Incredible Nepal Bhutan Tour - 10 days

A long chain of mountains will welcome you as you approach Kathmandu and you will be landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport. One of the representatives from Third Rock Adventures will come to pick you up at in Kathmandu. Check into your hotel and after resting for a while you will be touring the must-visit places in Kathmandu.

You will be visiting UNESCO World Heritage Site listed cultural heritages including Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath Stupa. Boudhanath is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and is the center of Tibetan Buddhism. You will see people or devotes circumambulating the stupa, lighting butter lamps and chanting prayers as well.

Your next stop is Pashupatinath, the revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple lies in the bank of the holy river Bagmati and the Hindu cremation takes place along the river bank. You can observe the open fire cremation from the eastern bank of the river. Visit the hilltop Stupa of Swayambhunath from where you can enjoy the view of Kathmandu Valley. The stupa of Swayambhunath is also popular as Monkey Temple due to the monkeys present in the area. It’s best to stay away from the notorious monkeys. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you will be driving to Pokhara from Kathmandu via Prithivi Highway which takes around 6 to 7 hours. On the scenic drive, you will be riding past rural towns and small villages. Verdant hills and perfectly carved terraced farmlands look amazing. It will be a long journey so it’s a good idea to keep some snacks handy and download some of your favorite movies or shows.

Upon reaching Pokhara you will check into your hotel and freshen up and later you will be strolling around the beautiful Lakeside, Pokhara. Moreover, Lakeside is a good place to eat with a stunning view. Food connoisseurs will get to choose from various cuisines including Nepalese, Thai, Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese, Burmese and others. Overnight in Pokhara.

 On this day you will be driving to Sarangkot to watch a magical Himalayan sunrise. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Sarangkot Hill. Savor the stunning view of snowcapped mountains including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Lamjung from the viewpoint. Watch the rays of the sun paint the sky from a purple-pink and finally turn the peaks golden.

Further, you will be visiting famous places of Pokhara including Lake Phewa, Davis Fall, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, International Mountain Museum and Bindhyabasini Temple. Go boating in the beautiful Lake Phewa overlooking Annapurna Range and visit the holy temple, Barahi Mandir located on a small island.

Davis Fall is a popular waterfall. The waterfall disappears in the underground and flows through a tunnel and reappears at the edge of Gupteshowor Mahadev Cave. Moreover, Gupteshowor Mahadev Cave is believed as the longest cave in Nepal (2950 meters) and has a big stalagmite Shiva lingam.

Take a look at International Mountain Museum which features early equipment used for trekking and climbing. The museum also exhibits a variety of Himalayan flora and fauna. Bindhyabasini Temple is one of the oldest temples of Pokhara dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati. The hilltop temple overlooks the stunning Annapurna range and you can easily spot Machhapuchhre or Fish Tail peak. Overnight in Pokhara.

Take a short but scenic flight of around half an hour from Pokhara to Kathmandu. You will get a chance to enjoy the view of the snowy mountain range from your window during the flight (recommended to seat on the left side of the plane for the good mountain view). After reaching Kathmandu you will be exploring Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The Durbar Square boasts fine craftsmanship of medieval times.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square features centuries-old temples, palaces and edifices which are examples of the fine craftsmanship of medieval times. 55 widows palace, Nyatapol Temple, Golden Gate are few must-visit palaces of the durbar square. The city of Bhaktapur is one of the well preserved ancient cities of Nepal. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you will be taking a flight to Paro from Kathmandu. The flight from Kathmandu to Paro is scenic. You can enjoy the view of many tall mountains in the world from your window. Upon landing you will meet your guide and you will get the details of your trip schedules. Further, you will be driving from Paro to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.

Visit the King’s Memorial Chorten dedicated to world peace and prosperity. The architecture is a display of the fine craftsmanship and architecture of Bhutan. Pay a visit to Changangkha Lhakhang which is a Bhutanese temple situated on a ridge. Couples with newborns visit the temple to seek blessings from the protector deity called Tamarin. Your next stop is Buddha Dordenma which dominates the skyline of Thimphu and is one of the biggest statues of Buddha in the world.

Tashichho Dzong located on the banks of River Wang Chu is large and beautiful. It was a fortress before and now operates as a government office. Thimphu Tshechu, a popular festival of Bhutan is also held here. If you wish to do some souvenir shopping the weekend market is a good place where you will get a wide range of artifacts.  Overnight in Thimphu.

Today you will be driving from the capital city to Punakha. En route, you will be crossing Dochula Pass (3,200m) which overlooks the scenic view of snowy mountains and verdant forests. The pass features 108 chortens built in the memory of soldiers who lost their lives in the war of 2003 against Indian insurgents.

Pay a visit to the holy Chimi Lakhang also known as the Fertility Temple. Many couples visit the temple wishing for a child while couples with new babies visit to receive blessings from a local lama. Visit the second largest dzong of Bhutan built in the 17th century called, Punakha Dzong. The beauty of Punakha dzong, situated in the confluence of two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, is known to mesmerize its onlookers.

You will be visiting Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten which overlooks the Punakha Valley. It was built in 2004 by following the traditional Bhutanese teachings. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal is special as it was built with a view to bringing peace and harmony to all living beings of the world. Overnight in Punakha.

After having breakfast, you will be driving to Pobhjikha and exploring the picturesque village. You will be hiking on a wonderful trail for around 2.5 hours on your way up to the hilltop Gangtey Goempa or Gangtey Monastery. It is an important monastery for the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. Also, the monastery offers an amazing view of Phobjikha Valley.

Black-necked cranes migrate to Bhutan from Tibet and a festival is celebrated in its honor. As per Bhutanese folklore, these birds loop over the monastery three full times when they arrive and depart. This peculiar behavior is believed as their way of paying reverence to the three sacred jewels of Buddhism and asking for their protection throughout their stay in Bhutan. Mask dances along with local songs, dramas and mask dances are performed in the courtyard of the Gangtey Monastery. Visit The Crane Center which exhibits information on cranes, their environment and awareness programs on the endangered bird. Overnight in Phobjikha.

You will be leaving for Paro after breakfast and will be exploring Paro. Visit Paro Dzong which is a reflection of fine Bhutanese architecture and craftsmanship. The beautiful dzong is also called Rinpung Dzong which means Heap of Jewels Fort. The dzong or fortress houses the monastic body as well as the government offices of Bhutan.

Explore the old Paro Town which is lined with two-storied traditional Bhutanese houses. The street is filled with many shops with handicrafts and different cafes. Walk leisurely and check out a collection of contemporary and antiques here and you can pick something as a souvenir. Archery is known as Dha and is the national game of Bhutan. It is a popular game among Bhutanese and taken as a sport for socializing. Moreover, your chances of witnessing a local game are high. Overnight in Paro.

Pay a visit to the iconic Taktsang Monastery popular as Tiger’s Nest perched on a cliff. It is one of the holy places of Bhutan and as per legends Guru Rimpoche flew on a back of a tigress to meditate here. It is a wonderful hike where you will be trekking in a trail lined with pine trees with scenic views.

Moreover, you will be visiting the majestic temple Kichu Lakhang. The holy temple dates back to the 7th century and the statue of Jowo Sakyamuni remains its pride. The temple features beautiful paintings and meticulously designed statues of Buddhist Gurus. Overnight in Paro.

Today you will be flying out of Paro with beautiful memories of the tour of two Himalayan countries. A representative from Third Rock Adventures will come to see you off at the airport. If you wish you can extend your trip to countries including Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and India.