Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet Tour

At the airport, you will be greeted by a representative of AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions who will transfer you to your hotel. Today, we will also visit Rinpung Dzong, built in 1646 and now houses the district monastic body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag. We will also visit the oldest temple in the country, Kichu Lakhang, and Drugyal Dzong, built to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders in 1646. We will spend the night in Paro.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 3,120 meters/10,237 feet.
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Travel distance: 54 km
Driving: 1 hour

After breakfast, we will hike to the most famous monastery in Bhutan, Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, located at 3,180 meters. Guru Rinpoche (spiritual master) is said to have flown to meditate in the cave where Taktsang Monastery is now located, riding on the back of a tiger. Lunch will be served at a cafeteria restaurant located about halfway up the mountain. After exploring the monastery, we will descend to the valley floor. Today we will drive to Thimphu and spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 1,250 meters/4,101 feet.
Travel distance: 76 km
Driving time: 2-3 hours

After breakfast, we enjoy a scenic drive to Punakha over the Dochu La Pass (3,100 meters), where on a clear day we get spectacular views of the Himalayas. From the pass, we descend through rhododendron, cedar and hemlock forests. Then we pass through rice fields along the riverbanks to reach Punakha. And we will visit Punakha Dzong, and it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan. After the visit we spend the night in Punakha.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 1,250 meters/4,101 feet.
Travel distance: 76 km
Driving time: 2-3 hours

Today we will travel to Paro via Dochu La Pass. There, we will visit the new Druk Wangyal Monastery. With detailed paintings depicting the current royal dynasty and their visionary works, the Druk Wangyal Monastery is the only one of its kind in the country. After visiting the monastery, we will stop in Thimphu for lunch, and continue our drive. Then we will drive to Paro for the night and spend the night here.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 2,250 meters/7,382 feet.
Travel distance: 140 km
Driving time: 4 hours

Fly to Kathmandu from Paro. Visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square houses the palaces of ancient kings who ruled the erstwhile Kathmandu Kingdom. Similarly, Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus around the world. And the Buddhist shrine of Boudhnath is one of the largest stupas in the world, and one of Kathmandu’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites and tourist attractions. So spend a few days and nights in Nepal. And soak up every attraction.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Vajra)
Maximum altitude: 1,350 meters/4,429 feet.
Flight: 1 hour

After breakfast, we drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan, a city located at the foot of the Churiya mountain range and famous for Nepal’s first national park, Chitwan National Park (CNP), which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon reaching Chitwan, we will take a jungle safari or nature walk depending on the time of arrival. During the safari, we will go deep into the jungle and see deer, the endangered one-horned rhinoceros and other wildlife along with other animals. If we are lucky, we may also see the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. During the nature walk, we will enjoy the company of a variety of flora and fauna. And we will spend the night in Chitwan.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Chitwan Forest Resort)
Maximum altitude: 415 meters/1,362 feet
Travel distance: 150 km
Driving time: 5-6 hours

In the morning, we will ride elephants on a jungle safari through dense grasslands and observe wildlife in their natural habitat. After breakfast, we will visit an elephant enclosure and enjoy bathing the elephants. In the afternoon, we can drive through the forests and then take a boat ride on the Rapti River. While canoeing, we can get up close to gharials and crocodiles, as well as freshwater dolphins, otters and a variety of water birds. And in Chitwan.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel (Chitwan Forest Resort)
Maximum altitude: 415 meters/1,362 feet.

Today we leave Chitwan and head towards Pokhara, the beautiful lake city of Pokhara. As soon as we enter Pokhara, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. Today, we will also visit Davis Falls and Shiva Cave. Davis Falls is a unique waterfall that flows directly into a narrow and deep channel that has no end. Shiva Cave is located near Davis Falls and houses a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the main Hindu deity.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (Mount View Pokhara)
Maximum altitude: 827 meters/2,713 feet.
Travel distance: 160 km
Driving time: 4-5 hours

We depart early in the morning for Sarangkot, a hill station overlooking the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges to the north and Pokhara city to the south. From here, we get amazing views of the sunrise over the mighty Himalayas. We then return to Pokhara where we can do some boating on the Phewa Lake, Pokhara’s largest lake. And then we will visit the International Museum. From here we will conclude our day and return to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (Mount View Pokhara)
Maximum altitude: 1,600 meters/5,250 feet.
Travel distance: 10 km
Driving time: 30 minutes

We depart early in the morning for the World Peace Stupa, from where we get amazing views of the sunrise over the vast Himalayas, with views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. We then return to Pokhara. After breakfast we will fly to Kathmandu for the night. The rest of the time is at your own leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (Hotel Vajra)
Maximum altitude: 1,350 meters/4,429 feet.
Flight: 25 minutes

On our flight to Lhasa, we will enjoy a scenic one-hour trans-Himalayan flight that will take us over Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,536m) and other Himalayan peaks and glaciers. Upon our arrival at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, a representative from AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions will transfer you from the airport to your designated hotel in Lhasa, which is approximately an hour’s drive away. We advise you to get plenty of rest for the rest of the day to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 3,650 meters/11,976 feet.

After our breakfast, we will start our tour of Lhasa. Today we will visit the beautiful Potala and Norbuling Palaces. Built in the 17th century, the Potala Palace offers amazing views of the entire city and houses the Dalai Lama’s private residence, numerous magnificent state rooms and chapels. The Norbuling Palace is the Dalai Lama’s summer palace and houses what is considered the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Next, we will visit the Tibetan Traditional Hospital, which is a center for treatment, training, research and production of Tibetan medicine. We will then return to the hotel and spend the night in Lhasa.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 3,700 meters/12,140 feet.
Driving time: 5-6 hours

After breakfast today, we visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. Built in the 14th century, Drepung Monastery is believed to have sheltered around 10,000 monks in the past but has now suffered a lot of decline resulting in only a few hundred remaining. The history, culture and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people are firmly anchored and concentrated in this amazing monastery. Sera Monastery is a preserved monastery with white-washed walls and golden roofs. Similarly, Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site that reveals the deep secrets of Tibetan Buddhism. We walk further through Barkhor Bazaar (market). With its open-air stalls, shops and throngs of pilgrims, it is the nerve centre of Lhasa also.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 4,100 meters/13,452 feet.
Driving time: 5-6 hours

In the morning we visit Ganden Monastery, located on the summit of Wangbur Mountain (3,800 meters) in Lhatse County, 57 kilometers east of Lhasa. It is the oldest and one of the 'Great Three' of the six Gelug monasteries in Tibet. Ganden Monastery has extremely delicate and exquisite frescoes and sculptures. It also houses a jeweled armor, which was worn by Emperor Qianlong and was given to the monastery as a gift by Song Khapa, the founder of the Gelug sect. Similarly; in the afternoon, we visit Dreyerpa Cave, located in a beautiful valley with stunning views. And there are more than 30 caves for lamas who want to meditate in a peaceful environment. In the evening, we return to Lhasa and spend the night at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (3-star hotel)
Maximum altitude: 4,300 meters/14,108 feet.
Driving time: 5-6 hours

Our adventure in the Himalayas is coming to an end today! You will be taken to the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight.

Meal: Breakfast