Nepal Bhutan and Tibet Tour

Your Arrival Time (?) Our office representative will meet and greet you traditionally at Kathmandu airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu.

At 06:00 PM: Today in the evening we will meet for a coffee talk at the hotel and will brief you in detail about your onward tour program.

At 09:00 AM: Have your breakfast and be ready for today's guided Kathmandu cultural sightseeing. You will be exploring some of the UNESCO-listed world heritage sites of Nepal, located within the Kathmandu valley. 

At. 09:30 AM: Visit Pashupatinath temple. 

At. 11:30 AM: Visit the Boudhanath stupa, you can have your lunch around the Boudhanath, there are several local and continental restaurants and cafes within the Boudhanath square along with the stupa view from the rooftop. 

At. 02:00 PM: Visit Swayambhunath Stupa.

At. 04:00 PM: At the end visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, the famous local market area of old Kathmandu.

At. 06:00 PM: You will be dropped back at your hotel.

At. 08:00 AM: After you have your breakfast start driving towards Pokhara, Pokhara is 210 KM far from Kathmandu, takes approximately 6-7 hours to reach. On the way, you can participate in river rafting at Trishuli River (Rafting costs USD 30 per person) or also can visit Manakamana temple by cable car (A cable car ticket is USD 22 per person).

At. 05:00 PM: Once you reach the hotel, complete your checking and get refreshed. Today’s evening will be leisurely so you can either rest or self-explore the nearby area.

At. 05:30 AM: Today early in the morning you will drive to Sarangkot hilltop to experience a breathtaking sunrise view through the Himalayan range. Three out of eight 8000m mountains (Dhaulagiri 8167 m, Manaslu 8163 m and Annapurna 8091 m) can be seen from Sarangkot.

At. 10:00 AM: After sunrise, visit and breakfast at the hotel you will advance for a day sightseeing of the major attractions of Pokhara such as David's fall, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, World Peace Pagoda, International Mountain Museum, and Fewa Lake. Short boating at Fewa lake is recommended.

At. 09:00 AM: After you have your breakfast, you will drive back to Kathmandu.

At. 04:00 PM: Upon arriving in Kathmandu check in at the hotel and you will have free time for self-exploration, you can rest at the hotel or visit the lively streets of Kathmandu.

At. 10:00 AM: you will be dropped at the airport for your outbound flight to Lhasa which will take around 1hr 30mins. Upon arriving at Lhasa, a local tour guide will welcome you at the airport/train station, then transfer you to the hotel. After checking in the hotel you will visit the following places:

Lhasa City, Potala Palace, and Barkhor Street.

The tour will begin from the UNESCO World Heritage site – Potala Palace, It is situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It is a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals, and artifacts. It will take about 30 mins to reach Potala palace from Lhasa city.

Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next, to the temple, there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry. After exploring these inspiring places you will return to the hotel and rest for the next day.

In the morning, you will be going to visit the Drepung monastery which is 30 mins away from Lhasa. It is one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace was used as the Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala Palace. 

In the afternoon, you will visit the Sera monastery. It is also one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monk's debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon.

At. 07:45 AM: Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. Admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso (4400m), surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then continue to drive west towards Gyantse. In Gyantse, you will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. After one and a half hours of driving, you will arrive in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. 

At. 08:00 AM: Today, you will explore the Tashilhunpo monasteries of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built-in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Buddha of the future) and a tomb of the Panchen Lama. It contains jewels and gold. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa, which will take around 6 hours.

At. 08:00 AM: Today after you have your breakfast you will be dropped off at the airport for your ongoing flight to Kathmandu. After arrival and visa formalities and the collection of baggage, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Once you reach the hotel, complete your checking and get refreshed. Today’s evening will be leisurely so you can go shopping and collect some souvenirs and have quality time, however, we recommend a guide.

At. 07:00 AM: First we will drop you at Kathmandu airport for your onward flight to Bhutan. After arrival in Bhutan, complete your visa formalities and the collection of baggage, you will be welcomed by our tour representative who will be your tour guide during your entire trip to Bhutan. 

Check into your hotel in Thimphu. You will be free until lunchtime for some rest from the early morning flight. After some rest, you will have refreshments and lunch.

Afternoon, you can choose to visit any or all of the following places:

Tachogang Lhakhang:

Tachogang Lhakhang is located in the Paro district, on the way to Thimphu. It was founded by Thankthong Gyelpo after he experienced a vision of Guru Rinpoche, Amitabha, and Avalokiteshvara near the site. The caretakers today are said to be descendants of Thangtong Gyalpo. Inside the temple, one can see the master's relics,  including his walking stick.

National Memorial Chorten:

The National Memorial was built by Bhutan’s third king, H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. He is also known as the “Father of Modern Bhutan.” He wanted to build a monument carrying the message of world peace and prosperity. However, he was unable to give shape to his idea during his lifetime due to the pressures of the state and other legal responsibilities.

Tashichho Dzong:

The Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery cum fortress at the northern edge of Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan. The Dzong was built on the western bank of the river Wang Chu and has historically served at the seat of the DrukDesi or the Dharma Raja of Bhutan’s government. After the king assumed power in 1907, this post was combined with that of the king and Thimphu served as the summer capital of the kingdom before being the full-time capital of Bhutan.

