On our ‘Himalayan Kingdom’ tour, you’ll discover two beautiful countries sheltered from the modern world, high amongst the peaks of the greatest mountain range on the planet. You will have the chance to experience, first-hand, the culture & tradition, art & architecture, landscape & daily lives, sights & sounds of two of the most isolated and exotic countries in the world – each different and unique from each other. Both countries possess a spectacular wealth of monasteries, temples and in Nepal – Hindu Stupa, both old and new which will amaze and enchant in equal measure.
From Nepal to Bhutan, this extraordinary trip offers a chance to immerse oneself in a calmness and tranquility to be found nowhere else and will provide experiences and memories that will be treasured forever.
Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in Kathmandu. After checking-in, we get to know our fellow travellers whilst enjoying a welcome drink at the hotel.
Our tour begins in glorious Kathmandu, capital and largest city in Nepal, and one the oldest continually populated cities in the world. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Boudhanath Stupa, and experience a blessing ceremony with a Lama (senior Monk) at the monastery. Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world. It is built on a flat surface on several levels of terraces and is painted in pastel adorned with prayer flags. It is defined in a Mandala design. A total of 108 images of Buddha and 147 insertions of prayer wheels adorn the base of the huge circular building. The colony of Boudhanath has the largest community of Tibetans – Twelve thousand in total.
In the evening, we will gather for a dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Today after breakfast we will visit Kathmandu City, Swayambhunath, & Patan. We will start at Kathmandu Durbar Square which is located in the heart of old city Kathmandu. There are around 50 temples in the vicinity. We will visit the 17th Century Durbar complex, Hanuman Dhoka, Paravati temple, great Bell and Drum, Bhairav and Taleju Temple. All around the splendour of historical monuments is the hustle & bustle of the market place. Vegetable vendors, trees of flutes, salesmen with their wares displayed on their person, souvenir hawkers, and street shop selling imported goods and tucked away in a quiet corner the glittering bead market for custom made bead necklaces.
While the capital city is often congested, we will take an environmentally friendly rickshaw ride to avoid busy streets on foot.
Today we embark on the tour of Bhaktapur City. Located east from the two Durbar squares and in a different city is the Bhaktapur Durbar Square where the Kings of the Malla dynasty lived until 1769 and has left some of the finest examples of the architectural excellence. Literally known as the ‘City of Devotees’ renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colourful festivals, traditional dances and the typical Newari lifestyle. Here we will explore the Royal Palace, the Golden Gate, and the entrance to the Palace of 55 Windows, known as the most significant piece of art in Nepal. Then we will visit the highest temple in the entire Kathmandu Valley- the Nyatapola Temple. Walking around the square we can find the centuries old pagoda styled construction like the Nyatapolo and Datta-Traya Temples Sight.
The tradition of pottery making is alive and well in the Nepalese town of Bhaktapur. During the daytime you can see people working in the traditional way, spinning their wheels to make all sorts of ceramics out of the large lumps of clay. Get your hands dirty and join an exciting pottery workshop in Bhaktapur, in the heart of the pottery centre at Pottery Square. Learn from a master potter and take home your very own creation as a souvenir gift.
Today we have early morning start to see spectacular sunrise view from Hotel Terrence. (if the weather permits)
After breakfast, we will go on a nature walk with stunning mountain views, fresh mountain air and a serene atmosphere. (3 -3.5 hrs.). We will start this trail with a quiet walk inside the pine trees where you can enjoy the freshness of nature and take in lots of mountain oxygen. The initial Nature Trail is a lovely walk through a dense coniferous forest. After you complete the nature trail, we will reach Kartike village (Village Walk) from where you can see the mountain villages perched on the hill with terraced farmlands. Then onto a Panoramic Hiking Trial with 180-degree views of stunning Himalayan landscapes with lush greenery.
After breakfast, we will transfer to Kathmandu airport to board flight for Paro.
We move on to the even more mysterious Bhutan, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’, a living history museum that very few visitors ever get the chance to explore. Nestled between the global powerhouses of China and India, this is a place known only to the fortunate few for its breathtaking natural splendour and its fantastically preserved communities that feel like stepping back in time. Bhutan is a land filled with red-clothed monks, ancient Buddhist temples, and friendly, curious smiles.
Upon arrival in Paro, we will transfer to Thimpu and check-in to our hotel.
In the evening, we will enjoy an exploratory walk around Thimphu main street and market area.
After breakfast, we will commence a guided tour of the city’s main attractions. We will then hike the Buddha Point to Changangkha Trail to enjoy magnificent views of the valley.
When you’re at the Buddha point, you may circumambulate the Buddha statue hand in hand, receiving spiritual blessings and enjoy the positive energy around the landmark. You may sit, take photographs of the awe-inspiring view of Thimphu city & and enjoy a light snack.
Then, optional visit to immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural highlights such as the textile museum which will give you a great insight on the art of weaving and a display collection of different textile patterns from different dzongkhags. You may also engage in a private viewing of some of the royal family’s attire.
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Punakha across Do Chula pass (3O8Om). In Bhutan, the passes are marked by a large Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag. Do Chula pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas on a clear day.
Checking into hotel followed by Lunch. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to take a yoga session with award-winning Yoga Acharya Tilu Maya Powrel.
In the afternoon we will visit Punakha Dzong, built strategically at the junction of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers in 1637, by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, Punakha Dzong has played an important role in Bhutan’s history. Damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King.
