Two Weeks Nepal Bhutan Tour - 14 Days

Upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, one of Himalayan Trekkers’ representatives will receive you and transfer you to your designated hotel. You could take a full rest at your hotel once you have checked in or you could take a walk around the streets of the Thamel and get familiar with the area. 

The day begins with a hearty breakfast at the hotel and a visit to the famous Bouddhanath Stupa which is the country’s largest Buddhist pilgrim site. It is also one of the largest Buddhist sites in Asia. As we enter the main gate of the Bouddhanath, the giant white dome with big Buddha eyes greets us and offers us peacefulness. It is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and Kassapa Buddha, one of the 28 Buddhas in the world system, is believed to have been entombed here. Around this stupa, there are antique shops where you can purchase items related to Tibetan culture and lifestyles. 

Following our visit to Bouddhanath Stupa, we will drive to one of the most important Hindu, Pashupatinath Temple. It is one of the four major Hindu Pilgrimage sites in the world serving as the seat of a deity named Shiva. Thousands of devotees visit the temple everyday single day to pay homage to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 as a result of its exceptional significance and worth on a global scale. Pashupatinath Temple is also known for its cremation Ghats along the Bagmati River where you could observe the open-air cremation of the Hindus. 

And the last site for today’s sightseeing would be Patan Durbar Square located in the city of Lalitpur. It is a famous tourist site because of its combination of historical significance, architectural splendor, cultural richness, and UNESCO recognition. Patan Durbar Square is renowned for its stunning architectural marvels. The intricately carved wooden struts, pagoda-style roofs, and ornate metalwork reflect the skill and craftsmanship of the Newar artisans. Some of the examples includes the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, and Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihara). Also, it’s museums and art galleries provide deeper insights into the cultural and historical aspects of Patan.

After a full day of exploring the religious, cultural, historical and architectural beauty of Kathmandu, we will drive back to hotel.

Following breakfasts, we will start our journey towards Pokhara which is also called the city of lakes and the most popular city after Kathmandu. It takes around 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara if we drive via our private vehicle. We will stop for photos a couple of times along the way. Following the Trishuli River, one of the best rivers for amateur rafting, until Mugling, we then turn around and follow the Marshayngdi River in the opposite direction for a bit. 

Besides the small and simple villages, the Prithvi Highway also offers a nice view of mountains, most notably from Khaireni and onwards. If the weather is clear, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu, and Annapurna can be seen as soon as we start going down from Kathmandu. 

After we reach Pokhara, we will go for the famous Phewa Lake boating and visit the Hindu Temple named Tal Barahi at the middle of the lake. We will observe the evening aarti event of the temple and return to the seashore. Then you could take an easy and peaceful walk around the lakeside before heading back to hotel. 

We will depart from Pokhara after breakfast to reach Phedi from where we will start our 3-day hiking journey. From Pokhara, we will drive for around 30 minutes and reach Phedi from where we start hiking in stone stairs which goes through the dense Rhododendron Forest. After hiking for around an hour, we will reach a beautiful and popular village at 1800 meters elevation named Dhampus from where we will get to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and other mountains on a clear weather day.

After a brief rest in Dhampus, we continue our hiking through the Rhododendron Forest and reach Pothana. From Pothana, it is an hour to reach our destination, Australian Camp through the stone stairs. As soon as we reach Australian Camp, the mesmerizing Himalayan views will amaze you. We will also get to observe the sunset behind the giant Himalayas. 

We will wake up early to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the mountains. And after breakfast, we begin our descent from the Australian Camp towards Kande. We will get to enjoy the scenic beauty as we make our way downhill. After few hours, we will arrive at Kande, which serves as a junction point for various trekking routes. And from Kande, we start our trek towards Sarangkot. The trail goes uphill, passing through forests and picturesque landscapes.

 After a couple of hours, we will reach Sarangkot, a popular hilltop destination known for its stunning sunrise and sunset views, as well as panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. We will check in at the hotel spend the evening enjoying the breathtaking views.

If you are interested to witness sunrise this morning too, you could wake up early to witness a mesmerizing sunrise over the mountains from Sarangkot and enjoy the panoramic views and capture memorable photographs.

After breakfast, we will have an easy hike down to Pokhara. Once in Pokhara, you could spend the remainder of the day as per your interest. You could just rest or you could opt. to explore the city’s major tourist sites such as Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Temple, Bindabasini Temple etc. 

NOTE: From Sarangkot, if you prefer to skip the hiking, we can arrange transportation from Sarangkot to Pokhara at an additional cost. 

Following our breakfast, we will leave Pokhara behind today and leave towards back to Kathmandu. The drive goes along the same way we came to Pokhara. And once we reach Kathmandu, the remainder of the day is yours to relax or continue your exploration of the vibrant city depending upon your arrival. You could explore the Thamel area, go for a food tour of Nepalese cuisine, go to a bar, or spa, or even buy souvenirs for you to take back home or take a guided cultural tour of the city’s historic landmarks. 

