16 Days Tour across Nepal Bhutan and Tibet

Background of Nepal Bhutan and Tibet:

Nested on the lap of pristine Himalayas, these regions are home to a large influx of Buddhist inhabitants, architecture, culture, and traditions. These delectable South Asian regions share the history of Buddhism that is linked to the legend of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche. This tour will be filled with a visit to historical sites in all three countries. Moreover, the natural beauty of all the three nations is mesmerizing to witness as well.

The 16-day Tour across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan begin upon your arrival in Lhasa, Tibet. Lhasa has a lot to offer when it comes to history, architecture, culture, and cuisine. The 1300 years old city is most popular for the large-fort like palace known as ‘Potala Palace’ located atop the hill. You’ll get to witness architectural wonders such as Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, and Ganden Monastery before the first leg of the tour ends and advances south to the Himalayan nation of Nepal. In Nepal, you will tour some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley followed by an overland tour to the popular tourist destination of Chitwan National Park. You’ll drive next to the tourist getaway of Pokhara and enjoy the beautiful sunrise from Sarangkot (1600m) before heading back to Kathmandu. The final leg of the tour takes you across the Himalayas to the discreet country of Bhutan. Also known as “the land of Thunder Dragon,” Bhutan is regarded as the most exotic Buddhist nations. In Bhutan, you will land in Paro and head towards Thimphu, the capital city. After exploring Thimphu, you drive to Punakha to visit an architectural masterpiece in the country, Pungtang Dewachen Gi Phodrang. You will drive back to Paro and visit the famous Tiger’s Nest, Rinpung Dzong ‘fortress of the heap of jewels’ and Kichu Lhakhang. The tour ends in Paro as you take a flight back home from the international airport there.

Himalaya Holiday has been specializing in custom tours across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan for many years. We organize full-board holiday packages at a reasonable cost. We also offer experienced tour guides to accompany you while in the nations of your visit.

Best tours in Himalaya Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour, Bhutan culture tour and Everest base camp trekking..  Special Nepal Tibet and tour package.  Special Nepal Tibet and tour package. For the trip Expererience.

Trip Facts:

Geography                       :         Mountain/Hills/Forest/Valleys

Location                          :        Nepal/Bhutan/Tibet

Level of Difficulty             :        Easy

Duration of Trip                :        16 Days

Max Altitude                    :        3750m

Religions                         :        Buddhist/Hindu

Ethnic People                   :        Tibetan/Nepalese/Bhutanese

Accommodation                :        Hotel/Lodge

Transportation                  :         Private Vehicle/Tourist Bus/Flight

Minimum Pax                   :        2

Trip Highlights:

• Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market in Lhasa
• Tour Tiger’s nest and Rinpung Dzong ‘fortress of the heap of jewels’ in Bhutan
• Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu and Chitwan, Nepal
• Witness the scenic views of the Himalayas in all the three countries

Itinerary:

Tibet-4 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m); Either from Beijing, Chengdu or Shanghai

The trip begins upon your arrival in Lhasa. A connecting flight from either Beijing, Chengdu, or Shanghai will bring you to Lhasa. It generally takes 6hr+ (with one stop) to reach Lhasa from Shanghai. Once in Lhasa, your tour guide will receive you at the airport and bring you to your hotel located at the heart of the beautiful city. You can choose to explore the neighborhood in the evening.

Day 02 & 03: Two full days of sightseeing in Lhasa; visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor

You’ll indulge in two whole days of a complete sightseeing tour of the historical Lhasa city. You’ll visit the historic Potala Palace. Located at the heart of the city, the large fortress is the former residence of Dalai Lama. Also known as ‘the Winter Palace,’ Potala Palace now mostly houses prayer rooms, library, meeting room, living quarters, and offices. Next, you’ll visit the Sera Monastery lying only 2 km from Potala Palace. The tour continues to Norbulingka palace. Also known as the summer palace, it was resided by Dalai Lama until 1959. Next, you advance towards Drepung Monastery. You’ll visit Barkhor Market and enter the Jokhang Temple. The city of Barkhor is home to a nunnery dedicated to the female nuns of Tibet.

Day 04: Day Excursion to Ganden Monastery

Situated on the Wangbori Mountain, Ganden Monastery was built by Je Tsongkhapa in 1409. It is the first and primary monastery of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as one of the Three Great Holy Monasteries of Lhasa. En route to Ganden Monastery, you can observe the profound Gelugpa culture of Tibetan Buddhism. You can also catch the stunning landscape of alpine mountains outside Lhasa City.

