Home » Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet

Duration: 24 Days / 23 Nights
Destination: -------------------

Day-wise Itinerary of the Tour

Day-1 Arrive Kathmandu 
Meet & greet by our representative at Kathmandu Airport. Kathmandu is the Capital of Nepal and the Kathmandu Valley is the political and cultural heart of the Kingdom. Founded in the 8th Century AD by King Gunakamadeva at the junction of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers. The name is derived from Kashta (wood) and Mandap (temple). The europhile first minister of Kathmandu in the 19th Century, Jung Bahadur Rana, built many classical looking buildings and palaces in the city, in contrast to those of Newari style that existed before. The urban sprawl that makes up modern Kathmandu is in fact two cities, Patan and Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.

Day-2 Kathmandu
After breakfast enjoy a guided tour covering Kathmandu's Durbar Square, which is one of three Durbar (Royal Palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th Century and where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, still take place today. You will then visit one of the most curious attractions in Nepal, the Kumari Chowk. This gilded cage contains the Raj Kumari, a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durga. She is worshipped during religious festivals and makes public appearances at other times for a fee paid to her guards. You will next continue to visit Swayambhunath, the golden spire of the 5th-Century. Swayambhu stupa is adorned with a colorful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath is one of the most recognizable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all who ascend the worn stone steps.

This afternoon your guided tour will take you for a visit of the Hindu culture in Nepal, Pashupatinath. This is the place where holy sadhus pray and cremations on the Bagmati River are carried out. While you are not allowed into the temple if you are not a Hindu, the grounds surrounding the temple usually have a fascinating crowd of the faithful. We then continue to the holiest shrine for the Buddhist culture in Nepal, Bouddhanath, with its large stupa. This is the place where all devout Buddhists come for a pilgrimage. It is not unusual to see very old devotees circumnavigate the shrine hundreds of times falling to their knees and rising again for a few steps only to go back down again to their knees. Overnight at hotel.

Day-3 Kathmandu - Lhasa
Fly by China Airlines 55 minutes flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu. Arrive in Lhasa and check into the hotel.  Lhasa (11850 ft.) was and still is the religious, cultural and economic centre of Tibet. Visit the Potala - The 13 storey, 1000 room's palace of the Dalai Lama, the legendary monasteries of Drepung and Sera, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, Norbulingka, and the Jokhang, the holiest shrine of Tibet. The circular Barkhor street with innumerable shops and wayside peddlers intermingled with the devotees walking clockwise around the Jokhang enfuses the magic and experience of Tibet. Overnight at hotel.

Day-4 Lhasa
After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tour of Sera Monastery. Sera means hail stone, in Tibetan. Set on the foot of the Wudu hill to the north of Lhasa city, Sera comprises of a great sutra chanting hall-a college with 32 sections. Afternoon tour of the Jokhang temple & Barkhor bazzar. Jokhang temple, built in 647 A.D, is the spiritual centre of Tibet and the holiest destination of the Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. It houses the sitting statue of Sakyamuni when he was 12 years old. Barkhor bazzar is the earliest street of old Lhasa city circling the Jokhang temple. Overnight at hotel.

Day-5 Lhasa
After breakfast enjoy sightseeing tour of the Drepung monastery. Drepung monastery situated to the west of Lhasa city was founded in 1416 by one of the disciples of Tsong Khapa. It was the largest and richest of the three major yellow sect monasteries in Lhasa. Afternoon free time for shopping.  Overnight at hotel.

Day-6 Lhasa – Gyantse
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Gyantse (259 km). Arrive at Gyantse and check in to the hotel. Gyantse at 13,050 ft. is a small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the Palkhor Choide Chorten. Amongst the ruins of the lamasery and the fort, this unique structure built in 1414 consists of five storeys representing the five steps to enlightenment, topped by thirteen rings, which symbolize the stages of advancement toward Buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes and Buddha shrines. The frescoes showing a strong Indian influence. Before 1959 traders coming from Kalimpong and Gangtok (India) used to enter Tibet through Yadong and then to Gyantse. Overnight at hotel.

