Nepal Bhutan Tour

Rise and shine! Enjoy your breakfast. Today, we will have a full day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. All these sites will be the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We begin our tour from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Listed by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kathmandu Durbar Square has gradually been fascinating spot since decades for all visitors. We, then proceed towards Swayambhunath, which is to the west of the city. Swayambhunath Stupa located at hill-top, with fabulous views of Kathmandu city, green hills that surround the valley and high mountains. Next, we drive to Pashupatinath Temple-the largest temple complex in Nepal and biggest Hindu temple in the World. The temple is situated on the banks of Bagmati river and is one of the main temples of Lord Shiva.Finally, we will hit the north road, heading for Boudhanath Stupa, a few minutes driving. Boudhanath is one of the largest Stupas in South Asia which was built on the ancient trade route to Tibet.
 Overnight in Kathmandu.

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Kathmandu.

Today, we will be flying to Paro International Airport, Bhutan. An hour-long flight, approximately!
Breakfast in the morning at the hotel. We pack our luggage and get ready for check-out from the hotel. We will be picked up from our hotel and dropped off at the airport for our Paro flight. Enjoy the flight with amazing views especially the Eastern part of the Himalayas including Everest as well.

After arrival at Paro International Airport, we will be transferred to the hotel. Meet and greet with our representative. Hotel check-in and get refreshed. Enjoy lunch at the hotel.
Next, we will have a short city tour of Paro mostly the Dzongs meaning fortress. At first, we will visit Rinpung Dzong/Paro Dzong- a large dzong of Buddhist monastery and fortress often known to be the fortress of the heap of jewels. We then head to Kyichu Lhakhang, the 7th century’s oldest temple of Bhutan. Next stop is Drukgyal Dzong. Drukgyal meaning “the fortress of the victorious Drukpas”, built to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan-Mongol assailants in 1649. The Dzong is located in Phondey village, the upper part of Paro and we can enjoy the view of the green village along with Bhutan’s second highest mountain Mt. Chomolhari (7,314m) in the background. After having a fun tour, we head back to the hotel.
Our dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Paro.

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Paro.

Morning breakfast at the hotel. Then, we will start our hike to Taktsang Palphug Monastery- the renowned monastery of Bhutan, as “Tiger lair” or “Tiger’s Nest”, monastery with caves standing at 3,180m at the edge of a steep cliff (900m above Paro valley), where Guru Rinpoche (the spiritual master) mediated in the cave. To reach Taktsang, it takes around 4-5-hours hike.

We will then have a lunch break halfway up on the mountain before we hike down to the Paro valley and leave for Thimphu. It takes around 1 hour to reach Thimphu. Upon arrival at the hotel, we check-in and get refreshed.

Our dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Thimphu.

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Thimphu.

After breakfast, we will drive to Thimphu's many tourist attractions- the BBS Tower, also known by the name Sangaygang. It’s Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) tower that runs the country’s radio and television network and has a telecommunication tower built on the hilltop, located at 2,685m and offers the view of entire Thimphu valley. The place is also enjoyed in the evening dusk as the whole city lights up.

We then hike for 1 hour to Wangditse Gompa a great view of Tashichho Dzong can be enjoyed along with Samtenling Palace, home to the fourth King and Dorje Drak. After touring the Gompa, we head back to Thimphu. On the way, we visit the mini Zoo to see the Takin (gnu goat), the national animal of Bhutan.

After lunch, we will visit the King's Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned from 1952-1972), the nunnery temple, the National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts) and the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. Time permitting, we may also visit the Textile Museum, the Handicraft Emporium, the traditional paper factory and the Majestic Tashichho Dzong. In the evening, we enjoy walking in the streets of Thimphu and get acquainted with the local lifestyle a bit.

Our dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Thimphu.

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Thimphu.

Enjoy breakfast in the morning, then we drive to Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters) which is on the way to Punakha. We will begin our 2 hours hike to Lungchutse Monastery from 108 Chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens". Hiking through the ridges of high landmarks, rhododendron forest, along the vibrant flags of Buddhist prayers and valley down the pass and the spectacular Himalayas above mesmerizes us with the beauty of Nature. We then hike back to Dochu La Pass.
After lunch, we will drive downhill through the rhododendron, fir and hemlock forests. On the way, we stop at Metshina Village and take a walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Divine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley.

Our dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Punakha.

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Punakha.

After breakfast, we will drive 12 km north of Punakha to begin our 2-hour hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, standing on a beautiful hillock called Ngezergang, presenting an incredibly complex iconography, which belongs to the Nyingmapa tradition. We hike further towards Punakha.
Back en route, we will stop at the Punakha Dzong. This Dzong was built in 1637 on a stretch of land where two rivers, the Phochhu and the Mochhu converge, Punakha Dzong appears as a great anchored ship. It is known to be the second oldest and the second largest Dzong in Bhutan. It was named as “Pungthang Dechen Phodrang Dzong”, which means ‘the palace of great bliss’. At the Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s first king (Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck) was crowned in 1907. Punakha was the first capital of Bhutan and the dzong served as the center of the government.
After tour, we head back to Paro and get refreshed. Tomorrow is the day we fly back to Nepal, so needed some time to rest and recheck our travel documents intact with us.
Our dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Paro.

• Meals: Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner.
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Paro.

Upon our arrival in Kathmandu, we will be picked up from the Kathmandu airport and transfer to our hotel. We check-in at the hotel and get refreshed. Today is a leisure day, we can go shopping, find souvenirs or hunt for unique food or the cultural one- upon your choice of taste, or stroll around the streets of the city. We can spend the day we like today.

Our dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kathmandu.

• Meals: Breakfast .
• Accommodation: Three Star Hotel.
• Location: Kathmandu.

Morning breakfast at the hotel. It has come to the end of our exciting Nepal-Bhutan tour program today. Our representative will take us to the airport, an hour or two before the scheduled flight. So, get our luggage ready for the final departure back home. We greet and bid a farewell for your happy journey back home.

We hope you have a memorable trip. We thank you very much for being with us and letting us be a part of your memories to cheer for.

                                     Thank you and hope to see you again!

• Meals: Breakfast .
• Location: Kathmandu.