18 Day Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal & Bhutan 2017 Itinerary

18 days
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Small Group Tour
5 Kathmandu, 2 Chitwan National Park, 2 Pokhara, 3 Thimphu, 1 Punakha, 3 Paro

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Thanks to our small group size, we can get to the heart of our destination, visit places that other tours miss, and get to know the locals. Visit Durbar Square, the ancient palace of Hanuman Dhoka and the Temple of Kumari in Kathmandu Marvel at the Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, designated a World Heritage Site Travel to medieval Bhaktapur, known as the "City of Devotees," dating back to the 13th century Spiritual journey to the World Heritage Site of Pashupatinath, a world-famous Hindu shrine Spend 3 days at a Jungle Resort in Chitwan National Park, adjacent to the Indian Tiger Reserve At Chitwan National Park, enjoy an elephant safari, canoe/boat ride on the river and visit to a Tharu village Tour the Pokhara Valley with its natural wonders including cascading Devi's Falls In ancient Patan, "city of fine arts," tour the square filled with Hindu Temples and Buddhist monuments Travel to the spiritual mountain kingdom of Bhutan with its extraordinary scenery and striking monasteries In Thimphu, a blend of old and new, observe monks serenely strolling in their crimson robes Join Buddhists performing their daily rituals at the whitewashed National Memorial Chorten Drive to Punakha, ancient capital of Bhutan, pausing to view the astounding snow-clad peaks of Bhutan Visit Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan with its towering whitewashed walls Choose to hike to the world-famous "Tiger’s Nest" on the face of a sheer cliff above the Paro Valley

What's this trip about?

    5 Kathmandu, 2 Chitwan National Park, 2 Pokhara, 3 Thimphu, 1 Punakha, 3 Paro

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

Attractions

  • Chitwan National Park
  • Himalayas
  • Kathmandu
  • Pokhara
  • Punakha
  • Tibet

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Small groups of maximum 22 travelers guaranteed Round trip international flights New York-Kathmandu, Kathmandu-New York Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
    • All intra-flights: Kathmandu-Chitwan, Pokhara-Kathmandu, Kathmandu-Paro & Paro-Kathmandu 16 nights accommodations
    • 5 nights Kathmandu 2 nights Chitwan National Park 2 nights Pokhara 3 nights Thimphu 1 night Punakha 3 nights Paro Hotel porterage All transfers and sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned vehicles 41 meals: 16 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners (including 2 home hosted dinners, and welcome & farewell dinners) Bottled water during sightseeing excursions. Bottled water, coffee, and tea with all meals Services of English-speaking tour managers throughout Comprehensive, guided sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary Active itinerary with unique cultural features Bhutan Visa

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Itinerary

DAY 1, Friday - Depart for Nepal
Depart for Nepal

DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Kathmandu
Welcome to Nepal! Late morning arrival in Kathmandu, the "Roof of the World," in the shadow of the Himalayas -- you'll be warmly greeted with a traditional flower garland. At your hotel, time to rest, relax and acclimate to your new time zone. Tonight, join your fellow travelers and Tour Manager at a briefing outlining the extraordinary journey that lies ahead Overnight: Kathmandu