Today, after breakfast at the hotel, you will be visiting the following places:

Kuensel Phodrang:

The Kuensel Phodrang or the Buddha point is the world’s largest sitting Buddha statue. The statue is 167 feet high. The statue is situated on top of a hill. About 15 minutes away from the city’s center, it is accessible by road. The word “Kuensel” means “everything is clear”. This place surely provides you with a great view of the Thimphu Valley on both sides. The statue will house a temple inside it, the statue and its adjoining car park and recreational center.

The statue is constructed out of bronze and is studded with many semi-precious stones. Since there were no factories in the country to make such a large bronze cast structure, the statue was manufactured in China. The pieces were brought to Bhutan and assembled here.

Motithang Takin Preserve:

The Motithang Takin Preserve is also known as the “Thimphu Zoo”. It is a small natural preserve for the Golden Takin, Bhutan’s national animal. It was originally a mini zoo, but later on, it was converted into the preservation of the Takin. The mini zoo contained a small number of Takin but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep an animal in captivity. 

Changangkha Lhakhang:

This popular temple, perched like a fortress on a ridge above central Thimphu, hums with pilgrim activity. It was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, who came from Ralung in Tibet. Parents traditionally come here to get auspicious names for their newborns or blessings for their young children from the protector deity Tamdrin (to the left in the grilled inner sanctum). Children are blessed by a phurba (ritual dagger) and given a sacred thread.

 Simtokha Dzong:

The Simtokha Dzong is a small Dzong located approximately 5 kilometers south of Thimphu. The Dzong is officially called the Sangak Zambon Phodrang. It is the “Palace of the profound meaning of secret mantras”. It is said to be the first fortress built in Bhutan by the legendary Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1629. It is an important historical monument and former Buddhist Monastery.

Zilukha Nunnery:

Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery is a Buddhist Monastery in the small Himalayan country of Bhutan. The nunnery is located in Zilukha, Thimphu overlooking Tashichho dzong. It is a few minutes' drive from the town. It is popularly known as the Zilukha Anim Dratshang. It was built in 1976 by the 16th emanation of Thangtong Gyalpo, Drubthob Riley Jadrel. Currently, the nunnery is home to about 60 nuns.

Post early breakfast, you will drive towards Punakha via Dochula Pass. You will stop over for tea at Dochula (3,100 m). From there, you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges on a sunny day. The Dochula Pass is probably the best-known mountain pass in Bhutan. It is located at an altitude of 3150 meters above sea level. The Dochula Pass is about 30 kilometers away from the capital city Thimphu and the road to Punakha. On a clear day, the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges. 

Chimi Lhakhang:

The Chimi Lhakhang or the Chimel Lhakhang is a Buddhist monastery located in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It was built in 1499 by Drukpa Kinley's best followers. Drukpa Kinley is popularly known as the “Divine Mad Man”, the 14th Drukpa Hierarch. The monastery stands on a small hill close to the village of Lobesa. 

Punakha Dzong:

The Dzhong was constructed by Zhabdrung  Ngawang Namgyal Wangchuck in 1638. It is the second-largest and second-oldest Dzong in Bhutan. It is the most majestic and gorgeous Dzong, also considered the place of great happiness. a 3 hours drive from the country’s capital Thimphu takes you here. It lies between two rivers; Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu, a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The climate here is temperate. During the spring season, lovely Jacaranda trees grow and bloom around the Dzong.

At. 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will drive to Paro.

The Paro Dzong is probably Bhutan’s best-known and most iconic Dzhong. This is probably the first building you will notice when you land at Paro International Airport and will probably be your first memory of Bhutan. The imposing Dzhong is perhaps the finest example of Dzong architecture existing in the world today. The massive buttered walls of the fortress dominate the valley. The Rinpung Dzong names translate to the “ Fortress on a heap of Jewels”.

After early morning breakfast, you will go for a morning hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’. Hanging precariously and magically from a rather steep cliff, the Taktsang monastery is a monument of genuine pride for the Bhutanese nation. It defies architectural principles to the core and amazes tourists from around the world. It is a sight to behold.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery:

Taktshang or the Tiger's lair as the monastery is called is widely regarded as one of the most important monuments of spiritual significance in Bhutan. Its history is deeply associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Indian saint who came to Bhutan in the 8th century AD.

Kyichu Lhakhang:

Built in 659 by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, Kyichu Lhakhang is the oldest surviving temple of Bhutan. It is located in the north of Paro. Ornamented temples reflect 7th-century architecture and decoration. The temple’s construction was done overnight. This was initially small in size but after multiple visits over the years by the Buddhist saints, the temple expanded both in grandeur and size. The prominent Buddhist saints Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, Lam Kha Nga, Guru Rinpoche, and much more aid in the expansion of the temple.

In the evening, you will visit the local market of Paro and overnight in a hotel in Paro.

At. 07:00 AM: You will be transferred to Paro airport to catch your onward flight to Kathmandu. After arrival and visa formalities and the collection of baggage, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Kathmandu. You will have a whole day for rest or you can go shopping around the nearby market.

At. 06:30 PM: We will meet for a cultural (traditional local dance live performance in folk songs) Nepali dinner in Kathmandu for your farewell.

(Have a safe home return!): We will drop you back at the Kathmandu airport to board your outbound flight before 3 hours of flight time.