Visit 4 mystical destinations in this spectacular 21-day journey through Nepal Tibet Bhutan and Laos
Highlights
- Enjoy the ancient world heritage sites of Kathmandu.
- Fly above Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet and admire the beauty of Himalayan range with Mt. Everest.
- Admire the view of Lhasa with Potala Palace of Dalai Lama.
- Explore the beauty of Tibet with amazing view.
- Visit Drepung Monastery, the biggest Monastery in Tibet and Norbulingka Palace.
- Enjoy the delightful valley of Paro, Thimphu, Phunakha and Wangdue Phodrang.
- Hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)in Bhutan.
- Vientiane - explore Laos' laid back capital, Wat Prakeo, That Luang Stupa.
- Luang Prabang - old town, Wat Xiengthong temple, National Museum.
- Nepal: 6 Nights in Kathmandu with Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan, Swoyambhu Stupa and Nagarkot.
- Tibet: 7 Nights in Lhasa, Tibet with Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Gyantse, Shigatse, Rongbuk Monastery (Everest view), and Kunming.
- Bhutan: 3 Nights in Bhutan with Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), Paro Valley, Thimphu with weekend market and Punakha Dzong.
- Laos: 4 Nights in Laos With Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Cave and Ban Phanom.
Sometimes with their nature and again with their enchanting Buddhist monasteries, these countries just make their entrance to any travel lovers bucket list. These places are distant but yet so similar with their religion and belief and with graceful hospitality to their guest with open arms. Whether you feel like sitting in the laps of Himalayas of Nepal or on the golden monasteries of Laos, your adventure never ends. Walking up the cliffs and hills of Bhutan or the steps of in the streets of Tibet, a feeling of positive energy and excitement follows you. So leap into these nations of golden heart and rejoice your life with a hat tip.
Kick start your journey in the cradle of the Everest as you stumble upon culture and mystical art in Kathmandu. In a nation where guest are greeted as a form of god, pass through the World Heritage sites. Join the devotees in their prayers and discover the history of these centuries-old monuments. Behold the imposing craftsmanship and treat your senses with the rich Asian cuisine. Gaze the enchanting sunrise from the hills in the horizon. Dispatch the negative energy with perplexing wood carvings in Changunarayan temple. Cite your felicity after sailing through the cultural and scenic bloom in Nepal.
Merge into the solitary Buddhist culture like nowhere else in the roof of the world. Experience the History and lifestyle dancing in your vision with grace. Start a new chapter of your travel diary packed with adventure and confounding history of time. With the Dalai Lamas chariot of ruling The Potala Palace to the devotional shrines in Jokhang Temple, the framework of Tibet shines through your perception. A benumbing Zion in the heart of Asia, glean the sights of epic hills and Mountains here.
Concealed in the hills in the bosom of the Mother nature is a nation of Thunder Dragon. Sliding through the time with pure culture and immense heritage, Bhutan will wallop your consciousness with glee. From the caves of Tiger’s nest(Taktsang Monastery) to the plains of Paro your heart with pound with thrilling escapade. Reside in the golden Dzongs and mend your soul with the rich culture and warm hospitality of Bhutanese people. Configure your memories from evergreen ridges and high road passes. Caress your sensation with amusing artworks and mystifying souvenirs in this aesthetic Himalayan Nation.
In a country fluorescent with smiles and substantial undiluted culture, uncover the natural treasures and bewildering crusade. Brace yourself walking into this land perished with nature and culture. Cruise the reach of Mekong River and shoot yourself in the thoroughfare of Vientiane. Explore the history and culture of Laos in the UNESCO heritage sites and the shrines aging centuries. Navigate the caves of Luang Prabang and roll over the streams and creeks in your way. Rise and get along with the saffron clothed monks and fill your heart with containment and purity.
YOUR JOURNEY DAY BY DAY
*Please note that entering Tibet from Kathmandu, it is necessary to apply for a Tibet Visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, which typically takes a minimum of 4 working days to process. As part of this process, your original passport will be retained by the Chinese Embassy, and you will also need to visit the embassy for biometric verification. During this period, while your Tibet Visa application is being processed, you will have the opportunity to do sightseeing tours around Kathmandu.
