The Himalayan Realms

After your morning arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Patan.

This afternoon, begin your cultural exploration with a guided tour of Patan, one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley. It is known as the arts and architectural centre of the valley, an aesthetically pleasing city founded in 250 A.D.

Visit Patan’s famous Durbar Square, Royal Baths, Mahaboudha, Krishna Mandir and the Golden Temple. The last stop on your tour is the Patan Museum, set within the former presidential palace.

Take time to browse the fair-trade shops of Patan.

Kathmandu is a melting pot of cultures with Hindu influence to the South and Buddhist to the North.

Enjoy a full day’s city guided tour with a local expert at hand to explain the history and cultural importance of each site.

Visit the famous historical monuments constructed in the 14th century. Visit the temple, restored by King Mahendra Malla in 1562, and the Durbar Square which incorporates the royal palace, Kastha Mandap and Kumari Devi temples. The House of the Living Goddess is where the virgin goddess known as Kumari resides on the exquisitely carved windows of the upper floor.

Your tour includes the intriguing and atmospheric religious sites of Pashupatinath and Boudhnath. Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley, situated beside the sacred waters of the Bagmati River.

Boudhnath is lovely to visit in the evening. Enjoy a cup of tea at one of the many cafes and watch monks and nuns file past whispering mantras.

This morning, head east (1 hr drive), into the Kathmandu Valley to the small village of Nagarkot nestled on the northern edge of the valley. On a clear day, Nagarkot offers some of the best panoramic mountain scenery, with spectacular views during sunrise and sunset.

After lunch, head out on an easy walk through Nagarkot and its surrounding villages. The trail starts with a peaceful walk through a dense canopy of pine trees. You’ll then continue onto nearby villages for superb mountain vistas.

This morning you will take a fairly easy walk to the village of Changu where you’ll visit the ancient Hindu temple Changu Narayan, one of Kathmandu’s most atmospheric temples.

Afterwards, you’ll drive onto culture-rich Bhaktapur, an enchanting settlement whose original architecture has been wonderfully maintained.

Enjoy Bhaktapur’s fine collection of Newari architecture on an afternoon sightseeing walk. The cobbled streets take you to highlights such as the Lion Gate, the Art Gallery, the famous Golden Gate and the Palace of Fifty-five Windows.

This morning, drive to Dhulikhel, a well-preserved Newari town and mountain viewpoint. Take a walk in the old town, which  comprises almost exclusively of four- and five-storey brick mansions, many with ornate wooden lattices in place of glass windows. Some even show cracks sustained due to earthquakes from decades ago.

The central square contains a handful of temples, set at the high point of the village and with partial mountain views. Grab a spectacular view of the mountain ranges from Dhulikhel’s viewpoint before continuing your journey to Namobuddha.

Namobuddha is one of the holiest Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas.

Check in to your hotel. From here you can explore the surroundings and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Today, you’ll embark upon an optional but rewarding hike to the village of Balthali, stopping en-route at the monastery at Namobuddha.

Those less keen on the exercise can choose to be driven to the monastery.

The stupa celebrates the compassion of a young prince who encountered a starving tigress about to devour a child, and offered his own flesh instead – a sacrifice that ensured his canonization as a bodhisattva. A steep path leading up to the ridge is festooned with prayer flags; in a small shelter near the top is a famous stone relief sculpture of the prince feeding his flesh to the tigress. There’s also a collection of Tibetan retreats and lesser stupas, as well as an atmospheric monastery if you wish to explore the area.

Continue down the valley through terraced rice fields and thatched farm houses to the rural settlement of Balthali.

You’ll be picked up and return to your hotel by car.

This morning, visit the golden-topped Buddhist stupa of Swayambunath at puja time.

Swayambhunath is magnificently set atop a conical hill 2km west of Thamel. The hill commands a sweeping view of the Kathmandu Valley, and the temple complex is overrun with pilgrims and monkeys.

There are several religious shrines around the main stupa, and you can spend as much time as you prefer, observing the Buddhist pilgrims making a full circumambulation (kora) of the hill, queuing up to spin the gigantic fixed prayer wheels and the six thousand smaller ones that encircle the perimeter, and frequently twirling their own hand-held ones.

Later, visit the city’s National Museum for an appreciation of the intertwining of religion, art, myth and history in Nepal. The museum houses some fabulous stone, metal and terracotta statues, cloth painting, Buddhist Thangkas and manuscripts.