DAY 3, Sunday - Swayambhunath, Cooking Demonstration, Boudhanath
Rise early this morning to join the one hour optional flightseeing of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Then, on to 1st century Swayambhunath, crowning a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley with its golden spire adorned with colorful prayer flags flutteri...
DAY 4, Monday - Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Mt. Everest Mountaineer
An excursion takes you this morning to the medieval city of Bhaktapur, called the "City of Devotees," a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lined with palaces, temples, statues and squares connected by a maze of pedestrianized streets. The 14th century Dattatreya Temple and the ...
DAY 5, Tuesday - Chitwan National Park, Jungle Resort
Flight this morning to the village of Bharatpur, with its ochre-colored thatched roof houses. Continue past small villages and terraced rice fields to the Tharu villages of Chitwan. Arrive at Temple Tiger Green Jungle Resort, nestled on the banks of the Narayani River an...
DAY 6, Wednesday - Chitwan National Park, Jungle Resort
Your day is filled with wonderful adventures starting with a morning Jeep Safari. Afterwards, you can choose to board a boat or paddle a canoe down the Narayani River. There'll be plenty of opportunity to view the Gharial or Mugger crocodiles as well as a variety of wate...
DAY 7, Thursday - Pokhara's Natural Wonders
Depart the National Park and travel to Pokhara, the second largest city of Nepal. Along the way, view miles of rice paddies, mustard fields and rural areas dotted with colorful villages. Arrive in scenic Pokhara, home to three of the highest mountains in the world. Lunch...
DAY 8, Friday - Pokhara and the Annapurna Mountains
Early morning hike to the viewpoint at the Peace Pagoda; see the unforgettable sunrise over the mountain peaks. A packed breakfast will be provided. The Annapurna mountain range dominates your northern view while the sweeping expanse of the Pokhara Valley looms over the ...
DAY 9, Saturday - Return to Kathmandu, Ancient Patan, Farewell to Nepal
Return flight to Kathmandu for an excursion to the ancient city of Patan, known as the "City of Fine Arts." Your tour begins at the main square, filled with breathtaking Hindu temples and striking Buddhist monuments. See the old Royal Palace, dominating all others in gra...
DAY 10, Sunday - Kingdom of Bhutan
A traditional "khada" ceremony this morning as a symbolic scarf is wrapped around you, with blessings for a serene and safe journey. Travel by flight to Paro in the spiritual mountain kingdom of Bhutan with its striking monasteries and magnificent mountain scenery. Here,...
DAY 11, Monday - Discover Thimphu
In Thimphu, you observe monks strolling serenely in their crimson robes and workers wearing traditional ghos and kiras. Your day begins with a visit to the indigenous Medical Hospital, and the Painting School where students learn thirteen different Bhutanese crafts over ...
DAY 12, Tuesday - Memorial Chorten, Big Buddha Hill, School of Astrology, Takin Zoo
This morning, you join Buddhists performing their daily ritual of turning the giant red prayer wheels at the whitewashed National Memorial Chorten with its shining golden finial, dedicated to the third king of Bhutan. Next, drive to the Big Buddha Hill. Here, stop at the...
DAY 13, Wednesday - Lobesa, Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, Punakha
An early start this morning as you drive through the scenic terrain of the Himalayas to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan, pausing at Dochhula Pass to view the astounding snow-clad peaks of Bhutan (on a clear day.) You pass over one hundred monuments and see many co...
DAY 14, Thursday - Punakha Dzong, Sisina Farm House, Tachogang Lhakhang, Paro
Visit Punakha Dzong, center of power until 1907, considered the most beautiful dzong in the country with its towering whitewashed walls accented by elaborately painted gold, red and black wood. By tradition, all of the Kings of Bhutan are crowned here in the 100-pillar C...
DAY 15, Friday - National Museum, Rinpung Dzong, Temple of Kyichu
Morning tour of Paro's National Museum, housed in an old hilltop watchtower resembling the shape of a conch shell. You're guided here by a local historian/writer who interprets for you the museum's valuable collection of antique paintings, festival masks, religious statu...
DAY 16, Saturday - Ascend to "Tigers Nest"
If you’re adventurous and physically fit, get ready for a memorable hike to world-famous "Tiger's Nest" or Taktsang Palphug Monastery. Located on the face of a sheer cliff above the floor of the Paro Valley, this not to be missed site is accessible only by walking or by ...
DAY 17, Sunday - Depart Bhutan, Arrive in Nepal
Early this morning, depart from the airport in Paro on a flight that takes you back to Kathmandu, Nepal. The remainder of the day is at leisure for individual pursuits, or join the optional Dhulikhel & Panauti Tour, where you will do some off the beaten path explorin...
DAY 18, Monday - Depart Nepal
Morning at leisure to prepare for your departure. In the late afternoon you head to the airport for the flight back home later this evening Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,649
Price per day$258
Last Updated: 2/1/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Discovery Tours by Gate 1.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • *Not Included:Prices do not include optional tours, visa fees and gratuities for guides/tour managers.

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
Mount Everest Flightseeing Enjoy an early morning flight on a small aircraft, with a window seat, for an hour of spectacular scenery over the tallest mountain peak on earth. You will be able to view some of the most incredible, and famous sights that Nepal has to offer. This is weather permitting so tour might be delayed or an alternative day may be scheduled. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 3 Price : $275 Mount Everest Flightseeing Enjoy an early morning flight on a small aircraft, with a window seat, for an hour of spectacular scenery over the tallest mountain peak on earth. You will be able to view some of the most incredible, and famous sights that Nepal has to offer. This is weather permitting so tour might be delayed or an alternative day may be scheduled. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 3 Price : $275 Dhulikhel & Panauti Tour This morning you will have the chance to do some exploring off the beaten path near the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley. We start out in Dhulikhel, an ancient town located about 20 miles east of Kathmandu city. We’ll hike among the rolling green hills, admiring the mountains stretching into the distance and traditional architecture that dots the area around this historic trading center along the old commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet. Along the way we’ll climb up to Devi Temple and stop at Shanti Ban, a serene forest that is home to a giant statue of Gautama Buddha. Our morning trek ends in Panauti village, a traditional Newar settlement rich in rural character. Here we will see a number of temples, including Indreshwar Mahadev Temple dedicated to Shiva and Bhairav Temple, along the idyllic, brick-paved streets lined with magnificent carved rest houses and stupas. Please be advised this tour will involve 2-3 hours of walking and hiking over potentially rough, uneven terrain and a climb of 1000 steps with a brief break. Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 17 Price : $69 Dhulikhel & Panauti Tour This morning you will have the chance to do some exploring off the beaten path near the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley. We start out in Dhulikhel, an ancient town located about 20 miles east of Kathmandu city. We’ll hike among the rolling green hills, admiring the mountains stretching into the distance and traditional architecture that dots the area around this historic trading center along the old commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet. Along the way we’ll climb up to Devi Temple and stop at Shanti Ban, a serene forest that is home to a giant statue of Gautama Buddha. Our morning trek ends in Panauti village, a traditional Newar settlement rich in rural character. Here we will see a number of temples, including Indreshwar Mahadev Temple dedicated to Shiva and Bhairav Temple, along the idyllic, brick-paved streets lined with magnificent carved rest houses and stupas. Please be advised this tour will involve 2-3 hours of walking and hiking over potentially rough, uneven terrain and a climb of 1000 steps with a brief break. Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 17 Price : $69
Additional Information

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers, but does include flights Kathmandu-Chitwan, Pokhara-Kathmandu, Kathmandu-Paro & Paro-Kathmandu.

Trip ID
discovery-DSCV-NP-BT-18DHKNB-PKG-17

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