After landing in Kathmandu (TIA), our representative from Asia Experience will receive you with a placard in his hand. After some formal introduction and welcome, he will take you to your hotel in Thamel. You'll be provided a brief description of the trip in the way there. Depending upon your arrival time, you can visit the nearby markets and attractions here. Rest in the hotel after a welcome dinner with our team. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
About half an hour's drive from your hotel will see you at the heart of Patan or Lalitpur city. One of the three major cities of the Kathmandu valley, Patan is known for the arts and architecture in its streets, monuments, and temples. The Patan Durbar Square is your first destination here. Some of the highlights of the Durbar (Palace) region are the beautiful Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen and Vishwanath Temples, and beautiful courtyards. Also, visit the Tibetan Refugee camp and painting shops while you are in Patan.
Following the Patan city tour, we will visit a couple of more sites in Kathmandu. The first place will be the Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath beside the holy Bagmati River. Get to know more about the Hindu traditions and rites in your time here. Next, we will take a brief drive to the Boudhanath Stupa. Explore the Tibetan inspired streets and try some popular snacks in Boudhanath. You will return to the hotel after a majestic sunset view from Boudhanath stupa.
The first day in Kathmandu begins with sightseeing around Swayambhunath Stupa. Have breakfast and then, we head towards the stupa. This stupa is popularly known as ‘Monkey Temple’. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Kathmandu Valley from the hilltop. In the surroundings of the Stupa, there are numerous Buddha statues, a big Vajra, small chaityas, a small museum, and monasteries. You can see many monkeys roaming around the premise. The huge spiral stupa with wisdom eyes symbol and beneath is a big white dome looks very impressive. The fragrance of butter lamps and incense creates the surrounding atmosphere more blissful.
Next, we visit another World Heritage Site Kathmandu Durbar Square. The Durbar Square in the middle of the city offers ancient heritages of the medieval period. The ancient palaces, in the vicinity there is the living Goddess Kumari, Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairav Temple, Hanuman Dhoka Museum, and Gaddi Baithak are some major attractions. In the evening, enjoy walking and exploring the streets and trying out some foods in the food court.
From Kathmandu durbar square, drive to Thankot and take a cable car ride to Chandragiri Hill. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Himalayas, Kathmandu Valley, and the surrounding countryside. Visit the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple and experience the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred site. Relax and rejuvenate in this tranquil setting, and take in the fresh air and sunshine.
After breakfast, we proceed towards beautiful and ancient Bhaktapur city for sightseeing. This is also listed in the World Heritage site which is one of the best examples of architecture and well-preserved culture. The Durbar Square has several attractions such as the 55-window palace, Nyatpole Temple, Siddhi Laxmi Temple, the Golden Gate, the National Art Museum, and so on. Besides this, get an amazing view of skillful porters making pots, wood carvings, and many handicrafts goods. You can buy some goods if you wish to or like. Also, try the famous Juju Dhau which is King Curd is special curd or yogurt prepared by locals. For memories, click some pictures and back to Kathmandu. Overnight in a luxury hotel.
Next, we will visit Changunarayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 15 km east of Bhaktapur. The temple was built in the 6th century and is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. The temple is known for its intricate wood and stone carvings. After visiting the temple, we will drive to Nagarkot, a hilltop village with stunning views of the Himalayas. We will stay overnight at a hotel in Nagarkot.
We will start our day early with a beautiful sunrise view over the Mountains from Nagarkot. An observatory tower here at an altitude of 2,175 meters gives us the perfect view of the Himalayas. Starting from Mt. Dhaulagiri in the west we can have a great view of Everest (8,848m.), Lhotse (8,516m.), Cho Oyu (8,201m.), Makalu (8,463m) in a clear sky from here. After the sunrise, we will return to the hotel for breakfast.
From Nagarkot, we will drive for a couple of hours out from the valley and visit the Namobuddha monastery. The monastery is one of the most beautiful ones in Nepal with many legends linked to it. We can take a short nature walk in the premises and enjoy the landscape from Namobuddha. If you are here from March to May, you can get a fantastic view of blooming Rhododendron forests surrounding the area. Next, we will head for the ancient town of Panauti. Also, one of the most preserved cultural areas near Kathmandu, Panauti showcases you the traditional farming lifestyle of the locals. We will visit some of the old temples here and head towards Dhulikhel, specially for Mountain Views. In the evening, drive back to Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
*Your Tibet group visa will be ready. Collect your original passport and visa from Chinese embassy of Kathmandu and start Bhutan tour first.
