Experience adventure of traveling to two beautiful Himalayan nations of South Asia; Nepal and Bhutan. The Best of Nepal Bhutan tour starts from the land of the Mt. Everest; the birthplace of Gautam Buddha—Nepal; and finally steps to the last Shangri-La--Bhutan.
This 13-day Nepal Bhutan tour adventure starts with sightseeing from the diverse city Kathmandu, Nepal and proceeds to sightsee in the amazing lake city-Pokhara gradually leading to one of the famous trekking destinations Poonhill. It is often famous for the mesmerizing views of sunrise and sunsets over incredible range of high Himalayas such as Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7855m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna South (7219m), Nilgiri (6940m), Tukuche (6920m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m), LamjungHimal (6931m) and many more.
Next, the Bhutan tour begins with the visits to popular Bhutanese attractions like Simtokha Dzong, King’s Memorial Chorten, Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong (fortress), and others. This Nepal Bhutan tour traversing through two different south Asian Himalayan countries, exploring mountains and varying culture is absolutely physical strain-free and almost anyone in good shape can be a part of it without having to think twice about the physical or age restrictions.
Apart from short walks during sightseeing around different cities and some stairs, the only strenuous walk required during the whole tour is while hiking up to Tiger’s nest monastery in Bhutan. So, if you are eager to visit different countries with varying cultures, traditions and beautiful landscapes without having to compromise with comfort, within one holiday then this tour is definitely for you. Experience two different countries in one holiday with Best of Nepal Bhutan tour!
Trip Code
BONABT62
Starts
Kathmandu
Finishes
Kathmandu
Duration
14 Days
Difficulty
Moderate
Group-Size
2 - 14
Age
Minimum 10
Seasons
mar-may,sep-nov
Elevation
3210 m/ 10531.5ft
Trip View
2163
Activities
Trekking
Cultural Tours
Spiritual Journey
Overland Tours
Travel Style
Comfortable
Trip popularity
Special Discount
2 %
TRIP FACTS
Nepal and Bhutan - in one holiday and experience the magnificence of these majestic kingdoms.
Bhutan is also known as Druk Yul translated as the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’. Bhutan is the only country in the world which is carbon-negative and uses the happiness index to measure its prosperity. Thus, it is also known as “The last Shangri-La.”
Nepal, a land of cultural diversity is the home to two of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. In addition, it is also the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and home to the Living Goddess Kumari.
Why this Trip
The Best of Nepal Bhutan tour takes passes through two beautiful Himalayan nations of South Asia; Nepal and Bhutan. This trip guides you to Poonhill; one of the most exciting and breathtaking trekking trails in Annapurna region offering a wide range of spectacular views of the pristine Himalayas in the land of the Mt. Everest; the birthplace of Gautam Buddha—Nepal; and finally steps to the last Shangri-La--Bhutan showcasing the major cultural and natural attractions such as Tiger's nest, Simtokha Dzong, King’s Memorial Chorten etc. The adventure of visiting two different nations in one holiday is absolutely strain-free and can be done by almost anyone physically fit irrespective of the age.
Trip Notes
25% payment required while confirming the tour for the land part. The balance payment for the land must be paid one month prior to the arrival date. Bhutan visa will be approved by the government only after we deposit full payment received
At the arrival section of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, one of our representatives will be waiting to welcome you. The airport representative will explain the program upon arrival and escort you to the hotel on a private vehicle. Overnight in Kathmandu;
After breakfast, Kathmandu tour starts. Kathmandu valley is the capital of the country and home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an incredibly diverse city with a breathtaking Newari culture, centuries-old Hindu and Buddhists cultural sites alongside a plethora of ancient monuments. Throughout the day, we will visit most of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. Overnight stay at the hotel;
Meal:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Hotel
Activities:
Transportation for sightseeingEntrance feelocal food taste
On this day, we head towards Pokhara; a touristic city of Nepal and also ranked the 2nd cleanest city in Nepal. We depart for Pokhara early in the morning. We pass through beautiful hilly villages along with the Trishuli River. Overnight stay at hotel in the beautiful city of Pokhara;
After breakfast, we drive towards Nayapul. From there, we start our trek to Poonhill. Passing through the Modi Khola and dense forest of rhododendrons and oak, we reach Tikhedunga. Overnight in Tikhedhunga;
Continuing our path below and climbing uphill we will reach Ulleri. Again, from there, we will go through the Magar village by viewing the beautiful mountain and reach the Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a beautiful village from where we can see the mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Annapurna I and many other mountains. Overnight in Ghorepani;
Early morning after breakfast we head for Poonhill. Poonhill is often famous for the mesmerizing views of sunrise and sunsets over incredible range of high Himalayas such as Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7855m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna South (7219m), Nilgiri (6940m), Tukuche (6920m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m), LamjungHimal (6931m) and many more. We rest at Poonhill for a while and continue our journey. After about 3 hours of walk through the alpine forest of oaks, rhododendron and others, we reach Ghandruk which is the largest Gurung village rich in its authentic culture and tradition. This village also offers the scenic views of Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna III, Hiunchuli and other mountains from the viewpoint. Overnight at Ghandruk;
