Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa takes about 1 hour. Upon arriving at Lhasa, you will be met with our Tibet guide, who will transfer you to your Hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, so you may check into your Hotel and relax. Overnights stay at the Hotel in Lhasa.

Day 04: Lhasa This is the day where you will visit the Potala Palace in the morning. It is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama and represents Tibetan Buddhism and its main role in the traditional administrative aspects of Tibet. The Potala Palace and its complex are built on the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley. After the Potala Palace, you will then visit the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Palace. The Sera Monastery is one of the great three Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The Norbulingka Palace likewise, is located on the western edge of Lhasa at the banks of the Kyichu River. After the tour, you will be dropped back to your Hotel. Overnights stay at the Hotel in Lhasa.

Day 05: Explore Lhasa further Today, you will visit the Drepung Monastery in the morning. The Drepung Monastery is situated at the foot of the Gambo Utse Mountain. It is one of the most important monasteries of Tibet. After that, you will be visiting the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. The Jokhang Temple is considered one of the most important temples of the Tibetan Buddhist sect; Barkhor Street surrounds the temple and presents a vibrant cultural presentation of Lhasa’s attributes. After the tour, you will be dropped back at the Hotel. Overnights stay at the Hotel in Lhasa.

Day 06: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse You will follow the Friendship Highway, driving past the Khamba La Pass (4794 m). Along the way, you can also appreciate majestic views of the Yamdrok-Tso Lake, a deep blue lake that holds a holy relevance, and the Nazin Kang Sang glacier that is situated at an elevation of 7,252 meters. Westwards, you will come across the Karo La Pass. Glancing along the road, you can see huge glaciers tumbling down into the plateau floor. After hours of driving, you will enter the town of Gyantse where you will see beautiful terrains and Tibetan villages. Overnights stay at the guesthouse.

Day 07: Shigatse – Xegar You will have a drive towards Xegar, traveling on a road that steadily increases in elevation and angle slant. The drive presents you with the sight of a typical Tibetan landscape where the terrain is a vast expanse of aid plateau wasteland with the occasional rising mound of brown and caramel hills rising in the distance. You will cross the Lalung La Pass to reach Xegar. The pass presents amazing views of mountain peaks like the Cho Oyu and the Shishapangma Peak. Overnights stay at the guesthouse.

Day 08: Xegar – Rongbuk – Everest Base Camp – Rongbuk Today, you will be going to the foot of the world’s highest peak via Tingri. The Tibetans call Everest the Chomolungma. A jeep will drive you to Rongbuk from where you will hike for about 2 hours to reach Everest base camp. After taking in the views, you will return to Rongbuk. Overnights stay at the guesthouse.

Day 09: Rongbuk – Zhangmu Today, you will leave the Tibetan plateau bypassing the high passes of the Lalung La and the Thong La. The journey is filled with spectacular views of the Himalayas of Tibet and Nepal. After crossing the passes, the terrain then changes to green acreages. From Rongbuk, you will then drive between big hills and follows the river to Zhangmu. Overnights stay in the guesthouse.

Day 10: Zhangmu – Kathmandu From Zangmu, you will drive along the Friendship Bridge {border} back to Kathmandu. You will say goodbye to the Tibetan plateau and drive about 5 hours for Kathmandu, passing along different landscapes of the Nepali hills and river valleys. Overnights stay in the hotel.

Day 11: From Kathmandu take a flight to Paro and drive to Thimphu From Kathmandu, you will then fly to the Paro International Airport. From Paro, you will then drive to Thimpu, driving along the beautiful Paro countryside. Overnights stay at a hotel in Thimpu.

Day 12: Thimpu Sightseeing Tour and drive to Punakha Today, you will have a beautiful sightseeing tour of Thimpu- the capital of Bhutan. Places of interest around Thimpu include the Memorial Chorten, the Simtokha Dzong, the Folk Heritage Museum, the Trashichhoe dzong, and the Changangkha Lhakhang among others. The Memorial Chorten houses paintings and statues that provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy. Likewise, the Simtokha Dzong houses the Institute for Language and Cultural Studies; it is also the most noteworthy Dzong in Thimpu, mainly because of its artistic style. The Tarshichhoe Dzong, likewise, is also known as “the fortress of the glorious religion” and houses the main secretariat. Then, you will drive to Punakha. Overnights stay at the guesthouse.