We have a morning flight to Bhutan today. After leaving Kathmandu, a brief flight will take us to Paro Airport. Your Bhutanese guide will meet you at the airport and you will take a short drive (1 hour) to Thimphu. Along the ride, the guide will brief you through the Bhutan part of the tour. Stop halfway to the Paro-Thimphu highway and visit the 16th-century old Tachogang Lhakhang temple by traversing an old bridge. From the bridge, enjoy the scenic views of the villages. Tachogang temple means the hill of the excellent horse. Continue to drive to Thimphu. After arriving at the Bhutanese capital, rest for a while and start your Thimphu Tour.
You can explore some of the major attractions around Thimphu today which include the Giant Buddha Dordenma Statue, Third King Memorial Stupa, National Library of Bhutan, Bhutan Postal Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, Thimphu Dzong, Takin Zoo, and more. In the evening explore the local market and get closer to local culture and commerce. You will spend the night at the majestic Taj Tashi hotel. This hotel is popular amongst visitors being a five-star hotel near the handicraft markets.
Head towards Punakha after breakfast today. The drive is about two and a half hours long and passes through the Beautiful Dochula Pass. We will stop at the pass and spend some time at the royal botanical garden and Druk Wangyal Chortens. The pristine view of the Himalayas in clear weather is one to behold. We will continue the journey to Punakha following the stop.
The Chimi Lakhang temple on the way will be our first stop. This unique temple is also known as 'the temple of the divine madman'. The Punakha Dzong is next on our list. One of the most beautiful and historically significant fortresses in Bhutan, Punakha Dzong is one not to miss here. A few miles from there is the oldest and the longest Punakha Suspension Bridge. It connects three villages in Bhutan and the views from the bridge are impressive. We will return to Thimphu after the Punakha Tour in the evening.
After breakfast, drive to Paro. The Hike to Taktsang Monastery is a proven delight for travelers to experience nature and spirituality as a whole in Bhutan. The hike might be challenging for some but it truly is worth a couple of hours' hike from Paro. You can have a slow and gradual walk with breaks in the midway shops.
Once there witness the majestic view of the pristine Taktsang monastery carved into a giant cliff. Know the legends of the great Guru Padmasambhava and explore the beautiful monastery. Also, visit the caves inside the monastery and interact with the monks there. Return from the hike and rest for a while in your hotel. Have lunch and visit some more local monasteries, the beautiful Drukgyel Dzong, Paro Dzong, the National Museum of Bhutan, and Kyichu Lhakhang Temple to end your Paro tour.
You will stay at the Uma Paro hotel today. Como Uma Paro is an intimate and exclusive luxury hotel in the heart of Paro Valley popular for its fantastic Himalayan views.
You will return to Kathmandu today with a scenic flight over the Himalayas. In your spare time, you can stroll around Thamel hunting souvenirs and handicrafts. You can also enjoy the nightlife at Thamel by attending some bar and pubs. Rest and overnight at Kathmandu.
Our overland tour starts today from Kathmandu to Kerung/Gyirong. We will do all the necessary preparations and leave the valley following the Trishuli highway. The road is smooth in the first segment in the hills followed by some gravel segments. Similarly, we will also face some off-road portions as we get near to the Chinese border. In the way, we will stop for lunch at local settlements and continue driving in this scenic highway. After reaching Kyirung, we will have our documents checked at both Nepalese and Chinese immigration offices and drive to our hotel.
You will start for the longest and most scenic drive of the whole trip to the Rongbuk monastery near EBC. The landscape shift is wondrous as we shift into more barren and snow-covered regions from here. We will drive pass Pelkutso lake and a vast grassland in the first portion of today. Taking small short stops to admire nature and view, we will continue our drive to the Gyawula Pass (5200 m). A bit windy, but absolutely beautiful, we can view the Himalayas clearly from here. From the pass, it is a couple of hours to reach Rongbuk monastery.
