Magical Nepal Bhutan Tour – 15 Days

This includes a final briefing and preparations for the trip. For the meeting, please make sure you bring your passport, two copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. After the pre-trip meeting, your sightseeing trip will start. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal.

• Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a collection of pagoda and shikhara–style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate, the Palace of fifty-five windows, art galleries, and the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.

• Changunarayan Temple

The temple is situated on a ridge overlooking the Kathmandu valley, about 12 km east of the city. Dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, it is one of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture, built in 323 AD by King Haridatta Verma. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings, and its position above the Kathmandu valley affords a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.

Our tour staff will arrive at your hotel at 6:30 am to pick you up. The bus to Pokhara will leave at around 7.30 am. Pokhara is a beautiful valley, with panoramic views of Annapurna, Machapuchare (the shape of a fish tail) in the north, Dhaulagiri in the west, Lamjung Himal, and Manaslu in the east. The town of Pokhara is set on the banks of Phewa Lake. It is smaller and much less hectic than Kathmandu, providing the perfect getaway for our tour. Overnight at a hotel.

Your sightseeing trip will start after breakfast. We provide a private vehicle and a professional tour guide. The places we visit are as below:

1. Bindhyabasini Temple

Lies in the center of the old religious bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park grounds offer a fine picnic and relaxing area.

2. Begnas and Rupa Lakes

The two lakes lie in the north-east of the Pokhara valley at a distance of 13 km from the main city of Pokhara. These lakes are located at the foothill of Begnas mountain and are separated by the Pachabiya hill.

3. Davis Falls

Locally known as Patale Chhango, these amazing waterfalls lie in the southern flank of Pokhara. Here, the stream flowing from Phewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes. This is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike.

4. Gupteswar Cave

The revered Gupteswar Cave is situated 2 km from Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Davis Falls, and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all fours. This cave holds special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered.

5. Mahendra Cave

Lies to the north of the Pokhara valley. It is a large limestone cave which is one of the few stalagmite stalactite caves found in Nepal.

1. Museums

During the tour, we will visit two different museums: one museum displays the lifestyles and history of the Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharu, while the other, Gurkha Memorial Museum, is dedicated to the famous Gurkha Warriors who earned their name in many fierce battles fought during the World Wars and numerous operations around the world since 1815. The soldiers of the Gurkha regiment won 13 Victoria Cross medals, awarded for exceptional bravery shown in the field.

2. Phewa Lake and Barahi Temple

Situated at an altitude of 800m above sea level, Phewa is the second largest lake in the kingdom. The Barahi Island Temple, which lies in the middle of the lake, is dedicated to the Goddess Barahi. This two-storied pagoda temple is dedicated to the female force Shakti. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhare and Annapurna can be seen in its serene water. A thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake.

3. Seti River Gorge

Carved by Seti-Gandaki, the gorge is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. The Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool & Prithivi highway Bridge near the bus park, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water.

4. Tibetan Refugee Camp

The Tibetan village of Tashiling in the south and the Tashi Palkhiel village in the north of Pokhara are renowned for the production and trade of woolen carpets and other handicrafts. The original Tibetan settlers in this region migrated to Nepal in the ‘50s.

Wake up early to catch the sunrise from Sarangkot Hill.

1. Sarangkot

A drive of 45 minutes with 25 25-minute hike brings us to the viewpoint of Sarangkot. It is the best spot in Pokhara to view the Himalayas. Get mesmerized with the magical sight of the golden sun rising over the white spires of the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapucchre (Fishtail Peak), including views of the beautiful Pokhara Valley and Phewa Lake. It takes about a 15-minute walk down and a 45-minute drive to the hotel in Pokhara. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

2. Chitwan National Park

Drive to Chitwan National Park afterward. Upon reaching the Chitwan National Park resort, you would be briefed by our Guest Relations Officer. After lunch, you will go on a Village tour. Meanwhile, the dinner would be ready by the time you return to the resort.

An early morning wake-up call followed by tea/coffee. The early morning tour provides you with one of the best times to see the wildlife at its best, with bird watching, jeep safari, and jungle walk. After breakfast, a 45-minute walk through the grassland and forest upstream of the Narayani River. Climb aboard the local boats to observe crocodiles along the banks while floating back to the camp to enjoy lunch. Late afternoon, you would be entertained with the Tharu Cultural Program.

An early morning wake-up call followed by tea/coffee. After morning tea, we would be going for bird watching as Chitwan is also very famous for the different species of birds, which is an attractive fact for the visitor. After that, we would be back at the resort, have breakfast, and get ready to head back to Kathmandu by tourist vehicle.

You will be met by our Bhutanese airport representative on arrival after all the formalities. We take a scenic 90-minute drive to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, and transfer to your hotel for you to settle in. Overnight at a hotel.

Sightseeing in and around Thimphu valley, we visit the National Library, which holds a collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts, as well as the Institute for Zorig Chusum, commonly known as Painting School, the textile and Folk Heritage Museum, which provides an insight into Bhutanese material culture and everyday way of life. Also visiting the National Memorial Chorten, Trashichho Dzong, an impressive monastery, and  Bhutanese Handicrafts, displaying a wide range of beautifully hand-woven textiles and craft products. In the evening, we explore the vibrant Thimphu Bazaar. Overnight at a hotel.

Leaving Thimphu, we drive about 3 hours, with the road climbing steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near the Dochula Pass (3,050m). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges on a clear day. You will see rhododendrons, magnolias, junipers, and pine forests with chirping sounds of the many rare species of birds found in Bhutan. We drive to Lobesa to take a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang Temple, it is believed that this temple blesses women who seek fertility. Driving North to the majestic Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, which strategically occupies the land between the two rivers Phochu and Mochu. After our day of sightseeing, we head back to Thimphu. Overnight at a hotel.

An early morning drive towards Paro, we stop to visit the Ta Dzong, which houses the National Museum, and visit Paro’s Rimpung Dzong. Along the way down, we cross the 16th-century cantilever bridge. Also, visiting the Drugyel Dzong victory fortress, built in 1647, which is 18 km from Paro. Explore the magnificent ramparts of the erstwhile fortress, which defended the country against several incursions. On a clear day, one can also view the sacred Mount Jomolhari from the northern battlements. We take a visit to a farmhouse and observe the traditional Bhutanese way of life and living. Overnight at a hotel.

The trail to the Tiger’s Nest climbs through beautiful Pine and rhododendron forests. You stop at the cafeteria, which offers magnificent up-close views of the tigers’ nest for refreshments. Then we continue the hike for a short while until you see Taktsang monastery. Built in the 1600s, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. History states that Guru Padmasambhava, the Tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, landed here on the back of a flying tiger and meditated here for three months. Overnight at a hotel.

After breakfast, our airport representative will drop you at the Paro International Airport for your flight departure from Bhutan.