Tour Duration
14 Days
Tour Code
Tour
Season
Tour Itinerary
Arrive at Kathmandu airport. Get attended by a guide who would comfortably transfer you to the hotel. The local attractions of the capital city should take care of your amusement for the rest of the day.
Start with the guided tour of Kathmandu. Sightseeing begins with a visit to Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to one of the most talked-about attractions in the city, Kumari Chowk. It is the house of the living goddess! Next in the row is Swayambhunath, an ancient religious complex (also known as monkey temple) that is placed high in the Kathmandu valley. A visit to Pashupatinath Temple (the oldest Hindu Shrine) and Boudhanath Stupa is planned in the afternoon hours. As you get free, go back to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.
Bhadgaon or Bhaktapur (as it is called now) is to be chased next. The best-preserved city of the country, as they call it, houses three major squares pegged with lofty temples that represent some of the finest religious architectures of the country. In the afternoon you will be visiting, once ferociously self-governing city-state, Patan. A visit to Patan is significant as it has the best of temples and palaces, and of course, the administrative history that it preserves. The destination also gets you to see the Royal Palace, which features an opulently ornamented bathtub, and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple.
From Kathmandu airport board a flight to Paro to visit Bhutan. Get transferred to the hotel once you reach Paro airport. The picturesque valley of Paro is located at a point of confluence of two rivers and is also the widest valley in the area. Fertile rice fields and fresh river waters running down the valley and the traditional houses alongside, make it look wonderful. Relax for the rest of the day as you get back to your hotel room later in the evening.
Your sightseeing at Paro starts with Drukgyel Dzong, which is popularly attributed as the Fortress of the victorious Bhutanese. Though the fortress was once destroyed in a fire, the site of ruins still continues to be visibly impressive. Continue through the valley to visit Ta Dzong, the national museum. Built inside the 17th-century watchtower, it offers beautiful panoramic views of the valley. It has a unique collection of fine arts, textiles, jewelry, handicrafts, and stamps. Take a short tour down to Rinpung Dzong that was built in 1646 AD. A stroll to Dzong through the bridge offers a lovely view of the Dzong. Which is one of the best representations of the Bhutanese monastery. Stride down further traveling across the traditional bridge into Paro town before you reach your hotel.
After breakfast leave for Thimpu, taking a 2 hours road trip from Paro. As you reach Thimpu a large gate and a stupa welcome you to the city. Thimpu’s fascination is viable in the juxtaposition of old and new. Besides being famous for traditional Buddhist monasteries and other historical architectures, it also offers a host of interesting cafes, bars and other hangouts for your experience of the newer Thimpu. Here, you get to visit Memorial Chorten, Changgangkha Temple, Tashicho Dzong, and The national library.
You are onto your day excursion to Punakha. The road travels through Simtokha Dzong into Pine forest and entails villages for a beautiful 20 km patch – rendering an amazing sight of the vicinity. The Punakha valley offers the very first glance of the Himalayan Range. It is a breathtaking view as you see the sun setting down into the distant mountains changing its hues. Here, you visit Punakha Dzong which is located at the meeting point of two rivers. Constructed in 1637 by Ngawang Namgyel, it is one of the most celebrated structures that grace the valley.
Have your breakfast at the hotel and leave for Phuntsholing taking 180 km drive. Take a stoppage on your route and visit the Chukha Hydel Project (one of the largest investments undertaken in Bhutan). Here you get a scenic view of the surroundings. The lush green mountains and gushing water streams offer a great view to tourists. As you arrive at Phuntsholing check in at the hotel. Phuntsholing is a gateway to Bhutan. It shows an amazing mix of cultures, languages, costumes, and people. Overnight stay at the hotel.
The 9th Day takes you to Kalimpong. Perched on a Himalayan crest the mesmerizing place is covered with lush green forests and picks a winding view of the Teesta River. Located near Darjeeling, Kalimpong is a placid town sitting in the lap of nature from where the skyline of mountains resembles a green ocean and Kanchenjunga offers a beautiful view when one takes a sight of it from Deolo Hill. Continue to the old Bhutanese Ruins where the old Bhutanese monastery stood. Take a stride to the Haat Bazaar and get yourself some local craft specialties. After the long tiring day a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel is all yours.
In the morning drive to Gangtok. Enjoy your time at the beautifully landscaped town which is nestled amidst some striking sceneries. Visit the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms. Established in the year 1957, it is a major center for learning in Sikkim. Some of the attractions that it has on display are the awesome Thangka paintings, wooden carvings, handlooms, carpets, cane and bamboo works. Continue to Enchey Monastery. Established in 1909, the cloister belongs to Nyingma order of Vajrayana Buddhism. You get to have an astounding view of Mount Kanchenjunga from here. Post that, have an overnight stay at the hotel before you see the rest of Gangtok.
In the morning have your breakfast and leave for Do Drul Chorten Stupa, one of the significant Chortens of Sikkim. The place is pronounced by its one-of-a-kind high-rise golden dome, that is visible from different parts of the city. Continue to Hanuman Tok temple which enshrines Lord Hanuman’s holiness. Perched on a beautiful hilltop, this temple spread is a rare sight to see. Later in the row is the Research Institute of Tibetology. Established in 1958, it is a cultural center to promote the Tibetan religion, history, tradition, art and craft and houses the largest collection of Tibetan works. Lead towards the Ganesh tok temple which is decorated with colorful sacred flags all along the course. Visit the Tashi view point that offers a pleasing view of Mount Kanchenjunga.
On your 12th day of this amazing tour, you have Darjeeling on the charts. The most famous hill station of north-eastern India is also known as the Queen of Hills. This small hill resort is cuddled up modestly on the lap of Eastern Himalayan ranges and proudly features lively sights with fluent rivers, flowering valleys, lush green meadows, gushing waterfalls, majestic mountains and the soaring peak of Mount Kanchenjunga. Arrive and check-in at the hotel for an overnight stay before you hit the elaborated tour of the hill-station the next day.
Guided sightseeing of Darjeeling. Take an early morning drive to Tiger Hill by jeep to have a marvelous view of the Himalayan sunrise. Later enjoy Toy train joy ride (owns a UNESCO World Heritage status) between Darjeeling and Ghum Monastery. The wagon passes by many inhabited areas and propagated mountains and offers a never-before train-ride experience. Take a city tour of Darjeeling, first visiting the Mountaineering Institute. The institute was built to commemorate the success of Tenzing. The complex comprises a Swiss stylized house for Sherpa trainers, mountaineering school, and a well-celebrated mountaineering museum. Post that, visit Lebong Race Course, the highest placed racecourse in Asia. While on the move you can spend some time in the magnificent outspread of the Tea gardens of Darjeeling and visit the tea factories and walk through the estates and talk to the welcoming locals.
Get to the Bagdogra airport to board a flight to onward destination.