Nepal Bhutan 10 days 9 nights Tours

Day 1: Arrival: Kathmandu Airport – Thamel!

Highlights: Thamel Night Life at own leisure!

00.00pm: Arrive at Kathmandu Airport.

00.00pm: Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel.

00.00pm: Check in. Rest and Relax. Free and easy after check in.

NOTE: Dinner at your own expense.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour

Highlights: Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Nepal + Dinner with Nepalese Cultural Dance Performances

07.00am: Breakfast at hotel.

08.00am: Pick up from your hotel in Kathmandu, daily tours start, and visit:

• Swayambhunath Stupa, the Monkey Temple – one of the oldest Buddhist Stupa in Valley
• Boudhanath Stupa – The largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, listed as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
• Pashupatinath Temple – The most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world. Listed as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

01.30pm: Lunch at Patan Palace Restaurant.

02.30pm: Tour continues. Visit:

• Patan Durbar Square NOTE: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
• Kathmandu Durbar Square NOTE: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

06.00pm: Dinner at Gokarna House restaurant with Nepalese Cultural Dance performances.

07.00pm: After dinner, return to hotel. Rest and relax.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara

Highlights: Phewa Lake Side + snow-peaked mountains across the lake.

08.00am: Breakfast at hotel.

09.00am: Check out hotel. Pick up from your hotel and drive to Pokhara. The journey will take about 8 hours. Lunch en route at Highway Restaurant.

03.00pm: Arrive in Pokhara. Check in hotel. Welcome drink. Rest and relax. NOTE: The hotel is located 5 minutes away from the amazing Phewa Lake. You can visit Phewa Lake at your own leisure. No entrance fees required.

06.30pm: Dinner at Lan Hua Restaurant.

07.30pm: Return to hotel after dinner. Rest & relax.

Day 4: Pokhara to Kathmandu

Highlights: Sarangkot Sunrise Tour + Pokhara adventure tour + World Peace Pagoda Sunset Tour

05.15am: Wake up and prepare for drive to Sarangkot (1542m) for an amazing sunrise view. It will take about 45 minutes to arrive in Sarangkot. You get to see an amazing sunrise with mountain views. You will see the snow-capped mountains like Fishtail, Annapurna, Lamjung Himal, and Dhaulagiri (8167m), and Himchuli.

06.00am: Sunrise at Sarangkot.

07.00am: After sunrise, return to hotel. Breakfast at hotel.

09.00am: Pick up and depart to paragliding starting point.

Optional tour: Paragliding Tour (Additional Charges: USD120 with photo & video, USD100 without photo & video)

• You will begin your 30–45 minutes Paragliding Tour after a short briefing by the pilot. Pokhara in Nepal is the world’s best paragliding spot with amazing views of the Annapurna range of mountains and beautiful landscape around Pokhara valley including the virgin Mt Fishtail (Machhapuchhre), Lamjung Himal, Annapaurna, Himal, Himchuli, Phewa lake, rice field, rivers and settlements.

11.00am: You will land by the Phewa Lake. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Check out hotel.

12.00pm: Lunch in Thakali Kitchen Restaurant. NOTE: Nicest Thakali Dhal Bhat (typical Nepalese food) in Pokhara according to locals and tourists.

01.00pm: After lunch, tour continues to:

• Davis Fall – A waterfall located at Pokhara in Kaski District. An interesting aspect is the water from the fall flows about 500 feet through the natural tunnel at a depth of 100 feet from ground level.
• Mahadev Cave – Across the road from Davis Falls, this venerated cave houses a huge stalagmite worshipped as a Shiva’s Lingam.
• World Peace Pagoda Sunset Tour – Standing on top of the Ananda hill, Shanti Stupa adds more beauty to the Pokhara Valley. It is a perfect holiday place providing a clear view of the Himalayan range of mountains, Phewa Lake and Pokhara City. The hilltop provides a splendid view of sunrise and sunset. Tripadvisor has ranked Shanti Stupa as the second top attraction in Pokhara.

06.30pm: Depart to Kathmandu. NOTE: Journey will take around 6 hours. Dinner en route.

12.30am: Arrive in Kathmandu, check in hotel. Welcome drink. Rest & relax.

Day 5: Nepal - Bhutan - Paro | International Flight from Nepal to Bhutan!

Highlights: Arrive in Bhutan + Visit to Bhutan National Museum & Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress)

07.00am: Check out hotel. Pick up from your hotel in Kathmandu, and transfer to airport to catch your flight to Bhutan. NOTE: We will use: Druk Airways – Flight from Nepal to Bhutan. The Druk Airways flight to Bhutan is one of the most spectacular in the world. You will experience breathtaking views of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Jomolhari and other Himalayan peaks. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from the southeast, each flight is a mesmerizing aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the Kingdom.

08.00am: Check in airport.

08.45am: Catch your flight to Bhutan.

10.20am: Arrive in Bhutan Airport.

11.00am: Pick up and transfer to hotel in Paro. (about 30 minutes’ drive)

11.30pm: Check in hotel with welcome drinks. Free & easy.

01.00pm: Lunch at hotel.

02.00pm: After lunch, daily tours begin. Visit:

• Bhutan National Museum – A must visit place in Paro. The museum houses beautiful paintings, along with various artifacts like masks used in Bhutanese traditional dances, pictures of flora and fauna particular to Bhutan
• Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress), built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now being used as an administration center and school for monks. From the Dzong you will walk down to Rimpung Bridge (Traditonal Cantilever Bridge), oldest bridge in Bhutan.

06.00pm: Back to hotel and dinner in the hotel.

07.00pm: After dinner, free and easy.

Day 6: Paro Sightseeing

Highlights: Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Monastery)

07.30am: Breakfast at hotel.

