Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 12
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels
Meals:
Transport: A/C car/mini-van/minibus & internal flight
Highlights: Kathmandu's temples & stupas, Paro Dzong & National Museum, Thimphu weekend market, Buddha Point, Dochu La Pass, Punakha Dzong, Tiger's Nest monastery hike, Nepalese & Bhutanese food & culture, Nagarkot mountain views, ancient Bhaktapur
Bhutan is one of the world's hidden jewels, and this compact tour provides the chance to get a taste for the country in a short time, combining it with a few days in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal at either end.
We start with a walking tour through the busy narrow streets of Kathmandu from our boutique hotel in the touristic Thamel district, past various markets, tiny corner temples and stupas to the heart of the city in Durbar Square.
We then take a flight along the edge of the Himalayas to Bhutan (flight not included, see tour notes), and arrive in a country few people ever get to visit. We'll start our tours at the Paro Dzong (a combination of a monastery, fort and town hall) before heading to the capital Thimphu for our first night in the country. We'll see the huge steel 51m tall Buddha statue overlooking the city, as well as the Memorial Chorten and the strange national animal, the Takin, in a local reserve. Next we head to the hills and drive on winding roads through thick forest, crossing the Dochu La Pass en-route to the Punakha Valley. Here we'll take a few easy walks in the valley through mixed forest and fields of vegetables and chillies, before visiting the huge and beautifully situated Punakha Dzong.
After returning to Paro we spend a morning hiking up to the spectacular Taktshang monastery (Tiger's Nest) before finishing with a tour of Ta Dzong, the national museum.
After flying back to Nepal, we visit the ancient centre of Bhaktapur, formerly the capital of one of the Kathmandu Valley's kingdoms, and spend a night in the village of Nagarkot which is perched on a ridge on the edge of the valley and famed for its mountain views. We'll hopefully be able to see as far as Everest in the morning if the weather is clear, and our final tours are then to the important pilgrimage sites of the Hindu Pasupatinah temple and Buddhis Boudhnath stupa before finishing the tour in Kathmandu.
Extensions to the tour are available in Nepal to add some time trekking, visiting one of the National Parks, doing some white water rafting, or just enjoying more time in the Kathmandu valley. Please contact us for more details and ideas.
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Small-group departure dates & prices are given below. The tour is also available privately on any other date for a small supplement. Please contact us for info.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Norbulinka Boutique Hotel
Kathmandu
Recently renovated in 2017, the Norbulinka Boutique Hotel provides a good quality mid-range experience on the edge of Thamel in Kathmandu. There are 40 well appointed rooms, free WiFi, and bicycle hire is available on site.
Tashi Namgay Resort
Paro
Tashi Namgay Resort is located in the heart of the Paro Valley and is spread over 5 acres of gardens, traditionally designed cottages and rooms. Rooms are large and comfortable and well equipped.
Dusit D2 Yarkay Hotel
Thimphu
The Dusit D2 hotel in Thimphu is an excellent well run hotel in the heart of Thimphu. Built and decorated in traditional Bhutanese style it also features a Thai spa and Thai restaurant.
Green Resort
Punakha
The RKPO Green Resort is located in the heart of the Punakha Valley, between Wanduephodrang and Punakha Dzongs, and with forests to the sides and terraced rice fields leading down to the valley floor. The hotel has 34 deluxe rooms and 4 suites.
Hotel Country Villa
Nagarkot
Offering a restaurant that serves Indian and International delights, Hotel Country Villa is Situated 7,200 feet above sea level, spread in 2.51 acre land. Free WiFi access is available in the public areas of the property.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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