Day By Day Itinerary
DAY 1 UK – KATHMANDU
Fly to Kathmandu.
DAY KATHMANDU (D)
On arrival Kathmandu you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel Hyatt Regency.
DAY 3 KATHMANDU (B/D)
Explore Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley, visiting a selection of temples including Swayambhunath, Bodnath Stupa and Pashupatinath – a sacred Hindu temple. Late afternoon is free for shopping activities.
DAY 4 KATHMANDU – BUDHANILKANTHA – KANTHMANDU (B/D)
Morning Travel to Budhanilkantha, where you’ll visit the sacred site of sleeping Hindu deity Vishnu. Then take a moderate hike through the idyllic woodlands of Shivapuri National Park to Nagi Gompa. This Buddhist monastery sits astride a majestic hilltop location, offering magnificent views of Kathmandu Valley below. End your day by checking out a local market in Sundarijal.
DAY 5 KATHMANDU – POKHARA (B/D)
After breakfast take a short flight to Pokhara. On arrival check in at Fish Tail Lodge. Afternoon explore on your own the second largest city in Nepal.
DAY 6 POKHARA (B/D)
Early morning we take a guided tour of Pokhara, we visit the Bindabasini Temple, Gupteshwor Cave, Davis Falls, Seti River Gorge, and the nearby Sarangkot. It also offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas in the Annapurna region, namely Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range that features snow-capped peaks. Enjoy a boat ride on the Phewa Lake.
DAY 7 POKHARA – CHITWAN (B/D)
Morning after breakfast we travel to Chitwan National Park. On arrival check in at Meghauli Serai Chitwan lodge. Rest of the day is at your leisure.
DAY 8 CHITWAN (B/L/D)
A full day of jungle activities exploring the park including an elephant safari, canoe ride and nature walk.
DAY 9 CHITWAN – KATHMANDU (B/D)
As you explore Chitwan National Park there’s a very good chance of spotting the one-horned rhino. Enjoy your last Safari before leaving the jungle for your flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival you Check in at hotel Hyatt Regency.
DAY 10 KATHMANDU – PARO (B/D)
Early morning after breakfast transfer to Kathmandu airport to board your flight to Paro and drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city. On arrival Thimphu check in at hotel Le Meridien Thimphu.
DAY 11 THIMPHU (B/D)
After breakfast, today we drive up to the viewpoint – BBS Tower in Sangaygang and take a hike beyond to enjoy a stunning view of the valley. Then we visit the National Memorial Chorten. Here, the finely executed wall paintings and delicately fashioned statues within the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy. Dinner this evening with a local family. If time permits, we will also visit Zangto Pelri Lhakhang or hike to Cheri Goemba, an ancient monastery perched high on the hillside.
DAY12 THIMPHU – GANGTEY (B/D)
Today we head for Gangtey, about 150 kilometers away from Thimphu. En route, stop at Dochula Pass appreciate the striking view of Mt. Himalaya. You will also visit the grand 108 stupas. After that, we continue driving to Gangtey. It is a beautiful and tranquil place surrounded by lush forests. On arrival check in at hotel Aman Kora Resorts. This evening remains free for you. If you are interested, you can stroll around the Gangtey Valley and pay a visit to the exquisite Gangtey Goempo.
DAY 13 GANGTEY – PUNAKHA (B/D)
After breakfast we take a scenic drive to Punakha. As the valley is at a lower elevation of about 1250m (4100 ft.) above sea level, it enjoys subtropical climate with warm summers and pleasant winters. On arrival check in at Dhensa Boutique Resort. Later we visit Punakha Dzong. It is a very beautiful Bhutanese architecture located at the confluence of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers.
DAY 14 PUNAKHA – PARO (B/D)
After a short drive from Punakha, we start a leisure walk through paddy fields and villages and arrive at a hillock where the Chimi Lakhang is situated. This Lakhang is dedicated to a popular saint Drukpa Kuenley, also known as divine Madman. After that, we continue driving to Paro via Dochula Pass. En route, you will visit the Simtokha Dzong. On arrival check in at hotel Le Meridien Paro. Then we visit to Ta Dzong, an ancient watch tower housing the National Museum and descend for a while to the Paro Dzong, also named Rinphung Dzong.
DAY 15 PARO (B/D)
After breakfast we hike to Taktsang Monastery’s viewpoint. Taktsang meaning “Tiger’s Nest”, is built around a cave in which Guru Rimpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) meditated. The monastery clings seemingly impossible to a cliff of rock at 914m above the valley floor. For the local people it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist, a hike up to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated in the cave there for three months. Drive to the end of the valley to look at the old ruined fortress of Drugyel Dzong or the Fort of Drukpa Victory (14km from Paro), the historical site from the ramparts of which the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders, time and time again.
DAY 16 PARO – KATHMANDU (B/D)
After breakfast transfer to Paro airport to board your flight to Kathmandu and check in at hotel Hyatt Regency.
DAY 17 KATHMANDU – UK (B)
After breakfast transfer to Kathmandu airport to board your flight to UK. Arrive home
today.