Itinerary

1. Arrival and sightseeing in Paro (2,250m/7,382ft)

   • First, you will be welcomed by an amazing view of The Himalayas as you approach Bhutan.

   • At the airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya.

   • Once you have settled in your hotel, you will embark on your journey to Paro. 

   • In Paro, you will visit places such as the Dungste Lhakang, a 15th-century temple with the Ugyen Perli Palace visible through its fence, the Rinpung Dzong, a fortress-monastery, the national museum, and Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest Bhutanese temple. 

   Overnight in Paro.

2. Hike to Taktsang Monastery, drive to Thimphu (2,320m/7,610ft): 54 km trek, 1 hour drive

   • After breakfast, you will take a scenic hike for about 4-5 hours to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), the most sacred monastery in Bhutan, built on steep cliff, offering you enchanting views of the Paro valley. Guru Padmasambhava who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan is said to have meditated there for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. 

   • Then, lunch will be served at the restaurant located halfway up the mountain.

   • Afterwards, you will then hike back down the valley and drive to Thimpu.

   Overnight in Thimpu.

3. Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m/4,100ft): 76 km, 2 – 3 hours

   • After breakfast, enjoy the drive to Dochula pass (3,100 meters) in Punakha, a mountain pass where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens(Stupa)” have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. To the east of the pass, the snow-clad mountain peaks of the Himalayas are seen prominently and among them is the Mt. Masanggang at 7,158 metres (23,484 ft), which is the highest peak in Bhutan. 

   • Drive downhill from the pass through a rhododendron garden, fir and hemlock forests, rice fields, and rivers, while enjoying the panoramic views of the Bhutan Himalayas. 

   • After lunch, you will visit Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and the second largest dzong in Bhutan built between 1637 – 1638. 

   Overnight in Punakha.

4. Punakha to Paro (2250m/7382ft): 140 km, 4 hours

   • After breakfast, drive to Paro via Dochu La pass (3,100 meters), a mountain pass where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. To the east of the pass, the snow-clad mountain peaks of the Himalayas are seen prominently and among them is the Mt. Masanggang at 7,158 metres (23,484 ft), which is the highest peak in Bhutan. 

   • After the tour of the monastery, continue the drive with a stop in Thimphu for lunch. 

   Overnight in Paro.

5. Fly to Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft): 1 hour flight, Sightseeing in Kathmandu

   • First, you will be welcomed by an amazing view of The Himalayas as you approach Kathmandu.

   • At the airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya. They will collect your passport to obtain the visa for Tibet.

   • Take a short tour to the Pashupatinath temple, a famous 5th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the banks of the Bagmati River, and Boudhnath, one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Kathmandu.

   • In the evening, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the country’s food culture. 

   Overnight in Kathmandu.

6. Drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan: 150km, 5 – 6 hours

   • Drive to Chitwan, the fifth largest city in Nepal located at the foot of the Churia range, famous for its Chitwan National Park (CNP), the first national park in Nepal established in 1973, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   • At the park, you can either embark on a jungle safari or nature walk depending on the time of arrival. The safari will take you deep into the jungle to spot deer, the endangered one-horn rhinoceros, and other wild animals. If lucky, you may even spot the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. During nature walks, you will enjoy the company of a wide variety of flora and fauna and spend some time bird watching.

   • In the evening, there will be a presentation on the wide range of flora and fauna which include more than 700 species of wildlife and a not yet fully surveyed number of butterfly, moth and insect species, king cobra and rock pythons, 17 other species of snakes, starred tortoise, and monitor lizards. 

   Overnight in Chitwan.

7. Chitwan National Park

   • Early in the morning, you will be mounted on elephant backs for a jungle safari through dense grasslands to witness wildlife in their natural habitat.

   • After breakfast, visit the elephant stables and even enjoy bathing the elephants.

   • In the afternoon, you can either drive through the jungles followed by a canoe ride down the Rapti River, while getting a closer look at the Gharial and Mugger crocodiles along with freshwater dolphins, otters, and birds. Or, you may opt for bird watching or nature walks. 

   Overnight in Chitwan.

8. Drive to Pokhara (910m/2986ft): 200km, 5 – 6 hours

   • After breakfast, leave for Pokhara, the second largest city of Nepal located 200 km west of Kathmandu, close to the Annapurna mountain range. 

   Overnight in Pokhara.

9. Sightseeing in Pokhara and sunrise at Sarangkot Hill, Fly to Kathmandu

   • Early in the morning, leave for Sarangkot, a hill that overlooks the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges in the north and Pokhara city in the south. From here, you catch amazing views of the sunrise in the mighty Himalayas.

   • Then, head back to Pokhara and tour the city.

   • Head to Davis Falls which is a unique waterfall that flows directly into a narrow and deep canal, and the Shiva Cave houses a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

   • Do some boating in Phewa Lake, the largest lake in Pokhara and visit the Bindyabasini Temple located at the center of the Lake. From the lake, and possibly even from your hotel bed, you can enjoy a clear view of the snow-capped mountains, just twenty or so kilometres away.

   • Then, you visit the famous International Mountain Museum (IMM) that records, documents and chronicles the past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world and the Himalayas in particular.  

   • Fly to Kathmandu. 

   Overnight in Kathmandu.

10. Fly to Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft): 1hour 30 minutes flight

    • First, you arrive at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Tibet’s administrative capital and one of the highest cities in the world. You will enjoy an hour of breathtaking views of The Himalayas on what is considered to be one of the most beautiful air routes in the world.

    • Then, you will be greeted by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya upon your arrival at the airport.

    • Then, you are advised to rest for the rest of the day to adjust to the altitude and minimize altitude sickness, as Lhasa has an elevation of about 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and lies in the centre of the Tibetan Plateau with the surrounding mountains rising to 5,500 m (18,000 ft), and thus the air only contains 68 percent of oxygen. 

    Overnight in Lhasa.

11. Sightseeing in Lhasa Day 1: 5 – 6 hours

    • Sightseeing in Lhasa begins with a visit to the Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Built-in the 17 century, Potala Palace provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand staterooms, and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama and houses what is considered to be the largest man-made garden in Tibet.

    • Next, visit the Tibet Museum, the official museum of Tibet, which has a permanent collection of around 1000 artifacts related to the cultural history of Tibet. 

    Overnight in Lhasa.

12. Sightseeing in Lhasa Day 2: 5 – 6 hours

    • After breakfast, visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. 

    • Head to Drepung Monastery, which was built in the 14th century, is believed to have sheltered around 10,000 monks in the past. The history, culture, and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people are strongly concentrated and centred in this marvellous monastery.

    • Go to the Sera Monastery which is a preserved monastery with white-washed walls and golden roofs.

    • Stop by Jokhang Temple which is another important sacred site which unravels more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism.

    • Stroll through the Barkhor Bazaar (market). With its open-air stalls, shops and crowd of pilgrims, it is the epicentre of Lhasa. 

    Overnight in Lhasa.

13. Excursion to Ganden Monastery and Drayerpa Cave: 5 – 6 hours

    • In the morning, drive to Ganden Monastery, one of the “great three” Gelug university monasteries of Tibet located at the top of Wangbur Mountain at an altitude of 4,300m. 

    • Drive to Drayerpa Cave located in a beautiful valley with a stunning landscape, that has more than 30 caves for Lamas who wish to meditate.

    • In the evening, drive back to Lhasa. 

    Overnight in Lhasa.

14. Departure; Home Sweet Home

    Departure day

    • Transfer to the airport. The representatives of Alpine Club of Himalaya will transport you to the airport.