Day-7 Gyantse – Xigatse
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Xigatse (93 km). Xigatse at 12,600 ft. It is most famous for its Tashilhunpo monastery - the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Buddha of endless enlightenment. Items of interest inside this monastery built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama are: the relics of Sakyamuni, the hall of Maitreya, and a mind-boggling collection of Thankas, frescoes and statues. There is the bustling "free" market at the foot of the ruins of the Xigaze fortress where one can buy local handicrafts embedded with coral and turquoise, Tibetan daggers, Chinese porcelain and yak butter.  Overnight at hotel.

Day-8 Xigatse – Tsedang
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Tsedang (340 km). It takes about one and half hours to reach Samye monastery crossing the YarlungTsampo River by ferry. Built in the 8th Century by an Indian Buddhist master Padhamsambhava, Samye monastery was designed on the plan of Odantpuri temple, covering a total of 25000 square meters of land. Overnight at hotel.

Day-9 Tsedang
After breakfast transfer to visit The King's Tomb in the Chonje valley. Yombulakhang, the first palace for the first king in Tibetan history, is 15km away from Tsedang town. The mountain slope palace was originally built in the Second Century, but the replica was rebuilt in the 1980s. Built in the 7th Century by the king Sontsan Gambu, Chamdrok is one of the oldest temples in Tibet. Overnight in Tsedang.

Day-10 Tsedhang – Lhasa –Kathmandu
Transfer to Gonggar airport in Lhasa to board China Airlines flight to Kathmandu. Assiatnce upon arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day-11 Kathmandu
Today you are free and can prepare for your onward trip to Bhutan. Overnight at hotel.

Day-12 Kathmandu – Paro
Transfer to Kathmandu Airport to board Druk flight to Paro. The flight offers you beautiful view of mountains and landscapes. On arrival and after Visa formalities meet our local representative and transfer to Resort. The beautiful valley is home to many of Bhutan's oldest monasteries & temples.  The valley is also home to Mount Chomolhari (7300 meters.) situated at the northern end of the valley whose glacier water forms the Pachu flowing through the valley. Overnight at hotel.

Day-13 Paro
After breakfast proceed for local sightseeing of Paro & visit the ruined fortress of Drugyel Dzong & Ta-Dzong (National Museum). Drugyel Dzong was built in 1649 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to commemorate the victory of Bhutan over Tibetan invaders in 1644. One of the features of the Dzong was a false entrance that was designed to lure invaders into an enclosed courtyard. This is said to have worked successfully during the second attack by Tibetan invaders in 1648. The building was used as an administrative centre until 1951, when the fire caused by a butter lamp destroyed it. Now the Dzong is in ruins and is closed for all visitors.  Ta - Dzong (National Museum) at the top of the hill above the Rinpung Dzong or Paro Dzong, is an old structure that was renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum. This unusual round building is said to be in the shape of a conch shell. It was completed in 1656 and was originally a watchtower (Ta Dzong) of Paro Dzong. There are six floors of galleries, each with a special emphasis.

Among the exhibits is a spectacular collection of thangkhas, both ancient and recent. Of particular importance are thangkhas depicting Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first Je Khenpo and the first Druk Desi. The other thangkhas portray all of Bhutan's important saints and teachers. There is a display of Bhutan's extensive philatelic collection on the top floor. At the end of the gallery a doorway leads to the Tshogshing Lhakhang, the Temple of the Tree of Wisdom, which was built between 1965 and 1968. The centerpiece of this temple is a complex four-sided carving depicting the history of Buddhism and its propagation. On one side are Sakyamuni and the great teacher Atisha, representing the Sakya School. On the next is the Geylup, a disciple of the Dalai Lama, and Dagpo Lhaje, representing the Geylup lineage. Another side represents the Nyingmapa lineage, with Guru Rimpoche as the centerpiece, and the final side is Drukpa Kagya with figures of  Vajra Dhara, Marpa, Milarepa and the Indian teachers Naropa and Tilopa.

Other galleries include ancient bronze and stone objects, an exquisite collection of bronze statues and a display of ancient weapons and shields, many captured during various Tibetan invasions. There are stuffed animals, old and new household objects, jewellery and decorative art on the lower floors.  A short  walk downhill to the Rinpung Dzong. Paro Dzong or Rinpung Dzong means 'fortress on a heap of jewels. In 1646 Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal ordered its construction on the old foundation of a monastery built by Guru Rimpoche. It has always been one of Bhutan's strongest and most important fortresses and on numerous occasions was used to defend the Paro valley from invasions by Tibet. Overnight at hotel.