Nepal-7 Days

Day 05: Fly from Lhasa to Kathmandu

You’ll embark on a trans-Himalayan flight bound to Kathmandu. You can catch the beautiful sight of pristine mountains and eventually lushly forested hills of Nepal en route to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, our representative will warmly receive you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The flight from Lhasa is short. You will arrive in 1.5 hours so, feel free to explore the areas around your hotel.

Day 06: A Full Day Kathmandu Sightseeing

Today, you’ll head for a tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. The journey begins with a short drive to bustling Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is an age-old royal site during the time of Malla Kingdom. You’ll then head to Swayambhunath to catch the panorama of the city. The tour heads northeast to Boudhanath. To conclude the tour, you’ll drive back the same road and take a detour to reach the popular Hindu site of Pashupatinath.

Day 07: Kathmandu to Chitwan

The tour moves to the south of Nepal. You’ll embark on a scenic road journey through Prithvi Highway and Mechi-Mahakali Highway to reach the pristine, natural site of Chitwan National Park. Located almost 148km from Kathmandu, it may take 5 – 6 hours to reach Chitwan. Established in 1973, Chitwan National Park is the oldest national and is home to the endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger and One-horned Rhinoceros.

Day 08: Excursion Day at Chitwan National Park

After an early breakfast, you’ll embark on an adventurous jungle safari inside Chitwan National Park. If you’re fortunate enough, you will get to witness some of the most exotic wildlife inside the Park namely One-horned Rhinos, Royal Bengal Tigers, Mugger crocodile, and Blackbuck. After the Safari, you can undertake canoeing in the Rapti River. If time permits, you can visit the nearby Elephant breeding center as well.

Day 09: Chitwan to Pokhara

Leaving Chitwan, you’ll embark on another road journey and head 148km northwest to the popular touristic destination of Pokhara. It may take anywhere from 5-6 hours to reach Pokhara. You’ll drive through the bustling town of Terai region and take a road up through the hills to make your way to Pokhara. Pokhara is a popular tourist destination that also serves as the gateway to Annapurna Region.

Day 10: Pokhara Sightseeing; Drive for the sunrise view from Sarangkot

Early morning, you will drive to the nearby hill-station of Sarangkot (1600m) located in the outskirts of Pokhara. The sunrise view over the Annapurna Mountain Range from Sarangkot is breathtaking. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll embark on full-day sightseeing of Pokhara. There are many places to see around Pokhara; Phewa Lake, Davis Fall, Peace Stupa, Mahendra Cave, and International Mountaineering Museum.

Day 11: Pokhara to Kathmandu

The tour in Nepal has come to an end. After packing your bags, you’ll embark on a road journey back to Kathmandu. It may take anywhere from 6-7 hours to reach Kathmandu. Once in Kathmandu, our representative will escort you to your hotel. Tomorrow, you head to Bhutan so, get plenty of rest as adventures in the land of the dragon await you.

Bhutan-5 Days

Day 12: Kathmandu – Paro – Thimpu by flight

After an early breakfast, you’ll drive to the airport and take a trans-Himalayan flight to Paro, Bhutan. The flight may last 1.5 hours and will take you across the mountains. From Paro, you will again get on a flight to Thimphu. Thimpu is the capital of Bhutan and lies almost 50km northeast of Paro.

Day 13: Thimphu to Punakha (75 Km, 3 Hours)

The day begins early as you head to explorer the capital city of Bhutan. The city is filled with cultural monuments and heritages that date back centuries. A local zoo in Thimphu is famous for housing numerous species of Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Similarly, Memorial Chorten, National Library, and nunnery monastery are some of the attractions in the city.  After sightseeing, you’ll drive to Punakha via Dochu La Pass (3100m).

Day 14: Punakha to Paro (150 Km, 5 Hours)

The drive from Punakha to Paro is slightly longer; however, we explore the Punakha Valley before heading out. The former capital of Bhutan, the city also hosts numerous destinations including the Pungtang Dewachen Gi Phodrang. After exploring Punakha, the tour heads towards Paro Valley making way through winding hillside roads. The delightful sceneries of the faraway mountains, hills, and rivers will keep us company all the way to Paro.

Day 15: Paro sightseeing and Tiger’s Nest visit (3,180m)

Today, you trek through an adventurous trail for 4-5 hours to reach the famous Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery located in Upper Paro. The monastery is built on a hanging cliff and holds immense history and cultural significance. Next, you’ll walk down to Lower Paro and do a brief tour of the city. You can visit Rinpung Dzong ‘fortress of the heap of jewels’ and Kichu Lhakhang.

Day 16: Paro – Depart

Your trip across three countries rich in culture, historical sites, and natural beauty has come to an end. Today, you’ll depart on an international flight back home from Paro International Airport. We hope you have had an experience of a lifetime. We hope to go on more adventures with you in the future. Farewell!