Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to the Himalayas!
Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, meet your driver for transfer to your charming boutique hotel. Tucked inside a quiet garden, it’s an oasis within the bustle of Thamel so you can head out and explore or turn in for the night. Either way, you’re beginning to adjust to the altitude of the Himalayas, a necessity before the hiking begins!
Day 2 - Morning hike & afternoon city tour
Start the day visiting Budhanilkantha Temple at the northern end of the Kathmandu Valley. From here, it’s a short steep walk to Nagi Gompa, a monastery for nuns. Take in the views and enjoy a cup of tea with the nuns before walking downhill. In the late afternoon, visit Boudhanath temple, Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, and end the day with a rickshaw ride to Thamel.
Day 3 - Hike to Nagarkot
This morning you’ll visit Changunarayan Temple, a UNESCO-designated heritage site where you’ll find a 5th century stone carving along with stone, wood, and metal carvings from multiple periods. From here, hike through scenic terraced fields, traditional villages, and lush forests with panoramic views of the Himalayan range. Reach Nagarkot by late afternoon.
Day 4 - Scenic walks
Join your guide for a relatively easy 12km walk along Nagarkot’s Panoramic Trail. Pass through pine forests, villages, and farmlands with gorgeous views along the way. The walk is fairly flat and takes about 4 hours so you’ll have the afternoon to rest or walk on your own and prepare yourself for the flight to Bhutan.
Day 5 - Nepal to Bhutan
Meet your driver this morning for transfer to Kathmandu airport and your flight to Bhutan. The best views are on the left side of the plane! Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the capital of Thimphu. Visit the landmark Memorial Chorten and the Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery before settling into your comfortable three-star hotel in a quiet area.
Day 6 - Short hikes
Today you’ll stretch your legs at altitude with short hikes to Tango and Cheri/ Chagri Monasteries. The mountain views are stunning and you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at Cheri base. In the afternoon, visit the Takin Reserve to see these unique animals, the Zorig Chosum painting school, and the very large Buddha Dordenma overlooking Thimphu.
Day 7 - Thimphu to Bumthang
In the morning, transfer to the airport in Paro and your flight to Bumthang where you’ll check in before setting out on a gentle walk through the valley to visit historic temples. Stops will include 7th and 8th century temples, a scenic stride across a suspension bridge, and a 16th century temple with beautifully restored paintings.
Day 8 - Tharpaling Goemba hike
Start the morning with a moderate five km hike to several sacred sites including Tharpaling Goemba, a place of liberation. In the afternoon, visit a Yathra Weaving Center in the Chumey Valley. Yathras are hand woven cloth pieces made out of wool, mainly used for making bags, jackets, scarves, tablecloths, and more. This is a great place to pick up high quality wool products.
Day 9 - Tang valley exploration
Check out and bring a good day pack as you’ll walk from the Bumthang valley to Tang valley today, about 9 km and taking 5 or 6 hours. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the country so keep your camera charged. You’ll stay tonight at the historic Ogyencholing Manor, an ancient noble home with an excellent museum and simple rooms.
Day 10 - Tang to Gangtey Valley
Travel about five hours overland today to the Gangtey Valley, stopping along the way at Trongsa Dzong and museum. Cross the Black Mountain range, dividing Bhutan’s east and west noting the change between oak and rhododendron forest and high altitude bamboo. The Gangtey Valley is home to endangered black-necked cranes from about November through February.
Day 11 - A day on the trails
Spend the morning on the Longtey hike which goes up and down hills, through forests and villages, and ends with a steep climb for spectacular views. After lunch and a visit to the Gangtey monastery, enjoy a leisurely walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail, the most beautiful and shortest of Bhutan’s nature trails. Stop by the Black Necked Crane Center at the end of the day.
Day 12 - Gangtey to Punakha Valley
It’s a full day’s drive through the mountains down to the subtropical Punakha valley, once the capital of Bhutan. Stretch your legs visiting Chimi Lakhang, dedicated to Bhutan’s ‘Divine Madman’ and visit Punakha Dzong, possibly the nation’s most picturesque dzong. Your hotel sits atop a hill opposite the dzong so you’ll have great views of the area you explore.
Day 13 - Rafting the Mo Chhu River
After a short hike through rice fields to one of the country’s newer monuments, get ready for a 10km float along the river. This is one of the few spots in Bhutan where whitewater rafting is possible with rapids of 2-2+. If time allows after your paddle, visit the Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup Nunnery and the villages of Talo or Nobgang for great views.
Day 14 - Travel to Paro
You’ll be driven to Dochu-la Pass this morning where you’ll start the Lungchutse hike. This moderate 10km hike climbs from the centre of the pass through forests to an open meadow, back into forest and ending at the temple where you’ll meet your driver for the ride to Paro. If you’re up for it, stop to visit a farmhouse for a cup of butter tea with a family.
Day 15 - Hike to Bumdra Camp
Grab your overnight pack and hike to 3,900 meters above sea level. It’s a steep hike through lush forests with view points along the way. Enjoy lunch outside a small temple with valley views before the final stretch to your camp for the night. Words cannot describe the beauty of this hike and the joy of a hot ginger tea when you reach camp.
Day 16 - Descend to Tiger's Nest
Your hike today is mostly downhill and as the altitude drops, notice the changes in vegetation. If you start early, you’ll reach the famous Tiger’s Nest before the crowds come up from Paro. After time at the monastery, descend to meet your driver for transfer to your hotel. We highly recommend a hot stone bath tonight!
Day 17 - Paro
We’ve given you one full day in Paro to relax at your hotel, head into town for last-minute shopping and lunch, reflect on your time in this beautiful mountain kingdom, and otherwise prepare to re-enter the outside world. Your guide and driver will be available if you wish to go for a walk, arrange to try archery or otherwise keep active.
Day 18 - Paro to Kathmandu
Check-out and transfer to the Paro airport for your short flight to Kathmandu. If you didn’t see Everest on your flight in, sit on the right side of the plane for a chance today. Upon arrival, meet your driver for the ride to your hotel. You’ll end the holiday at a boutique hotel in a quiet part of town so you can see a different part of the city.
Day 19 - Homeward bound
Depending on the time of your flight, you may have time to visit Pashputinath temple, pick up any final souvenirs in Thamel, or you may choose to relax at your hotel and hold on to the peace of Bhutan after your time away. When the time comes, transfer to the Kathmandu airport for your flight homeward.
Safe travels!
DETAILS -
During the high season of March-May and September-November, this itinerary costs from £6200 per person based on 2 sharing and including all private transfers and the mentioned flights but not long-haul international flights.
You can get flights from as little as £800 per person return and do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.
What's included?
INCLUDED:
- Prices start from £6200 per person
- Accommodation in Nepal on a B&B basis
- Accommodation in Bhutan with Half Board
- Lunches in Bhutan days 6-16
- Return flights Kathmandu-Paro (economy class)
- Flight Paro-Bumthang (economy class)
- Private transfers (air-conditioned vehicle)
- All entrance fees with service of English speaking guide for excursions
- Local taxes
- Bhutan visa fee
- Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee
- All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
Prices are correct at time of publication and subject to change.
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