We will wake up early for a breathtaking sunrise of a lifetime from the Rongbuk monastery over Mt. Everest. After this amazing experience, we will explore the monastery premises for a bit before continuing our road journey to Shigatse. We will be traveling in a bit bumpy road for the first part of the trip. From here we will stop at the small Tingiri town. The views of Cho Oyu and Everest is majestic from the town here. Next, it is a couple of hours of highway drive to the G318 National highway milestone (5,000 m) in Lhatse, and there we'll take some pictures. After driving to Shigatse from Lhatse, we will freshen up and visit Tashilupo Monastery. This monastery, which is the seat of the Panchen Lama of Tibet is also one of the most significant ones here.
Today will be the last day of driving exploration in Tibet, and we will cover many cultural destinations in the way. The road is in good condition, and we will make shortstops in the small farmer villages lying in the way. After reaching Gyantse, we will take a brief exploration tour of some majestic sites here. This heritage-rich town has a lot to offer, and we will visit the Perklor Monastery, Kumbum stupa, and GyantseOld Street here. The next portion of the drive takes us beside the Holy Yamdrok Lake (One of the three significant holy lakes in Tibet). We will also enjoy the views of Manak Dam Lake and Korola Glacier before reaching Lhasa in the evening.
Today after your light breakfast you will head towards the center of attraction and the world heritage site of the Potala Palace. Situated in the Hilltop, you can see this great structure from miles far. The Potala Palace is a vast complex, and you can lose yourself on the designs and beautiful paintings here. You will only have an hour to visit the main structure and photography is strictly prohibited inside. While the halls, prayer rooms, and courtyards are popular, people also love to spend some time in the nearby temples and gardens here.
You will visit the Sera Monastery and Jokhang Temple from Potala Palace. The Jokhang temple is the spiritual center of Tibetan temple made by King Songtsen Gampo. Lying in the Barkhor Street, you can indulge into some souvenir shopping here. The Sera Monastery is an important Gelug university monastery in Tibet. You can have a scenic view alongside magnificent architecture here. Home to many monks, the sera monastery is a place to relax and meditate. Overnight stay at the hotel in Lhasa.
You will start today with a light tea and visiting the Drepung Monastery. It is the largest monastery in Lhasa and is home to more than 10,000 monks. With a large prayer hall and well-crafted and designed walls, you will love to spend some time in Drepung Monastery. After a brief visit to this majestic monastery, you will head towards Mentshikang, the heart of Tibetan Medicine center. You can watch herb processing alongside different natural medicine components here. You will then visit another Unesco Heritage site in Tibet; The Norbulingka Palace is also popular as the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama. The beautiful garden here holds one of the most picture-perfect places in Tibet. Rest and overnight at Lhasa.
We will drop you to Gonggar Airport in Lhasa for your departure. Due to the absence of direct flights between Lhasa and Vientiane, and the lack of a suitable flight schedule for same-day travel, you will need to stay overnight in Kunming. The following day, you will catch a flight to Laos (Vientiane).
You will have an overnight stay in Kunming.
We will drop you to the airport for the Laos flight. After reaching Laos in Vientiane airport, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Rests then freshen-up and in the evening you can stroll around Vientiane and try some local cuisine. Overnight at Vientiane.
Start your day with a short city tour of Vientiane. You can walk to most of the destinations of today. Wat Sisaket, Wat Prakeo, Patuxay Monument, and That Luang Stupa are among the major attractions of your visit today. In the late afternoon take a short Mekong Riverside tour with your guide. You can understand a lot about the Lao people, their culture and tradition from the tour. There is a wide range of tribes and locals dwelling the banks of the Mekong river too. After a beautiful sunset return to your hotel and rest.
The Luang Prabang city was the ancient capital of northern Laos. After some remaining site visit in Vientiane, you will head towards the airport and fly to Luang Prabang. You can either take a short hike to Mount Phousi for a sunset view or stroll around the streets of Luang Prabang. The glided stupa here is a perfect destination for a panoramic view of the city hidden in Nature. You can enjoy the Nightlife and try some of the local cuisines in Luang Prabang. Overnight at a hotel in Luang Prabang.
