Spend two weeks visiting these spiritual paradises
Day 1. Mon. En Route.
Day 2. Tue. Bangkok
After arrival to Bangkok, private transfer to the hotel. After check-in the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel. (Deluxe river view king room – Old wing | B)
Day 3. Wed. Bangkok
Full day to explore the city at your leisure.
Overnight: The Oriental Hotel. (Deluxe river view king room – Old wing | B)
Day 4. Thu. Bangkok.
Depart to the world famous floating market which is a 90 minute drive outside the city of Bangkok through rural countryside arriving.Once you arrive, the guide and you will board another long tailed boat and this time, the boat driver will bring you into the midst of the floating market where you will find the locals trading their wares, and others buying fresh vegetables and flowers. After lunch your guide will escort you to the River Phrayo and on the Pier he will summon your long tailed private boat for a ride through the backwater canals of Bangkok.After a short walk with your private guide, arrive at the Palace and view the monuments of these magnificent buildings. The entire compound will probably be full of visitors, but it’s still a must-see! It consists of over 100 brightly colored buildings, golden spires & glittering mosaics, dating to 1782 when Bangkok was founded. (Proper wear, no shorts, no bare shoulders are required for the Palace visit). After the Grand Palace, walk about 1 block around the corner to the Wat Phra Kaew which is the main attraction and is Thailand’s most important and sacred temple.
Overnight: The Oriental Hotel. (Deluxe river view king room – Old wing | B)
Day 5. Fri.Thiumphu.
Time to depart to Bhutan. After arrival our representative will be your guide for the duration of the tour and will welcome you in a traditional manner by offering a khadar (greeting scarf). Check into hotel and enjoy lunch on your own account. This afternoon we will have the following private tour. Take a wonderful panoramic drive through the countryside and the city. We will make special stops to visit Visit the National Library, a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts. The National Library of Bhutan (NLB) was established in 1967 with the primary objective of collecting and preserving mainly ancient Bhutanese written and printed resources. Later the Institute for Zorig Chusum: Commonly known as the Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan.
Overnight: The Taj Tashi Hotel. (King Bedded deluxe room | BD)
Day 6. Sat. Panukha
Visit Druk Wangyel Chhorten, built by the Queen Mother for the peace and stability of the country. The 108 Khangzang Namgyal Chhortens are a new landmark for travelers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the interior of the country. “The Buddha himself taught that reverence to the Chhorten, the mind stupa, is as meritorious as prostrating before the Buddha in person,” said the Dorji Lopon who performed the tagyen sungchoe. Later, Visit Chimi Lhakhang: The temple is located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina and is a 20 minute walk through the village of Sopsokha. It was built by Ngawang Chogyel in the 15th century after the ‘divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. Drive to see the impressive Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful dzongs of Bhutan. For many years until the time of the second King, it served as the seat of the government. It is the winter residence of the monastic body, and was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Overnight: UMA Hotel Punakha. (Deluxe hill side king bedded valley view BLD)
Day 7. Sun. Punakha – Trek.
After breakfast you will be transferred upstream from Dzong, over the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan across the Phochu.You will need to bring good trekking shoes, bug spray, trekking or loose fitting pants,etc.Beds, tents, blankets, towels, water and meals will be provided. Climb gently on the left side of Pho Chu through terraced fields of mustard and winter wheat. The Punakha valley is low enough to enable two harvests, so there is plenty of activity in the fields in the winter months. With the pristine remoteness of the hills of Bhutan and most treks heading deep into protected areas, there is always the chance of seeing indigenous wildlife in its native habitat.
Overnight: Tents with foldable portable beds. (BLD)
Day 8. Mon. Limbukha / Changsakha – Trek.
Leaving camp climbs steeply (150m) up to a small ridge (2370m) through a cold dense forest, from which today’s climb is visible.Cross this ridge, and descend steeply into a small side valley where a small stream (2235m) is crossed. Surrounded by beautiful birdsong and oak and rhododendrons forest, follow an unclear trail covered by slippery leaves. Walk alongside Dargyel Gompa, an old monastery of Drukpa Kinley, the` Divine Mad Madman’, whose teaching methods often shocked monks and lay people. On the hillside above the monastery are several small meditations cells.
