13-Day China, Bhutan and Nepal Tour with Tibet and Taktsang

• Have breakfast at the hotel.

• Take an optional tour of Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center, which is located just 10 km (6 miles) from the city.

• Transfer to the airport and fly to Lhasa.

• Meet your local guide upon arrival and then transfer to Tsetang.

Rest of the day at your leisure for acclimatization.

Overnight stay in Tsetang.

(The flights Chengdu-Lhasa-Kathmandu-Paro-Kathmandu will be booked along with the tour.)

Meal: Breakfast

• After breakfast, drive to Samye Monastery, which is 32 miles from Tsetang. It is the first monastery and one of the most important monasteries in Tibet.

• Transfer back to Tsetang and visit Yambulakhang Palace in the afternoon. It was built by the first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo, in the second century.

• Visit Chedruk Temple before rounding off your tour in Tsetang.

Overnight stay in Tsetang.

Meal: Breakfast

• After breakfast, drive to Gyangtse via Yamdrok Tso, which translates to "Turquoise Lake".

• Take a sightseeing tour of Pelkhor Chode (Kumbum) in Gyangtse, known as a "monastery with praying wheel," and then proceed to Shigatse in the afternoon.

Overnight stay in Shigatse.

Meal: Breakfast

• Visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the official seat of the Panchen Lama, second in importance only to the Dalai Lama. The monastery was built in 1447 by Gendun Drup and once housed up to 3,400 monks. One of its great spectacles is the nine-foot statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future.

• Drive to Lhasa and check in to the hotel in the afternoon.

Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Meal: Breakfast

Today will be spent exploring famous monuments in Lhasa. First on your list will be the Potala Palace. Your next stop will be Norbulingka, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was built in the eighteenth century.

Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Meal: Breakfast

• Visit Drepung Monastery.

• Stop by Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibet, which houses a golden statue of the Buddha brought to Tibet by the Chinese princess "Wen Chen".

• Continue to Barkhor Bazaar outside Jokhang Monastery. This bustling flea market is generally the place to buy souvenirs and meet other tourists.

Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Meal: Breakfast

• Transfer to the airport and fly to Kathmandu on one of the most spectacular flights in the world, with amazing views of peaks including Mt. Everest. You will be met upon arrival in Kathmandu and transferred to the hotel.

• Take a half-day tour of Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa.

• Enjoy an evening walk around Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu known for its colourful souvenir shops, restaurants, pubs, bookstores, and cyber cafes.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Meal: Breakfast

• Take a morning tour of Swayambhunath, a 2,000-year-old Buddhist monument on a hilltop overlooking Kathmandu Valley.

• Stop by Patan, also known as Lalitpur.

• Continue to Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon.

• Visit Durbar Square, the main palace square of the city, containing many temples and other architectural showpieces, including the Golden Gate, described as the finest piece of art in the Kingdom.

• See Nyatapola Temple, a five-storied pagoda-style temple built in 1708 AD and the most famous example of Nepalese pagoda architecture.

• Explore Dattatreya Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Meal: Breakfast

• Transfer to the airport and fly to Paro in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Great Himalayas during the flight. Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be welcomed to the Kingdom by your guide. If time permits, take a sightseeing tour of the 200-year-old Watch Tower, which was renovated and converted into the National Museum in 1968.

• Visit Dungtse Lakang on the same route.

• Drive to Thimphu through the Paro Valley. The drive from Paro to Thimphu is spectacularly scenic.

Overnight stay in Thimphu.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

• Explore Thimphu, the only capital city in the world without traffic lights.

• Enjoy views of magnificent monasteries and stupas in the valleys and on mountain tops.

• Experience the "Last Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom" on Earth.

• Visit the Memorial Chorten built in honour of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, Dupthop Lhakhang (Monastery for the nuns), the National Library, and the painting school, where traditional art is still kept alive through instruction in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist religious scrolls).

• Watch the traditional Medicine Institute, where medicines are prepared according to ancient practices.

• Observe the Royal traditional silversmiths and a traditional paper factory in Lungtenzampa.

• Drive south and visit Simtokha Dzong, the first Dzong built by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal. It is now used as the Institute for the study of traditional teachings.

• Continue to the ancient capital of Punakha in the afternoon through Dochula Pass. The journey is beautiful, as the fragrant air blows from the pink cherry trees and splashes of pink colour through the orange, red, and dark green forests.

Overnight stay in Punakha.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

• Enjoy sightseeing in Punakha, which was the winter capital for over 300 years until the time of the second King. Punakha Dzong, which dominates the whole area, was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel and established the central monastic body with 600 monks.

• Drive to Wangdi Phodrang Valley for sightseeing.

• Visit the only Dzong with a wooden roof maintained in its ancient style.

• Walk around Wangdi town and have lunch.

• Continue driving to Thimphu after lunch.

• Explore Simtokha Dzong, the first Dzong built in Bhutan by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel in 1629. Since 1961, it has been the Institute for religious and classical studies.

• Drive back to Paro for an overnight stay.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

• View the spectacular Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Lair) at the starting point of the hike. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, with many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.

• Stop at the cafeteria for rest and refreshments, then continue the hike for a short while until you see clearly, and seemingly within reach, the remains of Taktsang Monastery.

• Return to Paro.

• Visit Drugyel Dzong, although it is now mostly in ruins. It was built in 1647 by Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invaders, which is reflected in the name of the Dzong, meaning Victorious Bhutanese Fort.

• Explore Drugyel High School and Kychu Lhakhang, the oldest monastery in the valley, built in the 7th century. From this point, you can see spectacular views of Mt. Jhomolhari, which is considered sacred.

Overnight stay in Paro.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

• Transfer to the airport after breakfast.

• Fly back to Kathmandu and connect your flight to the U.S., or extend your trip to India, Myanmar, or Thailand.

Meal: Breakfast