Day 13: Punakha Sightseeing Tour You will have a sightseeing tour in Punakha today. You will visit the Simtokha Dzong- an important historical monument and a former Buddhist monastery. After that, you will then drive to Paro. The sightseeing tour includes visiting Paro’s Rinpung Dzong, a large Dzong whose name translates as “heap of jewels”. It also houses the Thongdroel- a precious Thanka-appliqué work displayed to the public during the Paro Tshechu Festival. Another site during the tour includes the National Museum of Bhutan and the Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang. It is located on the edge of a hill between the Paro valley and the Dopchari Valley. Overnights stay at the guesthouse.

Day 14: Paro, Tour of Taksang Monastery and Explore Paro Market Another famous site of the Paro city is the Tiger’s Nest Monastery- a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site that hangs precariously on a cliff at 3,120 meters about 900 meters above the Paro valley. This monastery is known for its thirteen Taktshang, translated as “tiger’s lair”- hollow caves in which Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated. After exploring the monastery, you will then explore the Paro market where you can find lots of amazing souvenirs and can also experience the lively bustling cityscape of Paro. Overnights stay at the hotel.

Day 15: Fly back to Kathmandu and departure onward From Paro, you will then fly back to Kathmandu.

Visa normally cost $40 for another passport holder.  However, the payment and application of visa must be carried out in advance, from registered tour operators. Preparing 90 days prior to the trip will allow enough time for all the necessary formalities to be completed. There is an online system through which any tour operator can proceed for the Visa. The application further gets approved by Tourism Council of Bhutan. Once the full payment is received, a visa clearance letter/statement is issued to the applicant. It can be presented at airport on arrival and then the visa is stamped in the passport. Refer to the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: http://www.mfa.gov.bt/?page_id=220 for more information. Popular Destinations to Visit: Different must-visit destinations in Bhutan includes –  Taktsang Monastery, Punakha Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Chele La Pass, Buddha Dordenma Statue, Dochu La Pass, Tashichho Dzong, Phobjikha Valley and many more. The trip to these locations is perfect fit for spending a vacation with your friends and family. The Taktsang/Tiger’s Nest Monastery is somewhat of a national image of Bhutan. As a result, travelers, adventure enthusiast, and vacationers alike, visit this destination. Among other best tourist destinations of Bhutan is the end of the week market of Thimphu, the pilgrim’s valley, and the strange/ off beaten trek experience of the Haa Valley. Bhutan is an absolute paradise for trekkers.  The country also offers different locations specifically for trek enthusiasts like Jigme Dorji National Park, the Dagala 1000 lake trek. With a variety of tourism options available, Bhutan is one of the most rapidly growing tourism hubs in Southern Asia. 

Things to do in Bhutan: The Land of Thunder Dragon is gifted with sheer balance of exotic natural beauty and diverse cultures. There isn’t any shortage of things to do in Bhutan that leaves visitors coming back over and over again. Despite being a landlocked country, Bhutan is blessed with different breath-taking landscapes. Treks are the prominent way to experience the Himalayas and enticing trails of the country. The stunning natural landscapes, snow-capped mountains, lushes green valley and crystal clear lakes provides a great escape from hectic  day to day life. Jhomolhari Trek, Druk Path Trek, and Snowman Trek are a few options. Riding a bike through these rugged hills will give you the best adrenaline rush.  It is one of the most famous activities amongst the visitors and is also the best way to travel in Bhutan.  Similarly, being a Himalayan nation, it is a hub for adventure sports. For enthusiasts who love to challenge themselves Bhutan offers adventurous activities like rafting, kayaking, cycling, rock-climbing and many more.

Pilgrimage tour is a major possibility as well. The country hosts many Buddhist Monasteries that indulge true Buddhist culture.  The country itself being home to some of the most exotic species of wildlife provides a great opportunity for jungle safari and bird watching. Trekking Seasons in Country: Anyone who is visiting Bhutan for trekking, are highly suggested going for the trip during fall (autumn) and spring season. Majority of trek in the country are in higher elevation so only few months are possible to operate such trips. The spring season starts from March till the end of May. During these months, the days are warm with moderate temperature. Also, the skies are clear giving the best view of the landscape. However, nights can get extremely cold so trekkers are suggested to carry a sleeping bag along with them. Similarly autumn, starts from end of September till the beginning of November. This season is the most famous time for trekking in Bhutan. The weather is extremely stable and there are hardly any clouds in the sky. The warm autumn sun allows you to see the most spectacular view of Himalayan peaks and bright starry skies at night. Low altitude treks are possible also during the winter as well. However, the weather can be extreme and extra carefulness is required. 