08.30am: After breakfast, hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’.

The climb up to the viewpoint will take around 1 ½ hours and from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging to the side of the cliff. Stop for refreshment at the View Point Cafeteria. Then walk further up to the monastery which will take another 1 ½ hour.

It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months. The principal Lhakhang (monastery) of the present monastic complex dates from 1692. Taktsang was damaged severely by a fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former glory.

After visiting the monastery, walk back down to the road and stop partway for lunch at the view point cafeteria before continuing down the road.

03.00pm: Then travel back to your hotel, on the way visiting Kyichu temple, one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas, and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Kyichu Temple is one of the 108 temples. In the evening you may relax in the traditional hot stone bath.

NOTE: At your own expense.

06.00pm: Dinner in hotel with cultural show performances. After dinner, free and easy.

Day 7: Paro - Thimphu: Thimphu sightseeing tours!

07.00am: Breakfast at the hotel.

08.00am: Check out hotel and depart to Thimphu (capital city of Bhutan).

09.00am: Arrive at Thimphu, check in hotel with welcome drinks. Free & easy.

10.00am: Bhutan Thimpu tours start, visit to:

• Kuenselphodrang (commonly known as Big Buddha Point) where the largest Buddha statue in the country is perched on the hillock overlooking the Thimphu Valley. You can also enjoy a 20-30 minutes nature hike through Kuensel Phodrang Nature park and enjoy the magnificent view of Thimphu Valley and mountain peaks.
• Takin, National Animal of Bhutan Preservation Center
• Memorial Stupa – This large Tibetan-style chorten is one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many Bhutanese it is the focus of their daily worship. It was built in 1974 as a memorial to the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–72). It is especially tranquil in the early morning, as elderly people shuffle in and spruced-up kids on their way to school whiz in and out to pay homage.

01.00pm: Lunch at “Bhutan Kitchen” with Bhutanese Traditional Food

02.00pm: After lunch, visit:

• National Textile Museum – a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition. This museum has a fine collection of old textiles which are rich in colours and designs. You will also see weavers creating their wares with intricate designs.
• Traditional Bhutanese paper making factory. The handmade paper making in Bhutan stemmed from the age old tradition originating in the 8th century of Bhutanese history. The handmade paper constitutes a valuable National heritage of the Bhutanese cultural identity, and is preserved through all the ages. The traditional paper is recognised and held in high esteem by both locals and the outside world. Jungshi Paper Factory was established in November 1990 as an undertaking of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The unit now touts being a major and sole dealer in handmade paper and its products.
• Thimpu Dzong – Bhutan King’s Office, only allow to visit after 5pm.

06.30pm: Back to hotel.

07.00pm: Dinner in the hotel, Free and easy after dinner.

Day 8 : Thimphu to Punakha

06.30am: Breakfast at hotel.

07.30am: Check out from the hotel and drive to Punakha.  We will visit:

• National Post office Bhutan – You can make your own set of stamps at your own expense.

11.30am: Arrive in Punakha via Dochula Pass (3100 m). Check in hotel.

Description: The Dochula Pass is a mountain pass in the snow covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimpu to Punakha. It has 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” that were built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. Apart from the chortens there is a monastery called the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple), built in honour of the fourth Druk Gyalpo (head of the state of Bhutan), Jigme Singye Wangchuck; the open grounds in its front yard is a venue for the annual Dochula Druk Wangyel Festival. The pass with 108 memorial chortens is adjacent to the country’s first Royal Botanical Park.

12.00pm: Start your daily sightseeing. We will visit:

Note: Lunch en route. Dinner will depend upon your sight seeing time.

1. Chimi Lahkhang – (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley).
2. Punakha Dzong – The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong (meaning very awesome dzong) “the palace of great happiness or bliss”, is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. The dzong houses the sacred relics of the southern Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Rangjung Kasarpani and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal and the terton Pema Lingpa.
3. Hike to Khamsum Yuley Namgyel Chhorten – If time permits, you will hike to Khamsum Yuley Namgyel Chhorten. Description: The Khamsum Yuley Namgyel Chhorten, lies approximate 7 kilometres north of Punakha. The Chorten is situated along a hill up the valley and can be reached after a leisurely hike through the woods and rice paddies. About a kilometer north of Punakha. The Chorten is situated along a hill up the valley and can be reached after a leisurely hike through the woods and rice paddies.

07.00pm Back to hotel. Dinner at the hotel. NOTE: Dinner can be outside, depends upon the sightseeing time. Rest and relax after the dinner.

Day 9: Punakha to Paro

07.00am: Breakfast in the hotel.

08.00am: Check out hotel and drive to Paro (at least 4 hours drive)

12.00pm: Arrive at Paro. Lunch en route at local restaurant or at your hotel.

01.00pm: Check in hotel with welcome drinks. Free & easy.

02.30pm: After lunch, We will visit:

1. Kyichu Lakhang – Kyichu temple is one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demon lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas, and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Kyichu Temple is one of the 108 temples.
2. School of Traditional Painting of Arts and Crafts where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.
3. Centenary Farmers’ Market (open from Thu-Sun only): Most of the Thimphu’s population and many valley dwellers converge on the bustling weekend market, held by the side of Wangchu River. A wide range of foodstuffs and local arts and crafts are sold at the market, which runs from Friday afternoon till Sunday evening. A visit to the market provides great photo opportunities, as well as the chance to mingle with local people.
4. Archery Match (National Game of Bhutan) at Changlimithang National Stadium.

07.00pm: Return to hotel. Dinner at hotel. Tour ends.

Day 10: Paro - Kathmandu | International Flight from Bhutan to Nepal!

06.00am: Check out hotel and depart to airport for flight to onward destination. You can choose to continue your tour in Nepal or can fly back directly to your own country.