This is the last day of our trek in Annapurna Region. From Ghandruk, today, we leave for Pokhara through the descend trail including the views of alluring mountains. We cross through the forest of blooming rhododendron and reach Birethanti from where we walk down hill and follow Modi Khola to reach Nayapul. Resting for a while, from there, we head to Pokhara which will take us about an hour of drive. In the evening after reaching Pokhara, we stay at the same hotel. If time permits, we go for evening walk or try cycling around the Lake Side of Pokhara. We stay at “The City of Lakes” popularly known for Pokhara tonight;
After 6-7 hours’ drive, we will reach the heart of the country where the necessary preparation for the departure day will be carried out. This is a day for you and therefore you can explore the shops and spas of the city or join the evening worship at Pasupatinath Temple which is a divine spiritual experience. If time is sufficient, we will be preparing a small farewell get-together. Overnight stay at hotel;
Depending on your flight time you will be transferred to the airport. The airport check-in is 3 hours prior to the departure time and the hotel checkout time is usually 12 P.M. Our representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport. The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, providing a spectacular panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. After lunch, we will enjoy sightseeing at Paro, visiting the Ta Dzong Museum which shelters a lot of religious relics, works of art and handicrafts providing great insight on Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Next, we visit the Rimpong Dzongand observe the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered the master of meditation by the Bhutanese. Afterwards, we drive to the capital, Thimphu along the Pachu River. Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu;
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing at the bustling capital of Bhutan- Thimpu. We will visit the National Memorial Chorten, first initiated by the Third King in order to protect from negative impacts of modernization, and a monument of world peace. The Royal Queen Mother later completed it to commemorate the Third King who passed away in 1972. Next, we continue towards 12th-century Changangkha Temple and Drubthob monastery housing the Zilukha Nunnery.<br>Furthermore, we will also visit the School for Arts and Crafts where students are taught the 13 types of Bhutanese art, The National Librarywhich has wide collections of Bhutanese scriptures dating back to the 8th century, the Traditional Paper Factory displaying the Bhutanese paper making process, and a fascinating replica of a medieval farmhouse at the Folk Heritage Museum. In the remaining time we can also explore the nursing pen for the Takin, the national animal of Bhutan, and Tashichhodzong, ‘the fortress of the glorious religion’.<br>If your visit to Thimphu falls on the weekend, you can stroll through the Thimphu Marketand observe the variety of foods of Bhutan, including basket of fiery chillies, cheese and a variety of greens. (This market is open only on Friday-Sunday). Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu.
Today we drive over the Dochu-La pass (3,100 meters), which offers an incredible view of Himalayan peaks on a clear day before descending to Punakha valley (about 3 hrs drive). At Punakha, we visit Punakha Dzong, also known as Punakha Dzong (meaning “the palace of great happiness or bliss”), built-in 1637 by the Shabdrung, the ‘Unifier of Bhutan. ‘It is the ancient capital of Bhutan and now the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo.The three-story main temple of the Punakha Dzong is a breathtaking example of traditional architecture with four intricately embossed entrance pillars crafted from cypress and decorated in gold and silver. Observing the administrative and cultural centre for a while, we advance towards Chimi Lhakhang en-route to Wangdue phodrang (dzong built-in 1638). Overnight at your hotel in Punakha/ Wangdue phodrang;
In the morning, we drive to Yabesa village and hike to through rice fields and up to Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten, built by her majesty the queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. Next, we explore the Wangdue phodrang Dzong.We then drive back to Thimpu and proceed to Paro, and visit Semtokha Dzongen route The Dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. It is now the Institute for Language and Culture studies. Overnight at your hotel in Paro;
After breakfast, we hike towards the Taktsang Monastery which takes about 3 -4 hrs to reach there. The Monastery is an important pilgrim site for the Buddhists. As per the legends, the great Guru Rimpoche and his consort meditated in a cave here for three months after he brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma to Bhutan in the 8th Century. After meditation, they turned themselves in the forms of Guru Dorji Drolo and a tigress to defeat the demons in the valley below. The cave, where the monastery was later built is thought to be the origin of Buddhism in Bhutan.<br>In the afternoon, we drive to the ruins of the 17th Century Drukgyel Dzong, a historic monument built by the Shabdrung to commemorate his victory over Tibetans in 1644. We then return to Paro and visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Overnight at your hotel in Paro;
Depending on your flight time, you will be escorted to the airport. You fly back to Kathmandu in the morning and visit Bauddhanath and Pashupatinath in the evening.
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) is the perfect time to visit Nepal and Bhutan as the weather is quite comfortable (neither cold nor hot). It rains a lot during monsoon (Mid-June and August) in Nepal and Bhutan. These two seasons are the best time to visit these Himalayan countries.
For packing it is advisable to take two bags; one large backpack for daily activities and one small handbag for important permits and valuables. Dress according to the travelling seasons. Warm clothes and strong shoes are very important. Wear clothes in layers so that you can add or remove the clothes as the temperature changes. Waterproof clothing and raincoat are highly recommended if you are headed for Nepal Bhutan tour in summer. Also bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen cream to protect your skin from the strong sunlight even in winter.
Not basically. While Nepal allows independent travellers but Bhutan does have strict rules against independent travellers. All non-native passport holders are restricted to enter these countries independently in order to protect the local environment, precious cultural relics and time-honoured. Foreigners must use the service of an authorized travel agency to visit these countries.
