Nepal Bhutan Cultural Tour

Nepal Bhutan Cultural Tour / 09 Days - Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) Kathmandu (1300m)
Namaste & welcome to Mountain Guide Trek of Nepal. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by a representative from Mountain Guide Trek (MGT). After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our representative with a Mountain Guide Treks and Expedition with Group leader's name display board at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to Hotel. After check in, if time allows, you will visit MGT office to meet your trekking leader as well as other participants and for final preparation for the trip. It all depends upon your arrival time. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 02: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Tour Preparation.
The day after breakfast we will start sightseeing tour with our professional tour guide to the several of most historical and spiritual Place in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered the World Heritage historic Sites such as Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambunath) and Buddhists shrine (Buddha Nath) which is one of the largest Stupas in the world. After come back from the tour there will be a pre-trip discussion with our trek leader and other team members. Mountain Guide Trek will brief you regarding your trek as well as we may have an opportunity to discuss any difficulties regarding our upcoming adventure. Rest of the time you could use for travelling around the Thamel and shopping of needed equipments and other necessaries. Evening drive to Nagarkot. Beautiful sunset view and mountain view including Mt. Everest view can be seen from the Hotel. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 03: Nagarkot to Kathamndu
Early morning beautiful sunrise view can be seen from the Hotel. After late breakfast drive down to Kathamndu slowly. Free afternoon for shopping or hang around the city. Prepare for Bhutan tour. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 04: Fly to Bhutan arrival at Paro and Drive to Thimpu 
The flight into Paro on Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world's highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. The first gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you are met by your guide and depart to Paro town for lunch. After lunch visit the Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley. A short walk takes you to the base of the Dzong and across a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge. A short distance further is one of the innumerable archery grounds. (Archery is the national sport of Bhutan ). If we are lucky, we may catch a match in action. Late afternoon depart to Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1.5 hour. Thimphu has a population of about 98,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 05: Thimphu valley sightseeing and Punakha Valley
Thimphu sightseeing includes a visit to the National Memorial Chorten, National Library, stocked with priceless ancient Buddhist manuscripts and also visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households, Textile Museum, where the art of traditional weaving is still kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in its color and design. Other high lights include a visit to the Handicrafts Emporium, which has all types of Bhutanese handicrafts for sale.
After lunch drive a short way to Chubachu where you will be able to witness a Cultural Program consisting of Mask Dances and Folk Songs performed by Royal Academy of Performing Arts ( RAPA ) and then depart to Punakha. Leaving Thimphu the road climbs steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochola pass (3050 m). This pass often offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha. Afternoon visit Punakha Dzong, winter seat of the Je Khenpo and ancient capital of Bhutan, remarkably located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. The Dzong is open to visitors only in summer when the Je Khenpo and the Monk Body are in Thimphu. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 06: Punakha to Wangdue to Paro
Continue your drive to Wangdue, one of the major towns and district headquarters of Western Bhutan where we make a short stop to view the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong dramatically located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers and then drive your way back to Paro. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 07: Paro valley sightseeing and Taktsang monastery to Tiger's nest hike
In the morning drive towards the north of Paro valley to visit the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong 16 km up the valley. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, father and unifier of medieval Bhutan, the Dzong was destroyed by accidental fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. Explore the ramparts and on a clear day experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7,314 m) and then drive to Satsam Chorten to hike to Paro Taktsang, the hike up (or horse ride) to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger's nest). The horse ride up to the cafeteria will take around one and half hour. At the view point enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After Lunch walk back to the road point and then drive your way back to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. Evening ends with a walk through Paro's main shopping district. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 08: Fly from Paro to Kathmandu
This morning we’ll transfer to the airport at Paro to catch our short but very scenic flight over the Himalayan range to reach Kathmandu, Nepal with great views of Mt Everest, Kanchenjunga, Chomolhari, Tsrim Gang and Jichu Drake can be seen returning to the Kathmandu. On arrival at Kathmandu we'll pick up transfer to the hotel. Remaining time rest and relax at the hotel or explore the Thamel area. (Overnight at deluxe hotel on BB basis)

Day 09: Farewell Friend (Final departure to your onward destination)
Today is last day in Nepal for this trip; you are saying good bye to the mountains as journey in Nepal, comes to an end today, There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. If you have more time you can do some shopping or sightseeing. Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight a representative from Mountain Guide Treks will take you to the airport.