Overnight: Tents with foldable portable beds. (BLD)
Day 9. Tue. Paro.
The climb is finished for the day when you pass Samtengang High School (established 1952) on your right. Walk through a narrow gorge to the other side at 2000m and look down towards a holy lake, Lutshokha (Tsho Shokha). Afterwards continue on to the campsite, located on the other side of the lake and other 20min beyond it. It is a beautiful flat campsite (2050m) in the forest below the village of Samtengang. After lunch drive back to Paro valley. On arrival check into hotel in time to enjoy dinner.
Overnight: UMA Hotel Paro. (Double Valley Room | BLD)
Day 10. Wed. Paro.
The day begins with a short drive towards the road point for start of hike to see the famous Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) which clings precariously to a cliff 800 m / 2,600 ft. above the Paro valley. The climb up to the view point will take around three hours (depending on one’s fitness). In the second half of the 8th century, Guru Rimpoche, alighted here upon the back of a tigress, and upon meditating for three months in a cave, assumed the form of Dorje Droloe, the Terrifying Thunderbolt and subjugated the Eight Evil Spirits who hindered the propagation of Buddhism. Thereafter, the Buddhist Dharma was introduced to Paro valley and soon spread to the rest of Bhutan. Taktsang is one of the holiest sites in the country and one of the most venerated Buddhist monuments in the Himalayas. The remainder of the day is at your leisure with optional His & Her massages.
Overnight: UMA Hotel Paro. (Double Valley Room | BLD)
Day 11. Thu. Kathmandu.
On arrival at Kathmandu you will be transferred to the hotel. After lunch, your guide will collect you where you set out and drive to Daksinakali Temple which is situated 20 kms South of Kathmandu. The Main image of Kali is facing towards east and the presiding deity is Goddess Kali. The deity is chatrubhuja (four armed) and seated on a corpse. She is shown as drinking blood, with a sword and holding severed head of a demon in two of her hands. Later, Enjoy a short hike to the 15th century hill top temple of Adinath Lokeshwar, a unique temple sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus. At the temple see Buddhist statues and prayer wheels and be amazed at the hundreds of pots and pans adorning this temple. Continue to visit Kirtipur, an ancient hillside town 5 Kms southwest of Kathmandu. Visit Bagh Bhairav Temple is dedicated to God Bhairav in the form of a tiger. At the southern end of Kirtipur is Srikirti Vihara, a Thai Buddhist Temple built in 1989 and immaculately maintained by the resident monks.
Overnight: Hyatt Regency Hotel. (Club Floor King Room | B)
Day 12. Fri. Kathmandu.
After breakfast visit Pashupatinath Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, on the banks of Bagmati River. Although only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed inside, from the eastern bank of Bagmati River. Also Visit Bhaktapur which was the former capital of the valley, and was once a flourishing city on the trade route to Tibet. Today, Bhaktapur is like an open air museum with large areas open to pedestrian access – it is a store house of mediaeval art and architecture. Interesting places to explore include the renowned Durbar square, Golden Gate at the Palace of 55 Windows, Potters square which houses the elephant headed Lord Ganesha temple who is believed to be the patron of potters in Nepal.
Overnight: Hyatt Regency Hotel. (Club Floor King Room | B)
Day 13. Sat. Kathmandu / Doha.
An amazing finale to our time in Nepal! What an awesome experience seeing the tallest peaks in the world spread out before us, with a carpet of rolling clouds at their feet. Honestly, if anything deserves the word “majestic,” the view of the snow-clad Himalayas from the air certainly does. Return to Kathmandu and be returned to your hotel where you are in time for breakfast. This afternoon we suggest to visit Saffron Shops on your own, if you wish to pick up these miniature saffron boxes to take home. Enjoy the day and your room will be kept as day use from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, so you may come back anytime you like during the day to check out. You might like to nap in the afternoon or late showers before the transfer to the airport.
Overnight: Doha Airport Hotel – on your own arrangements or provided by your airline. Ask to us about this overnight in Doha. (B in Kathmandu).
Day 14. Sun. En Route
This morning the airline’s airport hotel will provide shuttle bus back to the terminal in time for your check in for your connecting flight to final destination.
PLEASE REQUEST A QUOTATION.