Note: You could opt. for the 25 minutes long flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu instead of 7 hours long drive at an additional cost. 

You will be transferred to the airport early in the morning for one of the most interesting flights in the world, i.e., the Paro flight. Mount Everest and several other Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Jomolhari, would be seen from the plane. As your plane flies above Paro city, you will notice the alpine forests, small dzongs, temples, farmhouses, and the verdant valley of Paro. Your friendly local guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest and lunch, your guided afternoon sightseeing of the Paro tour begins.

You will be guided to the national museum of Bhutan namely Ta Dzong. Then, we will take a short walk to Rinpung Dzong which offers a spectacular view of the Paro Valley. It was built in 1646 and presently houses the district Monastic Body and the Paro Dzongkhag government administrative buildings.

We will then explore Kichu Lakhang, one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the country built in the 7th century. It is also of the Himalayan region's oldest temples with significant religious significance. The temple and its grounds are perfectly kept, in addition to their charm and grandeur. Furthermore, the temple contains an orange tree that, astonishingly, bears fruit throughout the year.

If time allows, we will also visit Drugyal Dzong which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan's defeat over Tibetan invaders in the 1600s. And in the evening, you could take a walk around the streets and markets of Paro. 

Today we will be visiting one of the most popular sites of Bhutan, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. We start early in the morning and hike towards the Taktsang Monastery which is Tigers' Nest Monastery local named. It is located at an altitude of 3120 Meters. and one of the most treasured spiritual sites in Bhutan. We will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the monastery situated perilously and wonderfully on the 900-meter-high cliff's edge after an hour and a half hike to the viewpoint. After another hour of climbing, we arrive at the monastery's gate, which offers amazing views of the Paro valley and neighboring hills. 

After exploring the monastery, we head downwards and stop halfway at the cafeteria for lunch. Our journey continues after lunch. When we get to our hotel, we pack our belongings, check out, and drive to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital.

Check-in at the hotel and relax. You could spend the evening at leisure, exploring the vibrant streets of Thimphu get a glance at the Thimphu lifestyle. 

We begin our day with the visit to Buddha Dordenma, a massive statue of Lord Buddha overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Following it, we will explore the Folk Heritage Museum and the National Institute for Zorig Chusum to gain insights into Bhutanese arts and crafts. We will also visit the National Stadium's archery site to try Bhutan's national sport, and the Takin Preserve (Motithang Mini Zoo) to witness the Bhutan Takin (National Animal here), a strange-looking mammal related to the goat and the antelope. We will also visit the majestic Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the Bhutanese government and a religious center.

Then in the afternoon, we will drive to Punakha, crossing the scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters) and enjoying panoramic views of the Himalayas. We we will make a brief visit to Chimi Lakhang/Monastery, a well-known temple in the country also called the fertility temple.

Once in Punkha, we will explore the Punakha Dzong, an architectural masterpiece which is considered as the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. 

After breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive to Bumthang, a cultural heartland of Bhutan from Punakha. The journey takes us through picturesque landscapes, passing villages, forests, and mountain vistas. En route, we will visit Wangdue Phodrang and Trongsa Dzongs, two impressive fortresses along the way.

Once we arrive in Bumthang and check into our hotel and you could spend the evening at leisure, exploring the charming town of Bumthang.

We will explore the Bumthang Valley, known for its ancient monasteries, temples, and serene landscapes. Some of the religious sites in the region are the Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, and Tamshing Lhakhang. We will also pay our visit to the Jakar Dzong, also known as the "Castle of the White Bird," which offers panoramic views of the valley.

Afterward our sightseeing, we will drive out from Bumthang Valley to the enchanting Phobjikha Valley, famous for its stunning natural beauty and the endangered Black-necked Cranes. Once at the valley, we check into our hotel and enjoy the tranquility of the valley.

Our day begins with a visit to the Gangtey Monastery, an important religious institution in Phobjikha Valley. Then we will take a leisurely walk through the beautiful Gangtey Nature Trail, enjoying the pristine surroundings and the opportunity to spot wildlife. If interested we could also learn about the conservation efforts for the Black-necked Cranes at the Crane Information Center.

In the afternoon, we head back to Paro, retracing our journey through the stunning Bhutanese countryside. In the evening, you could stroll around the markets of Paro for one last time. 

With the end of your Two Weeks Nepal Bhutan Tour, you will be transferred to the airport after breakfast for the flight to your onward destination. We will bid farewell to this wonderful country and leave with fond memories. 

NOTE: You could fly back to Kathmandu or to the other cities such as Delhi, Bagdogra, Bangkok whichever is available on this day and from where your connecting flight is easy to find.