After breakfast, we drive back to Paro passing Dochula La, follow the way back up the dramatic Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu river valleys, before crossing through Paro Town towards the north end of the valley.
After hotel check-in, we will enjoy a scrumptious meal at the hotel and freshen up to resume program making a visit to Ta Dzong, originally built as Watchtower, which now houses National Museum. The extensive collection includes antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armor, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.
Ta Dzong visit shortly followed by a short walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the inner courtyard are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore such as four friends, the old man of long life, the wheel of life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount. Sumeru and another cosmic Mandala.
After breakfast we embark on an excursion to Taktsang Monastery (5hrs hike) (3150 Meters). It is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery and hence it is called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. This site has been recognised as a most sacred place and visited by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 and now visited by all Bhutanese at least once in their lifetime.
Along the way, we will visit the 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo. The building of this temple marks the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.
After breakfast, we transfer to Paro Airport to board a flight for Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu transfer to the hotel.
In the late afternoon, we visit the temple of Pashupatinath. It’s one of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal dedicated to the God ‘Shiva’. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism.
The main temple of Pashupatinath is a building with a bunk roof and a golden spire. It is located on the western bank of Bagmati and is considered a masterpiece of Hindu architecture. The two-storied roof is made from copper and covered with gold. This richly decorated temple with wooden sculptures is believed to make wishes come true. One of the most astonishing decorations of the temple is the huge golden statue of Nandi, Shiva’s bull.
In the evening, we will gather and enjoy a farewell dinner with Everest Summiteer at Rum Doodle.
After breakfast, we will get ready to head to the Kathmandu airport for our flight back to the UK.
We stay in comfortable hotels throughout as detailed below (or similar);
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that the order of the itinerary may be subject to change should local conditions necessitate. Festival dates in Bhutan are tentative and may change without notice as they are planned around Bhutanese Lunar Calendar.
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as we include plenty of sightseeing/travelling, sometimes with early starts. There is a significant amount of walking on this holiday particularly due to the layout of the towns and activities featured.
Please refer to Medical Conditions in Important Information here.
The currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR; symbol Rs) = 100 paisa
The currency in Bhutan is the Ngultrum (BTN; symbol Nu) = 100 chetrum (Ch).
For Nepal -your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return from Nepal – Entry requirements – Nepal travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A tourist visa is currently $30 – please visit the Nepal Embassy website for further information – https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/
Upon entry to Nepal, a tourist visa is required: $30 (cash) for 15 days (US dollars recommended but sterling or euros accepted). It is best to apply for the visa pre-arrival online: Online Services (immigration.gov.np). NB, link may be slow! If arriving via the airport, no passport photos required.
For Bhutan – VISA will be arranged by our local agent and cost is already included in the price of the tour.
We will require scanned passport copies 35 days before arrival in order to process the visa applications. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months after the date you intend to leave Bhutan.
You may also be asked to show proof of:
From Kathmandu Airport to the hotel, it will be 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.
Between October and March, lightweight clothes are worn in Kathmandu, with a coat for evenings and warm clothing for the mountains. When trekking in the mountains, high-quality trekking gear that can handle minus temperatures is recommended all year round. In Bhutan lightweight cottons, linens and waterproof gear are recommended. Light sweaters and jackets are advisable for the evenings. Upland areas: thick, warm clothing for evenings, particularly during the winter months. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings.
Nepal:
Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal’s cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbours – although dishes tend to be simpler and less varied. Meals are typically spicy and meaty, although that’s not to say you can’t find good vegetarian cuisine. Indeed, the national dish is dal bhat (lentil curry), which, like most dishes, is accompanied by rice and thin pancake-like bread known as chapatti.
Adventurous gastronomes should venture into the markets to sample fresh fruits including umpteen varieties of bananas, which are some of the sweetest you’ll ever taste. At the higher end of the market, Kathmandu has developed an international culinary scene where diners can find dishes from all over the world. Chefs artistically prepare five-star menus, and food competitions have aimed to encourage budding restauranteurs.
Bakeries and cafés are scattered around tourist towns, where patrons can quaff Nepali tea (ask for it kaalo (black) or with chini (sugar).
It is considered rude to eat with your left hand. Utensils are provided in most tourist destinations, but locals still eat with their hands. Bring your own water bottle to be eco-conscious or buy bottled for cheap on the street.
Bhutan:
Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Mineral water is widely available. Milk should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
There is a fair choice of restaurants in Paro and Thimphu but most tourists eat in their hotels where hygiene is good and chefs temper the spicy Bhutanese dishes to suit Western tastes. Rice is the staple (sometimes flavoured with saffron or of the red variety) apart from in central Bhutan where the altitude makes rice cultivation difficult. Buckwheat is more common here. The country is replete with apple orchards, rice paddies and asparagus, which grows freely in the countryside and there are over 400 varieties of mushroom including orchid mushrooms.
Meals are often buffet-style and mostly vegetarian. Meat and fish are now imported from nearby India, and Nepali Hindus living in Bhutan are licensed to slaughter animals. Usual precautions apply.
Tipping is not widely practised.
The government has declared Tuesday a dry day whereby no alcohol sale is permitted in stores/ restaurants and hotels.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff. We recommend USD 25 per person for Nepal Portion and USD 30 per person for Bhutan portion per person for the guide, USD 10 per person for Nepal and USD 15 per person for Bhutan sector for driver and USD 5 per person for Nepal and USD 7 per person for Bhutan portion for coach helper.
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| March | 13 °C | -2 °C |
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