Today will be an interesting day in Laos as you will visit the important sites of Luang Prabang. After an early light morning breakfast, you will visit the shrine of Wat Aham, stupa of Wat Visoun, Wat Sene, Wat Mai and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong before boarding a boat in Mekong River. Through this brief journey, you will see the mingling of nature and Lao people here in the banks of Mekong. Along the way to the caves, we will make stops to gulp in some sticky rice delicacies and whiskey. After reaching the royal temple of Wat Longkhonun, you will head towards the mouth of Ou River and to Pak Ou Caves. We will also make stops in various villages including Ban Phanom on our return to Luang Prabang for souvenir buying and local experience. Overnight at Luang Prabang.
You will visit some of the remaining places in your spare time, and our guides will take you to the airport before your flight. You are sure to carry a heart full of boundless memories and amazing venturesome experience on your tour. Stories reaching each destination are a priceless wealth you are taking with you which you can share with your treasured ones for a long time to come.
Cost & Inclusion
You're guaranteed the best value service with bonus experiences with our unrivaled local expertise. As operators providing exquisite services for over a decade, we prioritize quality over other factors.
The price for each package might vary with the hotel category, tour duration, travel season, routes and activities being the major factors. You can customize these find your ideal package which might not be same with cheaper deals elsewhere. Rest assured, make your visit worth every bit with Asia Experiences.
Please, ask your tour plan with interested countries with below buttons 'Ask to Expert' or 'Customize Trip'.
Nepal
- Airport pickups and drops service.
- Full meals in Laos.
- Private ground transportation with A/C.
- Hotel accommodation as per your choice
- Local cultural tour guide with English speaking.
- Sightseeing entrance fees for museums and monuments.
- Breakfast in Nepal.
Tibet
- Airport pickups and drops service.
- Breakfast in Tibet
- Private ground transportation with A/C.
- Hotel accommodation as per your choice
- Local cultural tour guide with English speaking.
- Sightseeing entrance fees for museums and monuments.
- Processing Travel Permit and Entry Visa.
Bhutan
- Airport pickups and drops service.
- Full meals in Laos.
- Private ground transportation with A/C.
- Hotel accommodation as per your choice
- Local cultural tour guide with English speaking.
- Sightseeing entrance fees for museums and monuments.
- Full meals in Bhutan.
- Processing Travel Permit and Entry Visa.
- Airport pickups and drops service.
- Full meals in Laos.
- Private ground transportation with A/C.
- Hotel accommodation as per your choice.
- Local cultural tour guide with English speaking.
- Sightseeing entrance fees for museums and monuments.
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Reviews
Andris
Latvia
19 Jan 2021
Excellent Service, Thoughtful and Professional
We (My friend and me) surfed a whole lot seeking some popular agencies in Nepal. We decided to take no consideration when it came to professionalism in services. From our first words to the assistance we knew that Asia experiences were a perfect match for our South Asian visit. The reviews and ratings were just overviews and I happened to find an actual blog written by one of the previous travelers too. We communicated and sought advice both professionally as well as personal and headed towards the TIA airport the next month. The hotels we stayed at were top-class, and we had to admit that the Asian foods we tried were a little spicy. However, we also had a range of different cuisines to choose from. I was also amazed to find the photography and English speaking skills impressive from Asia Experiences guides. We needed and got the detailed expense list and found the assistance of the agency worth every penny. We want to thank Asia experiences and especially Mr. Umesh for this smooth and perfect vacation. If you want to avoid complications and have a professional aid by your side choose Asia Experiences.Max
United Kingdom
19 Jan 2021
Amazing city and heritage tours, fascinating guides
We (2 couple) choose to witness the Nepal tour (Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan), and its surroundings before returning to home from Nepal. So, I surfed the internet and stumbled upon the Nepal tour with an extended Changunarayan hike. We found that was perfect for us and got our assistance from Asia Experience. Mr.Umesh was kind, and a brief talk made it the very next day. Our guide was informative and very lively too. Although he had a funny accent, Krishna was all worked up with the history, culture, traditions, and stats also. Our Driver was quite experienced too as we made the best of busy traffic in some of the places. Even after the trip, the guide suggested me of some restaurants to have local cuisines which were very helpful and courteous of him. I would recommend Asia Experiences for proper guidance and experienced guides in your Nepal tour.All rights reserved. Privacy Policy