Explore the streets of Thamel, which offers Nepal’s largest gathering of shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs, while Durbar Marg specializes in high-end products. Handicrafts are also sold around Jhochhe and at the Durbar Square night market.

Fly from Kathmandu to Paro (Druk Air KB 401, 0900-1020), On your fight into Bhutan you will have breathtaking views of the High Himalayan peaks. At Paro airport you will be welcomed by our representative.

Drive east into Thimphu (2 hrs) on well-maintained roads, through the beautiful Paro valley.

Visit the Tachog Lakhang en-route to your hotel in Thimphu. Later in the day, visit Thimpu’s Weekend market, a colourful and interesting place where you will find many photographic opportunities.

As time permits, visit some of Thimphu’s many cultural sights: choose from the Textile Museum, the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Folk Heritage museum, the School of Fine Arts; the National library; the Post Office; and the National Memorial Chorten. On our way back to the hotel, stop by Changlimithang Stadium, the national archery ground to see the Bhutanese practicing their archery skills!

Today, you’ll explore Thimphu’s cultural delights, starting with Cheri Goemba where there are great photography opportunities. Returning to Thimphu city, visit Motithang Takin Reserve to meet one of Bhutan’s most enigmatic mammals, the Takin. If the Rhododenrons are in bloom, you’ll visit to the Royal Botanical Park.

Later, you’ll visit the Trashi Chho Dzong, and Kuensal Phodrang for the giant Buddha statue.

Your guide will be able to tailor your day based on your interests, and plan visits to the museums and places of interest you may not have had time to visit the previous day.

An early morning drive (3hrs) east to the milder and warmer climate of Punakha climbs through apple orchards and forests of blue pine before entering pristine mixed forests. The pass at Dochu La (3,116m), is an awe-inspiring sight; with prayer flags strewn across its width. Sip warm tea until dawn breaks over the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Proceed down to the green terraced fields, famous for growing red rice around Punakha. A gentle walk to the temple of Cheme Lhakhang; perhaps in time to hear the monks at prayer in this tranquil rural landscape. In the afternoon walk around Punakha Dzong (1637). This pristine environment is also a nature-lovers paradise where we may catch sight of the rare and endangered White-bellied Heron.

Punakha Dzong is considered to be one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan. Inside the dzong is the Kuenrey, a beautiful temple housing the ‘hundred-pillar’ assembly hall with exceptional murals, enormous 18th century golden statues, and most surprising of all is the high ceiling, exquisitely painted with hundreds of dragons. We have chosen the afternoon when the light is perfect to bring the richness of the paintings and a quieter time to enjoy the ambience of this remarkable dzong.

The 160 meters Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge is known for the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, which gives you spectacular views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley.

Evening at leisure.

Drive to Paro (3.5 hrs) and visit:

Ta Dzong : Built in 1656 as a watchtower for Rinpung Dzong is now used as the National Museum which is a repository of not only precious works of art but also costumes, Armour and other hand crafted objects of daily life that provide a good snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. It opens 7 days a week except on National Holidays.

Rinpung Dzong: Built in 1646 by Lama Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal and strategically located to thwart Tibetan incursions into the rest of the country, this Dzong became one of Bhutan’s strongest and most important fortresses.

Kyichu Lhakhang: It was built in 659 by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. The temple fell into disrepair but was superbly restored in 1839 by the 25th Je Khempo (Chief Abbot). He also contributed the outstanding statue of Avalokiteshwara, with eleven heads and thousand arms, which is located in the sanctuary.

Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery: The hike to Taktshang Monastery perched on a cliff at 2950m/9700ft takes anywhere from 4 to 6 hours as per your hiking ability. It is an uphill hike to the Monastery. There is a cafeteria (Taktsang Jakhang) on the half way.

Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (the great Buddhist master) with his magical powers came to Taktshang in the eighth century, flying from the east of the country on the back of a tigress (a form that one of his consorts is believed to have taken). He is said to have meditated for about three months in a cave on the cliff and subdued the evil spirits. The primary Lhakhang was built around Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave in the 1692 by the fourth Desi Tenzin Rabgay. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below.

After lunch, drive up the valley to view the ruins of the Drugyel Dzong (literally meaning the fortress of victory), which once defended this valley from several invading Tibetan armies during the 17th century. It is now being rebuilt to its former glory.

Visit the Paro town with a street of typical Bhutanese traditional buildings.