGHT:
Nagarkot 3-star hotel
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu flights

Day 8: Mountain views from Nagarkot. Pasupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa
After waking early to enjoy the sunrise views, we can take an optional downhill ridge walk through the Tilkot Forest Reserve, tiny Chhetri villages and traditional terraced farmland to the somewhat crumbling but atmospheric Changu Narayan Temple. Before arriving at our hotel in Kathmandu hotel for our last night in Nepal, we’ll also tour the important Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa. These are both very important to their respective religions, but have a completely contrasting atmosphere and ambience which is fascinating to see. Our final night in Nepal is then free to head into Thamel to enjoy one last meal before flying home tomorrow.
OVERNIGHT: Kathmandu boutique hotel
MEALS: Breakfast

Day 9: Free time in Kathmandu. Departure airport transfer
Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home. A range of options are available if you would like to extend your tour in Nepal. These include white water rafting on the Bhote Khosi river, one of the best one day rafting trips in the world, hikes and tours in the Kathmandu valley, or more extensive rafting or trekking tours. We can also arrange visits to Chitwan and Bardia National Parks in the lowland Terai region of Nepal. Please contact us for more information and ideas.
OVERNIGHT: N/A
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: Everest Mountain Flight, Bardia National Park Extension, Trisuli white water rafting, Extra day in Kathmandu – post-tour