Day-14 Paro – Thimphu
Enjoy breakfast & dive to Thimphu (65 Kms) which is the capital of Bhutan. Thimphu is a small, charming Capital City, probably the smallest capital in the world, resting in the heart of the Himalayas. It sits in its own valley fanning out from the river. The skyline hard-line changes as new buildings are all constructed in traditional Bhutanese style. Enjoy local sightseeing of Thimphu - a charming small town. Enjoy local sightseeing of every shop is stacked with multiple products - from grocery to textiles to shoes and handicraft products. The town is also filled with bars selling all kinds of alcoholic drinks. Overnight at hotel.

Day-15 Thimphu – Wangdi
After breakfast free time until we proceed to Wangduephodrang crossing the Dochula Pass (3100 meters). On fine weather days you will see the eastern Himalayan ranges including the highest mountain in Bhutan Mt.Gangar Punsum at 7520 meters. The drive from the Pass is all the way downhill dropping to the lower and warmer valleys of Lobesa. Visit the Dzong from outside and the market area. Overnight in Wangdi/Wangduephodrang.

Day-16 Wangdi
After breakfast enjoy excursion to the Gangtey Gompa valley at an altitude of 2800 meters. The only Nyingmapa Monastery in western Bhutan is located here. This beautiful valley is also home to the rare Black Necked Cranes migrating from the Tibetan plateau to escape the harsh winter. Overnight at hotel.

Day-17 Wangdi – Paro
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Paro, Enroute visit the oldest building in Bhutan - The Simtokha Dzong. It now serves as a Buddhist university. Overnight in Paro.

Day-18 Paro – Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day-19 Kathmandu – Chitwan
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Chitwan (180km). Upon arrival enjoy elephant safari in the jungles of the Royal Chitwan National Park is a must for every visitor to Nepal.  Less than 60 miles south of the Great Himalayan Range in Nepal's sub-tropical Terai lowlands (600 ft). Chitwan is one of Asia's premier wildlife reserves.  Its 360 square miles of tall grasslands and forests are home to a wide variety of mammals and birds, including several endangered species.  The park is most famous for Bengal Tiger, rare Gharial and Marsh Mugger crocodile and a large population of Asian rhinoceros. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Day-20 Chitwan
After breakfast, enjoy full day jungle observation at Chitwan National park. The highlight being the Elephant Safari in the jungles. Other activities are Canoeing, Dugout Canoe, Nature Walk and Bird Watching. After lunch proceed for guided tour by Naturalist who will help you to identify the nature of wildlife and various plants and animals.  Then you can enjoy the Native Tharu Folk dance and stick dance in the evening followed by Dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Day- 21 Chitwan – Pokhara
Enjoy breakfast & drive to Pokhara (180km). From Pokhara town (2,352 feet) the 25,000+ peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges rise a scant 20 miles away with no intervening ridges to spoil the view.  Pokhara offers the best mountain scenery in Nepal without undertaking a trek. In good weather, there are splendid views right from the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day-22 Pokhara
After breakfast take an excursion trip to Sarangkot. The village of Sarangkot (1590 m) is situated on the top of a hillock just north of Phewa Lake. One gets to see beautiful views of sunrise and sunset from Sarangkot as the sun splashes hues of red on the Himalayan range. On a clear day, the panoramic ranges of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and Ganesh Himal can be observed from here.
This afternoon you will visit Bindebasini Temple. This is one of the oldest temples in Pokhara and was a part of Kaski Kingdom. The main deity of the temple, Goddess Durga, was brought from India . Apart from the peace and tranquility that can be felt in this region, the premises of the temple offers a good view of the Himalaya on a clear day. The temple is in the area of the bazaar, hence a journey of the old bazaar can be combined with a visit to the temple. Sightseeing to Devi's Fall, also known as Patale Chango is an awesome waterfall lying 2 km southwest of Pokhara. Just opposite of Devi's Fall, on the other side of the road, there is Gupteshwor Cave. This cave is popular for the different natural forms made from limestone deposits. Overnight at hotel.

Day-23 Pokhra – Kathmandu
After breakfast transfer to Kathmandu followed by transfer to hotel. Rest of the day for leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day-24 Depart Kathmandu
After breakfast free time until transfer to Airport for your respective flight.