Nepal Bhutan Cultural Tour

There are only a few direct flights to Bhutan so you will fly to Paro Airport from Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok. After landing at Paro, our representative and local guide will meet you. Following a Bhutanese welcome and introductions, you will drive to Thimphu. Your guide will give you a brief orientation of the Nepal Bhutan tour.

Stop on the halfway to the Paro-Thimphu highway, visit the 16^th-century old Tachogang Lhakhang temple. The temple means the hill of the excellent horse. You need to cross an old bridge to visit the temple. From the bridge, enjoy the scenic views of the villages. Continue to drive to Thimphu and reach at Thimphu.

After some rest and refreshments, we will start the Thimphu tour. The Tashichho Dzong, Late King Memorial Chorten, Bhutan Postal Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, Takin Zoo, and Buddha Dordenma statue are some of the major attractions to visit here. If you are here on the weekends(Thu-Sun) attend the lively weekend market of Thimphu. You can understand more about Bhutanese culture and lifestyle with this visit. Overnight at Thimphu.

We have a fantastic excursion to Punakha and back today. The drive is scenic with the beautiful Dochula pass (3102 m) on the way. With a fresh breeze from the hills gaze at the Sublime view of the Himalayas with Gangkher Puensum standing tall above all. The visit to Chimi Lhakhang temple is along the way to Punakha. The sculptures and paintings showcasing phalluses indicate the unique way of teaching Buddhism of Lama Kunley. Explore the prayer hall and about 600 years old structure and premises of the temple.

Next, we will visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong. One of the most picturesque and historically significant fortresses in Bhutan, this dzong highlights Bhutanese culture and architecture like none. All the previous Kings of Bhutan were crowned in this dzong. The beautiful walls stand tall between the beautiful Po Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Not so far is the longest Punakha Suspension Bridge and visit there to witness beautiful views of the river and the valleys. Spend some quality time here and return to Thimphu. Overnight at Thimphu.

We will drive to Paro for the well-anticipated Taktsang Monastery hike. Also known as the Tigers Lair, this monastery symbolizes the natural and religious components of Bhutan. The trek takes about 2-3 hours and is packed with magnificent scenery all around. You can ascend gradually and stop in a midway cafe for some snacks. After reaching the monastery inscribed at a large cliff, enjoy the magnificent architecture and beauty of Taktsang Monastery. Your guide will give you share with you some legends of the Great Guru Padmasambhava and the monastery itself. Visit the caves and other majestic elements of Taktsang Monastery here.

After returning from the hike rest for a while and continue the Paro city tour. We will visit the National Museum of Bhutan first near your hotel. Explore the culture and history of Bhutan including ancient statues, paintings, and other components. After some time here we will head towards the beautiful Paro Dzong nearby. Also known as Rinpung Dzong, It holds the Drukpa Lineage of Kagyu School within it too. (This Dzong is also listed as a tentative site in UNESCO world heritage sites.) End the tour with a visit to the sacred Kyichu Lhakhang Temple. Rest for the day after the tour. Overnight at Paro.

We will leave Bhutan and continue the tour to Nepal today. A short flight (90 mins) takes you to Kathmandu with a fantastic view of the Himalayas. After landing here, our Asia Experiences representative will meet you. Complete the quick visa process and after a short welcome process, you will be escorted to your hotel. Start the Kathmandu Heritage tour following some rest and refreshments.

A quick drive of about 30 minutes will take you to the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. The spiritual center for Hindus all over the country, Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. You can visit some of the beautiful shrines and sculptures in the Temple complex and spend some time in the banks of the Bagmati River. We will visit the Boudhanath stupa next from here. Witness the Tibetan inspired markets, foods, and lifestyle around this beautiful stupa. Return to your hotel after a warm sunset view from one of the rooftop cafe here. Overnight at Kathmandu.

Our tour leads us to the city of Bhaktapur about an hour's drive from your hotel. Bhaktapur is among the traditional city with well-preserved destinations. The Bhaktapur Durbar(Palace) square is our first stop. The Nyatapola Temple, Fifty-five windows palace, Golden Gate, and Pottery Square nearby are the highlights of the tour. Try the Newari cuisine and the Bhaktapur-special curd i.e., Juju Dhau in the afternoon here.

After some time exploring the streets, temples, and monuments here we will take a refreshing ride to Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a lively small town on the outskirts hill of Bhaktapur. Overnight at Nagarkot.

A light tea will wake you up properly for a majestic sunrise view at Nagarkot. A short walk will take us to the hill-top view tower to enjoy the sunrise view of over the Himalayas. After breakfast, we will drive to Kathmandu and continue our heritage tour. First a quick tour of Patan focusing the Patan Durbar Square. Take a souvenir shopping trip in the streets of Patan near Durbar Square. Our next destination is the popular Swyambhunath temple or 'The Monkey Temple'. A short hike takes us to this beautiful temple at the top of the hill. The view of the Valley is fantastic from Swyambhunath.

Towards late afternoon we will head towards the Kathmandu (Basantapur) durbar square near your hotel. A visit here will complete the three major palace square of the Kathmandu valley. The Temple of the living goddess Kumari and Taleju Temple are the main attractions of the Palace. Spend some time around Thamel and Ason markets here and return to your hotel. Overnight at Kathmandu.

Join us for breakfast after completion of the Nepal Bhutan Short Tour. We will drive you to the airport a couple of hours before your departure. With some sublime memories and amazing stories of the tour to treasure, we will bid farewell with you.