Altitude Sickness: Otherwise called as Acute Mountain Sickness or high altitude pneumonic edema, altitude sickness is the major issue for climbers and trekkers who travel to higher altitude. Usually, the symptoms of Altitude sickness begin from the elevation of 2400 meters above the sea level. Basic symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortening of breath, and headaches. At higher altitudes, the oxygen level is exceptionally low due to the atmospheric pressure. When your body doesn’t get enough time to adapt, the circumstance may result in altitude sickness. Typically the instances are mild and may heal on its own. However, in some uncommon cases, the circumstances can get serious influencing lungs and brain. Medication for this may incorporate lungs inhaler, dexamethasone (diminishes mind swelling), pulse medicine. Also returning to the lower altitude, reducing activities and hydrating (with water) helps a lot. Travel Insurance: Visitors are recommended to get a travel insurance policy to cover any kind of theft, loss and medical issues. Majority of the policy covers the cost of trip cancellation due to any reason such as flight cancellation, illness, injury or even death of a close relative. This will help protect you from any kind of major losses as there are pre-payment conditions in Bhutan. However, some policies may exclude dangerous activities like motorcycling, rafting, and even trekking. Visitors are highly suggested to read their policy carefully and check if there is coverage for ambulance rides or an emergency helicopter evacuation in case of serious accidents. 

Meals and Accommodations: Bhutanese dishes are mostly characterized by the presence of heavy cheese and hot chill. Aemi Datsi is the most famous dish Bhutanese dish. Other than this, the most common day to day food includes rice and veggies mixed in abundant chilies. Emadatse is a dish that every visitor must try. It is made by mixing chilies entirely with cheese. Another delicacy amongst the locals living at higher altitude is the Yak meat. In Bhutan big restaurants are mostly common around the capital city, Thimphu. However, international cuisines are fairly limited and majority of the meals are served in buffet style. Similarly, there are wide ranges of accommodation services available. From a simple farm house to high end luxury hotel, the country offers it all. Majority of the hotels offers tourist with clean room, good laundry services and all the basic culinary requirements. These hotels are extremely expensive but offer you the best quality services. Nonetheless, the true beauty of Bhutan can be fully experienced by staying at local teahouses which offer decent services and facilities. Internet and communication: The majority of the towns and urban cities in Bhutan are outfitted with essential communication facilities like phone, fax, and internet access.  There is a large portion of hotels, restaurants, and resorts that provide their customers with email, web, and Wi-Fi services within their premises. Anyone can stay there, can enjoy some good Bhutanese food and access the internet as long as they want. Similarly, visitors are recommended to purchase a Bhutanese sim card service as it can be extremely helpful especially for going on a trek. For express services, one can also utilize DHL or FedEx. On top of that, there are many newspapers that get published on a daily/weekly basis through which anyone can get access to national/international news. 

Internal Flight Delays: Being a country full of topographical variations, flight delays are common in Bhutan. Especially during winter and monsoon, the weather condition plays a major role in it. During these seasons heavy rainfall, snowfall and dense fogs occurs commonly resulting into such altercation. In spite of the fact that delays on Bhutanese flights are normal, it is very uncommon for a trip to be cancelled. However, in outrageous conditions the flight might be postponed until the next day. Getting a travel insurance which covers flight delays and cancellations can also be a wise decision. Health and Safety Including Traveling alone in Bhutan: No vaccination is required specifically to enter Bhutan. Nonetheless, if the visitor is from yellow fever infected area, then he/she is required to have yellow fever vaccination. Rural areas (specially the one that borders India) are prone to malaria. So, visitors are also recommended to take anti-malarial medications. Most of the tours in Bhutan comprises of long drives and windy roads so traveler are suggested to assemble a basic medical kit appropriate specifically for the destination that they are visiting. Bhutan is overall an amazing place. The citizens of Bhutan are always smiling and will welcome you with warmest heart. However, the Bhutanese government demands the entire tourist to enter via locally registered travel agency and travelers are provided with local guide and a driver as well. These people will accompany you throughout the journey.